Broiler chicken, Fishmeal, Infertile eggs meal, Performance, Carcass, Blood indices

Abstract

Fishmeal, as animal protein source, is characterised by high cost, dwindling availability and adulteration by feed ingredient suppliers. In view of these, two hundred and ten (210) ten-day old broiler chicks were used, in 2 x 4 experimental layouts, to investigate the effect of replacing fishmeal with infertile egg meal of two forms (with or without shell) and at four graded levels (0, 30, 60 and 100%) on growth performance, haematology, serum biochemistry and carcass indices of broiler chicken. Crude protein (50.2%) and Ether extract (30.6%) were higher in infertile egg without shell (IEM) than in infertile egg withshell (IEMS) (41.36 and 23.4%). Egg forms (IEM or IEMS) did not affect (P>0.05) performance indices measured. Increasing levels of infertile egg meal reduced (P<0.05) body weight gain and final weight without affecting feed conversion ratio (FCR). The IEMS use led to reduction in feed cost (P<0.05) than in IEM. Levels of infertile egg meal reduced (P<0.05) feed cost per body weight gain with least cost at 100% replacement of fishmeal. The IEM elevated (P<0.05) serum total protein, urea and globulin but lowered serum creatinine. Increasing the levels of infertile egg meal lowered blood urea while increasingtotal protein and globulin. Inclusion of IEM at 100% improved Total protein, Albumin and Globulin. The cost of feed reduced (P<0.05) by 13.8% at 100% IEM and IEMS. It was concluded that infertile egg without shell can be used up to 100% in place of fishmeal in broiler chicken diets to reduce feeding cost and improve health without affecting the performance.