Nutritional Evaluation of Improved Maize Varieties and Their Effects on Broiler Performance

Abstract

Maize is the principal dietary energy source in broiler production, but varietal differences may influence nutrient composition and productive responses. This study compared local maize, Abontem, and Honampa maize in broiler diets and evaluated their proximate composition, growth performance, carcass and organ characteristics, and haematological responses. Ninety 21-day-old Cobb 500 broilers were randomly assigned to three treatments in a completely randomized design, with three replicates of 10 birds, and fed for 35 days. Honampa had the highest crude protein (13.12%), ether extract (2.05%), and metabolizable energy (14.95 MJ/kg), while local maize had the lowest values for these variables. Birds fed Honampa recorded the highest daily feed intake (133.29 g/bird/day), daily weight gain (66.03 g/bird/day), gain-to-feed ratio (0.50), and final live weight (3.18 kg). Mortality did not differ among treatments. Honampa-fed birds also had the highest dressed carcass weight (2.70 kg) and breast muscle percentage (10.27%). Haematological responses differed among treatments for RBC, PCV, haemoglobin, MCV, and MCH, whereas MCHC and TWBC were comparable. Honampa produced the highest PCV and haemoglobin values, while Abontem and Honampa produced higher MCV and MCH values than local maize. Overall, the improved maize varieties, particularly Honampa, were associated with better broiler growth and carcass outcomes than local maize under the study conditions.