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.