Effects of poultry offal meal and soyabean meal mixtures on the performance and carcass quality of broiler chicks

An experiment was conducted to test four different mixing ratios of soyabean meal (SBM) and poultry offal meal (POM) on the performance, histology and carcass evaluation of broiler chicks. The mixing ratios used in this study were (POM and SBM) 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0. The experiment was conducted for 8 weeks. Feed intake significantly increased as the proportion of (POM) increased up to 25%. Beyond this level, additional POM did not result in corresponding feed intake for the bird. Body weight gain varied positively with increasing POM proportion in the mixture and followed similar trend recorded for feed intake. Birds fed with 25% (POM) recorded the highest values 79.20g/bird/day and 37.7g/bird/day, respectively for feed intake and weight gain. The lowest feed intake and body weight gain values were observed for birds fed diets containing the highest POM proportion (75%). These values were 59.72g/bird/day and 22.22g/bird/day respectively. Feed conversion ratio was significantly affected (P<0.05) and inversely related to increasing levels of POM. The best feed gain (2.10) was recorded for birds fed 25:75 POM SBM mixtures. Nutrients retained by broiler chickswere significantly influenced by the different treatments. Protein retention was affected by increasing POM proportion in the mixture. However, further increase in POM proportion in the mixture above 75% led to significantly decreased protein retention. Fat retention was significantly different among the various treatments and was directly related to increasing levels of poultry offal meal. The highest value recorded (77.98%) was obtained for broiler chicks fed 75:25 POM and SBM mixture. Crude protein, ether extract and ash determined for poultry offal meal were 55.60, 6.70 and 8.20%, respectively. Histological study conducted did not reveal any cellular abnormality for the various treatments. Mortality and carcass quality were not significantly affected by the dietary treatments. Cost per kilogram of the diets decreased in response to increasing levels of (POM). Best cost: benefit was obtained with 25:75 POM and SBM dietary mixture.