EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CAMEL RUMEN CONTENT ON CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER CHICKENS IN THE SEMI-ARID ZONE OF NIGERIA

Abstract

The effects of feeding different levels of camel rumen content on carcass characteristic of broilers chickens were evaluated. The camel rumen content was included at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% levels into diets 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively as replacements for maize and groundnut cake. One hundred and fifty (150) day-old Hover Marshal breed broiler chicks were randomly assigned to the five diets in a completely randomized design (CRD). Each treatment was replicated three times with 10 birds per replicate. The experimental diets and portable water supplied ad libitum throughout the experimental period of nine weeks. At nine week of the experiment 3 birds per replicate were selected for carcass measurement. The backs, hearts, kidneys, lungs, liver and spleen were not significantly (P > 0.05) different among the treatment groups while others parameters were significantly (P<0.05) different among the treatment groups. However, all the values recorded were comparable with values of other workers who slaughtered broiler chickens with similar weight and ages. Therefore, the study indicating that can up to 20% CRC can replace with maize and groundnut cake without adverse effect on the carcass parameters of broiler chickens.