Optimizing growth performance, carcass traits, and economic returns in Sasso T44 chickens via partial replacement of conventional feed with locally sourced alternative ingredients

Poultry farming plays a vital role in improving food security, income generation, and nutrition in Ethiopia, particularly for smallholder farmers. However, the high cost of conventional feed ingredients, such as maize and soybean meal (SBM), poses a significant challenge to sustainable poultry production. This study evaluated the potential of alternative feed ingredients including enset corm (Ensete ventricosum), banana kocho (a fermented product derived from banana pseudo-stem), boiled mango and avocado seed kernels, and Moringa stenopetala leaves as replacements for commercial feed in Sasso T44 chicken diets. A total of 120 male chickens were assigned to four dietary treatments: 0% (T1), 24.25% (T2), 33.95% (T3), and 42.25% (T4) inclusion levels of alternative feed ingredients, using a completely randomized design (CRD). The results revealed that chickens fed the 24.25% inclusion diet (T2) achieved significantly higher (p  < 0.001) growth performance in terms of dry matter intake (DMI; 5349.7 g), crude protein intake (CPI; 1250.5 g), body weight gain (BWG; 3158.3 g), and dressing percentage (69.2%). While the control group (T1) had the best feed conversion ratio (FCR = 1.62; p  < 0.001), T2 recorded the highest performance index (PI; 186.5; p  < 0.001) and improved carcass traits, including breast and thigh muscle yields (p  < 0.001). Economic analysis showed T2 offered the highest profitability, with a net return (NR) of 275.18 ETB per chickens and a marginal rate of return (MRR) of 0.44. Despite T4’s lower feed cost, its growth and carcass performance were poor. These findings demonstrate that including 24.25% alternative feed ingredients can enhance productivity, carcass quality, and economic efficiency, making it a viable strategy for sustainable poultry production.