Treated plantain peels in diet of broiler chickens

Abstract

Three hundred (300) one day old Arbor Acre broiler chicks were used in an 8-week study to determine the growth response and nutrient utilization of birds fed varied inclusion of differently treated plantain peel meals (PPM). The birds were randomly assigned to the 10 dietary treatments with three replicates of 10 birds each and arranged in 3x3 factorial layout plus a control. Treatment 1 is the control, diet without inclusion of PPM, Treatment 2, 3, 4 were sundried PPM at 25, 50 and 75% (replacement for maize) respectively; while treatments 5,6,7 and 8,9,10 were sun dried-lye treated and sundried plus phytase supplementation (1g/kg diet). Data were collected on some chemical profile of treated PPM, performance characteristics of broilers and nutrient digestibility of the diet. The results showed that nutrient composition of plantain peel appeared adequate to serve as a feed ingredient in poultry. Increased level of PPM in the diets however, lowered (P<0.05) all the performance traits and digestibility coefficients. Lye treatment and phytase supplementation had most profound effect on repressing the toxic component in PPM. Lye treatment also influenced fibre digestibility positively but depressed (P<0.05) ether extract digestibility. It was concluded that the use of treated PPM in broiler diet did not represent a perfect replacement for maize. However, 25% of lye and enzyme supplemented PPM replacement for maize proved adequate in broilers’ diet.

Keywords: plantain peels, anti-metabolic compounds, digestibility, performance