Abstract
This study aimed to assess the effects of substituting African pear seed meal (APSM) for maize in broiler finisher diets, focusing on growth performance, carcass traits, and cost-effectiveness. Four experimental diets were created: Diet T1 served as the control with maize as the primary energy source, while T2, T3, and T4 incorporated APSM at 5%, 10%, and 15% respectively, partially replacing maize. Two hundred broiler chickens, each four weeks old, were used in the experiment. They were split into four groups of fifty birds, with each group assigned one of the diets in a completely randomized design (CRD). Each group was further subdivided into five replicates of ten birds, housed in deep litter pens. The study ran for 28 days, and the data gathered were statistically analyzed. Significant variations (P>0.05) were observed in the birds' final weight and body weight gain. The birds fed with the 15% APSM diet (T4) exhibited the highest values for both final weight and body weight gain, demonstrating that increasing APSM levels in the diet enhanced these metrics. Feed intake and feed conversion ratios were statistically consistent (P>0.05) across all groups. Notable differences (P<0.05) were seen in live weight, dressed weight, and the weights of primal cut parts (such as the drumstick, thigh, neck, wing, and breast). Economic analysis revealed that the cost per kilogram of feed, total feeding costs, average feeding costs, and the feed cost per kilogram of weight gain significantly decreased (P<0.05) as APSM inclusion increased. The findings suggest that APSM can effectively replace maize up to 15% in broiler finisher diets without negatively impacting the birds' performance, carcass quality, or feeding costs.