Assessment of The Performance of Chicks Fed with Wheat Bran Solid Fermented by Trichoderma longibrachiatum (SF1)

Abstract

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of feeding fermented wheat bran (WB) on the broiler performance. Nutritional value of wheat bran was improved through fermentation by cellulase secreting fungi isolated from soil. A total number of 90 one-day- old chicks were randomly assigned into 3 experimental groups (30 each, in 3 replicates). Group 1: diet including 0 % wheat bran (control1), Group 2: diet including 10% unfermented wheat bran (control 2), Group 3: diet including 10% wheat bran solid fermented by Trichoderma longibrachiatum (SF1). All diets were iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. The statistical evaluation of growth performance at the 5th week of age indicated significant increase in the average live body weight of birds fed with fermented wheat bran which recorded (1640 g) compared with the control-1 (1147.7g) and control-2 (1363.5 g). Feed consumption recorded significant increase to 3915.6 g/ bird, which returned to the best palatability of fermented feed. It was clearly sustained that the best significant feed conversion was recorded in group treated with fermented wheat bran (2.39), while unfermented WB group (2.41) compared to control-1(2.69). The cross sections in duodenum revealed no histopathological features related to such fungi and showing normal histological structure. Concerning the effects of feeding fermented wheat bran on some blood parameters , results showed that most levels are in normal ranges. In conclusion, wheat bran solid fermented by Trichoderma longibrachiatum (SF1) could be successfully used in poultry feed without deleterious effect.