Abstract:
This study was conducted to compare the effect of feeding sorghum or yellow maize with and without commercial enzyme preparation )xylam 500( containing xylanase and amylase on performance, carcass characteristics and economic efficiency of broiler chicks. Complete randomized design under factorial arrangement (2x2) was used in this experiment. Two sources of energy {maize and sorghum grains} were replicated. 5 times with the each of the two levels of commercial xylam enzyme (0 and 500 gm/ton of diet) to formulated 4 iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric experimental diets. Total number of 200 chicks, 7 days – old unsexed, Ross – 308 strain broiler chicks were used. The chicks were allotted randomly in 4 treatments groups 5 replicates, each of 10 chicks. All chicks were fed experimental diets for 6 weeks. Experimental parameters covered performance, slaughter and carcass data and economic appraisal.
The results of this study indicated no significant differences between broiler chicks fed on maize or sorghum based diet in body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, mortality rate, percent of carcass dressing, giblets, commercial cuts and their of separable meat, meat chemical composition and subjective meat quality parameters. Also, there were non-significant differences noted in these parameters between the two sources of energy, as far as enzyme addition was concerned in this study.
The results of economic evaluation showed that, the higher net profit derived was on maize based diet, due to its lower prices in some parts of country compared to sorghum grains. Adding commercial enzyme to either maize or sorghum based diet resulted in economic benefits but, maize supplemented with enzyme is more profitable.
