Performance efficiency of broiler chicks fed diets with different levels of palm oil and tannia tuber meal.

Abstract

Seven all purpose diets coded treatment A to G containing 0% to 2.5% palm oil and 20% tannia tuber meal were compared in an experiment done at Gregorio Araneta University Foundation Experimental Station in the Philippines, using 210 unsexes (Sanders) one – day – oil broiler chicks. The chicks were raised in 21-slated poultry pens (10 birds/pen) of 85 x 117 x 27cm in length, width and height, respectively and the pen temperature (T oF) maintained between 95 oF and 65 oF according to the ages of the birds. The chicks were fed for 49 days. Improvement on production criteria were observed (P<0.05, P< 0.01) among the chicks receiving palm oil and tannia tuber meal, however, these effects varied. In several aspects palm oil and tannia tuber meal gave the best performance on protein and fat efficiencies with the percentage nutrient loss (P<0.05) respectively. Significant differences (P<0.5) were found regarding the effects of oil palm and tannia tuber meal on daily weight gain and feed efficiency. There were no significant effects (P>0.05) observed among the experimental chicks on daily water and feed intake values. Significant effects were noted on live weight at slaughter, dressing percentage and cut–up yield percentage (P<0.05) together with organoleptic test score of the birds. Palm oil and tannia tuber meal diets tended to give better performances among the experimental chicks than the corn based diet, being the control.

Journal of Applied Chemistry and Agricultural Research Vol. 7 2000-2001: pp. 1-16