RESPONSE OF BROILER CHICKENS TO DIETS CONTAINING GRADED LEVELS OF SPENT SORGHUM RESIDUES

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the response of broiler chickens to diets containing graded levels of spent sorghum residues (SSR). A total of two hundred and forty (240) broiler chickens of the Anak 2000 strain were allotted to four (4) experimental groups in a completely randomized design (CRD) and fed graded levels (0, 10, 20 and 30%) of spent sorghum residue (SSR). The experimental groups were designated as treatments T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively and further replicated four (4) times with 15 birds per replicates. Growth parameters determined were initial weight grain, final weight gain, daily feed intake, daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio. At the end of the feeding trials, two birds per treatment were randomly selected from each of the replicates, starved overnight and slaughtered to evaluate carcass and organs characteristics. The results of growth performance showed no significant (P<0.05) difference across the dietary treatments. However, Significant (P<0.05) difference was observed in carcass parameters such as plucked weight, liver, carcass and kidney. There were no significant (P<0.05) differences in live weight, weights of eviscerated carcass, head, shank, large intestine, pancreas, lungs, hearts, spleen, gizzard and abdominal fat. Economic analysis showed that the feed cost (N/kg) progressively decreased with increased levels of spent sorghum residue (SSR) which mean that more money can be saved as the percentage (%) SSR increased.