title: Effect of feeding varying levels of groundnut haulms on feed intake and growth performance in broiler chickens.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was carried out to evaluate groundnut haulms (GNH) as alternate feed source by its incorporation and assessment in terms of feed intake and growth performance in the diets of broilers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 240 1-day-old Cobb-400 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments each with three replicates (n=60). Experimental Birds in group T1 were fed with conventional feed while birds in T2, T3, T4 were fed containing 2%, 4%, and 6% of GNH replacing maize and soyabean on iso-nitrogenous basis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Feed intake increases significantly (p>0.05) with increasing level of GNH in the diets of experimental birds. Highest feed intake was recorded in T4 (6% GNH), followed by T3 (4% GNH) than T2 (2% GNH) and T1 (control). Birds fed GNH gained significantly (p<0.05) higher body weight than birds fed the control diet. Birds in T4 [6% GNH] gained highest body weight, followed by T3 (4% GNH) than T2 (2% GNH) and T1 (control). However, feed conversion ratio (FCR) remained non-significant for all treatment groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of the results of this study, it is concluded that supplementation of GNH can successfully replace costly ingredients like maize and soybean meal in the diets of broiler birds up to the level of 6 percent of concentrate mixture without any harmful effects on feed intake, growth and FCR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science and A. H., Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, India.
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Ribadiya
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science and A. H., Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, India.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Savsani
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science and A. H., Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, India.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Nutrition, Intensive Livestock Farm Complex, College of Veterinary Science and A. H., Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, India.
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Nutrition, Cattle Breeding Farm, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, India.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Gadariya
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science and A. H., Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, India.
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Karangiya
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Nutrition, Cattle Breeding Farm, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, India.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Gajera
keywords: body weight; broiler chickens; feed intake; groundnut haulmsIntroduction