Performance and nutrient utilization of cockerel finishers fed graded levels of rice milling waste

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of rice milling waste (RMW) on performance and nutrient utilization of cockerel finishers. One hundred and fifty 9-week old Black Harco cockerels were raised on five experimental diets where RMW replaced maize at graded levels and designated diet 1 (0% RMW); diet 2 (15% RMW without palm oil); diet 3 (30% RMW without palm oil); diet 4 (15% RMW with palm oil) and diet 5 (30% RMW with palm oil). The diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isoenergetic. Each diet was fed to a group of 30 birds for a period of ten weeks. Records were maintained on body weight gain, feed intake and mortality while digestibility trials were conducted at the end of the experiment. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in weight gain between treatments, however dietary treatments had significant (P<0.05) effect on feed intake, feed to gain ratio and feed cost. Apparent crude protein retention and digestibilities of dry matter, ether extract, crude fibre and ash were significant for ail dietary treatments. From the study it was concluded that RMW can he included in cockerel finisher diet at up to 30% level when the diet is supplemented with palm oil. Keywords: Cockerels, rice milling waste, utilizatio