Effects of poultry offal meal and soyabean meal mixtures on the performance and carcass quality of broiler chicks

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to test four different mixing ratios of soyabean meal (SBM)
and poultry offal meal (POM) on the performance, histology and carcass evaluation of broiler
chicks. The mixing ratios used in this study were (POM and SBM) 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and
100:0. The experiment was conducted for 8 weeks.
Feed intake significantly increased as the proportion of (POM) increased up to 25%. Beyond
this level, additional POM did not result in corresponding feed intake for the bird. Body
weight gain varied positively with increasing POM proportion in the mixture and followed
similar trend recorded for feed intake. Birds fed with 25% (POM) recorded the highest values
79.20g/bird/day and 37.7g/bird/day, respectively for feed intake and weight gain. The lowest
feed intake and body weight gain values were observed for birds fed diets containing the
highest POM proportion (75%). These values were 59.72g/bird/day and 22.22g/bird/day
respectively. Feed conversion ratio was significantly affected (P<0.05) and inversely related
to increasing levels of POM. The best feed gain (2.10) was recorded for birds fed 25:75
POM SBM mixtures. Nutrients retained by broiler chicks were significantly influenced by the
different treatments. Protein retention was affected by increasing POM proportion in the
mixture. However, further increase in POM proportion in the mixture above 75% led to
significantly decreased protein retention.
Fat retention was significantly different among the various treatments and was directly
related to increasing levels of poultry offal meal. The highest value recorded (77.98%) was
obtained for broiler chicks fed 75:25 POM and SBM mixture. Crude protein, ether extract
and ash determined for poultry offal meal were 55.60, 6.70 and 8.20%, respectively.
Histological study conducted did not reveal any cellular abnormality for the various
treatments. Mortality and carcass quality were not significantly affected by the dietary
treatments. Cost per kilogram of the diets decreased in response to increasing levels of
(POM). Best cost: benefit was obtained with 25:75 POM and SBM dietary mixture.

Keywords: Poultry offal, soyabean meal, performance

AJFAND Vol. 8 (4) 2008: pp. 442-450