RESPONSE OF BROILER CHICKS TO DIETARY SAFFLOWER CAKE WITH AND WITHOUT ENZYME
The experiment was carried out to determine the effect of various levels (o , 5 ,10 ,15 and 20 % )of safflower seed cake with and without commercial enzyme (xylem 500 ) containing as source of protein on the performance and carcass character of broiler chicks and their economic impact .Two hundred and ten, seven day old unsexed broiler chicks were used in to evaluate the inclusion of graded levels of safflower cake (0.0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%) with and without enzyme as a source of plant protein. Chicks were randomly distributed to ten treatments with three replicates, each replicate with seven chicks. Five iso caloric, iso nitrogenous diets were formulated, the first five groups were fed on diets containing graded levels of safflower cake (0.0,5,10,15, and 20%)without enzyme , other groups were fed on the same diets but supplemented with enzyme . experimental parameters covered , body weight , feed intake , body weight gain feed conversion ratio, rate of mortality , carcass yield and economic appraised. Results showed that undecorticated safflower seed cake can replace the groundnut cake up to 20% without adverse effects on broiler chick’s performance. Weight gain of broiler chicks improved with the increase of safflower seed cake levels in the diets, however, chicks fed on 15% and 20% undecorticated safflower seed cake with and without enzyme recorded significant improvement in body weight gain compared to other treatment groups, also all experimental chicks showed significant improvement in feed conversion ratio (FCR) .Supplementation of enzyme increase the feed intake in all experimental groups except group fed on diets containing 5% and 10% safflower cake. Economically chicks fed on safflower seed cake (SFC) supplemented with enzyme (xylem 500) recorded the highest profit