Effect of feeding decorticated cottonseed meal with or without protease on carcass traits and cost of meat production in broiler chicken

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of decorticated cottonseed meal (DCSM, with non-detectable freegossypol content) in the diet of broiler chickens with or without inclusion of protease on carcass traits and feed-cost of meat production. Accordingly, a feeding trial of six weeks (0 to 6 weeks of age of broiler chicken) duration was conducted involving five dietary inclusion levels (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%) of DCSM with and without (two) protease in standard broiler chicken diet following 5 x 2 factorial designs. All the diets were iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous. Each dietary treatment was offered to four replicated groups of 8 chicks in each. At the end of sixth weeks of age, six birds (three male and three female) from each dietary treatments making a total of 60 birds were selected randomly as per body weight closer to mean body weight and sacrificed following standard methods for evaluation of carcass characteristics and development of visceral organs. The feed-costs of meat production were calculated. The live weight at six weeks of age, cut-up parts (breast, drumstick, thigh and back as % of live weight), total edible meat yield and relative weights of heart and liver were not influenced by the levels of DCSM, enzyme or their interaction. Addition of protease in diet did not improve live weight, carcass traits and development of visceral organs. Feed-cost of meat production decreased significantly and linearly on addition of cottonseed meal at graded levels. Therefore, based upon cost of feeding, decorticated cottonseed meal can safely and effectively be included up to 20% level without enzyme supplementation in maize-soybean based diets of broiler chicken replacing soybean meal for profitable broiler production without affecting carcass traits or development of visceral organs.