Philippine E-Journals

Utilization of Squash Meal (Cucurbita maxima L.) as Feed Supplement for Broiler’s

TALUGAY G. PATAGAO

 

Abstract:

The present study investigated the utilization of squash (Cucurbita maxima L.) meal as a feed supplement. Two field trial studies were conducted for four weeks to test the effect of several percentage levels of squash meal on broilers after brooding until the marketable age. One hundred sixty (160) head of broiler chicks of the same strain were utilized per study. All feed trial studies were fed with the same formulated feeds. Trial 1 was conducted last February – March 2018, while Trial 2 was conducted last February-March 2020. Complete Randomized Design (CRD) has been used. Based on the result of the study, it revealed that the inclusion of ten (10) to twelve (12) percent squash meal as feed supplement consistently shown significant performance in terms of body weight gain in weight, feed conversion ratio, dressing percentage, and return on investment (ROI) throughout the study. Furthermore, squash meal inclusion economically reduced the production cost and boosted income, thus realizing higher profits. The utilization of squash meal as a feed supplement also helps add the value of squash for vegetable contract growers in the province of Abra and returning an agricultural waste into cash.