Response of broiler chickens to sand box seed meal based - diets supplemented with or without enzyme

This study examined the growth performance, carcass and blood characteristics of broiler chickens fed sand box seed meal - based diets supplemented with or without enzyme (Allzyme®Vegpro5X). A total of 240 unsexed day - old broiler chicks were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments in a completely randomized design experiment. There were four replicates of 20 birds each. The three experimental diets were formulated such that the control diet (T1) had neither sand box seed meal nor enzyme, while soybean meal was replaced with sand box seed meal (100%) without enzyme (T2) and soybean bean meal replaced with sand box seed meal (SBSM) supplemented with enzyme (1g/kg of feed) (T3) for both starter and finisher diets. Performance parameters were monitored during the feeding trial. Results at the starter phase showed significant (p<0.05) differences in feed intake. At the finisher phase feed intake values showed non-significant (p>0.05) differences. The final live weight (FLW), daily weight gain (DWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) all tended to significantly (p<0.05) increase in birds fed control diets. Nutrient retention values for all the parameters were significantly (p<0.05) lower with birds on SBSM - based diet without enzyme, while those of the control and SBSM - based diets with enzyme were numerically similar and significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of birds on SBSM - based diets without enzyme. The cost of feed per Kg live weight gain (N) was lower for birds on SBSM - based diet supplemented with enzyme. Result of haematological parameters were significantly different (p<0.05) across dietary treatments for white blood cell counts (WBCs), lymphocytes, red blood cell counts (RBCs), haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH). Furthermore, all serum biochemical indices except total protein and bicarbonates showed significant (p<0.05) differences between dietary treatments. This study concluded that it is cheaper to produce one kilogram of broiler birds by replacing soybean meal with sand box seed meal supplemented with Allzyme®Vegpro5X without any adverse effects on the growth performance, carcass quality, nutrient retention and blood characteristics of broiler chickens.