Effect of varying levels of cornflakes waste based diets on protein utilization and organ weight characteristics of broilers

Abstract

An 8 week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of varying levels of cornflakes waste (CFW) based diets on protein utilization and organ weight characteristics by broiler chickens. Cornflakes waste was used to replace maize at 0.0 (control), 20.0, 40.0, 60.0, and 100.0% levels as energy source. A total of 150 broilers were allotted to 5 treatment groups in 3 replicates per treatment. The feeding trial was done for 8 weeks. The parameters measured included proximate, mineral and amino acid composition of CFW, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, protein utilization and organ weight characteristics of the birds. It was found that amino acid content of CFW, a measure of the protein quality, was very low and was specifically deficient in methionine. The Na ion content of CFW was high (4.80%) possibly due to the addition of table salt during the processing of maize to cornflakes. Protein utilization as measured by nitrogen retention percentage and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were better at starter phase while only PER was better in the finisher phase in the control than 100.0% CFW substituted diet. Body weight gain and PER of the control diet and 100% CFW based diets were similar at 56 days. The high weight gain (56.70 g/ day) recorded in 100.0% CFW-based diet was attributed to the good PER of the birds at the finisher phase. Heart proportion was significantly (p<0.05) increased by 100.0% CFW compared to other diets but similar to that of 60.0% CFW fed birds. Other organ weight proportions were not significantly (p>0.05) different from each other. The high heart proportion was attributed to more work done by the organ as a result of higher salt content of the 100% CFW diet. The 100.0% CFW fed birds recorded the highest body weight gain and PER, which compared favorably (p>0.05) with the control birds. The results show that CFW can be used to replace maize in broiler diet with a concomitant increase in feed intake.

Animal Production Research Advances Vol. 2(1) 2006: 39-43