Growth Performance of Broiler Chickens Fed Fossil Shell Growth Promoter
- 1 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeri.
Abstract
A study was carried out to determine the influence of fossil shell (diatomaceous earth) supplemented diets on the performance and bone composition of broiler chickens. A total of 120 day old broiler chicks were used for the experiment and randomly allotted to 5 treatments (T1 — 0.9%, T2 — 1.2%, T3 — 1.5%, T4 — 1.8% and T5 — 0% inclusion levels respectively). Fossil shell inclusion had no significant influence on feed intake and feed conversion ratio, but had signif i cant impact on weight gain. At the finisher phase no significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed for weight gain, feed intake and feed: gain ratio. Bone analysis showed that calcium content was not affected but fossil shell had significant influence on phosphorus content of the analyzed bones.
- G. O. Adeyemo, “Effects of Exposure Duration to Cottonseed Cake-Based Diets on Broiler Performance,” International Journal of Poultry Science, Vol. 9, No. 2, 2010, pp. 162-166. doi:10.3923/ijps.2010.162.166
- M. E. Cook, “Skeletal Deformities and Their Causes: Introduction,” Poultry Science, Vol. 79, No. 7, 2000, pp. 982-984.
- E. M. Onyango, P. Y. Hester, R. Stroshine and O. Adeola, “Bone Densitometry as an Indicator of Percentage Tibia Ash in Broiler Chicks Fed Varying Dietary Calcium and Phosphorus Levels,” Poultry Science, Vol. 82, No. 11, 2003, pp.1787-1791.
- P. A. E. Pym, “Selection for Feed Utilization in Broilers,” Proceedings of World’s Congress, Vol. 2, Amsterdam, 1994, pp. 177-182.
- J. D. Janet, “A Few Notes on Safe Solution Inc. Food Grade,” 2009.
- R. W. Perry, G. N. Rowland, T. L. Foutz and J. R. Glisson, “Poult Malabsorption Syndrome. III. Skeletal Lesions in Market Age Turkeys,” Avian Diseases, Vol. 35, No. 4, 1991, pp. 707-713. doi:10.2307/1591599
- M. S. Calvo and Y. K. Park, “Changing Phosphorus Content of the US Diet: Potential for Adverse Effect on Bone,” The Journal of Nutrition, Vol. 126, Suppl. 4, 1996, pp. 1168S-1180S.
- R. P. Heany and A. Recker, “Effect of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Caffeine on Calcium and Phosphorus Balance in Women,” The Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine, Vol. 99, No. 1, 1982, pp. 46-45.