Performance of Broiler Chickens Fed Two Varieties Each of Guinea Corn and Millet as Replacements for Dietary Maize

Performance of Broiler Chickens Fed Two Varieties Each of Guinea Corn and Millet as Replacements for Dietary Maize

Chapter One

Objectives of the study are to:

Determine the nutrient composition and anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) in guinea corn and millets.
Determine the performance of broilers fed guinea corn and millets based diets as replacements for dietary
Determine carcass characteristics of broiler chickens fed guinea corn and millet based
Determine nutrient retentions of broiler chickens fed maize, guinea corn and millet

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

The Role of Nutrition in Animal Production in Nigeria

The increase in the world population has led to the need to intensify livestock production, but this is constrained by high overhead cost especially in Nigeria. With a population of about 140 million people (NPC, 2006). Nigeria is one of the countries in the world living the highest rate of population growth. Due to economic situation of the nation, protein intake of most Nigerians is inadequate and often lack protein of high biological value derivable from animal products.

The rising cost of poultry feeds have continued to be a major problem in Nigeria as feed cost is about 60 to 70% (Nworgu et al., 1999; Ogundipe, 2003; Conolly, 2012) compared to about 50 to 60% in developed countries (Tackie and Flenscher, 1995). There has been a steady increase in the cost of conventional feed ingredients such as energy and protein sources which form most of its expensive components conventionally sourced from maize, groundnut cake (GNC), soya bean meal (SBM), and fish meal. Scarcity and sometimes non-availability have led to increase in the prices of such feed ingredients (Onu and Madubuike, 2006; Adejinmi et al., 2007; Defang et al., 2008).

Cereal grains especially maize which forms the bulk of energy in poultry feeds are in short supply as a result of industrial, livestock and human needs (Slavin, 2010). This has resulted in competition between human and animal for the available feed resources, and hence high cost of animal production (Oluyemi and Roberts, 2000; Agbede et al., 2002; Aderolu et al., 2007).

However, green plants, forages and cereals have long been recognized as the most abundant potential source of proteins and carbohydrates (energy) because of their ability to provide amino acids from a wide range of virtualy unlimited and readily available primary materials (D‟Mello and Devendra,1995).

CHAPTER THREE

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Location of the Study

The study was conducted at the Poultry Research Unit of the Department of Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria located within the Northern Guinea Savanna zone on latitude 11⁰ 9‟ 45‟‟ N and longitude 7^o 38‟ 8‟‟E, at an altitude of 610 m above sea level (Ovimaps, 2012).

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULTS

Proximate Composition

Table 4.1 shows the results of the proximate analysis of the test ingredients. Maize was higher in dry matter (DM), nitrogen free extract (NFE) and ME (kcal/kg) when compared with guinea corn and millets respectively.

The percent crude protein was found to be higher in Pearl and finger millets (12.02 and 12.14 % respectively) compared to the values for maize, white guinea corn and Short kaura (8.60, 10.04 and 10.27 % respectively).

The percent ether extract were similar for maize, white guinea corn, Short kaura, pearl millet and finger millets (with 3.82, 3.06, 3.19, 3.78 and 3.54 % respectively).

Crude fibre was found to be higher in pearl and finger millets respectively (6.01 and 6.30 %) compared to the values for maize, white guinea corn and Short kaura (with 3.20, 4.69 and 4.78 % respectively).

The percent ash was found to be higher in finger millet (3.2 %) compared to the values for maize, white guinea corn, Short kaura and pearl millets (with 1.81, 1.86, 1.89 and 1.62 % respectively).

The percent nitrogen free extract was found to be higher in maize 80.60% compared to the values for white guinea corn, Short kaura, pearl millet and finger millets respectively (with 78.80, 78.92, 72.20 and 68.06% respectively).

Anti-nutritional Factors in Feed Ingredients

Table 4.2 shows the levels of anti-nutritional factors found in the test ingredients. The values recorded for tannins were within the range of 0.10 – 0.16 g/Kg, phytate was within the range of 0.33- 0.66 g/Kg. Cyanide was within the range of 0.16- 3.60 g/Kg Maize was found to be significantly (p<0.05) higher in cyanide compared to guinea corn and millets. Oxalate was within the range of 6.72- 13.44 g/Kg which was found to be significantly (p<0.05) higher in white guinea corn compared to maize, Short kaura guinea corn and millets respectively.

CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSIONS

Proximate Composition of the Test Ingredients

The percent dry matter (DM), ether extract and nitrogen free extract (NFE) was found to be high in maize. This may be responsible for the high value of ME (kcal/kg) compared to the values recorded for guinea corn and millets respectively. This finding is in agreement with the reports of Aduku (1993); Olomu (1995); and NRC (1996). These workers reported higher value of maize compared to guinea corn and millets.

The higher percent crude protein found in Pearl and finger millets compared to the values for maize, white guinea corn and Short kaura were within the ranges reported by Olomu (1995); Ojewola and Oyim (2006).

The similar values recorded for percent ether extract of maize, white guinea corn, Short kaura, pearl millet and finger millets respectively were within the ranges of 2.50 to 4.10% recorded by Olomu (1995); Subramanian and Metta (2000); Abubakar et al. (2006); Etuk and Ukaejiofo (2007).

The high Crude fibre found in pearl and finger millets (6.01 and 6.10%) agrees with Olomu (1995); Ojewola and Oyim (2006) who reported ranges of 5.8- 7.92 crude fibre (CF) for millets and contradicts that of Ravindran (1991); Sripriya et al. (2007); Adamu et al. (2013) who obtained 2.8 and 4.3% crude fibre respectively for pearl and finger millets.

The percent ash was found to be high in finger millet (3.2 %) compared to the values for maize, white guinea corn, Short kaura and pearl millets respectively. This result agrees with the reports of Gomez (1993); Olomu (1995); NRC (1996); Ojewola and Oyim (2006) who reported 3.83% ash for finger millet and classified it as a good source of calcium 5-30 times more than in most cereals making it an important food for pregnant women, nursing mothers and children.

CHAPTER SIX

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary of major findings

The study was carried out to evaluate the effects of complete replacement of maize with two varieties of guinea corn and two varieties of millets on the growth performance, carcass characteristics and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens. Each treatment consisted of 45 birds with three replicates of fifteen birds each in a completely randomized design (CRD). The proximate composition of the test ingredients showed that guinea corn and millets were slightly higher in percent crude protein and crude fibres while maize was higher in NFE and in ME (kcal/kg). Percent ash was higher in finger millet compared to others.

Tannin and phytates of both the white guinea corn and the Short kaura guinea corn were found to be much higher than those of maize and the millets but the levels contained appeared to be tolerable for broiler chickens as growth rates were not adversely affected. Oxalate was found to be the major anti-nutritional factor limiting the performance of broilers fed white guinea corn based diets.

At the end of the first experiment, it was observed that final body weights and weight gains were significantly (p<0.05) higher in birds fed pearl and finger millet diets respectively than other treatments at the starter and finisher phases. Pearl millet based diet recorded significantly (p<0.05) the best feed conversion ratio and the lowest feed cost per unit weight gain. Those birds fed the control (maize based diet) gave similar (p>0.05) values as those fed Short kaura based diet in all the parameters measured. Birds fed white guinea corn based diet had the least (p<0.05) and poor performance. The second trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% levels of maize in the diet with white guinea corn on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics of broilers. In this experiment, there were no significant (p>0.05) difference for final weight, daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio and cost of feed per kilogramme weight gain of birds fed control (maize based diet) and those of birds fed 25%, 50% and 75% maize replacement by white guinea corn. Birds fed 100% replacement of maize by white guinea corn gave significantly (p<0.05) lowest values in all parameters measured and also the poorest feed conversion ratio.

Conclusion

The Crude Protein contents of pearl and finger millets were found to be considerably higher than the Crude Protein contents of maize and guinea
Oxalate was found to be the major anti-nutritional factor limiting the performance of broilers fed white guinea corn based
Tannin and Phytates of both the white guinea corn and the Short kaura guinea corn were found to be much higher than those of maize and the millets but the levels contained appeared to be tolerable for broiler chickens as growth rates were not adversely
The nutrient digestibility of broilers fed graded levels of white guinea corn as replacement for maize did not show any significant difference for percent ether extract and ash digestibility across the

Recommendations

Based on the findings of these studies, the following recommendations are made:

Maize can be completely replaced with pearl and finger millets in broilers starter and finisher diets without any nutritional defects on the birds growth performance.
White guinea corn can substitute 50% to 75% of dietary maize in broiler starter and finisher diets without any adverse effects on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler

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