Nutritional Value of Whole Dates and Date Pits in Broiler Rations

Two experiments were conducted to determine the feeding values of date pits and whole dates for broiler chicks. In the first experiment, ground Zahdi date pits were included in broiler diets at 5, 10, and 15% replacing wheat bran, corn, and alfalfa with and without zinc bacitracin (50 ppm) supplementation. In the second experiment, whole Zahdi dates were incorporated in diets at 0, 5, 10, and 47.7%, replacing corn as an energy source. The diets were kept isonitrogeneous and isocaloric in both experiments. The results indicate that the date pits used supported chick growth as efficiently as the control diet at all dietary levels tested. When zinc bacitracin was added to the diet, growth was improved at all levels of date pits incorporated into the diets. Whole Zahdi dates, incorporated at 5, 10, and 30%, at the expense of corn, supported growth as efficiently as the control diets, but the incorporation of 47.7% of whole Zahdi dates as a total replacement of corn resulted in some growth depression and a slight decrease in feed utilization. Gross examination of various organs in both feeding trials revealed no abnormalities. It is concluded that dates and date pits can contribute positively to the expanding poultry industry in the Arabian Gulf region where an overpopulation of dates occurs.