Comparative evaluation of fish, crayfish waste, meat and blood meal for broiler production

Abstract

The effect of different animal protein sources in broiler production was investigated. 300 seven-day old broilers of equal average initial weight were randomly allotted into five treatment groups with three replications of 20 birds each and at the end of 28 days, birds were weighed again and re-randomized to the five treatment groups with three replicates of 16 birds each. The diets consisted of four animal proteins. Treatment 1 (Control) had no animal protein while diet 2, 3, 4 and 5 had 4% fish meal, 4% crayfish waste meal, 4% blood meal and 4% meat meal, respectively. The study was conducted for 56 days with 28days starter phase and 28days finisher phase. Parameters evaluated were proximate composition of test ingredients, growth performance of experimental animals, nutrient digestibility and economic analysis. The results showed blood meal had the highest (P<0.05) crude protein level (77.68%) followed by fish meal (54.53%), crayfish waste (48.08%) and meat meal (41.67%). Cray fish waste meal had the highest (P<0.05) crude fibre (6.07%) while blood meal had the least (2.98%). Fish meal had the highest ether extract (5.99%) followed by crayfish waste meal (4.03%), meat meal (3.67%) and blood meal (3.93%). There were nonsignificant (P<0.05) differences in feed intake during both starter and finisher phases across the treatment groups. Blood meal significantly (P<0.05) depressed final live weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio while other ingredients showed (P>0.05) similarities in the above parameters apart from in protein efficiency ratio for which meat meal only showed significant (P<0.05) depression. The least cost per kg feed and least cost per kg weight gain (naira) were observed with birds on crayfish diets. There was better (P<0.05) digestibility of crude protein by birds on treatment diets 1 and 2 followed by 3 and 4 while birds than on treatment diet5 had the least value (58.10%). Conclusively, the use of crayfish waste meal in broiler starter diets and combined proteins in broiler fisher diets should be encouraged.