PARTIAL REPLACEMENTS OF BREWERS' DRIED GRAINS WITH BIODEGRADED COWPEA AND SORGHUM SEEDHULLS JN BROILER DIETS

Abstract

Cowpea and sorghum biodegraded in poultry faeces were used to replace brewers dried grains (BDG) in the diet of broiler chicks for eight weeks in a completely randomized design. 180 (day - old) chicks were used for the two trials of the experiment. In the first trial, biodegraded cowpea seed hull replaced BDG at 0, 25 and 50% levels, whereas, in the second trial, biodegraded sorghum seed hull replaced BDG at 0.25 and 59% levels in broiler diets. In the first trial, average body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency (feed: gain) significantly decreased with increased levels of biodegraded cowpea seed hull. In the second trial, significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed in the average feed intake and body weight gain of broiler chickens fed biodegraded sorghum seed hull. Performance of the chickens increased as sorghum seed hull increased in the diets. Biodegradation of cowpea and sorghum seed hulls improved their nutritional quality but the level of inclusion of these biodegraded products should be monitored. Cowpea and sorghum seed hulls biodegraded in poultry faeces could be utilized by broiler chickens and could replace BDG in the diet of broilers up to 50%.