EFFECT OF FEED RESTRICTION AND ENZYME SUPPLEMENTATION ON PERFORMANCE, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND COST BENEFIT OF MARSHAL BROILER CHICKEN

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of feed restriction with or without enzyme supplementation on performance, carcass characteristics, and cost benefit of broiler chickens for a period of fifty six days. Three hundred day-old Marshal Broiler chicks were used in a 3x2 factorial experimental layout to test the effect of feed restriction (FR) at 0, 15, and 30% of ad libitum feeding with two levels of Maxigrain” supplementation (ES) at 0 and 1000ppm. Data were collected on feed intake, weight gain, feed: gain ratio, mortality, carcass characteristics and cost benefit ratio. Data obtained were subjected to one way analysis of variance and significant mean separated. ES however improved the value obtained for these performance indices. Level of feed restriction had significant effect (P<0.05) on live weight, with (2115g) for bird on 0% level of restriction, followed by (2066g) for 15% and (1880g) for 30% level of feed restriction respectively. Hence, enzyme supplemented diet performed better than those chickens without enzyme inclusion in their diet. In conclusion, the trials showed that as the level of Feed restriction increases, feed cost /kg reduced and abdominal fat was reduced while enzyme supplementation enhanced feed utilization and improved the performance of the broilers subjected to feed restriction.