RESPONSE OF BROILER BIRDS TO DIETS CONTAINING GRADED LEVELS OF RICE MILLING WASTE AND SUPPLEMENTARY YEAST (Saccharomyces cerevisae)

ABSTRACT

Eighty day-old broiler chicks were used for feeding trial carried out to determine the effect of graded levels of Rice Milling Waste (RMW) and Bioactive Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisae) which has been shown to secrete enzymes that help to digest crude fiber and organic matter. This suggest that supplementing broiler ration with bioactive yeast may improve the digestibility and efficiency of utilization of RMW. The 80 broiler chicks used in this study were randomly distributed in five groups of sixteen birds each. Each group was subdivided into four replicates of 8 birds each. Group 1 was placed on experimental diet made of 1.5 g/kg yeast basal feed and no RMW, Group 2 was fed on a diet of 1.5 g/kg bioactive yeast, basal feed and 10% RMW, Group 3 and 4 were fed feed containing 1.5 g/kg bioactive yeast, 15 and 20 % RMW respectively while group 5, the control had no RMW and bioactive yeast. Feed and water were given to the birds ad libitum. Daily feed intake and weekly weight gain were determined. Data were collected on nutrient intake, growth performance, feed intake, growth rate, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, apparent nutrient retention, cost benefit analysis and carcass weight. Bioactive yeast surpplementation resulted in a significant (P<0.05) reduction in feed intake and cost. The results showed that up to 20% RMW with bioactive yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisae) supplementation are adequate for oprimum growth of broiler birds. However, more research work should be done to determine the usage of bioactive yeast in commercial broiler feed production.