International Journal of Animal Science, Husbandry and Livestock Production ISSN: 2141-5191 Vol. 3 (8), pp. 211-219, August 2017. © Advanced Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Chicken fed methionine-fortified blood meal as replacement for fish meal in poultry broiler diets

*Okpilolo K. O. Edet A. Mbom and Awangari Christian

Department of Animal Breeding and Physiology, College of Animal Science and Animal Production, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.

Email: [email protected]

Accepted 13 July, 2017

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the growth performance, dressing percent and carcass composition, organ weights and cost-return analysis of broiler chickens fed methionine-fortified blood meal as replacement for fish meal. Two hundred and ten day-old hybro broiler chicks were allotted to 21 floor pens with 10 birds per pen. Seven experimental diets were formulated for starter and finisher phases respectively. Diets 1 (positive control) and 2 (negative control) contained 3% fish meal and 3% blood meal respectively. Diets 3 to 7 contained 3% blood meal each with 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5% methionine fortifications, respectively. Each diet was fed as mash to birds in 3 pens in completely randomized design. Results of growth performance showed no significant (p>0.05) differences in average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio but mortality revealed significant (p<0.05) difference. Final body weight and dressing percentage were not affected by the treatment (p>0.05). Significant (p<0.05) differences were observed in the moisture, crude protein, ether extract, ash and nitrogen free extract contents for breast and thigh muscles. Cost-return analysis revealed significant (p<0.05) differences in total variable cost, total revenue, gross margin and returns on investment. In conclusion, 3% blood meal with up to 0.5% methionine fortification can favourably replace 3% fish meal as an animal protein source for broilers.

Key words: Methionine-fortified blood meal, fish meal, growth performance, carcass characteristics, broilers.