Untitled

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary cottonseed oil at different levels on broiler chickens,. Dietary Cottonseed oil (CSO) was tested for energy supplementation values in poultry at levels 0, 3, 6 and 9% utilizing isonitrgenous (22.5% CP), semi-isocaloric (3100Kcal/kg) rations and run in experiment. Ninety six (96) seven days-old unsexed Ross-308 broiler chicks with initial weight of 75g were used for each experiment in a completely randomized design (4×4×6). Chicks were fed for 50 days. Different levels of CSO were incorporated into the broiler diet for performance (with energy retention values determined by the comparative slaughter technique), on blood haemogram, serum metabolites, enzyme activities and electrolytes, slaughter and carcass data and economic appraisal. Supplementation with the oils improved performance (p>0.05) but CSO gave significant (p<0.05) values in final, weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Results of energy retention showed similar values in initial energy, but final and gained energy revealed significant (p<0.05) differences among treatment groups. Hematological values, serum metabolites, serum enzyme activities and serum electrolytes were not seen significantly (p>0.05) different. The effect of adding CSO on absolute slaughter weights showed no significant (p<0.05) differences except in heart and liver which were highest in the diet with CSO level of 6% (22.80±03.50 and 53.80±04.80, respectively) and with percent slaughter values, no significant (p>0.05) differences were recorded except for liver of group C (02.12±00.25) which was the highest, but CSO affected significantly (p<0.05) the drum and drum muscle absolute weight values, being highest in group C (260.00±21.60 and 192.50±25.00 respectively). The CSO treatment effect on all meat subjective values was not significant (p>0.05). Economically appraised values were profitability ratio (01.39) of group C (6% cottonseed oil) was the highest of the test groups.