PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER CHICKEN FED DRIED CASHEW APPLE SUPPLEMENTED DIET WITH OR WITHOUT ENZYME

Abstract

A 35-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the response of broiler chickens graded inclusion levels of dried cashew apple (DCA) with or without enzyme supplementation. Two hundred and ten 1-day old Ross broiler chicks were randomly allocated to seven treatment groups. Each treatment had three replicates containing 10 birds each in a 2 X 3 factorial arrangement with a control using completely randomized design. Diets were formulated to contain 0% DCA as control diet, while diets D2, D3, and D4 containing 10, 20, and 30% DCA without enzyme and diets D5, D6, and D7 contained 10, 20, and 30% DCA with enzyme supplementation. Growth performance, blood profile and carcass characteristics were determined at the end of the experiment. All parameters examined were significantly (P<0.05) affected, except for white blood cells, aspartate transaminase and dressed weight. Birds showed a linear response (P<0.05), in average daily gain as the value decreased along the treatments. Increased average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio were recorded in birds fed D4 and D7. Higher (P<0.05) values of packed cell volume, haemoglobin and red blood cells were reported for birds fed D3. Significant (P<0.05) higher values were also recorded for alkaline phosphatase in birds fed D4 to D7. Inclusion of DCA increased (P<0.05) the breast and thigh meat (D3 and D6 respectively). Conclusively DCA, with or without enzyme supplementation could replace maize in the diets of broiler chickens up to 20% without any deleterious effect on performance and overall health of the birds.