Citrus Pulp in Broilers Feeding (1-42 Days)

Abstract The aim of this study to determine the chemical composition, the metabolizable energy, and digestibility of citrus pulp; furthermore, evaluate the effect of using this product on performance, carcass yield, and blood parameters of broilers from 1 to 42 days of age. In the first experiment, it was using a total of 108 21-days-old male Cobb 500 birds weighing 926 g ± 50g was distributed in a completely randomized design with three treatments (basal diet and basal diet + 10 or 20% of testing feed), and six replicates of six birds each. In the second experiment, it was using a total of 966 1-day-old Cobb 500 male broiler chicks was distributed in a completely randomized design with six treatments (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10% inclusion of citrus pulp) and seven replicates of 23 birds each. The citrus pulp presented 1311 kcal of AME/kg DM, 4.62% crude protein, 30.85% neutral detergent fiber, 36.93% acid detergent fiber and 23.45% pectin. The citrus pulp can be used up to 10.0% of inclusion in broiler diets in the period from 1 to 42 days old, with no damage to performance, carcass yield, blood parameters and with better economic indices.