EFFECT OF FEEDING GRADED LEVELS OF PALM KERNEL CAKE DURING CHICK AND GROWER PHASES ON SUBSEQUENT PERFORMANCE OF LAYERS
EFFECT OF FEEDING GRADED LEVELS OF PALM KERNEL CAKE DURING CHICK AND GROWER PHASES ON SUBSEQUENT PERFORMANCE OF LAYERS
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Date
2011-08
Authors
COMFORT, MANSHOP
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Abstract
Egg-type chickens were fed graded levels of palm kernel cake (PKC) during the chick
and grower phases. The subsequent performance of these birds during the laying phase
was investigated. In the first trial, 390 day old ShikaBrowm® chicks were fed diets
containing 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% palm kernel cake. All diets were formulated to be
isonitrogenous (20%). The birds were divided into five (5) groups of seventy eight birds
(78) after balancing for live weight. The 78 birds were further divided into three (3)
replications of twenty six (26) birds each in a completely randomized experimental
design. There were 3 replications per treatment. At the end of the 8 - week trial period,
weight gain and feed intake were not significantly different (P> 0.05) from those of the
control. Feed cost per gram gain was affected (P < 0.05) by the level of PKC in the diets.
The least feed cost per gram gain was observed on diets containing 20% PKC level,
closely followed by 10 and 30% PKC levels. In the second trial, 225 ShikaBrown®, 9
weeks old growers were fed diets containing 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% PKC. All diets were
formulated to be isonitrogenous (16%). The birds were divided into five (5) groups
(treatments) of three (3) replicates is a completely randomized experimental design. Each
pen had 15 birds. At the end of the 11- week trial period the inclusion of PKC in the
grower pullet diets significantly affected (P < 0.05) the live weight gain of the pullets as
the level of PKC was increased in the diets. It however, did not affect the feed intake (P >
0.05). Feed conversion ratio and feed cost per gram gain were affected by the level of
PKC in the diets. In the third trial, 180 ShikaBrown® 20 weeks old layers, were fed a
common layer diet which had no PKC and performance characteristics were measured.
At the end of the trial, it was observed that PKC fed previously to grower pullets did not
significantly affect the subsequent average feed intake (P > 0.05), feed to gain ratio, henday
egg production, hen-housed egg production, weight at first egg and age at 5% egg
production. Age at 1st egg and age at 50% egg production were significantly affected by
the previous feeding of PKC during the chick and grower phases. It is concluded that up
to 20-30% PKC can be used in the diet of pullet chicks and growers without any
detrimental effect on growth rate and feed intake of the birds. Palm kernel cake can be a
valuable feedstuff in the diets of chicks and growers and does not have any detrimental
effect on the subsequent egg production of laying birds.
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TABLE OF
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POST GRADUATE SCHOOL AHMADU
BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ANIMAL
SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA.
AUGUST, 2011
Keywords
EFFECT,, FEEDING GRADED LEVELS,, PALM KERNEL CAKE,, CHICK,, GROWER PHASES,, SUBSEQUENT PERFORMANCE,, LAYERS.