Effects of Mung Bean Residues on the Growth of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

Background: Broiler Chickens are a contributor to protein for humans. In the maintenance of broilers, the cost of feed can reach to 50-60% of the total production expenses. Thus, alternative feeds which are cheap, easy to obtain, and contain good nutrition are needed. Mung bean and its residue are important factors of the broiler chickens feed. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the addition of mung bean and its residue as a feed to increase the growth of broiler chickens.
Materials and Methods: The study conducted over 84 broiler chickens of one-day old during 35 days based on the record of their daily behaviors. The record of the chickens has been divided into four groups and each group divided into three replications. Each replication of a group consisted of seven chickens. Weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were the only factors involved for measurement.
Findings: We found that there was no significant differences (p>0.05) in the weight gain of chicks during 1-2 weeks of mung bean residue percentage groups compared to the control; however, during the 3-5 weeks, the weight gain of the mung bean residue groups increased and there was a noticeable change between third and fifth weeks. In the fifth week, 2.5% of mung bean residue weighed more than all other groups, which was due to better consumption of feeding and lack of disease.
Conclusion: The study emphasized that by adding 2.5% of mung bean residue to the diet, chickens increase weight by less consumed feed as well as health, and resistance of chickens will be higher. Based on this study, we recommended that 2.5% mung bean residue should be added to the chicken diet after the third week, to gain more weight by consuming a small amount of diet.