ABSTRACT
A 56 day experiment was conducted
to determine the effect of different dietary levels of palm oil sludge on the
growth performance, carcass trait, and economic cost of feeding local turkeys.
Forty local poults (mixed sexes) were randomly assigned to five treatment
groups with eight poults per treatment. Each treatment was replicated twice
with four poults per replicate in a completely randomized design. The poults
were fed commercial broiler starter ration containing 24% crude protein and
2800kcal/kgME for the first 6 weeks. Thereafter, five experimental diets
containing varying levels of palm oil sludge were formulated and fed until the
turkeys attained the age of 14 weeks. The experimental diets were designated T1,T2,
T 3, T4 and T5 with T1 containing
0% inclusion of palm oil sludge serving as control, while T2 , T3,
T4 and T 5 had 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% levels of inclusion
of palm oil sludge, respectively. The body weights of the turkeys were taken
weekly for 8 weeks while the feed intake of the turkeys was recorded daily. The
feed conversion ratio and daily weight gain of the turkeys were computed. At
the age of 14 weeks, four birds per treatment were randomly selected, weighed
and sacrificed for carcass and organ evaluation. Weights of eviscerated
carcass, breast, thigh, drumstick, back, wing, head, shank, back, neck, liver,
heart, gizzard, spleen, abdominal and visceral fat were recorded. The results
showed that the final live weight, total weight gain, total feed intake and
feed conversion ratio were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the diets.
Turkeys on Treatment 2 (5% palm oil sludge inclusion) had significantly
(p<0.05) the highest mean final live weight value of 2530g, total weight
gain value of 2240g, average daily weight gain value of 40g/bird/day, average
feed intake value of 98.93g/bird/day, feed conversion ratio of 2.47 when
compared with turkeys on other diets. Turkeys on Treatment 5 (20% palm oil
sludge inclusion) were significantly (P< 0.05) lighter than those of other
treatments. The final live weight of birds on treatments 1,3,4 and 5 were
2010g, 1950g, 2050g and 1750g, respectively. The total weight gain on
treatments 1,3,4 and 5 were 1730g, 1670g, 1770g, 1460g, respectively. The total
feed intake of birds on treatments 1,3,4 and 5 were 4610g, 4560g, 4770g and
4410g, respectively. Feed conversion ratio values of 2.66, 2.72, 2.69 and 2.69
were recorded for birds on treatments 1,3,4 and 5, respectively. The cost of
production showed that there were significant differences (p<0.05) among
treatments in the cost of feed (N/Kg), total feed intake (Kg/bird),
total feed cost (N/kg) and cost of feed/kg weight gain. Cost of
production of birds in Treatment 1 (0% palm oil sludge inclusion) was
significantly (p<0.05) higher with (N640.80) which was required to
reach the final live weight and decreased with increasing level of palm oil
sludge inclusion. Treatment 5 (20% palm oil sludge inclusion) required the
least amount (N450.80) to reach the final live weight. Absolute values
for fasted live weight, dress weight, thigh, drum stick, breast and back were
significantly (p<0.05) higher for turkeys on Treatment 2 (5% palm oil sludge
inclusion) with values of 2750g, 2150g, 570g, 487g, and 437.7g, respectively.
Significant values (P<0.05) were recorded for turkeys on Treatment 5 (20%
palm oil sludge inclusion) with values of 2200g, 1650g, 437.50g, 299.40g, 392.70g,
respectively. It was therefore concluded that even though palm oil sludge could
be included in the diet of turkeys up to 20% level, local turkeys appeared to
perform best at the inclusion level of 5% palm oil sludge.
CHAPTER
ONE
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Local turkeys are natural foragers and
they are known for their adaptability and ruggedness (Smith, 1990). They are
kept as scavengers in different parts of the country especially in the savannah
and derived savannah belts (Ajala et al., 2007). It has been
reported that turkey can be reared virtually anywhere and their natural habitat
is open forest and wooded area (NRC, 1991).
Out of the poultry species in Nigeria,
the local chickens constitute 69% of the total poultry population (FLDPCS,
1991). The other poultry species such as turkeys, guinea fowl, ducks and pigeon
equally have great potentials of contributing to the available meat supplies.
The potential of local turkeys cannot be overlooked considering the huge
foreign exchange incurred in the importation of improved exotic stock (Ibe,
1990).
Turkey production provides the
opportunity of meeting animal protein demand by consumers in Nigeria. Turkey
meat has a wide acceptance with little or no limitation in terms of traditional
and religious taboos as compared to pork, which is rejected by Muslims (Afolabi
and Oladimeji, 2003). Turkeys have a relatively short production period and
they can supply the highly needed protein for man in terms of quality and
quantity. Turkeys have been found to be of considerable economic and social
significance in the traditional life of Nigerians, in that they are used as
presents during festivals like Christmas and as sign of appreciation and
expression of goodwill.
Turkey farming in Nigeria has now shifted
from backyard farming to an intensive farming due to change in market
priorities and consumer preference. It
The dwindling feed reserves in Nigeria
has increased interest in the exploitation of agro-based industrial by-product
that at present largely go to waste and are a pollution hazard. At the same
time, with ever increasing seriousness of the waste management problems from
these processing agro industries, the incorporation of these wastes into diets
could be a profitable way of overcoming this difficulty. There are available
information on the use of some of these by-products like rice bran, wheat
offal, brewer’s dried grain in feeding poultry and other animals like pigs in
Nigeria (Alade et al., 2002). However, the use of palm oil sludge
in the feeding of turkeys appears not to have been given much attention in
Nigeria. Palm oil sludge is abundant and available all year round in various
states of the country. Studies on the use of palm oil sludge in the feeding of
farm animals will help to save production cost. It is expected that the findings
of this work will help to increase poultry production in Nigeria, thereby
solving the problem of animal protein deficiency in Nigeria.
There is also the need to integrate
animal production into the allied processing industries to ensure that animals
play a complementary rather than competitive role with man in meeting feed
requirements (Chenost and Mayer, 1977).
1.2 OBJECTIVES
OF THE STUDY
The aim of this study was to
evaluate the growth response and carcass quality of turkey birds fed diets
containing graded levels of palm oil sludge.
The specific objectives of
the study were to:
i
evaluate the growth performance of turkey fed
varying dietary levels of palm oil sludge.
ii
evaluate the carcass quality of turkeys fed
the different diets
iii
evaluate the cost effectiveness of using palm
oil sludge in feeding turkeys
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