ISSN 2375-0863
African Journal of Poultry Farming ISSN 2375-0863 Vol. 6 (1), pp. 216-224, January, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Evaluation of methionine-fortified blood meal as substitute for fish meal in poultry broiler diets
Walter Amu1, George Ayade2 and Ekanem Okon2
1Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.
2Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 3 January, 2017
Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the growth performance, dressing percent and carcass composition, organ weights and cost-return analysis of broiler chickens fed methionine-fortified blood meal as replacement for fish meal. Two hundred and ten day-old hybro broiler chicks were allotted to 21 floor pens with 10 birds per pen. Seven experimental diets were formulated for starter and finisher phases respectively. Diets 1 (positive control) and 2 (negative control) contained 3% fish meal and 3% blood meal respectively. Diets 3 to 7 contained 3% blood meal each with 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5% methionine fortifications, respectively. Each diet was fed as mash to birds in 3 pens in completely randomized design. Results of growth performance showed no significant (p>0.05) differences in average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio but mortality revealed significant (p<0.05) difference. Final body weight and dressing percentage were not affected by the treatment (p>0.05). Significant (p<0.05) differences were observed in the moisture, crude protein, ether extract, ash and nitrogen free extract contents for breast and thigh muscles. Cost-return analysis revealed significant (p<0.05) differences in total variable cost, total revenue, gross margin and returns on investment. In conclusion, 3% blood meal with up to 0.5% methionine fortification can favourably replace 3% fish meal as an animal protein source for broilers.
Key words: Methionine-fortified blood meal, fish meal, growth performance, carcass characteristics, broilers.