Economic Effectiveness of Feeding Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Peel Powder Supplemented Diets to Broiler Birds

Abstract

The economic effectiveness of feeding Cobb-500 broiler birds with pomegranate peel powder (PPP) supplemented diets was evaluated. The birds (n=432) were replicated in four pens and fed the non-supplemented diet, α-tocopherol acetate (vitamin E) diet, or different dietary levels of the PPP (2, 4, 6 and 8 g/kg). The results revealed that feed cost per kg weight gain was reduced in the control diet and at the 2 g/kg of the PPP inclusion, whereas the cost of total feed consumed was lower in the control studies. Higher (p<0.05) revenue was recorded in the 2 g/kg PPP, whereas the vitamin E group recorded the highest (p<0.05) income when compared with other groups. Evidently, the cost of production was cheaper when PPP was supplemented at 2 and 4 g/kg. It was concluded that supplementing PPP at all the dietary levels was more economical than vitamin E supplementation. Supplementing PPP at 2 and 4 g/kg inclusion levels was as effective as the negative control diet in reducing the cost of broiler production.