Effect of substituting maize in broiler diet with fermented and enzyme-treated Prosopis juliflora pod meal on growth performance

Abstract

The study used 180 Cobb broilers to determine the effect of substituting maize in broiler diets with varying levels of fermented and enzyme-treated prosopis pod meal in broiler diets on performance. The experiment adopted a completely randomized design with three replicates per treatment each with 5 birds offered diets with 0, 15, 30 and 45% levels of either fermented, unfermented or with enzyme-treated pod meal. Feed offered and refusals were recorded daily and feed intake calculated as the difference between the two. Broilers were weighed on a weekly basis. Performance data on were analysed for starter (1-21 days) and finisher (22-42 days). Feed intake, final live weight and feed conversion ratio were significantly highest (p< 0.05) at 30 and 45% fermented pods, followed by enzyme-treated processing and lastly unfermented pods at the same level of substitution. The results showed that fermenting pods achieved higher inclusion levels and improved chicken performance as compared to unfermented and enzyme-treated pods.