Growth Performance And Economic Evaluation Of Broiler Finishers Fed Graded Levels Of Rice Offal Supplemented With A Xylanase–Glucanase Enzyme Complex

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of graded levels of rice offal (RO) supplemented with a xylanase–glucanase enzyme complex on the growth performance and economic efficiency of broiler finishers. The experiment was conducted at the Poultry Unit of Adamawa State University Teaching and Research Farm, Mubi, Nigeria.. A total of 180 four-week-old broiler chickens were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design, with three replicates of 10 birds each. The experimental diets contained 0% (control), 5%, 10%, and 15% rice offal, each supplemented with a xylanase–glucanase enzyme complex at the manufacturer's recommended level. The feeding trial lasted four weeks. Data were collected on final body weight, average daily weight gain (ADWG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed cost per kilogram of feed, total feed intake, total weight gain, and feed cost per kilogram of weight gain. Data were subjected to analysis of variance using the General Linear Model procedure of IBM SPSS version 23, and treatment means were separated using Dunnett's test at P < 0.05. Results showed that birds fed the 10% RO diet recorded the highest (P < 0.05) final body weight (1,555.90 g), ADWG (34.75 g/day), and ADFI (119.74 g/day), while also achieving the best feed conversion ratio (3.50). Economic evaluation revealed that feed cost per kilogram decreased progressively with increasing RO inclusion, from ₦383.22 in the control diet to ₦332.26 at 15% RO. However, birds fed the 10% RO diet recorded the lowest feed cost per kilogram of weight gain (₦1,217.33), indicating superior economic efficiency compared with the control (₦1,406.42) and other treatments. It was concluded that incorporating 10% rice offal supplemented with a xylanase– glucanase enzyme complex in broiler finisher diets optimizes growth performance while reducing production costs. This feeding strategy provides a practical and economically sustainable alternative for poultry producers seeking to reduce dependence on conventional feed ingredients without compromising productivity.