Abstract
A feeding trial was conducted with one hundred and eighty day-old Anak broiler randomly allocated four dietary treatments containing imported fishmeal (IFM) and ground smoked fishmeal (GSFM) to investigate the performance response of broiler chickens fed diets containing 2.5 and 5.0% IFM und GSFM respectively. Bodyweight and bodyweight gain increased linearly with increased levels of inclusion of fishmeal in the diets (P<0.05). Better performance was noticed at higher levels of inclusion of both IFM and GSFM. Final bodyweight and gain were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by fishmeal type and level of inclusion. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the birds on IFM diets at 2.5 and 5.0% were not significantly different (P>0.05) from that of GSFM during the starter and finisher phases. Daily protein intake and cost of feed per kilogram weight gain showed no significant treatment effect. The substitution of IFM by GSFM however reduced feed per kilogram weight gain and increasing the level of fishmeal in broiler diets from 2.510 5.0% resulted in reduction of cost of seed per kilogram weight gain. There was a linear increase (P<0.05) in the percentage protein retention and the digestibility percentages of dry matter and fat as the level of fishmeal increased from 2.510 5.0%. The inclusion of IFM both ui 2.5 and 5.0% levels resulted in a relatively superior (P<0.05) dry matter digestibility and crude protein retention when compared with values obtained for GSFM. The dressed weight percentage increased slightly (P>0.05) with increased level of inclusion of fishmeal while the abdominal fai and other carcass proportions were not significantly influenced by the dietary treatments. Birds that were fed GSFM had a significantly higher (P<0.05) gizzard and kidney percentages. It was therefore concluded that the use of higher levels of local fishmeal (above 5%) in practical diets of broiler chickens could be advantageous where and when improved fishmeal is in short supply and very expensive.
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