EFFECT OF REPLACING GROUNDNUT CAKE WITH UREA FERMENTED BREWER’S DRIED GRAINS IN BROILER CHICKS DIETS

Abstract

The effect of replacing groundnut cake with urea fermented brewer’s dried grains at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 % graded levels in broiler chick starter diets was investigated.  Five dietary treatments were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric to provide 23 % crude protein and 2900 kcal/kg metabolizable energy.  One hundred and ninety – five day-old broiler chicks (Anak breed) were randomly allotted to five treatments replicated thrice with 13 chicks per replicate, fed and watered ad libitum in battery cages for 35 days. Means of body weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed: weight gain ratio of broiler  chicks fed the  control  diet, 25 and 50 % urea fermented   brewer’s dried grains diets were significantly (P < 0.05) better than those fed 75 and 100 % inclusion levels.  Nitrogen and lipid retention, crude fibre and dry matter digestibilities of broiler chicks followed the same trend with the weight performance.  Mortality was zero. Economically, it was more profitable to use urea fermented brewer’s dried grains in replacing groundnut cake in broiler chicks diets.