PALM KERNEL CAKE AS AN INGREDENT FOR ENHANCED GIZZARD ACTIVITYAND IMPROVED NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITYIN FINISHER BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

The study was designed to evaluate the potential of palm kernel cake(PKC) to cause an enhanced gizzard activity, and hence an improved nutrient digestibility when incorporated into the diet of broiler finisher chickens. It was conducted on the backdrop of reducing production cost, not only through sourcing alternative feed ingredients, but that of improving or enhancing the capacity of the birds to extract much nutrients from the feed they consume, and on the assumption that PKC, acting as grit (for its gritty nature) in the diet could stimulate the gizzard to maximum functionality. PKC was incorporated at 0, 15, 20, 25 and 30% levels to diets designated T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. Two hundred brooded broiler chicks were used for the feeding trial which lasted for 35 days. Each of the five diets was replicated four times with each replicate containing ten birds in a completely randomized design. The birds that received PKC in diet had higher dry matter retained than the control treatment. This trend was maintained for the digestibility of individual nutrients such as crude protein, crude fiber, nitrogen free extract, ether extract and metabolizable energy. The experimental unit that received PKC at 20% level in diet showed better digestibility for almost all the parameters considered. The birds that received PKC in diet had higher mean weight of full gizzard, empty gizzard, entire GIT and small intestine, while the gall bladder weight was significantly (P<0.5) reduced among them. The length of the GIT and the relative length of small intestine were significantly increased among birds that received PKC in diet, whereas the relative length of the large intestine and caeca were reduced among them. It was concluded that adding PKC in the diet of finisher broiler chicken will improve nutrient digestibility as a result of increase in gizzard activity and functionality. It was thus recommended that poultry farmers could add PKC at 20% level in the diet of finisher broiler chickens to improve nutrient digestibility and weight gain, and that further research could be carried out using other grit materials.