Effect of partial replacement of agro-industrial by-products for maize on growth performance, carcass characteristics, blood profile and economy of production in local Turkey

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of incorporating three agro-industrial by-products as partial substitutes for maize on growth performance, carcass characteristics, blood profile, and economic efficiency in local Turkey. The study, which spanned a duration of fifty-six (56) days, was executed in a completely randomized design (CRD). A total of forty-eight (48) day-old local turkey poults were employed, and they were randomly assigned to four (4) dietary treatments of 12 poults per treatment, and replicated 3 times with 4 poults per replicate. The experimental diets, which contained three agro-industrial by-products, namely maize offal (MO), rice milling residue (RMR), and brewers' dried grain (BDG), were formulated with an inclusion level of 30% each of agro in by-products in the diets. At the starter phase, there were significant differences (P<0.05) in the final weight gain, and average daily weight gain (ADWG), with higher values for final weight, average daily weight gain, and lower feed conversion ratio being recorded as 664.83, 14.57, 14.56, and 3.37g/bird respectively, at T3. The final weight, average daily weight gain (ADWG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) at the grower phase were not significantly different (P>0.05). However, T4 diet (30% BDG) had the highest final weight, but the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 1.42 was recorded at T1 (30% MO. The live weight, dress weight, carcass weight, dress percentage, breast, thigh, wings, back, neck, drumstick, liver, heart, and gizzard were not significantly different (P>0.05) among treatment groups, except kidney, which was significantly different (p<0.05) among the treatment groups. The haematological parameters measured, including packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and white blood cell (WBC), were all significantly (P<0.05) different. However, haemoglobin (Hb) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentrations (MCHC) were not significantly different (P>0.05). The feed cost decreased as 30% level of each of the three agro-industrial by-products replaced maize in this study. Feed cost (N/Kg gain) followed the same trend. The findings revealed that T4 (30% BDG) was more economical for feeding turkey than the control diet (T1) containing 100% of maize and the other treatments. Therefore, it can be concluded that the replacement of maize with up to 30% BDG will offer improved growth performance, pose no health risk to turkeys, and reduce the cost of production.