Abstract
Two hundred and forty (240) four weeks old Hubbard broiler chicks were used in a choice-feeding trial to investigate whether meat-type chicken could select adequate nutrients that would optimize growth, from a choice of commercial feeds and feed ingredients. Four diets were used: a control diet (on-farm feed) and three test diets (commercial feeds). The diets were fed singly. The diets were also used in a choice- feeding with ground maize and soyabean meal (SBM). The study lasted for 4 weeks and the response criteria were growth performance (weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio). The final live weight, weight gain and feed consumption of the chickens were significantly influenced (P<0.05) by the experimental treatments. Feed consumption of chickens offered choice of dietary maize and SBM was significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of chickens without supplementary maize and SBM. Chickens offered the control diets had higher weight gain (P>0.05) than those offered the commercial feeds. Weight gain increased when chickens were offered supplemental feed ingredients, irrespective of the diets. Calculated crude protein (CP) intake showed higher CP intake by choice-fed chickens compared with those fed only the compounded diets. Proportionately, more maize was selected compared to SBM by chickens offered supplementary feed ingredients. Higher weight gain of the chickens was recorded with higher CP intake. The potential of broiler chickens to select feed ingredients to compensate for imbalances in compounded rations was exhibited, especially for enhanced weight gain. Thus, where quality of proprietary feed is in doubt, provision of ground maize and soyabean meal would ameliorate the adverse effect of such feeds.
Published Version
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