CARCASS AND GUT CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER BIRDS FED SORGHUM AS A REPLACEMENT FOR MAIZE

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted at the Aminu Saleh College of Education Azare Teaching and Research Farm, Bauchi State to evaluate the dietary response of broiler birds fed sorghum in place of maize at various inclusion levels. A total of one hundred and five day old chicks were used for the study. Five experimental diets were formulated and designated as T1 (control), T2, T3, T4 and T5. The birds were randomly allotted to five experimental treatments of twenty one birds per treatment while each treatment was replicated three times (seven birds per replicate) in a completely randomized design (CRD). The result of growth performancerevealed that average  daily weight gain were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by the dietary treatments. Birds fed 25% sorghum had superior weight gain compared with other treatments. Daily fed intake was however not influenced (p>0.05) by the dietary treatments. There were significant (p<0.05) difference in the cut parts  measured except the weight of chest and wings. Birds fed 75% sorghum had lowest values in wing weight whilebirds fed 100% sorghum had lowest values in chest weight. Carcass weight were significantly (p<0.05) different across dietary treatments. Organs weight and length were not significantly (p>0.05) different across dietary groups except in small intestine length. It was concluded that 25% sorghum can be included in the diet of broilers without adverse effect on growth performance of broilers. However, T2 with 25% sorghum is recommended, since birds on this diet had the best performance and carcass characteristics.