Effect of Substituting Yellow Maize for Sorghum on Broiler Performance

An experiment was conducted to study the nutritional value of yellow maize when it substitutes sorghum grain as source of energy at levels 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% in broiler rations. One hundred and forty unsexed one day old (Ross) broiler chicks were randomly assigned to five approximately isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets labeled as follows: Diet (S0) containing sorghum 100% (control, 60% of the diet), diet (S1) 75% sorghum 25% maize, diet (S2) 50% sorghum 50% maize, diet (S3) 25% sorghum 75% maize and diet (S4) maize (100%) (without sorghum). Each treatment had four replicates with 7 birds/replicate. The experiment lasted for 6 weeks. Feed intake and body weight gain had been recorded weekly. The results showed significant increase (P < 0.01) in feed intake (3847.7, 3817.68 and 3734.06gram) and body weight gain (2189.58, 2203.04 and 2078.98gram) for birds fed diets S0, S1 and S2 respectively. No significant differences were observed in feed conversion ratio among all dietary treatments. Moreover, protein efficiency was greater for birds received diet S0 (2.65) and diet S1 (2.62) and lowest for birds received diet S4 (2.45). Birds fed diet S3 and S4 recorded significantly (P < 0.01) lowest hot and cold carcass weights (1420.83, 1479.17gram) and (1395.84, 1458.34gram) respectively than other groups. Broiler chicks supplemented with diet S1 and S2 recorded significantly (P < 0.05) higher carcass hot dressing percentage (73.66 and 73.36) respectively than those fed diet S0 (72.60) and S4 (72.60) while those fed diet S3 (71.92) recorded the lowest one. The highest serum glucose level was obtained by chicks fed diet S1 (176.33) while those fed on the other four diets were statistically similar. Serum total protein was found to be higher for chicks fed diet S0 (3.10), S1 (3.66) and S4 (3.42) while the lowest level was observed by chicks fed diet S3 (2.31). All the treatments had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on cold carcass dressing percentage, liver and abdominal fat weights, serum cholesterol, serum calcium and inorganic phosphorus levels. The cost of production decreased by increasing level of maize.