Growth performance and water consumption pattern of broiler chicks fed graded levels of ginger waste meal

Abstract

A total of 225 broiler chicks were used in a feeding trial to evaluate the utilization of ginger waste meal (GWM) as energy substitute for maize in the diet of broiler starter chicks. The broiler chicks were fed levels of 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% GWM in the diets for four (4) weeks. The 40% level of GWM completely replaced maize in the diet. Completely randomized design was used in which There were 15 birds per replicate and 3 replicates per treatment.
Feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, water consumption and final live weights at four (4) weeks were significantly different (p<0.05), while water/feed ratio was not significantly different across treatments (p>0.05). The results of the trial favored the inclusion of GWM up to 20% in normal maize-soyabean diet for broiler chicks. The inclusion of GWM in diets increased water consumption significantly (p<0.05). However, levels had no significant effect on water consumption.
br>
Journal of Agriculture, Forestry and the Social Sciences Vol. 3 (2) 2005: pp.113-119