Vol. 7, Issue 5 (2018)

Author(s):
Sonu, ZS Sihag, Parveen Kumar Ahlawat and Rajesh Dalal

Abstract:
A study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and utilization of distillers dried grain solubles (DDGS) as a replacer of soybean meal with or without phytase enzyme supplementation on the performance and digestibility in broiler chickens. The experimental work was conducted on 280 commercial broiler chickens randomly divided into 7 dietary treatments having two replicates (twenty birds in each replicate) in each treatment. Maize- soybean meal based diet was offered to control group (T1) which was formulated according to BIS (2007) recomendations, while treatment groups T2, T3 and T4 were supplemented with 15, 30 and 45% DDGS; T5, T6, and T7 were supplemented with 15, 30 and 45% DDGS along with phytase enzyme @ of 0.25%. The feed intake of birds fed with 45% DDGS was significantly (P<0.05) higher as compared to other treatment groups. Overall body weight gain of birds fed 45% DDGS replaced with soybean meal was significantly (P<0.05) lower as compared to other dietary treatments. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) at higher level of DDGS replacement was significantly (P<0.05) poorer as compared to control as well as other diets. Dry matter metabolizability and nitrogen retention values did not vary significantly (P<0.05) even by the supplementation of enzyme. Gross energy metabolizability also did not differed significantly (P<0.05) in all dietary treatments at lower level of DDGS replacement. No adverse effect of replacement of DDGS was noticed even at higher level on performance and digestibility.