Growth Performance of Broiler Chicken Fed Diets Containing Varying Levels of Molasses-Flavoured Sorghum Distillers’ Wastes

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the performance of broiler chickens fed diets containing varying levels of molasses-flavoured sorghum distiller wastes. A total of 180 one-old- broiler birds were used. The birds were randomly allotted to four treatments using a completely randomized design model. Each treatment had three replicates with 15 birds per replicate. Treatment 1 served as the control which is 0% of molasses-flavoured sorghum distiller wastes. Treatment 2, 3 and 4, had 10, 20 and 30% inclusion levels of molasses-flavoured sorghum distiller wastes (MFSDW) respectively. The results showed that feeding varying dietary levels of sorghum distillers’ wastes flavoured with molasses had positive effect (P < 0.05) on all the growth performance parameters measured except the initial body weight and mortality (%). Broiler chickens fed T₁, T₃ and T₄ diets had similar (P > 0.05) final body weight (FBW) and total body weight gain (TBWG) which were significantly higher than the values recorded for birds fed the T₂ diet (containing 10 % MFSDW). Furthermore, the total feed intake of birds fed the T₂, T₃ and T₄ diets had similar (P > 0.05) values which were significantly lower than those recorded for birds fed the control diet The FBW and the TBWG of birds fed diet containing 10 % MFSDW were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than the values obtained for birds fed the control diet. However, as the dietary inclusion of MFSDW increased, the FBW and TBWG of the birds increased until they were not significantly different (P>0.05) from or even better than those of the control diet. Similarly, TFI of birds fed the control diet were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those of the birds fed the 10 %, 20 % and 30 % MFSDW diets. Also, the FCR of birds fed the 10 % MFSDW diet was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of the birds fed the control diet. However, at 20 % and 30 % dietary inclusion of MFSDW, the FCR were not significantly (P>0.05) different from that of the control diet. It therefore, can be concluded that the addition of MFSDW at 30% inclusion level in the birds’ diets improved their growth performance.