Levels of inclusion of babassu coconut in diets for broiler chickens

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the levels of inclusion of babassu coconut (0, 4, 8 and 12%) in diets for broiler chickens from 1 to 21 days old. 200 Hubbard chicks were distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments and five replications, being each experimental unit composed of 10 birds. The treatments consisted in experimental diets containing increasing levels of inclusion of babassu coconut (0, 4, 8 and 12%), formulated to contain the same nutritional level. The performance of variables evaluated were feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion. The apparent metabolizable energy, diary retention of gross energy, dry matter and nitrogen of experimental diets was determined by total collection of excreta for three consecutive days, which are analyzed together with the feed for dry matter, gross energy and nitrogen contents. The inclusion of the babassu not affected any of the evaluated variables. Likewise, there was no effect of inclusion levels of babassu coconut on the apparent metabolizable energy and the diary of retention of gross energy. On this basis, the babassu coconut can be used as an ingredient in diets of broilers from 1 to 21 days until the level of 12%.