ABSTRACT

 A study was carried out to detennine the nutritional value of white sorghum when it is used to replace yellow maize in the diets of broiler starters at different percentages such as 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% and 60%. The proximate analysis of sorghum showed that white sorghum contained 13% moisture, 87% DM, 11.20% CP, 2.98% CF, 2.07% Ash, 2.50% EE and 68.28% NFE, while yellow maize contained 14% moisture, 86% DM, 8.4%CP, 1.3%CF, 1.99% Ash, 4.3% EE and 68.81% NFE, One hundred and forty-four unsexed one day old Anak broiler chicks from Fidan Hatchery Western Nigeria were brooded and divided into 6 treatments such that each treatment contained 24 brooders and each treatment was further divided into two replicates of 12 birds each. Six experimental broiler starter diets containing the test materials were formulated and assigned to the experimental broilers using randomised design. They were fed adlibitum, daily feed intake was co1lected and body weight gain was recorded weekly. The starter phase of the experiment lasted for 4 weeks. In the starter trial,the broiler chicks fed, diet 6 (60% sorghum) recorded the highest body weight gain, better feed intake and feed conversion ratio which were significantly (P<0.05) different from other groups. Diets 6 (60%so) appeared to be the most economical to use in feeding broiler starters because the cost of production per kg of broiler chicks were N 178.53 versus N194.27 in the control group. The result of the trial showed that white sorghwn can be used successfully to substitute yellow maize up to 60% in the diet of starter broiler without affecting weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio.