CUPUAÇU SEED FLOUR (Theobroma grandiflorum) IN THE FEEDING OF SLOW-GROWING BROILERS
carcass yield, digestibility, feed efficiency, performance
The objective was to evaluate the effect of using cupuaçu seed meal in the feed of slow-growing chickens on digestibility, performance, carcass yield, and organ evaluation, as well as its economic assessment. The research was conducted at the experimental poultry house of the Federal Rural University of Amazon, in Parauapebas – PA. The digestibility experiment utilized 128 animals in metabolic cages, fed two diets: a reference diet based on corn and soybean meal, and another with 30% cupuaçu seed meal (CSM). In the performance experiment, 168 birds of the Carijó lineage were used in a completely randomized design, with four treatments (0g/kg, 50g/kg, 100g/kg, and 150g/kg inclusion of meal) during the initial, growth, and finishing phases. After 70 days, the animals were slaughtered for carcass yield evaluation. It was observed that feed conversion (FC) and feed consumption (FC) worsened, except with inclusion of up to 50 g/kg, showing better results than the control. There was no effect of CSM inclusion on carcass yield and cuts (P>0.05). Organ yield showed a significant increase in the pancreas. According to the digestibility experiment, CSM presented a digestible dry matter (DDM) of 23% and digestible protein (DP) of 22%, with a reduction in DDM and DP with the inclusion of 30% CSM in the reference diet due to increased fiber concentration. According to an economic evaluation through the membrane balance ratio (MBR) presented, for the assessed period, it is suggested to include CSM up to 100 g/kg. Technically, cupuaçu seed meal (CSM) can be included at up to 50 g/kg in the diets of slow-growing broilers from 14 to 70 days of age.