EFFECT OF FEEDING GRADED LEVELS OF ENZYME TREATED AND UNTREATED BAMBARA GROUNDNUT OFFAL ON DIGESTIBILITY COEFFICIENT OF BROILER CHICKENS FED MAIZE-SOYBEAN BASAL DIET

Abstract

Effect of enzyme (Natuzyme) fortification of bambara groundnut (Voandzeia subterranea L) offal diet on digestibility coefficient of broiler chickens was investigated. 216  day old commercial broiler chicks were randomly divided into 8 groups of 27 birds each. The groups were randomly assigned to diets in a 3 × 4 factorial arrangement involving four levels (0, 10, 20 and 30%) of treated and untreated Bambara groundnut offal with control diet (0) in a complete randomized design. Each treatment was replicated three times with nine birds per replicate. Increasing treated and untreated bambara groundnut offal levels depressed (P < 0.05) nutrient absorption as evidenced by significant reduction in the retention of dry matter, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract and ash. Final  body  weight  and  average  daily  weight  gain of control diet, feed conversion ratio  at the 10, 20 and 30% treated and untreated bambara groundnut offal levels, and reduced average daily feed intake and feed cost per kg weight gain at all the bambara groundnut offal (BGO) inclusion levels. The results of the study indicate that 20% bambara groundnut offal treated and untreated can be included in broiler diet without adverse effects on broiler chickens digestibility coefficient and also to reduce cost of production.