EFFECT OF FEEDING GRADED LEVELS OF ENZYME (NATUZYME® ) TREATED AND UNTREATED BAMBARA GROUNDNUT OFFALS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF FINISHER BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

Effect of enzyme (Natuzyme) fortification of Bambara groundnut (Voandzeia subterranea L) offal diet on growth performance and carcass characteristic of finisher broiler chickens was investigated. One hundred and eighty nine (189) day old commercial broiler chicks were randomly divided into 7 groups of 27 birds each. The groups were randomly assigned to diets in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement involving four levels (0, 10, 20 and 30%) of treated and untreated Bambara nut offal with control diet (0) in a complete randomized design. Each treatment was replicated three times with nine birds per replicate. Results showed that increasing levels of treated and untreated Bambara nut offal in the diets increased (P < 0.05) average daily feed intake and feed cost per kg weight gain, but decreased (P < 0.05) final body weight, average daily weight gain, feed conversion efficiency and protein efficiency ratio. 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 and also to reduce cost of production.