ABSTRACT

The study investigated the responses of broiler chickens fed diets containing diastic microbes’ (of achatina achatina) degraded household organic wastes. Experiment 1 sorted household solid waste compositions and per capita generation. Experiment 2 quantified the greenhouse gases entrapped during the degradation of organic waste. The digester auto-detection of gas lasted 21days. Atmospheric and slurry temperatures and pH. Experiment 3 analyzed proximate and minerals’ composition of degraded and undegraded waste. Experiment 4 was a forty-two-day feeding trial that investigated the responses of broiler birds fed degraded household organic waste using one hundred and twenty day-old broiler chicks. The DOCs were assigned to four treatments of 30birds per group; in three replications of 10birds per replicate, in a completely randomized design (CRD). T_A(control), T_B(5%), T_C(10%) , and T_D(15%) of DHOW inclusion levels were assigned. Results showed 77.4% organic waste, 22.6% consisted of 10.3% plastics, 2% metals, 3% glasses, 2.3% leather and rubbers, 3% textiles and 2% inert wastes were inorganic, with sorting compliance of 52%. Abakaliki had per capita value of 0.55kg/cap/day. Results on biogas yield revealed 82.7%CH_4,  17%CO_2,  and 0.2%N₂O of 2.4litres of biogas from 20kg waste in 21days; with corresponding daily global warming potential (GWP) of 3.01CO₂-eq, 0.19CO₂, and 9.655 CO₂-eq respectively. Average pH, atmospheric and slurry temperatures of 5.3, 30.7⁰C and 39.7⁰C respectively supported the above biogas yield. Results on the proximate, macro-nutrient and trace mineral composition showed adequate nutrient composition that supported the nutrient requirements of broiler birds for comparable optimum performance. Results on the responses of broiler chicks to the treatment diets showed that degraded household organic waste used in the study had a significant (P<0.05) effect on the performance of birds. The birds that received control diet and 5% DHOW were similar (P>0.05) and significantly better (P<0.05) than those fed 15% DHOW. However, feed conversion ratio and efficiency of feed utilization were similar (P>0.05) in all the experimental diets. Birds fed control diet in no doubt had significantly (P<0.05) highest cost implications with similar margin. The trend decreased down the treatment levels. However, there were no significant (P<0.05) differences in the haematological and biochemical indices. Reported significant differences in the serum biochemistry only occurred in protein profile, total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein. Serum protein values were significantly (P<0.05) higher at 15%DHOW. Birds fed 5%DHOW had better (P<0.05) cholesterolic values. The results of the overall experiments indicated that Household organic waste can be efficiently used as broilers diet. Best adoptable result was at 5% DHOW which was similar to the control diet. At that level, the farmer could obtain good performance values at good profit margin. Hence, it the chickens maintained these performance records in good health conditions. Best practices can therefore be adopted at 5%DMOW level of inclusion in broiler diets.