Performance characteristics of broiler finisher fed grit and enzyme supplemented sugarcane bark scrapings

Abstract

A total of two hundred and seventy (270) broiler finishers of four (4) weeks old were used in this experiment to determine the effects of feeding Sugarcane Bark Scrapping (SBS) with or without grit and enzyme supplementation. A 3 × 3 factorial experiment was adopted such that there were three graded levels of SBS (0, 7.5 and 15%) by three supplementation levels (No supplement, grit and enzyme) and lasted for a period of four (4) weeks. The results showed that increase in the inclusion level of SBS had significant effect (P 0.05) on the nitrogen intake. There were significant effects (P<0.05) of the supplementation on the feed intake, rate of weight gain, feed to gain ratio and final body weight. Broiler finishers fed grit supplemented diets performed significantly (P<0.05) better than broiler fed no supplement and enzyme supplemented diets. The interaction between the varying levels of SBS and supplements had significant effects (P<0.05) on final body weight, rate of weight gain, feed intake and feed to gain ratio. This study shows that broiler fed SBS at 7.5% inclusion level supplemented with grit gave the best growth performance.