EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF RICE (ORYZA SATIVA) BRAN ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKEN

Abstract

Growth performance and feed utilisation of including different levels of rice bran (RB) in broiler chicken rations was evaluated. A total of 384 unsexed day old Cobb 500 broiler chicks with average body weight of 41.86±1.26 g were randomly divided into 24 groups each with 16 chicks. Finally six dietary treatments containing 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% of RB were randomly assigned to experimental chicks in a completely randomized design with 4 replicates both during the starters and finishing phases. The treatment rations were formulated based on the results of the laboratory chemical analytical data after chemical composition of samples of the major feed ingredients carried out. The experiment lasted for 56 days, during which feed intake and body weight changes were monitored. The amount of feed consumed determined as the difference between the feed offered and refused. Birds were weighed weekly in a group per pen. Body weight change was calculated as the difference between the final and initial BWs and the ADG was calculated as BW change divided by the number of experimental days. The FCR computed as the ratio of feed consumption and ADG. Mean daily feed consumption, growth performance, feed conversion ratio, rate of mortality, were used as the dietary treatment evaluation parameters. The results obtained indicated that the RB used in the current study contained 6.06, 14.09, and 2.6% of CP, CF, EE and ME of 2887 kcal/kg DM, respectively. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) between all the treatment groups in mean weekly feed consumption during5-8 and 0-8 weeks of the feeding trial. All the groups fed on the 0-20% of rice bran attained live body weight of 2.4-2.6 kg/head at the end of the 8th week without showing significant difference (P>0.05) between each other’s during the 5-8 and 0-8 weeks of feeding in rate of growth. However, the group placed on the treatment containing 25% of rice bran attained significantly lower live body weight of about 2.3kg/head on the 8thweek of the feeding trial. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 2.26 was calculated for the groups fed on the treatment containing 10% rice bran during the starter’s period, indicating this group produced at cheaper rate compared to the others. On the contrary, FCR of 2.59 was calculated for the groups fed on 25% of rice bran during the starter’s period, the value of which was found to be expensive in production compared to the others. There was no significant difference between all the treatment groups in percent mortality. Depending on the production parameters measured, rice bran can be included at up to 15-20% in starter and finisher broilers diet without detrimental effects on carcass parameters, total serum cholesterol, total serum proteins and sensory test. Moreover, inclusion of up to 20% rice bran in broilers ration appeared to reduce 11% of production cost compared to the groups fed on control diet.