ABSTRACT

A total of 360 un-sexed broilers were used to determine the effect of multi-enzyme (Maxi-GrainR) supplementation on the performance of broilers fed two main sources of dietary crude protein. The experimental design was 2 x 3 factorial in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). There were six treatments for each starter and finisher phase. Each treatment was replicated three times with ten broilers per replicate. The experiment lasted four (Experiment 1) and eight (Experiment 2) weeks. The two main sources of dietary crude protein (CP) were groundnut cake (GNC) and soybean meal (SBM) while enzyme supplementation was 0, 0.15 and 0.20%. The performance indices measured were weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FRC), protein efficiency ratio (PER), feed cost benefit, carcass and internal organ characteristics. Results showed that there were significant (P<0.05) interaction effect between soybean meal (SBM) or groundnut cake (GNC) diets and enzyme supplementation on broilers final live weight, daily weight gain, daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio, daily protein intake, protein efficiency ratio, cost benefit, carcass and internal organ characteristics. SBM diet supplemented with 0.15% and GNC diet with 0.15% enzyme improved performance, carcass and internal organs of broilers. GNC diet supplemented with 0.15% multi-enzyme significantly (P<0.05) reduced the cost per kilogram weight gain (₦207.13) while SBM diet with 0.20% enzyme gave higher (P<0.05) value (₦297.41). The conclusion was that broilers could be fed SBM diet supplemented with 0.15% multi-enzyme and GNC diet with 0.15% enzyme in the starter or finisher phase without adverse effect on performance, carcass and organ characteristics.