Response of Broiler Chickens to Graded Levels of Untreated and Urea Treated Rice Offal

Abstract

A total of one hundred and fifty (150) day-old unsexed broiler chickens averaging 50.00 grammes were utilized for the purpose of accessing their response to graded levels of untreated and urea treated rice offal. These were randomly allocated into 5 equal groups of 30 birds in each treatment replicated 3 times with each replicate having 10 birds. Five (5) diets designated I (control), II, III, IV and V were formulated such that untreated rice offal was included at 7.5% and 15.0% (diets II and IV) while urea treated rice offal was included at 7.5% and 15.0% (diets III and V) respectively. The results show that there were no significant differences (P>0.05) in feed intake, weight gain and efficiency of feed utilization among birds fed the untreated and urea treated rice offal. However, feed intake was lower with birds fed 15.0% urea treated rice offal than those fed untreated rice offal. Weight gain was better with birds fed 15.0% urea treated rice offal. Birds fed 15.0% urea treated rice offal had better efficiency of feed utilization than those fed either 7.5% urea treated rice offal or 15.0% untreated rice offal. Finally, feed cost per unit weight gain significantly (P<0.05) improved with birds fed all the diets containing untreated and urea treated rice offal compared with those fed the control diet. However, there were no significant differences (P>0.05) in feed cost per unit weight gain among birds diets containing either untreated or urea treated rice offal; with birds fed the diet   containing 15.0% urea treated rice offal supporting the best feed cost per unit weight gain. On the basis of the results obtained, it may be recommended that untreated or urea treated rice offal could be included at up to 15.0% of the diet of broiler chickens without any adverse effect on their performance.