Evaluation of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) as protein ingredient in diets for broiler chickens

Evaluación del fríjol caupí (Vigna unguiculata) como ingrediente proteico en dietas para pollos de asadero

Two levels of Cowpea (10 and 20%) with two different presentation (raw and cooked) were used to evaluate weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion rate in commercial broilers, compared to a control diet. There were no differences (P>0.05) between levels of presentation in none of the variables studied. Weight gain were 1.990, 1.985, 1913, 2.007 and 2.015 g for treatments: 0%, 10% raw, 10% cooked, 20% raw and 20% cooked, respectively and 2.02, 2.07, 2.06, 2.04 and 2.06 for feed conversion rate. The control showed a higher economic return, but a sensitivity analysis showed that when a decrease in 20% of the price of the cowpea and when
the price of the soybean is steady. Therefore, it’s more profitable to use 20% raw cowpea in the diet as long as a growth promoter antibiotic is used.

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