EFFECT OF VARYING LEVELS OF PAWPAW LEAF MEAL (Carica papaya) ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF FINISHING BROILERS

📄 Project Abstract

High cost of feed emanating from volatility in the macro environment and general unavailability of feed or high cost of feed ingredients, especially protein sources has resulted in declining productivity and profitability for intensive broiler production system. This Scenario has resulted in supply bottlenecks forcing an upsurge in the price of broiler products in Nigeria. Given the central importance that feeds play in intensive broiler system it becomes imperative to identify other feed ingredients of lower cost and sound biological values that can partly supplement the conventional protein sources in broiler diets. The use of local, cheap and readily available materials particularly those that are not readily utilized by man has received particular attention as the only viable alternative to the use of conventional feedstuffs (Nwakpu et al., 2000; Ekenyem, 2006; Odunsi, 2003). This is as a result of the fact, that, the price of the conventional protein sources have soured so high in...