GROWTH PERFORMANCE, HAEMATOLOGY AND ECONOMICS OF PRODUCTION OF BROILER CHICKS ON DIETS WITH VARYING REPLACEMENT LEVELS OF MAIZE-SOYA WITH BREWER DRIED GRAINS

Abstract

The study evaluated growth performance, blood indices and economics of replacing maize-soya with graded levels of brewer dried grain (BDG) in a maize-soya based diets for broiler chicks. 120-day-old broiler chicks of mixed sexes were used. BDG replaced 0%, 30%, 40% and 50% of combined maize and soya in the control diet as T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. 30 birds were on each treatment diet, at 10 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. The study period was 28 days. Body weight changes and feed intake were recorded on daily basis. Performance indices were measured. Results showed significant (P < 0.05) effect of BDG on all growth parameters and economic indices. The final body weight, daily weight gain and daily feed intake decreased with the increasing replacement level of maize and soya with BDG. Birds had higher average final body weight (g/bird), average daily weight gain (g/bird), Fc/kg feed (N) and Fc/bird (N), with the lowest FCR on 0% BDG. However, the final body weight and daily weight gain were similar on 30% and 40% BDG diets. Packed Cell Volume (PCV%), white blood cell (WBC x10³/ul), Platelets (x10³/ul),  Lymphocyte (%), Heterophils (%) and Eosinophils (%) were influenced by BDG. However, BDG had no effect on the Hb (g/dL), RBC (x10⁶/uL), Monocytes (%) and Basophils (%) concentrations. The result concluded that 40% of maize-soya can be replaced economically with BDG without any serious negative effect on growth and health of broiler starter chicks.