Response of Broiler Birds to Choline Chloride in Semi Arid Sokoto, Nigeria

A study was carried out to evaluate growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler birds fed with varying level of choline inclusion in their diets; T1 (control), T2 (10g/10kg) and T3 (20g/10kg). A total of 225 marshall broiler chicks were randomly divided into three (3) treatment group of 75 birds each. Each group was divided into five (5) replicates of fifteen (15) birds each laid in a completely randomized design. Feed and water was supplied ad-libitum and the experiment lasted for 49 days. The total feed intake (1316.75-14442.18) (24437.13-31999.76) for starter and finisher respectively, body weight gain (6227.30-8241.20) (10956.64-14182.96) for starter and finisher respectively, feed conversion ratio (1.73-2.26) (2.21-2.48) for starter and finisher respectively. Many (thigh, wings, back) of the carcass parameters measured were not significantly (p>0.05) affected by the treatments but significant difference (p<0.05) was observed in drum stick, breast and neck.  However, significant difference (p<0.05) was also observed in gizzard, liver and bile, heart, lungs, legs and head. There was significant difference (p<0.05) in primal cuts per live weight, primal cuts per dressed weight, organs per live weight and organs per dressed weight. In view of the results obtained, it can be concluded that treatment two (10g/10kg) performed better in terms of total body weight (TBW) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Also in the carcass characteristics, treatment two performed better in terms of breast yield, drumstick, percentage of primal cuts from live weight (P/LW) and percentage of primal cuts from dressed weight