THE USE OF ACTIVATED SEWAGE SLUDGE IN BROILER DIETS

Abstract

The effect of dried activated sewage sludge on the growth and protein utilization of broiler was studied. The eight weeks feeding trial involving one hundred and eighty day-old broiler chicks, weighting 57.80 – 58.00g in a completely randomized design were fed three diets containing 0% (control), 10% and 15% dried activated sewage sludge. The dried activated sewage sludge was found to be high in protein and ash (24.24% and 41.80%) but low in either extract and fibre (3.0% and 3.50%) respectively. At the 10% level of inclusion in the diet, the activiated sewage sludge gave significantly (P < 0.05) better weight gains than the control and 15% levels of inclusion. The feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratios were also significantly (P < 0.05) better at 10% inclusion when compared with the control and 15% levels of inclusion. There was no incidence of enteritis and percentage mortality was statistically insignificant at 5% level.