GUT CHARACTERISTICS AND ILEA DIGESTIBILITY OF BROILERS FED PELLET AND MASH FEED FORMS

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate performance, gut characteristics and nutrient digestibility of broilers fed pellet and mash feed forms. 100 Cobb-500 one-day old broilers used were randomly grouped into two treatments of five replicates and 10 birds per replicate in a deep litter system. The birds were fed with 2mm and 4mm die size pelletized feed at the starter and finisher phase respectively while commercial mash feed grade was applied at starter and finisher phase. The experiment lasted 7 weeks. Five days to the end of the experiment, two birds per replicate were separated into metabolic compartment for ilea digestibility trial and they were offered feed treated with chromic oxide at 0.2% for the five days. On the 6th day, the birds were slaughtered and the ilea content of the gut was collected for the proximate and chromic content determination. The morphometric measurement of the internal organs and intestinal components of the birds were taken and sample collected for histological assessment. The result showed significant difference (p<0.05) in the performance parameters measured with the birds fed pellet having higher feed intake, body weight gained and superior feed conversion ratio. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the length of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum and weight of the heart and liver between the two treatments while the gizzard weight was higher (P<0.05) in birds fed mash feed form. Ilea nutrient digestibility for ether extract was higher in birds on pellet. It was deduced from the result of the experiment that pellet feed form performed better than mash counterpart and with significant influence on the gut physiology and overall better nutrient utilization.