GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF BROILER FINISHERS FED KAJIJI (CYPERUS ARTICULATUS) AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF INCLUSION

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of various inclusion levels of Cyperus articulatus (Kajiji) in the diets of broiler finishers on their growth performance. The experiment took place at the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi Poultry Research Farm. Fourty (40) broilers chicken at finisher stage were assigned to Four (4) dietary treatments Each of the treatment had ten (10) birds as replications using completely randomized design (C.R.D) for a period of 28 days. The quantity of Cyperus articulatus in water served as source of variation. Those birds offered water containing 40g/liter, of Cyperus articulatus served treatment one as (T1), treatment two (T2) were offered water containing 80g/liter, of Cyperus articulatus, treatment three (T3), offered water containing 120g/liter, of Cyperus articulatus, while treatment four (T4) as a control with water free of Cyperus articulatu. . Key parameters such as initial body weight, weekly body weights, total weight gain, daily weight gain, feed intake, water intake, and feed conversion ratio were assessed over a four-week period. Results indicated significant differences in growth performance metrics, with birds receiving 40g and 80g of Cyperus articulatus showing the best outcomes in terms of body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency. These findings suggest that incorporating Cyperus articulatus into finisher diets could enhance growth performance in broiler production, with implications for the poultry industry in semi-arid regions such as Bauchi State, Nigeria.