The use of grain meals of legume species: soybean (Glycine max), dolicho (L
ablab purpureus), mucuna (Mucuna sp.), canavalia (Ensiformis LDC), winged b
ean (Psofcarpus tretazonalabus), and vigna (Vigna unguiculnta) was economic
ally evaluated using establishment, harvest and grain meal yield data. The
economical feasibility was studied by incorporating each one to a standard
diet for broilers substituting of soybean cake. From these results and due
to its greater production potential in Cuba, Vigna was selected for the per
formance test in broilers and the economical effect of its inclusion in the
diet while the addition of synthetic amino acids (DL-methionine and L-lysi
ne) in the finishing stage was also analysed. Costs of the grains evaluated
ranged between 65 and 185 Cuban pesos/t. Likewise, diets with these meals
were cheaper than the control (T-1) and showed that even when feed conversi
on worsened, their use was economically feasible. Vigna meal in diets with
synthetic amino acids (SAA) throughout the rearing period (T-2) or with SAA
in the finishing stage (T-3) reduced costs (Cuban pesos/t) of liveweight p
roduced by 0.0305 and 0.0111 compared to T-1. But since there were no diffe
rences between T-2 and T-3, it would be feasible not to include SAA in the
finishing stage, when they are not available, since the productive performa
nce is not affected and costs are only increased by 0.0094 Cuban pesos with
respect to T-2 These results show the economical possibilities of legumes
as alternatives to partially substitute the plant protein sources tradition
ally used in poultry feeds.