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.
Open Access