Comparative Performance and Organ Relative Weight of Broiler Chickens Fed Three Sources of Energy Diet

An eight-week experiment was carried out to evaluate the growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens served three different sources of energy diet. Five experimental diets were formulated and designated as D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5. Diet 1 (maize based) served as control, while diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 were white millet, red millet, white sorghum and red sorghum based respectively. A total of 100 day-old broiler chicks were used. The birds were allotted to five (5) treatments of 20 birds per treatment in a Completely Randomized design. Each treatment was replicated twice with 10 birds per replicate. Data were collected on feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio as well as organ weights. The results showed that the mean daily ratios were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the dietary treatments. Weight gain was numerically higher in D2 (white millet) than in control (maize) and other diets. Feed intake was significantly (P<0.05) higher in D2 (white millet), closely followed by D3 (red millet) than other treatments. Also, feed conversion ratio was not significant. However millet based diet especially white millet diet (D2) compared favourably with the control (maize) diets. Some of the organs were significantly affected (P<0.05). Birds fed D3 (white sorghum) and D4 (red sorghum) had highest weight of kidney, small intestine, heart and liver. Also, most of the organ weights of birds fed millet based diets compared favourably with the control (maize). This study suggest that millet could be included in feeds formulation (especially white millet) as alternate to maize since broiler chickens fed on millet formulated diet had higher growth performance.