Evaluation Of Enzyme (Maxigrain®) Treatment Of Graded Levels Of Palm Kernel Meal (PKM) On The Performance Of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Palm Kernel Meal (PKM) in diets treated with or without enzyme (Maxigrain®) as replacement for Maize in broiler diets. Four hundred and five day old chicks of Arbor acres strain were randomly allotted to nine isonitrogeneous dietary treatments where PKM was included in the diet at 0,10,20,30 and 40% levels and PKM treated with Maxigrain® at 10, 20, 30, and 40%. PKM was treated with Maxigrain® prior to its inclusion in the diets as in the diets. Four of the diets contain PKM without enzyme while the other four contained PKM with Enzyme. At the starter phase, the final body weight gain, average daily weight gain and feed intake were significantly (P<0.001) higher in the control, 10% and 20% PKM level with Maxigrain® and 10% PKM level without Maxigrain® compared to the other treatments. All levels of PKM diets with Maxigrain® were numerically higher than the corresponding levels without Maxigrain®. The feed : gain ratio were significantly (P<0.001) higher in 20, 30 and 40% PKM diets without Maxigrain® compared to other treatments. The feed cost/ kg weight gain (N) were significantly (P<0.001) lower in 30 and 40% PKM diets with Maxigrain® compared to all other treatments. At the finisher phase, the final weight, weight gain and average daily gain were significantly higher in the control and 10% PKM levels with and without Maxigrain®. The values in 20, 30 and 40% PKM levels with Maxigrain® were significantly (P<0.001) higher than the corresponding PKM levels without Maxigrain®. Feed intake was significantly (P<0.001) in the control and 20% PKM level with Maxigrain® compared to all other treatments. Feed : gain ratio was significantly (P<0.001) higher in 40% PKM with Maxigrain® and 30 and 40% PKM diets without Maxigrain®. Feed cost/kg weight gain were significantly (P<0.001) lower in the control and 10% PKM diets with and without Maxigrain® compared to all other treatments. The results indicate that Maxigrain®
treatment of PKM improved the utilization of PKM, improved feed : gain and reduced the cost of production. The dressed weight, abdominal fat, pancrease and spleen were significantly (P<0.001) different across
treatments. The neck, breast and the intestines% were also significantly (P<0.05) different across treatments but no clear trends were established. There were no significant differences in the dressing percentage, the
thigh, drumstick, wings, back, head, heart, liver, lungs and gizzard across the treatment.