Effect of Feeding Graded Levels of Fermented Sweet Orange (Citrus Sinensis) Fruit Peel Meal on the Growth and Nutrient Digestibility of Broiler Chicken

A sixty-three day feeding trial was conducted with one hundred and eighty (180) day-old Anak 2000 broiler chicks with an average weight of 54.26g. They were randomly assigned in groups of 30 each to 6 dietary groups T0, T10, T20, T30, T40, and T50 which had 24-hour fermented sweet orange fruit (Citrus sinensis) peel as a replacement for maize at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% respectively, to determine their growth performance. Each treatment group had 3 replicates with equal no of chicks in a completely randomized design. The birds were provided with water and feed ad libitum. Body weight and feed intake were taken, water intake measured, feed conversion ratio, body weight gain and water: feed ratio calculated. A five (5) day Digestibility trial was done in the night week with three (3) chickens per treatment to determine nutrient digestibility. Replacement of maize with sweet orange peel significantly retarded (p<0.05) final live body weight gain, and the feed conversion ratio of broiler chickens and elevated the water : feed ratio. Nutrient digestibility was not significantly affected (p>0.05). The study showed that utilisation of 24-hour fermented sweet orange peel as a dietary replacement for maize at levels of 10%-50% did not support the growth of broiler chicken. It is recommended that sweet orange peel be fermented for longer duration beyond 24 hours to further evaluate its potential feed value in broiler chicken diet.