Evaluating the Effect of replacing fish meal in broiler diets with either Soybean meal or poultry by-product Meal on Broiler Performance and total feed cost per kilogram of gain

Farmers and researchers in developing countries are evaluating the use of fish meal in broiler diets due to high cost and product variability. This study evaluated the effects of replacing fish meal with either soybean meal or poultry by-product meal on broiler performance and total feed cost per kilogram of gain. Three dietary treatments were manufactured to contain soybean meal and fish meal, soybean meal or soybean meal, and poultry by-products meal. Diets were balanced for lysine and fed in mash form. A total of 900 1-day-old male Cobb 500 broilers were randomly assigned to pens with 25 chicks per pen and reared for 42 d. Overall, 42 d broilers fed fish meal diets had lower body weights (P <= 0.05) compared to those fed soybean meal and poultry by-products meal diets but adjusted feed conversion ratio was similar (P >= 0.05) for all treatments. Replacing fish meal with either soybean meal or poultry by-products meal resulted in higher body weights and average daily feed intake but similar adjusted feed conversion ratio for all birds and lower feed cost per kilogram of gain.