EFFECT OF ENZYME SUPPLEMENTATION ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF COBB500 AND ROSS308 BROILER CHICKENS FED FINISHER DIETS.

Abstract

This experiment was designed to study the effects of broiler strain and dietary level of enzymes on growth performance. A total of 180 4-week-old broiler chickens (90 Ross 308 and 90 Cobb 500) were distributed over three experimental groups according to a 2 x 3 factorial design. There were three different experimental diets presented to chicks within each strain, Treatment 1 was the control diet containing 0.0% enzyme inclusion, Treatment 2 contained.01 % enzyme inclusion and Treatment 3 contain 0.015% enzyme inclusion. Initial body weight and final body weight gain during the finisher phase showed that chicks of Ross 308 recorded significantly higher initial weight and final body weight gain compared to chicks of Cobb 500 strain, whereas, birds fed 0.00% enzyme had higher growth performances compared to those that contain enzyme in their diet. Strain, enzyme level, and their interactions, had significant effects (p<0.05) on all the growth parameters during the finisher phase. Values of total feed intake (TFI) during the finisher phase showed that birds of Cobb 500 recorded significantly higher TFI compared to birds of Ross 308 strain, while birds fed 0% enzyme consumed more feed than those that contain enzyme in their diet. Additionally, the cost of feed consumed and cost per kg of body weight presented no significant differences between strains, whereas enzyme level had a significant effect on the cost per kg of body weight.