Volume : 2, Issue : 8, August - 2013

Performance and Economic Analysis of Broiler Chicks Fed Enzyme Supplemented Heat Treated Goat Manure–Based Diets

Emmanuel Obioha Ahaotu, Josiah Chidiebere Okonkwo, Patience Nnenna Onu, Veronica Ngozi Okonkwo

Abstract :

A 35 day feeding trial was conducted to study the effects of exogenous enzymes supplementation of heat–treated goat manure–based diets on the performance of oiler starter chicks. Two hundred and ten (210) 7–day old oiler chicks were randomly allotted to seven groups in a completely randomized design. Each group was replicated three times. Seven experimental oiler starter diets were formulated such that diet 1 contained 0% heat–treated goat manure (HGM). Diets 2, 4 and 6 contained 5%, 10% and 15% HSM without supplementation, respectively, while diets 3, 5 and 7 contained 5%, 10% and 15% HGM supplemented with 100mg of exogenous enzyme (Roxayme G.), respectively. The results of indicated that body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio of starter oilers were negatively affected by feeding HGM without exogenous enzyme dietary inclusion level. Furthermore, the study revealed that enzyme supplementation of HGM in oiler starter diets enhanced the performance, reduced the cost of feed intake and cost of feed per weight gain of the of the young oiler chicks. Consequently, the study maintained that enzyme supplementation at higher level of HGM might be effective for better performance of the birds.