The Effect of Partial Substitution of Maize with Furfurame on the Production Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Broilers

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of substituting maize with furfurame, a by-product of kocho (Ensete ventricosum) processing, in a concentrate mix on feed intake, growth performance, nutrient retention and carcass parameters of Hubbard chickens. Four treatment diets namely T1, T2, T3 and T4 were formulated containing 0%, 33%, 66%, and 100% of furfurame as a substitute for maize, respectively, in concentrate mixture. After 3 weeks of brooding, 120 unsexed chicks were weighed and randomly allocated to the four dietary treatments with three replicates of 10 chicks per treatment in completely randomized design. The experiment lasted for 56 days. At the end of the experiment, a cockerel and a pullet were randomly selected from each replicate, and slaughtered to assess nutrient retention and carcass traits. The daily dry matter intake of the chicks fed on T3 and T4 diets were higher (P<0.05) than those reared on T1 and T2 diets. The average daily weight gain of chicks fed T1 diet were higher (P<0.05) than chicks fed T3 and T4 diets. Chicks receiving T1 diet had better (P<0.05) feed conversion efficiency while those receiving T4 were the least (P<0.05) efficient. Crude protein retention was the highest (P<0.05) for T1 diet while chicks in T4 retained the least. Chicks fed on T1 diet had the highest (P<0.05) metabolizable energy retention compared to other treatment diets. Chicks fed on T1 diet had higher (p<0.05) slaughter weight, commercial carcass weight and edible offal weight compared to those fed on T4 diet. The dressing percentage of the chickens did not vary across the treatments. Based on intake of nutrients and dressing percentage, it is concluded that furfurame can be used as energy source feedstuff in poultry ration replacing maize up to 33% for stallholder farmers in enset growing areas.