Corncob-Based Diet With Enzyme Blend Improves Body Weight, Feed Efficiency and Breast Yield of Sasso Broiler Chickens.

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Citation abstract

BACKGROUND: Owing to the high cost of grains and protein, poultry nutritionists need to consider alternative feed sources from non-conventional, agro-industrial by-products to feed poultry.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effects of ground corncobs (GCC) with additives as an alternative fibre source for broiler diet.

METHODS: Three hundred sixty 3-week-old dual-purpose chicks (Sasso X44) were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments, having 6 replicates with 15 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. Four experimental diets were formulated: C0 (Control/Basal diet), C1 (10% GCC), C2 (10% GCC diet with 0.05% multi-blend enzyme), C3 (10% GCC diet with 0.5% flaked oyster mushroom, FOM).

RESULTS: At the end of the experimental period, it was revealed that apart from blood platelet counts, which were significantly low (p < 0.05) in the additive-supplemented diets, GCC and its supplementation with either multi-blend enzyme or FOM had no influence (p > 0.05) on haematological parameters. Birds fed the C0, C2 and C3 diets were more efficient (p < 0.05) in feed conversion in comparison to those fed the raw 10% GCC diet at Week 12, with the final body weight of the C2 group significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the raw GCC group. Breast yield was heavier in the birds of the C2 group compared to the raw GCC group (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: It is therefore beneficial to supplement corncob diets with multi-blend enzymes and flaked oyster mushrooms since their inclusion did not have any negative influence on the blood parameters, in addition to improving feed efficiency and body weight.