Evaluación de balanceado a base de botón de oro (Tithonia diversifolia), para la alimentación de pollos de engorde

Abstract

Abstract: The development of diets with local protein sources for poultry production is a challenging task that must be undertaken today, in order to improve the productive and economic parameters of farms. In recent years, it has been proposed that Tithonia diversifolia is an interesting forage resource as part of the formulation of feed for different categories of birds, including fattening birds, such as broiler chickens. For this reason, the present research proposed to evaluate feed conversion and economic efficiency in the breeding of broiler chickens through the use of Tithonia diversifolia at levels of 15% and 20%. The experimental study took place in the Plateado Bajo neighborhood of the city of Loja. With an initial number of 100 chickens of the Cobb 500 line, three experimental groups were formed. The first group of 34 chicks (control group) received a commercial starter and finisher diet according to the requirements of the commercial line (T0). Groups 1 and 2, each of 33 animals, received a diet including 15% and 20% T. diversifolia, respectively. The parameters were evaluated: feed consumption, weight gain, feed conversion, and a cost-benefit analysis was performed for the three treatments. In the final week of the trial, no statistical differences were found regarding weight gain, feed consumption, and feed conversion. The economic analysis revealed that there were no significant differences between the three treatments either.