African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12474

Full Length Research Paper

Nutritional evaluation of palm kernel meal types: 2. Effects on live performance and nutrient retention in broiler chicken diets

Emeka Vincent Ezieshi* and Julius Mark Olomu
Department of Animal Science, University of Benin, PMB 1154, Benin City, Nigeria.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 05 March 2008
  •  Published: 17 April 2008

Abstract

 

Studies were conducted to determine the effect of palm kernel meal (PKM) types on productive performance and nutrient retention of broiler chickens. The three PKM types used in this study were obtained from different sources and were processed using different methods or different types of kernel. The results obtained indicated that for the starter phase, Okomu and Presco PKM diets gave mean body weight gain values (g/bird) of 924.1 and 922.0 which were similar to that of control diet (955.1) but superior to that of Envoy PKM diet (823.4).  Feed intake values were 1802.0, 2087.1, 2017.8 and 1924.44 g/bird; feed cost per bird (N) was in the order of 94.82, 87.28, 84.38 and 77.02 for control diet, Okomu, Presco and Envoy PKM diets, respectively. For the finishing phase, Okomu and Presco PKM diets which were comparable in all the parameters were superior to Envoy PKM in terms of final body weight and body weight gain.  Feed intake values were 2869.5, 3280.9, 3106.4 and 2674.0 g/bird for control diet, Okomu, Presco and Envoy PKM diets (Diets 1, 2, 3 and 4), respectively.  Feed cost per bird (N) was 145.93 for Diet 1, compared with 127.45, 119.72 and 99.01 for Okomu, Presco and Envoy PKM diets, respectively. Percentage nutrient retention was optimal for animal performance on the PKM based diets. It can be concluded that mechanically processed PKM can replace 50% of maize in the diet without any adverse effect on performance of broiler chickens.

 

Key words: Palm kernel meal, productive performance, nutrient retention, broiler chicken, diets.