Effects of Graded Levels of Full Fat Palm Kernel Meal on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics in Broiler chicks

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Full Fat Palm Kernel Meal (FFPKM) on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicks. A total of 120 one-day-old broiler chicks of the ANAC-2000 strain were assigned to 4 experimental groups in a completely randomised experimental design and fed graded levels (0%, 5%, 7% and 9%) of FFPKM as partial replacement for maize for seven weeks (42 days). The experimental groups, which were designated as Treatments A, B, C and D respectively were further replicated three times with 10 birds per replicate so that each group had a total of 30 birds. Treatment A, which contained 0% FFPKM or 100 % maize served as the control. Growth parameters (average final live weight and average daily weight gain), average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio were determined. On day 56 of the experiment, three birds per treatment were randomly selected from each of the replicates, starved overnight and slaughtered to evaluate carcass characteristics. Internal organs such as the gizzard, spleen, thigh, shank, breast, wings, neck, jejunum, lung, drum stick, pancreas, heart, liver, duodenum and kidney were removed and grossly examined for any pathological changes. The results showed that there was a significant difference (P<0.05) in the average final live weight, average daily weight gain and average daily feed intake in the broiler chicks. In birds fed with diets containing FFPKM up to 9%, average daily live weight gain was significantly increased. By contrast, average daily feed intake was significantly decreased with increasing levels of FFPKM in the ration. Consequently, feed conversion ratio was markedly altered in birds receiving 9% FFPKM in the diets. Birds in the control group (0% FFPKM) and 5% FFPKM were less efficient in feed to gain, and significantly (P<0.05) different from treatments C (7% FFPKM) and D (9% FFPKM). There was significant difference (P<0.05) in organ weights (gizzard, spleen, thigh, shank, breast, wings, neck, jejunum, lung, drum stick, pancreas, heart, liver, duodenum and kidney) and some cut parts between the experimental and control groups. There was considerably high abdominal fat deposition in the dressed carcass of broilers fed FFPKM, which was prominent in the gizzards compared to the control group. These results suggest that Full Fat Palm Kernel Meal can replace maize up to 10% in broiler diets without any adverse effects on growth and carcass qualities, and could marginally reduce feed cost in broiler production.

Key words: Full Fat Palm Kernel Meal, Body weight gain, Feed intake, Carcass characteristics, Broilers, Organ weight, Gizzard.