The apparent metabolizable energy and feeding value of quality protein maize for broiler chicken

Abstract

Two experiments were undertaken to determine whether the quality protein maize (QPM) has any unexpected effects on poultry as a result of compositional changes in the grain that may have altered its nutritional value. In first experiment, the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) of QPM was estimated and compared with commercial maize (CM) in adult cockerels following traditional diet substitution method of total excreta collection at two substitution levels (20 and 40% of reference diet) of QPM and CM. The second experiment was conducted to compare the feeding value of QPM with CM in day old broiler chicken for six weeks. A standard control broiler ration comprising of commercial maize and soybean meal was prepared. Two more test diets were prepared by substituting CM with QPM at 75 and 100% levels (w/w). All the diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous and had same levels of lysine and tryptophan by adjusting the level of soybean meal in the experimental diets. Unsexed, day-old broiler chicks (n=120) were randomly distributed into 12 groups of 10 chicks each. Each dietary group was replicated four times with ten chicks in each replication.