COMPARATIVE DIGESTIBILITY OF THREE COMMONLY USED FIBROUS INGREDIENTS IN MAIZE-SOYABEAN MEAL-FISH DIET BY BROILER CHICKS

Abstract

A 3 x 3 factorial experiment combining 3 factors namely WB, RB, and BDG at 3 levels of inclusion (10, 20 and 30%) was designed to study effects on growth, feed intake feed conversion ratio and nutrient retention by broiler chicks. Nine diets were fedm70 day-old chicks for 35 days. Results showed that feed consumption increased correspondingly with incremental levels of WB, KB and BDG. Broiler chicks on wheat bran based diet consumed more feed and had poorer feed conversion ratio (P<0.05) than chicks fed rice Brunvand brewers' dried grains based diets. The best efficiency of feed conversion growth rate were in chicks fed brewers' dried grains and least (P<0.05) chicks bird RU based diets. Inclusion levels of fibrous ingredients affected the digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber and fat irrespective of the source of dietary fiber. Optimum levels recommended at starter phase were 10-20% rice bran, 10% brewers dried grains and 10-30% wheat bran.