Ground maize cob as a dietary ingredient for broiler chickens in the tropics

Abstract

Ground maize cob (GMC) was characterized with respect to proximate, energy, fibre and mineral profile. The crude protein, fat, crude fibre, ash, NDF and ADF contents were, in g kg -1 DM: 25, 4, 347, 24, 687 and 480, respectively, with metabolizable energy of 4.82 MJ kg -1 DM. In a feeding trial, diets containing GMC (25, 50 and 75 g . kg -1 ) were fed ad libitum to 4 groups of 14-day-old commercial broiler chickens (n = 240) for a period of 6 weeks. Birds had free access to water. Growth performance data of birds fed diets containing GMC did not differ significantly from those on the control diet. Carcass yields were similar. No deaths nor health-related problems were recorded during the study. Haematological and blood biochemical indices were unaffected by the level of inclusion of the test ingredient. Dietary treatments had no impact on liver, gizzard and intestinal weights. It seems that in the tropics partial replacement of cereal and cereal by-products (maize and wheat bran) with GMC up to 75 g . kg -1 diet was possible.

Efecto del reemplazo de los despojos de trigo con paja de soja en la respuesta de crecimiento, perfil sanguíneo y rendimiento de la carcasa de pollos de engorde

“…stick) indicates that the dietary treatment is adequate for maintaining broiler meat production. This findings is supported by those of Donkoh et al (2003) and Ali et al (2008) who reported no significant difference in carcass yield of broiler chickens fed ground maize cob and wheat bran based diets supplemented with additives, respectively.…”

A note on nutritive value of blend of blood and ground maize cob for broiler chickens

“…One of these is maize cob, a farm waste in several of the maize producing areas. Results of a pilot study (Donkoh et al, 2003) indicated that ground maize cob could be included in broiler chickens diet up to 75 g kg -1 without an adverse effect on performance. Ground maize cob contains low level of protein.…”

Impact of palm kernel cake with or without multi-blend enzyme on the growth performance and carcass traits of Sasso broilers

“…Though broilers require fibre for the proper functioning of the digestive tract, their response to fibre inclusion depends on the source and level of dietary fibre, the characteristics of the diet, as well as the physiological status and health of the birds [ 4 ]. Broiler birds have, however, been fed on different sources of non-conventional feed ingredients such as corncob [ 5 ], palm kernel cake [ 6 , 7 ], rice husks [ 8 ] and cocoa pod husk [ 9 , 10 ].…”