UTILIZATION OF SODIUM BICARBONATE-TREATED MAIZE COB AND BREWERS DRIED GRAIN MIXTURE AS FEED INGREDIENT IN BROILER CHICKEN
ABSTRACT
The utilization of sodium bicarbonate-treated maize cob and brewers dried grain mixture as feed ingredient in broiler chicken using 105 two weeks old birds was evaluated. The diets were formulated in which maize was replaced with the mixture of maize cob and brewers dried grain at 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10% levels thus constituting the dietary treatments 1,2, 3, 4, and 5 respectively. The one hundred and five 2 weeks old broiler birds of Anak (R) strains were allotted in a complete randomized design into the five treatment group. Each treatment had 21 birds and was replicated three times with 7 birds per replicate. The starter phase lasted for 21 days while the finisher phase lasted for 28days with feed and water provided adlibitum. Results for starter phase showed that no significant (p>0.05) differences existed among the treatments in final live weight and body weight gain. Also, significant (p<0.05) differences existed among treatments in total intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) birds fed the control diet had the least and the best FCR and the least cost of feed per kg weight gain birds fed diets containing 2.5, 7.5 and 10% MC and BDG mixture had significantly (p<0.05) higher total feed intake than those fed diets containing 0% MC / BDG mixture (control) and 5% MC/BDG mixture. In finisher phase, results showed no significant (p>0.05) differences which existed among the treatment groups in final live weight, body weight gain, total feed intake and feed conversion ration. Haematological indices, there were significant (p<0.05) differences in the ESR. Birds fed diet 1, 3, 4 and 5 had similar values and were higher than the values observed in treatment 2. There were no significant (p>0.05) differences among the treatment groups in PCV, HB, WBC, RBC, MCV, MCH, MCHC, NEUT, LYMPH and PLAT significant (p<0.05) differences existed in globulin, Albumn and AST, while no significant (p>0.05) calcium, DBil, TBil, ALP and ALT among treatment. Result of carcass and organ characteristics indicated that carcass weight and organs (liver and gizzard weights) significantly (p<0.05) differed among the dietary treatments. The liver weight decreased significantly (p<0.05) differed at the 5 and 10% MC and BDG mixture inclusion levels. Feed cost per kilogram weight gain decreased significantly (p<0.05) as the level of MC/BDG increased in the two diets. Control diet had the highest cost per kg and T5 the least. It was concluded that maize cob and BDG mixture can be included in the diets of broiler chicken without adverse effect on the growth performance, serum, haematological indices, carcass and organ weights of the birds.