Influence of Dried Tomato Pomace on the Growth Performance of Heat-Stress Exposed Broiler Chicks
Influence of Dried Tomato Pomace on the Growth Performance of Heat-Stress Exposed Broiler Chicks
Mohammed Jard Kadhim*
ABSTRACT
Exposure to high ambient temperature is one of the critical environmental stress factors that would affect the growth performance, feed utilization efficiency, and productivity of broiler chickens. This study investigated the effect of supplementing basic feed with dried tomato pomace on the growth performance and productive traits of broiler chicks exposed to a mild heat stress. A total of 240 one-day-old unsexed Ross 308 broiler chicks, each weighing approximately 41 g, were assigned to four different dietary treatment groups. The experimental design was completely randomized (CRD) with each treatment having three replicates of 20 birds exposed to an ambient temperature of 33°C between 7:00 am to 5:00 pm throughout the 35-day experiment. The experimental diets T1 to T4 contained 0, 5, 7.5, and 10% dried tomato pomace, respectively. Study results showed a significant (P < 0.05) and positive impact of tomato pomace supplementation on growth performance and productive characteristics of broilers as compared to the control treatment. All studied parameters i.e., live weight, weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were increased compared with control group. It is concluded that adding tomato pomace to the diet of broiler chickens exposed to heat stress would be beneficial for improving their growth, and productive traits.
Keywords | Broiler chicks, Growth performance, Diet supplementation, Tomato pomace, Body weight gain
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June 2025
Vol. 13, Iss. 2
