RESPONSE OF BROILER CHICKEN TO DIETARY LEVEL OF ACHA MILLING WASTE AS AN ENERGY SOURCE

Abstract

The study was conducted at the poultry farm of the College of Education Gindiri, Plateau State Nigeria, between the months of February and April 2020 to evaluate the response of broiler chicken to dietary levels of acha milling wastes as an energy source on the performance of broiler chickens. Five different graded levels of Acha milling wastes were used in formulating the diets. Ration formulation for broiler starter (23% Crude Protein) and broiler finisher (20% Crude Protein) diets was done using the Pearson Square Method. Two hundred and ten (210) day old chicks were randomly allocated to the five treatment diets T1 (0% Acha milling waste), T2 (25% Acha milling waste), T3 (50% Acha milling waste), T4 (75% Acha milling waste) and T5 (100% Acha milling waste) in a completely randomized design. Birds were managed under the deep litter system for a period of 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, birds were randomly selected from each treatment for carcass evaluation. The results of the growth performance showed that, there were significant differences in weight at week 4 and daily feed intake at the starter phase. At the finisher phase also, significant differences were observed in the final weight and daily feed intake. The result of the carcass traits showed that, there were significant differences (p>0.05) in some of the parameters such as carcass weight, dressing percentage, lungs, liver and wings where birds on the acha milling wastes base diets gave higher carcass yields than the control diet. It was therefore concluded that inclusion of Acha milling wastes as energy supplement in broiler diets at 75% inclusion level produces broilers of better carcass traits compared to those fed under conventional commercial feeds (p>0.05). Acha milling wastes was therefore recommended for inclusion in the diet of broiler chickens for up to 75% level for better productivity.