Impact of commercial feed dilution with copra meal or cassava leaf meal and enzyme supplementation on broiler performance

Abstract

A preliminary study investigated the impact of commercial feed dilution with copra meal ( CM ) or cassava leaf meal ( CLM ) and enzyme supplementation on broiler performance. Commercial feed alone (control) or diluted with CM and CLM at a concentration of 100 and 200 g/kg in the starter and finisher diets, respectively, was fed without and with Challenzyme 300A at a concentration of 300 g/tonne in 2 × 2 factorial arrangements with a control. Two hundred, 7-day-old male, Cobb 500 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 5 diets containing 4 replicates of 10 birds each. There were no interaction or main effects ( P > 0.05) on feed intake during either the starter or finisher phase. In the starter phase, feed-to-gain ratio ( F:G ) increased ( P < 0.05) in the group fed with CM without enzyme. Enzyme supplementation restored F:G similar to the control. Diet dilution with CM or CLM had no effect ( P > 0.05) on weight gain ( WG ) in the starter phase. Diluting the feed with CM or CLM without enzyme suppressed ( P < 0.05) WG and F:G in the finisher phase, but enzyme supplementation restored the lost performances. There were no interaction or main effects ( P > 0.05) on the carcass traits. Enzyme supplementation reduced ( P < 0.05) feed cost per kilogram of carcass. Heavier ceca were observed in the group fed with dilution diets ( P < 0.05). Enzyme supplementation reduced cecum weight in the group fed with CM ( P < 0.05). The heaviest ( P < 0.05) abdominal fat was recorded in the group fed with enzyme-supplemented CM diet, and the lightest ( P < 0.05) abdominal fat was recorded in the group fed with CLM with enzyme. In the main effects, lighter ( P < 0.05) liver, gizzard, and proventriculus were recorded in the group fed with control diet than in the group fed with the CLM diets, but the weight of these segments did not differ ( P > 0.05) between the control and CM groups and between the fiber sources. The results suggest that dilution of commercial diet with CM or CLM may be a viable option for medium- and small-scale broiler production in the region. There is need for more research in the level of dilution, enzyme source, and concentration.

Commercial Feed Diluted with Different Fiber Sources and Enzyme Product for Broilers: Growth Performance, Carcass and Gut Health

“…The beneficial effect of enzymes products on transit time in broilers fed fibrous CM (Diarra, S. S. et al, 2015;Devi & Diarra, 2017), rye (Lázaro et al, 2003), soybean (Adeyemi et al, 2013) and de-oiled rice bran (Anuradha & Roy, 2015) diets has been reported. Similar studies on commercial diet dilution with CM (Mael et al, 2020) and CM or CLM (Diarra, S. & Anand, 2020) also reported improvement in broilers with enzyme supplementation. The pattern of WG and F/G in the main effects was not clear but this suggests the need for more studies on enzyme concentration.…”

“…Recently, Mael et al (2020) observed that the dilution of commercial feed at 100 g/ kg maintained performance and reduced the cost of producing Cobb 500 broilers, but at 200 g/kg dilution, enzyme supplementation was required. Diarra & Anand (2020) also found that both CM and CLM have potential to dilute commercial broiler feed with cost benefit. Although PKM is similar to CM and CLM in nutritional characteristics there are no reports on its use in commercial feed dilution for broilers.…”

Nutritional Potentials of Atypical Feed Ingredients for Broiler Chickens and Pigs

“…Haetinger et al [ 94 ] reported a reduction in energy digestibility with inclusion of CM in diets. A positive response on growth performance and intestinal characteristics was observed when a commercial diet diluted with CM and supplemented with a cocktail of carbohydrases and protease was fed to broiler chickens in the starter and finisher phases [ 95 ]. Feeding of mannanase-hydrolyzed CM improved performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens [ 96 ].…”

Alternative Bedding Materials for Poultry: Availability, Efficacy, and Major Constraints

“…Diet composition and physicochemical characteristics are known to influence litter quality in birds kept on the same bedding substrate (43,(110)(111)(112)(113). Viscous fibers in the diet reduce nutrient digestion and absorption (111,112,114) and increase cecal fermentation (115,116). Increased fermentation in the cecum resulting in soft feces is a major cause of wet litter in poultry houses (110).…”