Enzyme Supplementation of Commercial Feed Diluted with Copra Meal for Growing Pullets

Diarra, Siaka Seriba; Mael, Sandy Hoffman; Devi, Ashika

doi:10.21608/ejvs.2019.13427.1081

Enzyme Supplementation of Commercial Feed Diluted with Copra Meal for Growing Pullets

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ School of Agriculture and Food Technology, Alafua Campus, The University of the South Pacific

² Agriculture College and Livestock-Based Integrated Farm, Luganville, Santo, Vanuatu

³ School of Agriculture and Food Technology, Alafua Samoa, the University of the South Pacific

10.21608/ejvs.2019.13427.1081

Abstract

Two hundred 42 days old Shaver Star-cross pullets were subjected to five dietary treatments comprising of a commercial pullet feed alone and commercial pullet feed diluted with two levels of copra meal (CM) at two levels ( 200 and 300g/kg) with or without Challenzyme. Data were collected on growth performance (feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio) for a period of 84 days (42-126 days). Results showed no significant difference between supplemented and control groups in growth performance across the dietary treatments at (P > 0.05). Cost of the kg feed was linearly reduced on the dilution diets but feed cost per unit live weight gain was not different among the treatments (P > 0.05). In conclusion, diluting commercial feed with CM up to 300g/kg does not compromise pullet performance during the growing period. These findings will reduce cost of pullet rearing and add value to copra meal in coconut producing regions. There is need for more research into higher rates of dilution, composition of basal diet, enzyme source and inclusion level.

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