EFFECT OF FULL FAT PALM KERNEL MEAL BASED DIETS SUPPLEMENTED WITH FULLZYME® ON PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

Performance of broiler birds was evaluated in an8-week feeding trial in which full fat palm kernel meal (FFPKM) supplemented with Fullzyme® was fed at graded levels (0, 5, 10 and 15%) during the starter and finisher phases. Four (4) iso-nitrogenous diets were formulated, containing 23% CP for broiler starter (22-24 %CP) and 21% CP for finisher (18-21 %CP) in which FFPKM was supplemented with Fullzyme^®. One hundred and twenty (120) 7-day-old broiler chicks were randomly allotted to 12 pens (10 birds in each pen). Each of the four (4) diet groups was replicated 3 times and randomly allotted to the broiler pens. Each pen represented a replicate. The respective groups of birds were fed the starter diets for 4-weeks during the finisher phase the birds were reduced to 8 birds per pen (96 birds in total). The dietary treatments for the birds in the finishing phase were replicated thrice and fed for four weeks. The daily feed intake, daily weight gains (g/bird) as well as feed to gain ratio of birds on diet 5% FFPKM were significantly (P<0.05) better than those for birds on the control (0%), 10 and 15% FFPKM diets. The feed cost/kg gain for broiler birds on control diet was notably (P<0.05) inferior to those for birds on 5, 10 and 15% FFPKM diets. The outcomes indicate that the 5% FFPKM dietary treatment supplemented with Fullzyme^® gave higher overall l growth performance and can be fed to broiler chickens from starter to finishing without any detrimental impact.