Feeding value of coarse cereals in the diet of broiler chicken

Day-old broiler chicks (150) were randomly distributed into 15 groups of 10 each. Five dietary treatments having maize (100%)-M, maize (33%) + sorghum (33%) + finger millet (33%)-MSF, maize (33%) + sorghum (33%) + pearl millet (33%)-MSP, maize (33%) + pearl millet (33%) + finger millet (33%)-MPF and maize (25%) + sorghum (25%) + pearl millet (25%) + finger millet (25%)-MSPF at fixed calori:protein ratio for 0–4 weeks starter and 4–7 weeks finisher phase were prepared. Each experimental diet was offered ad lib as mash to three groups of chicks from 0–7 weeks of age. During 0–7 weeks of age, the diets having a combination of sorghum and pearl millet (MSP) or sorghum, finger millet and pearl millet (MSPF) with maize resulted in similar body weight gain, feed intake and FCR, while the combinations of finger millet with sorghum (MSF) or pearl millet (MPF) caused lower (P<0.05) gain in body weight than the maize based control diet (M). Feed intake remained statistically similar among all the dietaiy treatments during this period. However, FCR was poorer (P<0.05) in diet MSF than the other diets. Gross energy and DM metabolizability and nitrogen retention did not differ among dietaiy treatments. The eviscerated yields also did not differ due to dietary treatments. The feed cost of production/kg gain or meat (Rs) was lower in diets MSP, MPF and MSPF than maize based control diet M. It was inferred that a combination of maize, pearl millet and sorghum @ 33% each or maize, pearl millet, sorghum and finger millet @ 25% each in diet of broilers could support the optimum growth and feed conversion efficiency without affecting nutrient utilization and meat yield.