ABSTRACT
The response of finisher broilers fed graded levels of urea-treated and fermented brewers dried grains in place of groundnut cake was investigated. Urea-treated and fermented brewer’s dried grains were used to replace groundnut (GNC) at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% levels in broiler finisher diets. Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric to provide 20% crude protein and 3000 Kcal/kg metabolizable energy. One hundred and ninety-five chicks (Anak breed), aged 35 days, were randomly allotted to five treatments having three replicates per treatment at 13 chicks per replicate, and 39 chicks per treatment. The chicks were placed in rearing cages and fed and received ad libitum feeding treatment and general management on equal weight basis. At 56 days of age, the mean body weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed: gain ratio were not significantly (P > 0.05) different in all treatment groups. Economic analysis showed cost reduction and better savings with urea-treated and fermented brewer’s dried grains diets. Mortality level (5 – 7%) was normal and evenly spread across all treatment groups. |
KEYWORDS: |
Urea-treated, fermentation, brewer’s dried grains, groundnut cake, finisher broiler chicks. |
