Effect of Replacement of Maize with Sorghum Brewer's Grains on Performance of Finishing Broilers

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the effects of partially substituting maize with red sorghum brewer's grain on the performance of broiler chickens at finishing stage. The finishing diets contained 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% brewer's grain in place of maize. During week four, five and six 48 unsexed hybrid broilers were randomly allocated to 12 pens, four in each pen and allocated to the four diets.

The feed intake, average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured weekly. There was significant difference (P<0.01) in feed intake between birds fed on 0% (0.50kg) and those on 15% inclusion levels (0.54g). FCR showed significant difference (P<0.05) between birds fed on 0% (3.13) and those fed on higher levels (>4). ADG showed significant (P<0.01) difference in birds fed on 0% (42.4g) and those on higher inclusion levels (about 30g).

It is concluded that brewer's grain can partially replace maize up to 5% at finishing stage without affecting broiler growth.