Maize/Sorghum - Based Dried Brewers' Grains In Broiler Finisher Diets

Abstract

A 40 - day feeding trial was conducted to determine the optimal substitution level of maize/sorghum-based dried brewers' grains (MSDBG) for maize in broiler finisher diets. Six experimental broiler finisher diets were formulated such that 25%, 50% and 75% of the maize in diet 1 (the control) were replaced with MSDBG in diets 2, 3, and 4, respectively while diets 5 and 6 were like 3 and 4, respectively but fortified with 4% palm oil. Each diet was fed to a group of 48 broiler chicks for 40 days (week 4 to week 10 of age). There were no significant (P > 0.05) differences among the groups in growth rate (43.95, 45.52, 45.11, 43.01, 45.80 and 43.92 g/day, respectively). At replacement levels or 50% and 75% with or without palm oil, the birds consumed significantly (P< 0.05) more feed than the group on the control diet (140.0, 151.4, 177.3, 174.6, 174.2 and 167.1 g/day, respectively). Feed conversion ratio of the MSDBG groups was consequently significantly
(P < 0.05) inferior to the control. Addition of palm oil did not produce any noticeable effect on the performance of the birds. Feed cost for production of a kilogram or brioler was markedly reduced at the 75% replacement level.

Keywords: Maize/sorghum-based dried brewers' grains (MSDBG), maize, broiler diets