ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT POULTRY FEEDS AND THEIR EFFECT ON SOME BLOOD PARAMETERS IN BROILERCHICKS

Author: DENNIS-EBOH UCHE

Abstract

The research was conducted to evaluate four different commercial feeds used in Nigeria. The feeds are Rainbow Feed (A), Animal Care Feed (B), Top Feed (C) and Jakee Feed (D). A total of forty (40) cochin broiler chicks were used for the study which lasted for a period of two weeks. The forty (40) broilers were divided into four different groups and were fed with the four different feeds for a period of two weeks. Feeds and clean water was supplied twice daily. Proximate analysis for the four feeds were performed to ascertain the nutrient content and to compare with what was written on the feeds’ label. The result of the proximate 12 analysis showed that Rainbow Feed and Top Feed had the highest percentage crude protein, followed by Animal Care and the least was in Jakee Feed. The protein content of all the Feeds obtained in this study except Top Feed did not correspond to the manufacturers claimed values. The average weekly weight gains of the birds were not statistically different (p>0.05). The mean serum urea concentration of birds fed with Top Feed was significantly increased than those fed with Rainbow Feed and Animal Care (P< 0.05). There was no significant difference observed in the serum concentration of calcium for all the boiler chicks fed with the different feeds (P> 0.05). The serum activity of Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) concentration of birds fed with Jakee Feed was significantly increased than those fed with Rainbow Feed, Animal care feed and Top Feed (P< 0.05). The serum activity of Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentration of birds fed with Rainbow Feed was Significantly increased than those broiler chicks fed with Animal Care feeds and Jakee feed (P< 0.05).The nutritional analysis of the different feeds and their effect on some of the blood parameters in broiler chicks shows that these feeds met the requirement of the birds and does not have any adverse effect on the boiler chicks. Conclusively, all the four different commercial diet used in this study are good and recommended for broiler production.

Supervisor: Prof. N. J. Tonukari