EVALUATION OF SPENT SORGHUM RESIDUE AS A PARTIAL SUBSTITUTE FOR MAIZE IN BROILER DIETS: EFFECTS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS TRAITS

Abstract

T he increasing cost and competition for maize in poultry feeding have intensified the search for alternative energy sources capable of sustaining broiler productivity without compromising performance. This study evaluated Spent Sorghum Residue as a Partial Substitute for Maize in Broiler Diets: Effects on Growth Performance and Carcass Traits. A total of 240 Anak 2000 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. The experimental diets contained 0, 10, 20, and 30% SSR as a replacement for maize and were designated as T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively. Each treatment was replicated four times with 15 birds per replicate. Growth performance parameters assessed included initial body weight, final body weight, average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain, and feed conversion ratio. At the end of the feeding trial, two birds were randomly selected from each replicate, fasted overnight, humanely slaughtered, and evaluated for carcass yield and internal organ characteristics. During the starter phase, dietary inclusion of SSR had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on any of the measured growth performance parameters. At the finisher phase, average daily feed intake differed significantly (P < 0.05) among dietary treatments, whereas average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio remained comparable (P > 0.05). Overall growth performance was not adversely affected by increasing levels of SSR inclusion. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed for plucked weight, dressed carcass weight, dressing percentage, liver, kidney, and small intestine weights. However, live weight, eviscerated weight, head, legs, large intestine, pancreas, lungs, heart, spleen, gizzard, and abdominal fat were not significantly influenced (P > 0.05) by dietary treatment. The results indicate that spent sorghum residue can replace up to 30% of maize in broiler diets without detrimental effects on growth performance while maintaining acceptable carcass yield and organ development. The utilization of SSR therefore represents a promising, cost-effective alternative energy ingredient for sustainable broiler production, particularly in regions where maize is expensive or limited.