Growth performance and meat quality of broiler chickens on diets containing Keratinase-treated and untreated feather meal-based diets

ABSTRACT

We evaluated the growth performance and meat quality parameters of broiler chickens fed keratinase-treated and untreated feather meal-based diets using Ross 308 chicks. Seven treatments were used: birds in treatment 1 were not given any feather meal-based diets. Treatment 2–4 birds were fed 8%, 16% and 24% untreated feather meal-based diets, while treatment 5–7 birds were fed 8%, 16% and 24% keratinase-treated feather meal-based diets. Performance parameters and cost-benefit analysis were carried out. The use of keratinase improved the ash and nitrogen-free extract contents of the feather meal. One-way analysis of variance revealed differences (P < 0.05) in the growth performance parameters, carcass characteristics and meat minerals with the exception of Phosphorus. Organoleptic parameters were not influenced (P > 0.05) by the treatments except appearance and flavour. Our study revealed that, feather meal-based diets could be used as a protein source in broiler chickens nutrition up to 24%.

KEYWORDS:

• Enzyme treatment
• essential and non-essential amino acids
• profitability
• organoleptic properties
• feather meal

Acknowledgements

This research was made possible via a TETFUND grant (TETFUND/NRF/2019) made available to the team. The team is also grateful to the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria for augmenting the effort of the TETFUND.

Disclosure statement

Authors confirm that there is no relevant financial or non-financial competing interests to report as far as this paper.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Tertiary Education Trust Fund [grant number TETFUND/NRF/2019].