Performance Quality, Nutrient Digestibility and Carcass Traits of Broiler Chickens Fed Graded Levels of White Sorghum Soaked in Wood Ash Extract

This study investigated the effects of feeding graded levels of white sorghum soaked in wood ash extract on performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass traits of broiler chickens. One hundred and forty-four day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four experimental diets in a completely randomized design (CRD). Each treatment had 36 birds, divided into three replicates of 12 birds each. At the starter phase, birds fed the control diet (T1) had the highest significant (p<0.05) live weight (733.00g), feed intake (50.80g), weight gain (36.17g) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) OF (1.44). The highest protein efficiency ratio (3.37) was observed in birds fed T2 (25% WSSWAE). Birds fed T4 (75% WSSWAE) had the lowest (P<0.05) live weight, feed intake and weight gain. At the finishing phase, birds fed T1 had the highest (p<0.05) final live weight (2180.00g), body weight gain (51.68g) and feed intake (93.10g). The best feed conversion ratio (1.08) was observed in birds fed T1. Nutrient digestibility was highest (p<0.05) in birds fed T1, with dry matter (92.61%), crude protein (75.70%) and ash (74.88%). The highest (2165.00g) significant (p<0.05) de-feathered weight and 2115.00g eviscerated were observed from birds fed on T3 (50% WSSWAE) while the least value of 1980.00g and 1930.00g were noticed from T4 (75% WSSWAE). Birds on T1 (Control) revealed the highest (8.63g) significant (p<0.05) different while the least value of 8.27g was noticed from T4. Conclusively, white sorghum soaked in the wood ash extract can be replaced maize up to 50% without negative effect on performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, carcass traits and organ weights of the broiler finisher chickens. Therefore, 25% inclusion level of white sorghum soaked in wood ash extract is recommended to substituting maize in broiler chickens diets.