EFFECT OF REPLACING WHEAT OFFAL WITH RICE BRAN ON CARCASS CHARACTERISTIC AND COST BENEFIT OF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

A trial was carried out to evaluate the effects of replacing wheat offal with rice bran on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. The study was conducted at the experimental Unit Poultry Farm of Bauchi State College of Agriculture, Bauchi. A total of two hundred (200) day old broiler chicks were randomly allotted to five (5) dietary treatments containing 0%(T1), 25%(T2), 50%(T3), 75%(T4) and 100%(T5) level of inclusion of rice bran as a replacement to wheat offal. Each treatment was replicated three times with thirteen (13) birds per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum and the experiment lasted for eight (8) weeks. The result show that carcass characteristics, significance difference(P<0.05) existed in live weight (1.59-1.91kg), pluck weight (1.35-1.73kg), eviscerated weight (1.13- 1.38kg), carcass weight (0.94-1.28kg), intestinal length (166.67-217.17cm) and pancreas (0.16-0.67g) while dressing percentage and other gut characteristics does not differ. The feed cost in naira/kg body weight gain decreased with increased level of rice bran there by reduced the cost of production up to 20.06%, with the highest cost saving on (T5) 100% inclusion levels (₦52.21). From the experiment conducted, it is therefore concluded that dressing percentage and others gut characteristics were not influenced by the dietary levels of rice bran while Carcass weight, live weight, pluck weight, eviscerated weight, pancreas and intestinal weight were significantly (P<0.05) affected, feed cost in naira per kg body weight gain decreased with an increased levels of Rice bran.