The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of leftover food as chicken feed destined for poultry farms, obtained through selective collection in a popular neighborhood in the city of São Carlos, SP, Brazil, ground up, sterilized, dried and characterized chemically and microbiologically. The final component, called food leftover feed ingredient (FLFI), was tested on chickens as a chicken feed ingredient in proportions of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% mixed with corn and soybean bran and other ingredients. The characterization of the FLFI revealed the absence of mycotoxins, heavy metals, organochlorined pesticides and pathogenic microorganisms. The product showed a high metabolizable energy value (3.483 kcal kg-1), good protein value (12%) and various minerals. The vitamin content was found to be low, as were some minerals and amino acids. The results revealed that the inclusion of up to 20% of FLFI did not modify the chickens' performance, as indicated by the indices of feed consumption, weight gain and food conversion.
recycling; feed; wastelage; food residue; broiler chickens
