Performance Characteristics and Economy of Using Noodle Waste as Replacement in the Diets of Cockerel Finisher Chickens

Abstract

Noodle Waste (NW) is a by-product of food processing industry and it is cheaper in price compared to maize. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of replacing maize fraction of the diet of cockerel finisher chickens with NW on performance, cost benefits, blood haematology and serum biochemicals. One hundred and twenty cockerel finisher chickens of mean weight of 689.01± 2.4g were randomly selected and allotted to 4 dietary treatments.  Each treatment was replicated thrice with ten birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. Four diets were formulated to contain 0% (T1), 50% (T2), 75% (T3) and100% (T4) of NW as replacement for maize fraction of the entire diet. Parameters measured or calculated were weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, total feed cost, and cost per weight gain, dressing percentages and blood indices such as Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Red Blood Cell (RBC)count and White Blood Cell(WBC) and total protein etc. Significant differences were observed in the mean total feed intake of the birds fed diet containing 0% and 100% NW as replacement for maize (P=.05). The mean total weight gain of birds fed diet containing 100% NW and the control diet were significantly influenced by the dietary treatments (P=.05). The feed conversion ratios were relatively similar (P>.05) in diet containing 0% and 100% NW as replacement for maize. The mean dressing percentage in all the treatments were relatively the same (P>.05). The dietary treatments had no significant effect on the PCV, RBC and WBC and blood total protein (P>.05). The lowest cost/weight gain was recorded in the diet containing 100% NW as replacement for maize. Based on the present results NW could replace maize fraction of the diet partially or wholly without any adverse effect on performance and health status but at reduced cost