PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS FED DIETS CONTAINING ROSELLE (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) SEEDS FERMENTED AT VARYING DURATIONS WITH OR WITHOUT ENZYME SUPPLEMENTATION

PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS FED DIETS CONTAINING ROSELLE (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) SEEDS FERMENTED AT VARYING DURATIONS WITH OR WITHOUT ENZYME SUPPLEMENTATION

Abstract:

Two feeding trials were conducted to evaluate the nutritional value of Roselle seed fermented at varying durations in the diet of broiler chickens on growth performance, carcass chararacteristics, haematological parameters and nutrient digestibility. Experiment one involved Roselle seed fermented at varying durations, while in experiment two Roselle seeds fermented for 96 hrs were supplemented with enzymes. Two hundred and seventy Ross broiler chickens and two hundred and twenty five Ross broiler chickens were used in experiment 1 and 2 respectively. There were six treatment groups for both starter and finisher phases in experiment 1 and five treatment groups for both starter and finisher phases in experiment 2. Each treatment groups had three replicates with 15 birds per replicate and forty-five birds per group in a completely randomized design (CRD). In experiment 1, Roselle seeds fermented at varying durations were fed across the dietary treatments. T1 served as the control diet (0% fermented Roselle seed), while T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 diets contained raw and diets containing Roselle seeds fermented for 24hrs, 48hrs, 72hrs and 96hrs respectively. In experiment 2, T1 (0 % Fermented Roselle seeds) served as the control diet while T2, T3, T4 and T5 contained Fermented Roselle seed (96 hrs), Frs + Protease, Frs + Roxazyme and Frs + Protease + Roxazyme respectively. The result of the first feeding trial at the starter phase showed that there were significant (P<0.05) differences in total feed intake, feed conversion ratio, weight gain and final body weight of broiler chicks fed diets containing Roselle seeds fermented at varying durations. Feed conversion ratio was better in birds fed the control diet (1.66) compared to birds fed diets containing raw Roselle seeds (3.13). At the finisher phase, final body weight increased linearly as the fermentation duration increased (502.10, 468.00, 578.77, 648.10 and 733.33 g/bird) respectively. Feed cost/Kg gain value was lower in fed birds diets containing Roselle viii seeds fermented for 96 hours (N158.16) compared to other treatments. The second feeding trial showed that dietary supplementation with enzyme significantly (P<0.05) affected total feed intake, weight gain final weight. At the starter phase, birds fed the control diet had significantly (P<0.05) higher final body weight (674.00 g/bird) compared to birds fed diets containing fermented Roselle seeds with enzyme supplementation (422.34, 348.34, 346.34 and 373.34g/bird). At the finisher phase, there were significant (P<0.05) differences in total feed intake, feed conversion ratio, weight gain and final weight across the dietary treatments. Birds fed the control diet had better performance in all parameters. Based on the results of these studies, it was concluded that Roselle seed fermented for 96 hours improved growth performance, nutrient digestibility, haematological parameters and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens.

PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS FED DIETS CONTAINING ROSELLE (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) SEEDS FERMENTED AT VARYING DURATIONS WITH OR WITHOUT ENZYME SUPPLEMENTATION

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