Effects of Replacing Maize with Enzyme - Supplemented Bovine Rumen Content in the Diets of Pullet Chicks

Abstract

A total of 240 day old pullet chicks were employed in a feeding trial to determine the optimum inclusion level of enzyme-supplemented rumen content that pullet chicks will tolerate in their diet. Rumen content (RC) was included at levels of 10, 15, 20 and 25% and two types of enzymes (Nutrase xyla and Roxazyme – G) were fed. A 4 x 2 factorial experiment (four levels of rumen content and two types of enzymes) was adopted. There was significant effect (P<0.05) of the levels of rumen content on the observed feed intake. There was no significant difference between the effects of the two enzymes on feed intake. Effects of Roxazyme-G on weight gain was significantly (P<0.05) better than that of nutrase xyla. The 15% rumen content fed chicks had the best (P<0.05) feed-to-gain ratio of 3.82; while the enzyme type had no effect (P>0.05) on obtained feed-to-gain. Results of this study shows that pullet chicks can tolerate up to 15% enzyme-supplemented rumen content in their diets. Roxazyme-G (a multipurpose enzyme) is better than nutrase xyla (a single purpose enzyme). It is evident that enzyme-supplemented rumen can replace up to 37.5% maize in the diets of pullet chicks.