Effects of regular maize and different certified maize varieties on the growth performance and carcass traits of broiler chickens

Abstract

This 6-week study was conducted to compare the effects of different varieties of maize (Obatanpa, Abontem, Honampa or their mixture) and regular maize on the growth performances of broiler chickens. A total of one 180-day-old chick were randomly allotted to 5 treatments with 4 replications with 9 birds in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). All the dietary treatments were formulated to iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous. The energy, crude protein and crude fat content of the Obatanpa, Abontem, and Honampa was higher than the regular maize. The production performances did not significantly influence (P > 0.05) for day 0 – 7 by the maize varieties and regular maize. No significant (P> 0.05) difference was observed for the parameters used among the dietary treatments from day 0 – 21. However, weight gain (WG) from day 0 – 42 recorded an increase showing a significant (P< 0.05) effect. Feed intake also increased from day 0-42. Again, feed intake did not show any significant effect (P> 0.05) on the birds for day 21 – 42. Also FCR of birds for day 21– 35 did not show any significant effects (P> 0.05). Moreover, day 21 – 28 recorded a significant difference in Weight gain (WG), body weight (BW) and Livability (LV) for all dietary treatments. B.W, WG, FCR and intake recorded no difference (P> 0.05) for day 28 - 35. Birds fed the Abontem diet recorded the lowest Liveability. However, from day 0 – 42, BW, WG and FCR differed significantly (P<0.05) but birds fed regular maize recorded a higher FCR. The weights (% of live weight) of the breast, thigh, heart, liver, duodenum, jejenum, gizzard, Ileum and caeca of the birds were not significantly influenced (P>0.05) by the dietary treatments. Birds fed the regular maize, Abontem and Honampa recorded a higher (P < 0.05) weight in the breast and proventriculus. Feeding Obatanpa decreased (P>0.05) the weight of the liver and gizzard. Overall, It was concluded from the results that the growth performance parameters were similar for all the dietary treatments, farmers can utilize any of these new varieties in their feeding operations but where carcass colour is desired HM and AM could be the varieties to use.