Effect of ensiling and enzyme supplementation on rice husk fed to broilers chicken at starter phase

Freshly milled Rice husk was obtained and ensiled for varying lengths of 7,14,21 and 28 days using a ratio 1,1,0.05 of water, Rice husk and molasses. The ensiled Rice husk was opened and sun dried for 3days at the end of each ensuing period until a moisture content of between 12-13% was attained. Diets were formulated for respective treatments, with treatments 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 having Roxazyme G2 inclusion level of 2%, treatments 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 are without Roxazyme G2. Result obtained shows that birds on Roxazyme G2 inclusive diets had a higher weight gain than their duplicate diets, except for diets 10 and 11 which are having a similar (P>0.05) weight gain of (73.6±4.2a). Feed intake of birds on diet 1 was the least (34.3g±0.3) although significantly (P>0.05) similar to values obtained for birds on other diets (Treatment 2 - 11). The Nitrogen Retention values were similar (P>0.05) for birds on all diets except for diet 10 and 11 which were significantly different (P<0.05).There was no mortality during the experimental period. The cost of finished feed diet expectedly revealed that the control diet was the most expensive diet at 5 naira/100g followed by the reference diet (diet 2), diet 4, 6, 8, and 10 in which Roxazyme G2 was present, having the same value of 7.5 naira/100g. Result of the study suggest that inclusion level of fibre ingredient and Roxazyme G2 in broiler starter diets may be nutritionally beneficial in poultry feeding and subsequently reduce the use of the expensive animal energy sources in practical feed formulation.

Keywords:

Rice husk , Ensiled , Fibre , Broilers , Starter phase ,