Nutrient Digestibility of Broiler Birds Fed Sugarcane Scrapping Bark Fermented with Rumen Liquor for 4 and 8 Days at Different Grade Levels

This study was conducted to evaluate the nutrient retention of treated sugarcane bark scrapping fermented with rumen liquor (TSBS) on the broiler chickens. Six experimental diets coded as T1 (0%), T2(7.5%), T3(15%) for 4 days' fermentation and T4(0%), T5(7.5) and T6(15%) for 8 days. T1 (0%) and T4 (0%) are the control in both 4 and 8days fermentation. The feed formulation was compounded such that TSBS replaced maize at 0%, 7.5% and 15% levels respectively in broiler finisher diet. A total of one hundred and eighty (180) birds of four (4) weeks old broilers were randomly allotted into six treatment groups, each treatment had three replicates in a 2x3 factorial in a randomized experimental design. The facal sample was collected for 7 days at the end of experiment. Results on nutrient retention of the birds fed TSBS showed that the dietary levels had significant effect (P<0.05) on digestibility efficiency of dry matter, crude protein, crude fibre, ash, and N.F.E retention. However, no significant (P>0.05) difference was observed in ether extract (EE) across the treatments measured. Fermentation days (4 and 8 days) had no significant (P>0.05) effect on digestibility efficiency of all the parameters measured except crude fibre and ash retention. However, interaction of fermentation days and level of TSBS in the diet significantly (P<0.05) affect all the parameters measured except ether extract retention. The interaction between 4 and 8 days shows that irrespective of the levels of inclusion of TSBS 0%, 7.5% and 15% and number of days of fermentation 4 and 8 days, the birds performed well. There was no significant (P>0.05) effect notice from the inclusion of 0%: 4days fermentation and the same for 0%: 8days in all the parameters measured in the feed trials. In 7.5%: 4days, 7.5%:8 days, 15%:4 days, 15%: 8days show also no significant (P>0.05) difference in the experiment. The interaction on the nutrient retention show that there was significant different (P<0.05) observed in the broiler fed TSBS. The study shows that there was no significant different between 4 and 8 days fermentation, therefore 4 days' fermentation is recommended to use to avoid time taken and stress in fermentation for longer period.