REPLACEMENT VALUE OF FISH MEAL WITH HYDROLYSED FEATHER MEAL ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND ORGAN MASS OF BROILER STARTER CHICKENS

Abstract

Replacement values of Hydrolyzed Feather Meal (HFM) for Fish Meal (FM) were evaluated in the diets of starter broiler chickens. Five experimental diets were formulated such that diet A is the control while in diets B, C, Dand E fish meal was replaced with 25, 50, 75, and 100% HF Mrespectively. 165 day old broiler chicks (Arbor Acre) were randomly allocated into the 5 dietary treatments of three replicates with each replicate having eleven chicks. The experimental design was a completely randomized design. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum for 4 weeks (starter phase). The growth parameters measured were feed intake, weight gain and feed to gain ratio. The organ parameters monitored included heart, lungs, kidney, liver, proventiculus, gizzard and spleen, while offals are large and small intestine. Results showed that feed intake, body weight, weight gain and feed to gain ratio were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by dietary treatments. Birds fed 25% HFM had a significantly (p<0.05) heavier weight, weight gain and reduced feed to gain ratio compared to the others. Parameters obtained from organs and offal weights were also significantly (p<0.05) different among the diets except for the lungs, gizzard, and large intestine that were not significantly (p> 0.05) influenced. The findings revealed that broiler chickens can tolerate hydrolyzed feather meal at the levels studied but best performance was recorded at 25% replacement level