Replacement Value of Dusa (Locally Processed Maize Offal) for Maize in the Diets of Egg Type Chicks (0-8 Weeks)

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the replacement value of dusa (Locally processed maize offal) for maize in the diets of egg type chicks. The proximate analysis and the metabolizable energy of dusa were determined. Three hundred and seventy eight (378) day-old egg type chicks were randomly allocated to seven dietary treatments containing graded levels of dusa from control to treatment seven with three replicates of 18 birds each. Feed consumption, weight gain and mortality were recorded. The proximate analysis revealed that dusa is higher in crude protein than the maize grain (10.82% and 8.57% respectively). The metabolizable energy value was however lower than for maize grain (2784 kcal kg^-1 versus 3432 Kcal kg^-1 respectively). There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between treatment means for the average weight gain of birds. Feed consumption and feed to gain ratio increased as the level of dusa increased in the diets. There was no mortality throughout the study. The cost (N/kg weight gain) and feed cost (N/bird) were significantly higher (p<0.05) for the control and they decreased as the level of dusa increased in the diets. There were significant savings in cost of production in using dusa as a source of energy in chicks' diets. It was concluded that dusa could replace all the maize in the diets of egg type chicks without any adverse effect on the performance.