Utilization of Heat-Treated Sheep Dropping in the Diets of Broiler Finisher Chicks

Abstract

A 28 day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the utilization of heat-treated sheep dropping in the diets of broiler chicks. Four experimental finisher diets were formulated such that diet 1 which served as the control contained 0% HSD (maize-based). Diets 2, 3 and 4 contained 7.5, 15 and 22.5% HSD respectively. 160, 5-week old broiler chicks were divided into four treatment groups of forty (40) birds each and each group randomly assigned to an experimental diet in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Each treatment was further subdivided into four (4) replicates of ten birds (10) per replicate. Results showed that there was a significant difference (p<0.05) in feed intake among the birds fed with the experimental diets. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference among birds fed diets T₁, T₂ and T₃ (15% inclusion of HSD) on average final body weight, average body weight gain and average daily weight gain. Birds fed 22.5% HSB-based diet recorded significantly (p<0.05) the lowest body weight gain. It was however observed that the 15% HSD diet gave the best result in terms of total cost of feed consumed, cost of daily feed intake, cost of feed per kilogram gain and cost saving in (%). It was found from this study that HSD can be included in broiler finisher diets at up to 15% dietary level without any deleterious effect.