Broiler Chickens’ Response to Dietary Inclusion of Maize Stover as an Alternative Energy Source to Yellow Maize
A 49-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the response of broiler chickens fed diets in which maize stover partially replaced yellow maize. A total of 144 day-old Abor Acre broiler chicks were randomly allocated to six dietary treatments in a completely randomised design, with three replicates of 8 birds per treatment. Diets 1 (control), 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 contained 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% maize stover, respectively, as a partial substitute for dietary yellow maize. Birds were provided feed and water ad libitum and reared on wood-shaving litter. Growth performance parameters such as feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were monitored, while carcass traits and haematological indices were analysed using standard laboratory procedures. Results showed that body weight was significantly affected (P < 0.05) by dietary treatments, with birds fed 5% maize stover exhibiting the best FCR. Carcass traits, including back cut, thigh, drumstick, and breast weight, differed significantly (P < 0.05) across treatments. Birds on the 5% maize stover diet recorded the highest live weight (1900.00 g/bird) and dressed weight (1266.67 g/bird). Haematological parameters were generally not significantly affected (P > 0.05); however, birds fed 15% maize stover recorded the highest values for haemoglobin (8.94 g/dL), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (31.34 pg), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (32.27 g/dL), and packed cell volume (27.67%). In conclusion, maize stover can be used to partially replace yellow maize in broiler diets at inclusion levels of up to 15–20% without adverse effects on growth performance, carcass quality, or haematological health.
Keywords: Broiler Chicken, Maize Stover, Broiler Diets and Productive Performance
