The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of partial feed substitution

with OFI meal on the growth performances and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. One hundred

and fifty 1-day-old broiler chicks (Arbor acres) were allocated into 5 groups with 3 replicates of

10 birds per group. The experimental groups received the diets substituted with 0 (control), 10% (B),

20% (C), 30% (D) and 40% (E) prickly pear seeds (PPS) meal of OFI during a 6-week duration

divided into 4 dietary periods (starter diet, 0–12 days; grower diet, 13–33 days; finisher diet, 34–39

days; withdrawal diet, 40–45 days). At the end of the experiment, 5 birds from each sub-group were

randomly selected and slaughtered, and the yield of the carcass segments was calculated. The growth

performance of the broiler chickens seemed significantly affected (P < 0.001) by the PPS substitution

level. The daily weight gain of the birds was exponential in the experimental groups. The results obtained

indicate clearly that weight gain in the chickens fed treatments containing 10% PPS was significantly

greater than in the chickens fed different treatments (20%, 30% and 40% PPS). Minimum feed intakes

were observed in the birds with the diet substituted with 40% PPS. Feeding the birds with the substituted

10% PPS resulted in a significant increase (P < 0.001) in the weight of carcass and intestinal part at 45

days of age, when compared with the control group and the treated group. The results obtained under

the conditions of this experiment showed that the partial dietary substitution of 10% PPS from Algeria

can improve the growth performance and carcass yield in broiler chickens. Therefore, it is important

to valorize the PPS by-product which would decrease the import invoice of animal feed, especially in

broiler chickens.