THE COMPARATIVE-EVALUATION OF RUSTIC, INDUSTRIAL AND BALED SACCHARINAFOR BROILER FEEDING

Eight hundred and forty E24 broilers of both sexes were used to evalua te the cereal substitution (maize) of a conventional diet (A) by 10% o f industrial (B), rustic(C) or baled (D) saccharina. The objective was to study the productive performance from 7 to 49 days of age. Live we ight gain (1941, 1883, 1865 and 1812 g/bird) did not differ between tr eatments B, C and D, although a significant reduction was observed in the latter when compared to A. Feed consumption and total conversion d id not differ between treatments, while conversion of conventional fee ds differed significantly (P < 0.05) (2.16, 1.95, 1.98, 2.05) in favou r of the treatments with Saccharina (B, C and D). Positive results wer e observed and hence the utilization of 10% of Saccharina in broiler d iets is recommended and From this point of view the utilization of all types of Saccharina evaluated is suggested, although only with rustic Saccharina savings in poultry production were obtained due to the pre sent prices of industrial and baled Saccharina.