International Journal of
Livestock Production

  • Abbreviation: Int. J. Livest. Prod.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2448
  • DOI: 10.5897/IJLP
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 287

Full Length Research Paper

Methionine fortified blood meal can replace fish meal in broiler diets

Ebuo Cecilia Ewa
  • Ebuo Cecilia Ewa
  • Department of Animal Breeding and Physiology, College of Animal Science and Animal Production, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
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Emmanuel Abekam Agiang
  • Emmanuel Abekam Agiang
  • Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
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Essien Ekpenyong Nsa
  • Essien Ekpenyong Nsa
  • Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
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Ideba Ekpolo Ele
  • Ideba Ekpolo Ele
  • Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
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Pascal Ogar Ozung
  • Pascal Ogar Ozung
  • Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
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Godwin Pius Ekot
  • Godwin Pius Ekot
  • Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
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  •  Received: 07 May 2016
  •  Accepted: 03 January 2017
  •  Published: 30 September 2017

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the growth performance, dressing percent and carcass composition, organ weights and cost-return analysis of broiler chickens fed methionine-fortified blood meal as replacement for fish meal. Two hundred and ten day-old hybro broiler chicks were allotted to 21 floor pens with 10 birds per pen. Seven experimental diets were formulated for starter and finisher phases respectively.  Diets 1 (positive control) and 2 (negative control) contained 3% fish meal and 3% blood meal respectively. Diets 3 to 7 contained 3% blood meal each with 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5% methionine fortifications, respectively. Each diet was fed as mash to birds in 3 pens in completely randomized design. Results of growth performance showed no significant (p>0.05) differences in average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio but mortality revealed significant (p<0.05) difference. Final body weight and dressing percentage were not affected by the treatment (p>0.05). Significant (p<0.05) differences were observed in the moisture, crude protein, ether extract, ash and nitrogen free extract contents for breast and thigh muscles. Cost-return analysis revealed significant (p<0.05) differences in total variable cost, total revenue, gross margin and returns on investment. In conclusion, 3% blood meal with up to 0.5% methionine fortification can favourably replace 3% fish meal as an animal protein source for broilers.

 

Key words: Methionine-fortified blood meal, fish meal, growth performance, carcass characteristics, broilers.

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This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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