The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of substitution level of soybean meal protein by coconut meal protein in rations with cashew nut meal on the performance of broilers. It was used 325 male broiler chicks at one day of age, distributed into complete random designs with five treatments and five repetitions of 13 birds. It was tested the levels of 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% of substitution of soybean meal protein by coconut meal protein in rations containg 20% of cashew nut meal. The substitution of soybean meal protein by coconut meal protein at levels higher than 5% reduced linearly feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion only at the initial phase. It was also verified a quadratic effect on breast yield, which increased up to the level of 11.5%. In all rearing phases, substitutions up to the level of 20% did not significantly harm performance of birds neither altered carcass traits in relation to the control group. According to the economic study performed, substitution of soybean meal protein by coconut meal protein was economically viable up to the level of 20%. Thus, in rations for broilers with 20% of cashew nut meal, soybean meal protein can be substituted by coconut meal protein at levels up to 20%.
alternative feed; crude fiber; feed conversion; feed intake
