Assessment of Proximate Nutritional Composition and Quality Attributes of Commercial Poultry Feeds in Chattogram, Bangladesh

Abstract

Poultry farming plays a crucial role in agriculture, impacting both nutrition and the economy of a country. Since the quality of poultry products directly affects the consumer’s health, regular assessment of commercial feeds is essential for both product safety and poultry health. Proximate analysis offers a convenient method to assess feed quality without harming poultry birds. This study examined total 15 feed samples of three categories i.e., starter, grower, and house feed available in Chattogram, Bangladesh. The sample were analyzed for moisture, ash, crude protein, crude fat, carbohydrates, metabolizable energy, minerals, and potential toxic metals such as Cr, Cd, Pb with results compared against international standards. Moisture content met recommended guidelines, not exceeding 12%, and ash content ranged from 4.20% to 10.87%. Crude protein levels varied between 8.05% and 28.18%, averaging 18.38%, with few discrepancies with international guidelines. Crude fat (2.75%–6.39%) and carbohydrates (50.08%–67.74%) were found to be satisfactory. Minerals and heavy metals were mostly within recommended levels, with one sample showing 0.52 mg/kg of Cd, while Cr and Pb were below detection limit. The results indicate the overall nutritional proficiency of commercial poultry feeds though stricter guidelines are recommended for better compliance with international regulations.