MAIZE REPLACEMENT VALUE OF SHEA BUTTER CAKE (Vitellaria paradoxa) WITH OR WITHOUT ENZYME SUPPLEMENTATION ON PERFORMANCEOF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

Maize has traditionally been a staple ingredient in broiler diets as major energy source, but  the increasing demand for it has led researchers to explore alternative feed ingredients to reduce reliance on maize and promote sustainable poultry production through reduction in production cost. Shea Butter Cake (SBC), a by-product of shea butter extraction, can be a promising substitute for maize in broiler diets. The study investigated the maize replacement value of SBC with or without enzyme supplementation on performance of broiler chickens at the starter phase.  Two hundred and sixteen (216) Ross 308 day-old broiler chicks were  weighed and distributed into six  (6) treatment groups  of thirty-six birds, with four (4) replicates each involving three (3) replacement levels ( 0, 10, 20% SBC maize replacement without enzyme and  0, 10, 20% shea butter cake maize replacement with enzyme supplementation)  in a 3 by 2 factorial arrangement. The data collected on performance characteristics were analyzed using one way analysis of variance. Results showed that Treatment 1 (control group) had higher (P<0.05) final weight (670.92g), daily weight gain (15.02g), daily feed intake compared to other treatments. However,  treatment 3 had the lowest feed:gain (2.17) with least feed cost per kilogramme of feed (₦991.12) which is similar to the ₦967.82 obtained in Treatment 6. It was concluded that 20% SBC can replace maize without enzyme supplementation at the stater phase because of the resultant  lower feed gain ration and consequent lower feed cost per kg weight gain.