No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

The carcass characteristics of unsexed Obamarshal broiler chickens fed three levels (4, 8 and 12%) of Crude Fibre (CF) and three levels of Metabolisable Energy (ME) at 2600, 2800 and 3000 ME (Kcal/kg) in multi-fibre source-based diets were assessed using a 3x3 factorial design. The nine experimental diets, each for the starter and finisher phases maintained the calorie: protein ratios of 123:1 and 140:1 respectively. Two hundred and sixteen (216) dayold unsexed broiler chicks were allotted at the outset to nine dietary treatments at 24 per diet with 8 birds per replicate. There were 3 replicates per treatment arranged in a completely randomised design. Diets were formulated in accordance with the standard nutritional specifications for the broiler chickens. Feed and water were provided to the birds ad libitum for 8 weeks. Results showed that carcass yield was similar (P>0.05) and maximised (P<0.05) on 8 and 12% CF diets at 2800 and 3000ME (Kcal/kg) with the eviscerated weights of 1.40 and 1.42 kg respectively while carcass fat as per abdominal and gizzard was minimised on 12% CF diet at 2800ME (Kcal/kg) diet. Relative weights of both intestinal organs and length of intestine were increased (P<0.05) in broiler finishers with increasing CF levels while increasing ME levels increased abdominal fat. It can therefore, be concluded that 12% CF diet at 2800 and 3000 ME (Kcal/kg) maximised carcass yield but carcass fat was minimised at 2800 ME (Kcal/kg) diet of broiler chickens in favor of its recommendation for adoption, especially in the tropics.

The effect of two empirical methods of substituting maize with parboiled cassava peel meal (PCPM) in the diets of 168, 11-week old Isa Brown cockerels were examined in a 3-week experiment. The control diet A contained 40% maize while the proportion of maize in the control diet was replaced with PCPM at the graded levels of 20% of diets B and C, 30% of diets D and E and 40% of diets F and G with and without regard to the energy content of PCPM respectively. Consequently, diets A, B, D and F contained metabolisable energy (ME) content of about 2600s kcal/kg while diets C, E and G contained ME of about 2400, 2300 and 2200 kcal/kg respectively. The calculated crude protein (CP) contents of all diets were similar (17% CP). The results on the performance characteristics studied did not reveal any adverse effect of the two empirical methods of substitution of maize with PCPM in the diets of growing cockerels. The growth rate and feed conversion ration of birds fed on diets containing 50 and 75% of PCPM at the expense of maize using the two substitution methods were similar to those of the control birds. However, there was depression in feed intake at the replacement levels beyond 50%. Thus, it was concluded that the two substitution methods could be used to replace maize with PCPM at the level of 75% of the former without adverse effect on weight gain and feed conversion ratio in the growing cockerels during the early stage of growth.