ABSTRACT

A total of one hundred and twenty (120) day old chicks were used in an eight weeks trial to evaluate the growth performance, carcass characteristics and economic benefits of broiler chicken fed selected energy sources based diets. The birds were randomly shed to four (4) treatment diets making a total of thirty (30) birds per treatment, winch were replicated three (3) times, with ten (10) birds per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The birds were weighed at the beginning of the experiment and weekly thereafter. Experimental diets and water were supplied ad libitum to the birds. The final weight are affected by the different energy sources (P<0.05), birds on maize (2218.67g), sorghum (2142.00g) and wheat (2112.Oog) was significantly (p<O.05) higher than birds on millet (1931 .33g). The weight gain of the birds differed significantly (p<O.05) in all the treatments. The highest (2080.89g) was observed in diet 1 (maize based diet) and diet 2 (2004.67g), and the lowest (1791.33g) was observed in diet 4 (nfllet based diet). The average daily weight gain showed that birds on maize diet (42.46g) was significantly (p<0.05) higher followed by birds on sorghum diet (40.91g) and wheat diet (40.24g) while birds on millet diet (36.55g) gave the least average daily weight gain. The total feed intake did not show significant (P>0.05) differences. Birds fed millet diet (4901 .96g) gave the highest total feed intake while birds on sorghum diet (4697.14g) had lower feed intake. Also, birds fed millet diet (100.04g) gave the highest daily feed intake while birds on sorghum diet (95.86g) had lower feed intake. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) obtained among the treatment diets were comparable (p>0.05). Birds fed millet diet (2.73) had high FCR while maize diet (2.32) and sorghum diet (2.34) the least FCR. The best feed conversion ratio was seen in maize and sorghum diets. The live weight of birds fed maize diet (2048.67g) was significantly higher than other treatment diets. The dressed weight of birds fed maize diet (1548.67g) and sorghum diet (81565.l0g) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than other treatment diets while birds fed sorghum diet (79.24%) was significantly higher (p<O.05) than other treatment diets. The drumstick obtained showed that birds fed millet diet (16.07%) was significantly higher (p<0.05) while the l2ack cut obtained showed that birds fed millet diet (19.24%) was significantly higher (p<O.05). There was no significant (p>0.05) differences in the thigh cut, breast cut and wings across the treatment diets. The values obtained for the organ proportions such as the small intestine, kidney, heart, gizzard and lungs were not significantly (p>0.05) affected by dietary treatment. From the study, maize and sorghum gave the best performance in final weight, weight gained, average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio; hence the two varieties can be use in broiler feeding without adverse effect on the performance. Higher revenue was obtained in maize diet= (N1345.33) than other treatment diets. These showed that with reduced cost per kg feed, cost of feed consumed and lower cost per kg weight gain, a farmer can make profit/revenue by feeding his birds with maize as compared to other cereal grains used for the study.