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Dec 31, 2021Keywords:
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The Effect of Feeding Red Sorghum Supplemented with Phytase Enzyme Additive on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Broiler Chickens
Abstract
The study was carried out to determine the effect of feeding red sorghum supplemented with phytase on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. One hundred and fifty (150) Agrited Anak broiler chicks at one week old were used for this study. The Red Sorghum supplemented with phytase enzyme was used to replace maize at various levels to determine the best replacement that would give optimal performance in broiler chicken diets. The anti-nutritional composition of red sorghum showed that it contained 0.31 (mg/100g) tannins and 0.50 mg/g trypsin. In the starter feeding trial, the red sorghum supplemented with phytase enzyme was used to replace maize at levels of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% respectively in the control diet. Each starter diet was fed to a group of 30 starter broiler chicks for four weeks using Completely Randomized Design. Each treatment was divided into three replicates of 10 broiler chicks each. Parameters measured include initial body weight, final body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and feed cost benefit. In the finisher feeding trial, the replacements were 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% sorghum supplemented with phytase enzyme. Each finisher diet was fed to a group of 30 finisher broilers for another four weeks using Completely Randomized Design. The parameters measured include initial body weight, final body weight, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, cost of production and carcass characteristics. The cost of production of the finisher broiler chicken was lowest for those on the control diet (N390.51), while the costliest was for those on TMT5 (100% sorghum supplemented with phytase enzyme) (N459.16). The internal organs of the finisher broiler chickens expressed as percent of the live weight were not affected by the treatments. The feed cost benefit of the starter broiler chicks was lowest for those fed the control diet (TMT1), (N241.89) while the costliest was starter broiler chicks on TMT5 (100% sorghum supplemented with phytase enzyme (N412.30). In the starter feeding trial, red sorghum supplemented with phytase enzyme could be used up to 50% in their diets without affecting feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. In the finisher feeding trial, red sorghum supplemented with phytase enzyme could be used up to 100% in their diets without affecting feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. It was concluded that red sorghum supplemented with phytase enzyme could be used up to 50% in the diets of starter broiler chicks and up to 100% in the diet of finisher broiler chickens without affecting body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio as indicated in this study.
