GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS FED FERMENTED MAIZE GRAIN RESIDUE AND THE DECANTED WATER AS PROBIOTIC SOURCES

Abstract

This experiment aimed to evaluate the growth performance traits of broiler chickens through supplementation of fermented maize grain residue (FMGR), and its decanted water (DWFMGR), locally called èrí and omíídùn respectively, as sources of probiotics in their feeds. The experiment was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. A total of 180 day-old-chicks, divided into six treatments, namely: positive control, negative control, 1% FMGR, 2% FMGR, 1% DWFMGR in water, and 2% DWFMGR in water was used. Each treatment had 30 chicks each, replicated thrice. The birds were fed the respective treatment diets for eight weeks. The average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily body weight gain (ADWG), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated. The result indicated that all parameters measured, except the FCR exhibited significant (p<0.05) differences among the treatments. The ADFI was significantly higher (p<0.05) for the positive control (48.33±4.04g), and similar to 1% FMGR, while birds on 1%, and 2% DWFMGR (37.67±0.58g and 37.33±2.50g respectively) had the lowest and similar (p>0.05) values. The ADWG recorded was higher (p<0.05) for birds on positive control diet, while those given 2% DWFMGR had the lowest value (14.00±1.13g). The PER followed the trend observed for ADWG. Conclusively, the result obtained in this study shows both FMGR and DWFMGR are potential local sources of alternatives to antibiotics. However, I recommend that higher inclusion rate be used in further study, perhaps a better result could be obtained