Performance of Broiler Starters Fed Diets Containing Arbocel® Fine

Abstract

Arbocel^® fine is an insoluble fibre concentrate used outside Nigeria as fibre source in poultry diets. It is high in fibre content and unlike traditional fibre sources, it is free from contaminants and do not consume space in feed formulations. The effect of Arbocel^® fine in broiler production in the tropical country of Nigeria was determined. Arbocel^® fine was added to formulated broiler starter diets at 0.0, 0.6 and 0.8% and fed to 144 day old Marshal Broiler chicks. The chicks were divided into 3 treatment groups of forty eight birds each and assigned to the three treatment diets in a Complete Randomized Design (CRD) experiment replicated 4 times. The diets were fed to the broilers during 0 – 28 days of age. Results indicated that body weight gain and feed conversion ratio at 28 of age were comparable (P>0.05) among the three diet groups. Feed intake was numerically higher (P>0.05) in birds fed diets containing Arbocel^® fine. There was significant (P<0.05) increase in the cost of feed consumed and feed cost/kg body weight gain. Mortality was significantly (P<0.05) reduced in the Arbocel^® based diet groups. The use of 0.6 and 0.8% Arbocel® fine in broiler diets increased the cost/kg body weight gain.