REPLACEMENT VALUE OF Ensete ventricosum CORM AND KOCHO FOR MAIZE IN BROILER AND LAYERS RATION

Abstract

This dissertation is composed of three separate experiments. The first and second studies evaluated the performance of broilers and white leghorn layers fed different levels of enset corm replacing maize grain. The third experiment assessed the performance of white leghorn layers fed kocho diets replacing maize. In the studies with enset corm treatments were ration consisting 0 (T1), 15 (T2), 30 (T), and 45% (T4) of enset corm as a replacement for maize by weight. In the experiment with kocho there were also four dietary treatments that consisted of kocho at the level of 0% (T1), 33% (T2), 67% (T3) and 100% of the ration replacing maize grain. In the first study, one hundred ninety two unsexed day old Cobb 500 chicks were used. In the second and third experiments, 180 White leghorn layers of 26 weeks of age and 24 cocks for each experiment were used. The experimental animals in all studies were randomly and equally divided into the treatments and three replications per treatment in a completely randomized design. The broilers and layer experiments lasted 42 days and 12 weeks, respectively. Diets for each study were formulated to be isocaloric and isonitrogenous. In the broiler studies, four birds 2 from each sex were randomly taken from each replication and slaughtered for carcass evaluation at the end of the study. The metabolizable energy content of enset corm, kocho and maize were 3718, 3647 and 3696 kcal/kg DM, respectively. The crude protein content of enset corm, kocho and maize were 3.2, 3.8, and 9.3%, respectively. During the broiler starter phase and entire period dry matter intake ranged 48.6-52.3g/bird and 86.9-90.0g/bird, respectively and were significantly higher (p>0.05) for T4 than the remaining treatments. The mean daily DM intake of layers consumed T1 enset corm diet was significantly lower (P<0.05) than the other groups. The DM intake of hens fed T4 kocho diet was higher (P<0.05) than the remaining treatments. Average daily gain of broilers during the finisher phase were 53.6, 55.8, 49.6, and 50.1g for T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively and values were greater (p<0.05) for T1 and T2 than T3 and T4. The ADG of layers fed enset corm ranged 1.67-2.38g/day and was not affected by substitution of maize grain with enset corm. Slaughter, dressing and eviscerated weights of broiler were lower xiv (p<0.05) at 45% enset corm replacement for maize. Sex differences were significant (p<0.05) in slaughter, dressed, eviscerated and drumstick weights with greater values for males than females. Hen-day egg production and egg mass were not affected (P > 0.05) by dietary inclusion of enset corm as a substitute for maize. Hen-day egg production of layers with kocho diets were 40.45, 43.19, 53.83 and 53.62% and were greater (p<0.05) for T3 and T4 than T1 and T2.Yolk color was lower (P<0.05) in layers consumed T3 and T4 kocho diets. Fertility of eggs was similar (p> 0.05) among treatments of layer experiments with enset corm and kocho diets, and hatchability of fertile eggs from layers consumed kocho diet was lower (P < 0.05) for T4. Mid and late embryonic mortalities in layers fed kocho diets were significantly higher (p<0.05) in T4 than the remaining treatments. In conclusion enset corm can replace maize as an energy source ingredient up to 30% without affecting broilers performance, although 15% inclusion was more profitable. Substitution of maize with 30% enset corm in layers diet was more economical in terms of egg production. The result obtained from partial budget analysis indicated that replacement of maize with 67% (T3) kocho gave higher net return. Therefore, enset corm and kocho can partially replace maize in broilers and layers ration with positive effect on egg and meat production, egg quality parameters and egg fertility when there is scarcity of maize in enset growing areas of Ethiopia. However, layers consumed kocho diet need to be supplemented with carotene rich ingredients to maintain normal yolk color and with Zn and Cu to enhance hatchability and reduce embryonic mortality.