DIETRY EFFECT OF SUBSTITUTING MIXED SAW DUST FOR WHEAT OFFAL ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF BROILER STARTER

Abstract

The experiment was conducted using 99 broilers to determine the dietary effect of substituting mixed sawdust for wheat offal on growth performance of broiler starter. Three dietary treatments were formulated with mixed sawdust substituting for wheat offal at 0%, 35%, and 70% respectively in a completely randomized design experiment. The experiment lasted for 4weeks. Results of performance characteristics of broiler starter fed experimental diet showed that the average initial weight and mortality were not influenced by dietary treatment  (p>0.05) while the average final weight, average weight gain, average feed intake and feed conversion ratio were all influenced by dietary treatment (p<0.05).  The highest final live weight (1618.00g) was recorded for broiler fed diet 2 while the lowest final live weight (1536.00g) was noticed in broiler fed diet 3. Birds on diet 2 had the highest average weight (1132.00g) while the lowest of weight gain (1065.00g) was obtained in broiler fed diet 3. Birds fed diet 3 had the lowest feed intake value of (1912.12kg) while the highest feed intake (1991.21kg) was recorded for broiler fed diet 2.  The best feed conversation ratio (1.76) was obtained in broilers fed (0% and 35% substitution level of mixed saw dust for wheat offal) respectively. It could be concluded that (35%) substitution level of mixed saw dust could effectively be substituted for wheat offal without adverse effect on the health status of broilers fed experimental diet.