Abstract:
Wet feeding has been found to improve the growth performance and feed efficiency of
broiler chicken. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of wetting a
broiler finisher diet without fish meal and sesame meal on growth performance, feed
and water intake, gastric transit time (GTT) and some faecal properties. Broiler chicks
(n=24) in twelve pens were fed an on farm prepared mash diet either in dry (DF) or wet
form (WF) from day 31-41. Wet feed was prepared by mixing dry feed with water at
1:1 ratio. Daily feed and water intakes and live weights on day 37 and 41 were
recorded. GTT was determined on day 40 and faecal samples were analyzed for
moisture, nitrogen and ash. Six randomly selected birds from each treatment were
killed on day 41 and the weights of the visceral organs, and the dressing percentage
were determined. Tibias were analyzed for ash. WF had no effect on live weight on
day 41, feed intake and weight gain from day 31-41. From day 31-37, feed conversion
ratio of the birds given WF (1.8) was significantly (p<0.05) better than those given dry
feed (DF) (2.1), but the overall FCR from day 31-41 was not significantly different
between two groups. During first seven days from 31-37, intake of water from drinkers
was significantly low in WF given birds than in DF given birds. However, the total
water intake (intake from drinkers + with feed) and water to feed ratio were not
significantly different between two groups. Gastric transit time of the birds given WF
(199 min) was similar to that of birds given DF (188 min). Faecal qualities such as diy
matter, N and ash contents and visceral organ weights were also not affected by wetting
the feed. Birds given WF tend (p=o.09) to have higher tibia ash content (46%) than
those given DF (43%). It was concluded that wetting of rice bran-maize based diet
without fish meal and sesame meal did not improve the growth performance but
increased the bone qualities marginally.
