ABSTRACT
A study was conducted to evaluate the performance of pullet
chicks fed diets containing varying levels of fibre and supplementary enzyme.
One hundred and twenty 3 -week old Harco black pullet chicks averaging 249.87 –
250.23g body weight were randomly divided into 8 groups of 15 birds each. The
groups were randomly assigned to 8 energetic (11.78-11.96 MJ/Kg ME) and
nitrogenous (20% crude protein) diets in a 4 x 2 factorial arrangement
involving four levels (5.0, 6.0, 7.0 and 8.0%) of fibre and two enzyme levels
(0 and 0.25%). Each treatment was replicated 3 times with 5 birds per replicate.
Feed and water were supplied ad libitum to the birds during the 8 weeks
experimental period. Results showed that the weight gain of chicks that
consumed diets without enzyme supplementation decreased significantly
(P<0.01) as the dietary fibre level increased beyond 6% level . Average
daily feed intake (ADFI) also increased significantly (P<0.01) at the 7 and
8% dietary fibre levels. Chicks fed 6% crude fibre diet with enzyme
supplementation had significantly (P<0.01) higher average daily weight gain
(ADWG), final body weight (FBW) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) and lower
(P<0.01) cost of feed per kg weight gain than those fed the control diet.
There was a significant (P<0.01) increase in the intake of crude fibre (CF)
and nitrogen-free extract (NFE) as the fibre level in the diet increased beyond
6%. Dry matter (DM), nitrogen and CF retentions were significantly (P<0.01)
decreased as the dietary fibre increased beyond 6% inclusion level. Increasing
levels of crude fibre in the diets had no significant (P>0.01) effect on the
WBC and MCHC but affected the PCV, Hb, RBC, MCH and MCV significantly
(P<0.01). There were significant (P<0.01) interactions between dietary
fibre and enzyme levels on ADWG, FBW, ADFI, FCR, PER , cost of total feed intake
and feed cost per kg weight gain. Enzyme supplementation increased (P<0.01)
ADWG, FBW and PER at the 6, 7 and 8% fibre inclusion levels; reduced
(P<0.01) feed intake at the 5, 7 and 8% fibre inclusion levels ; reduced
(P<0.01) FCR values at all the fibre inclusion levels and reduced
(P<0.01) the cost of total feed intake and feed cost per kg weight gain at
all the fibre inclusion levels. There were also significant (P<0.01)
interactions between fibre and enzyme levels on NFE intake, DM , nitrogen, CF,
EE, NFE, PCV, Hb, RBC, MCH and MCV. Enzyme supplementation reduced (P<0.01)
NFE intake at the 7% fibre inclusion level; increased(P<0.01) the retention
of DM at the 5% and 7 %, fibre inclusion levels; increased (P<0.01) nitrogen
retention at the 5%, 6% and8% fibre inclusion levels; increased (P<0.01) CF
retention at the 6%,7% and 8% fibre inclusion levels and increased(P<0.01)
EE and NFE retentions at the 7% and 8% fibre inclusion levels; increased
(P<0.01) PCV, Hb and RBC at the 6% and 7 %, fibre inclusion levels and
increased (P<0.01) MCH and MCV at the 7% fibre inclusion level. Based on the
results obtained in the present study, it was concluded that pullet chicks can
be fed 6% crude fibre diet without supplementary enzyme and that up to 8%
dietary fibre can be included in enzyme- supplemented pullet chicks’ diet
without adverse effects on growth performance of chicks.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
of Study
Poultry production has an
unquestionable propensity to close the existing gap in animal protein
consumption in the country. This according to Ibe (2004) is because of their
short gestation and generation intervals, large number, fast growth, greater
affordability, ease of raising, absence of taboos to production and consumption
and absence of barrier to production in any climatic zone in the country.
Obioha (1992a) and Oluyemi and Roberts (2000) further stated that poultry
enjoys a relative advantage over other livestock in terms of its ease of
management, high turn-over, quick return to capital investment and wide
acceptance of its product for human consumption.
Poultry industry occupies a
unique position in the livestock sector of Nigeria because of the yearning
demand for its products. Ikeme et al. (1986) pointed out that the
industry sprang up with the advent of large poultry farmers which produced far
more eggs than can be sold locally. Agriculturalists and nutritionists
generally agree that development of the poultry industry is the fastest means
of bridging the protein deficiency gap in the country. Oluyemi and Roberts
(2000) stated that the problem of protein malnutrition is enormous in
developing countries like Nigeria; poultry is probably the fastest route to
achieve any appreciable improvement in the nutritional standard of the populace
because of its short generation interval, quick turnover rate and relatively
low capital investment, they also stated that increased egg production is one
sure way of
The highest productivity of
eggs in the Nigerian poultry industry apparently stemmed from the use of high
producing strains of birds as well as the development of balanced feeds,
intensive housing and better poultry equipment (Obioha, 1992b; Oluyemi and
Roberts, 2000).
For some time now, the Nigerian
poultry industry has devoted more attention to the exotic breeds of chicken due
to their high performance in terms of body weight, egg-production and feed to
gain ratio.
Egg is one of the most
nutritious animal products. It is an excellent source of high quality protein
in human food that is common and affordable. Documented reports indicate that
two eggs a day are sufficient to 17.2% of an adult person’s protein needs as
well as essential vitamins and trace element (Ikeme et al., 1986).
Most of the eggs in the
Nigerian market are produced by exotic breeds of chicken genetically developed
for egg production.
Increased egg production in
Nigeria is being hampered by high cost of feed, which constitutes about 70-80%
of the total cost of egg production (Acromovic, 2001). The rapid development of
intensive poultry and egg production has been accompanied by an increased
competition between humans and animals for maize which is a major staple food
in the main poultry production zones. This competition could be alleviated by
replacing maize in poultry feed by locally available agricultural by-products
that are less exploited by humans. (Teguia, 1995)......
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