Feeding dried cauliflower waste as a valorization method in the circular bio-economy model for broilers: effects on...

The present study was conducted to evaluate cauliflower waste meal (CWM) as an alternative feed resource for broiler production. For the experiment, 240 day-old, straight-run broiler chicks were randomly distributed into six groups, with five replicates per group, as follows: T1-control diet (without CWM), while groups T2, T3, T4, T5, and T6 were fed diets containing CWM at 50, 75, 100, 125, and 150 g/kg, respectively. The chicks were reared under intensive conditions in experimental cages according to standard management protocols for six weeks. The results revealed that body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and nutrient digestibility of birds fed diets containing different levels of CWM were comparable among all groups. However, the digestibility of dry matter (DM), ether extract (EE), and crude fibre (CF) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the CWM-fed groups. The overall mortality rate was 3.75%. Haematological parameters, blood biochemical profiles, and carcass characteristics of the experimental groups were comparable. However, serum total cholesterol levels were significantly lower in the T6 group. Gizzard weight was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in CWM-fed birds. The chemical composition, pH, extract release volume (ERV), water-holding capacity (WHC), and overall acceptability of meat were not affected by CWM feeding. The total phenolic content was significantly increased and TBARS values of meat from birds in the T3, T4, T5, and T6 groups were significantly lowered. The cost of feed decreased linearly with increasing levels of CWM inclusion and was lowest in birds fed 125 and 150 g/kg CWM. Therefore, it is concluded that CWM can be included in broiler diets at upto 150 g/kg and may provide an effective approach for converting vegetable waste into a valuable feed resource.