EFFECT OF FERMENTED RICE HUSK ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND HAEMATOLOGY OF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate effect of rumen filtrate fermentation of rice husk meal on growth performance and haematological indices of broiler chickens. One hundred and fifty (150) birds were used to carry out the research work. The rumen filtrate treated rice husk meals were included at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% to form diets 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. The birds were randomly allocated to the five treatments groups, each group had three replicates and there were ten birds per replicate. The experimental design used was complete randomized design (CRD).The proximate composition of fermented rice husk meal showed increase in crude protein content (8.87 %). The growth rate was influenced (p<0.05) by the dietary treatments, with broiler chickens on dietary treatments containing 15% and 20% having higher (p<0.05) growth rate than those on 5% and 10%. Data on White blood cells, Lymphocyte, Red blood cell, Haemoglobin, Packed cell volume, and Mean cell haemoglobin concentration were measured. All haematological parameters measured were not affected (P>0.05) by dietary treatments except the Mean cell haemoglobin concentration. All the haematological parameters were within normal levels and were not detrimental to the health of the chickens. It is concluded that inclusion of rumen filtrate fermentation rice husk meal in the diets of broiler chickens up to 20% gave improved nutrient content and weight gain and had no adverse effect on the health of the birds