PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS FED THREE DIFFERENT SOURCES OF CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS MINERAL SUPPLEMENT

Abstract

Eight weeks study was carried out to evaluate the serum biochemistry of broiler chickens at finisher phase. Birds were fed commercial diet (T1) as control and different dietary sources of calcium and phosphorus mineral nutrients in on-farm formulated diets fortified with bone meal (T2), eggshell meal (T3) and limestone (T4). Ninety six unsexed broiler birds were raised through the starter phase (week 1- 4) to the finishers phase (week 4-8) before random allotment into the four treatment groups. The experimental diets were fed to four groups of 24 broilers and each treatment group was replicated thrice of 8 birds in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) experimental model. Data obtained were subjected to statistical Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The result obtained at the end of the experiment showed that birds on eggshell meal, bone meal and limestone performed comparably well (P<0.05) with the birds on control diet (commercial feed) in terms of final weight, weight gain, total, weekly and daily feed intake. Furthermore, there was no significant different (P>O.05) in FCR. However, T4 recorded the poorest FCR which may be attributed to the level of calcium concentration in limestone in T4. It may be concluded from this study that eggshell meal and one meal are excellent sources of calcium and phosphorous mineral at 3% level of inclusion for the overall better performance of broiler. The use of limestone should be accompanied with readily available source of phosphorus for adequate calcium and phosphorus balance for better feed utilization.