Effect of supplementation of different levels of protease enzyme on growth performance and protein digestibility of broiler
Main Article Content
Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine the impact of supplementation of protease enzyme on feed conversion ratio (FCR), weight gain and digestibility of crude protein in broilers. In a 42-day randomized trial, 240 un-sexed (ROSS 308) day-old broiler chicks were purchased from a local hatchery and randomly assigned to four experimental groups: T1 (Control), T2 (250g/ton of feed), T3 (500g/ton), and T4 (protease 750 g/ton). Each group had 3 replicates with 20 chicks. At the end of the 42-day experimental feeding, FCR, weight gain, and feed consumption were evaluated using weekly data, and 2 birds from each replicate were slaughtered to evaluate carcass weight and dressing percentage. Total Collection Method was used to estimate the digestibility of Crude Protein, Crude Fiber, Ether Extract and Dry Matter with the help of kjeldahl, Labconco, Soxhlet, and Hot Air Oven, respectively. JMP was utilized to statistically evaluate the cumulative data. T4 had the highest feed intake (3836.6 g/bird), followed by T2 (3808.3g/bird), T1 (3780g/bird), and T3 (3741.6g/bird). Feed intake was non-significant (P>0.05) in all groups. T3 had the highest body weight (2209g), followed by T4 (2201g), T2 (2090g), and T1 (2053g). Significantly greater (P<0.05) body weight was seen in T3 as compared to T2 and T1. Our results showed that T3 had the best FCR (1.69), highest dressing percentage (65.53%) and carcass weight (1450g) whereas, group T1 contained the lowest (1277g) carcass weight. The mortality rates for T1, T2, T4, and T3 were 6.6%, 4.5%, 3.33 %, and 2.0%, respectively. Crude protein digestibility was highest in T3 (76.43%), followed by T4 (73.43%), T2 (71.41%), and T1 (65.34%). However, digestibility of crude fat, crude fiber, and dry matter were non-significant (P>0.05) among all the groups. All other groups had lower net profits after broiler sales than that of T3. It was concluded that the Protease dose @500g/ton of feed improved broilers’ FCR, Body Weight, Mortality, and Economical performance of the broilers.
Keywords: Body Weight; Economics; FCR; Mortality; Poultry