Performance characteristics and blood profile of broiler chickens fed corn-cobs based diets with or without enzyme supplementation

Abstract

Corn-Cob Meal (CCM) is a waste product derived from maize grain shelling corn cob which constitutes nuisance to the environment and it can be included in poultry diet in order to reduce competition between man and animal. Hence, a 63-day feeding trial was conducted in a completely randomized design to determine performance characteristics and blood profile of broiler chickens fed corn-cobs based diets with or without enzyme supplementation. One hundred and sixty five (165) birds were randomly allotted into five dietary treatment groups; T₁ : (0% CCM), T₂ (10% CCM without enzyme), T₃ (20% CCM without enzyme), T₄ (10%  CCM with enzyme), T₅ (20% CCM with enzyme) with each treatment comprising three  replicates of eleven birds per replicate. Parameters measured include performance characteristics, haematological and serum biochemical indices. The result revealed that there were no significant difference (P>0.05) on performance characteristics of broiler chicken observed except for Average Daily Feed Intake (ADFI) and the Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR). Birds fed 10% and 20% CCM based diet without enzyme recorded the highest value of ADFI (129.38 g/b/d and 130.85 g/b/d) while birds fed 20% CCM based diet with enzyme supplementation had the best FCR value (2.18). The haematological parameters were not significantly influenced (P>0.05) by the diets except for lymphocytes and heterophil count with the highest lymphocytes value in T₂ (68.00%) and the lowest value in T₅ (53.67 %).  Birds on T₅ had significantly (P<0.05) highest heterophil value (40.67%). The serum biochemical indices were not significantly influenced (P>0.05) by the diets except for aspartate aminotransferase. However, values obtained in this study fell within the normal range recommended for healthy broiler chicken. Based on this result, it can be concluded that CCM with enzyme supplementation can be incorporated into broiler diet up to 20% without any detrimental effect on their performance and blood profile.