FBA Issue 34: September / October 2010

 

 

 

 

Recent advances in modern poultry production have fur­ther increased the competition for conventional feed­stuffs with both the traditional agribusiness sector and also biofuel production. Feed costs have continued to be the major determinant of profit in this industry, accounting for be­tween 70-80% of poultry's total cost of production (Daghir, 1975). The search for alternative novel feed ingredients has become the major research target of most advances in the Ni­gerian poultry sector.

 

Whereas alternative energy feedstuffs have been discov­ered and improvements added (e.g. addition of enzymes), the issue of protein feedstuffs has become a major challenge (Bolu et al.,1999). The presence of anti-nutritional factors in plant alternatives, low levels of protein intake in the populace, exor­bitant feed prices and the need for amino acid supplementary are some of the issues currently being dealt with.

 

Presently, large quantities of poultry offal are wasted and constitute environmental hazards. It has been observed that less than 5% poultry slaughtered in the tropics is done through an organised dressing system that is taken for granted in devel­oping countries (Escalona, 1987). Poultry offals are a source of protein, mineral and fat, which can be harnessed in feeding livestock (Fanimo and Tewe, 1994). A 20% dietary level of poultry offals for laying hens was recommended by Udebibia et al. (1988). The use of this feedstuff in poultry feeds mini­mises environmental pollution, reduces the cost of production and conserves foreign exchange.

 

This study investigated the merits of mixing various ra­tios of poultry offal meal and soymeal in the diets of cockerel chicks.

 

 

Data used for the present study was obtained from experi­ments conducted using exotic chickens purchased in the de­partmental research pavilion of the university, in Ilorin, which is located in mid-Nigeria's sahel region. The research unit is located on latitude 08º 32'N and longitude 04º 34'E. The mean annual temperature is 32ºC.One hundred day old shaver cockerel chicks (mixed sex) were used for this study that was conducted for eight weeks. 

 

 

and fed the diets shown in Table 1. The birds were randomly allocated to the four diets and replicated in five (5) units. The diets consist of substitution levels of poultry offal meal for soymeal at levels of 0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% respectively.Poultry offal meal was collected from meat shops within Ilorin metropolis, Kwara state, Nigeria. The collected samples were washed to remove residual digesta, steam-sterilised for 30 minutes air-dried and milled with other feed ingredients. Feed and water were given ad libitun.

 

General vaccination and medication were observed throughout the period of experimentation. Feed intake and weight gain were recorded weekly.During the third week of experimentation, nutrient retentionwas carried out for 72 hours for protein and fat. At the end of eight weeks four birds per diet were slaughtered by head decapitation, defeathered, eviscerated and dissected for carcass evaluation.

 

 

Chemical analysis of the proximate composition of the feed and poultry offal meal was determined according to the procedures of (AOAC, 1980). Response criteria were subjected to analysis of variance using the model of completely randomised design (Steel and Torrie, 1980). Difference among treatment means was determined using Duncan Multiple Range Test (Duncan, 1955).Average daily feed intake varied (P<0.05) for all the diets (Table 2). Birds fed at 25% substitution level of poultry offal meal in place of soymeal consumed more feeds (70.20g/bird/day) than did birds on the other diets. Feed intake was inversely related to the level of substitution. Birds fed at 75% substitution of poultry offal meal for soymeal recorded the lowest average daily feed intake (59. 72g/bird day).

 

The average daily weight gain was affected (P<0.05) by the dietary conditions (Table 2). The trend of variability was similar to the observations on feed intake. Birds fed at 25% substitution level of poultry offal meal for soymeal tended to gain more daily weight (29.31g/bird/day) than birds on the other diets.

 

Lowest daily weight gain was observed for birds fed at 75% substitution level of poultry offal meal for soymeal (22.22g/bird/day).The feed conversion ratio was also inversely related similarly to substitution level of poultry offal in place of soymeal. Birds fed at 25% replacement level of poultry offal meal for soymeal added 1kg body weight for every 2.39kg of feed consumed.

 

The lowest feed: gain was observed at 75% substitution levels of poultry offal meal for soymeal. There was no mortality recorded through the period of experiment.Nutrients retained by broilers was influenced (P<0.05) by the diets fed (Table 2). Nitrogen retention was highest (78.27%) at 25% poultry offal meal substitution for soymeal. Fat retention was highest at 75% poultry offal meal substitution for soymeal.