PERFORMANCE, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF BROILER CHICKENS FED DIETS CONTAINING ENZYME (FULLZYME)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.4352Abstract
This study was carried out to assess the effect of exogenous dietary enzyme supplementation on the performance of broiler finisher chickens under a hot dry environment. A total of two hundred and twenty five (225) unsexed Anak Giant strains of broiler chickens were randomly allotted to five dietary
treatments, with 0, 125, 250, 375, and 500 mg/kg enzyme supplementation. Each treatment was replicated three times, with fifteen (15) birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. The experiment lasted for thirty (30) days. Feed and water were given ad-libitum. No significant (P>0.05) difference was observed with regards to feed intake, live weight gain and feed conversion ratio among all the treatment groups. Carcass characteristics and organs weights were not significantly (P>0.05) different for all the components. However, the neck, thighs, shanks and back were significantly higher among the treatments. The liver, lungs, and kidneys weights significantly (P<0.05) higher in all the treatment groups. Nutrient digestibility, CP and CF were significantly higher in T3 than T5 while CF was digested significantly (P<0.05) higher rate in control than any of the treatment groups. The cost benefit analysis showed that 375mg/kg enzyme supplemented diet had the heaviest final weight (1777.4) gain at the cost of ₦72.66k in the finisher phase, while the least weight gain (1347.7) at the cost of ₦72.03/kg was obtained in T2 (125mg/kg) enzyme supplementation. This implies that, enzyme (Fulzyme) supplementation at 125 to 500mg/kg did not improve broiler performance.
