Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology
Year : 2009, Volume : 9, Issue : 1
First page : ( 29) Last page : ( 36)
Print ISSN : 0972-2963.

Effects of Dietary Grit Inclusion on the Utilization of Palm Kernel Cake by Pullet Chicks

Adeniji A.A.

Department of Animal Science, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria.

Reprint request: Dr. A.A. Adeniji, E-mail: feyidot@yahoo.com

Received:  18  December,  2007.

Abstract

Two hundred and forty day-old pullet chicks of Harco strain were used to investigate the effect of grit inclusion on the utilization of palm kernel cake (PKC). Palm kernel cake was fed at 0, 7.5, 15 and 22.5% levels of inclusion and grit at 0 and 5% levels. Increasing the inclusion level of PKC in the diets of pullet chicks had significant effect on the feed intake, weight gain and feed-to-gain ratio (P<0.05). There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the fat retention. The crude protein and crude fibre retention had significant difference (P<0.05). The cost of feed reduced with the increase in PKC inclusion level, also with an increase in grit level of the diet. The result from this experiment showed that PKC could be included at 22.5% inclusion level in the diets of pullet chicks, and grit at 5% level without any detrimental effects.

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Keywords

Grit, Palm kernel cake, Pullet Chicks, Utilization, Profitability.

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