Effect of replacement levels of Red Finger millet-based diets on growth performance of broiler chickens fed with and without phytase enzyme supplementation

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding red finger millet variety as replacement for maize with and without phytase (Ronozyme®) enzyme supplementation on the growth performance of broiler chickens. A total of 600 chicks were allotted in to 10 treatments, each treatment had 3 replicates containing 20 chicks each with and without enzyme supplementation at the rate of 100g/100kg diet in a completely randomized design (CRD). Red finger millet was included at 0,25,50,75 and 100% with phytase supplementation and at 0,25,50,75 and 100% without enzyme supplementation. This represents treatments (T) 1 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and 10 respectively where 0% inclusions are the controls at both the starter and finisher phases. Result showed significant (P<0.05) differences across the treatments with and without enzyme supplementation. The highest final weight (766.20) in the starter was recorded in the control with enzyme, all the others had similar lower weights, and the same control recorded the best FCR (1.70). At the finisher phase there was no significant (P>0.05) differences recorded in final weight, weight gain and FCR. The highest final weight (2534) was recorded in 75% replacement with enzyme and the least FCR appeared in diets with enzyme. Therefore, it can be concluded that finger millet based-diets with enzyme supplementation can enhance and give better growth performance without any adverse effects in broiler chickens.