Olufemi P.a. Olowu, J. Oluwasola Agbede, V. Ayobore Aletor:
Effects of Roxazyme -G on Growth Indices and Haematological Variables of Broilers Fed Maize Offal-Based Diets

OLUFEMI P.A. OLOWU¹, J. OLUWASOLA AGBEDE², V. AYOBORE ALETOR^2
1Federal College of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, Nigeria
²Federal University of Technology, Department of Animal Production and Health, Nigeria

Influence of roxazyme -G on the utilisation of maize offal in place of maize was investigated using 420 broiler chicks. Seven diets were used in which the control diet (diet 1) contained 529 g kg^-1 and 569 g kg^-1 maize at starter and finisher phases, respectively. In diets 2, 3 and 4, twenty five percent of the maize components of diet 1 were replaced with maize offal while in diets 5, 6 and 7, fifty percent maize component of diet 1 was replaced with maize offal. Roxazyme-G was added to the diets at levels of 100, 200 and 300 mg kg^-1 in diets 2 & 5, 3 & 6 and 4 &7, respectively. At the close of the starter (2-4 weeks of age) and finisher (5-8 weeks of age) phases 5 chicks and 5 chickens per replicate, respectively were sacrificed conventionally and their blood collected for blood analysis. Only the final weight of chicks were significantly (p0.05) influenced while growth indices were not in finished birds. The entire haematological indices measured were not significantly (p0.05) influenced by dietary treatment in both starter and finisher birds. At starter phase, the optimum level of maize offal substitution for maize could be achieved at 132.3 g kg^-1 + 200 mg kg^-1 roxazyme -G while 142.3 g kg^-1 maize offal + 200 mg kg^-1 roxazyme -G was the optimum level for finisher birds. Conclusive, the use of maize offal and roxazyme -G at these optimal levels could lead to more of maize offal being included in broiler diets in tropical countries.

Keywords: Blood indices, broilers, broiler feeding, roxazyme -G

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Contact Address: J. Oluwasola Agbede, Federal University of Technology, Department of Animal Production and HealthOff Ilesa Road, Akure, Nigeria, e-mail: joagbedeyahoo.com