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Year :	2013
Tome :	164
Volume :	7
Pages :	382-387
Title :	Effects of different dietary amounts of date kernel meal on growth performance and some carcass traits in broilers
Authors :	F. KHEIRI, J. NASR
Summary :	This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of date kernel meal in replacement to corn on growth and some carcass traits in broilers. A total of 180 one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chickens were divided into 5 equal groups according to the dietary amounts of date kernel meal (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%) incorporated to diets for the whole growth period (starting (from day 0 to day 21), growing (from day 22 to day 42) and finishing (from day 43 to day 49) phases) and growth parameters (body weights and daily weight gains), food intakes and food efficiency were weekly determined. On day 49, 12 birds per group were slaughtered and carcass traits (weights and relative weights of visceral organs) were evaluated. In birds fed with diets containing date kernel meal up to 15%, daily weight gains were significantly increased, particularly during the growing period. In parallel, food intakes were significantly increased when 5% and 10% of date meal was included in the ration. By contrast, when 20% date meal was used, weight gains were significantly reduced mainly during the starting and growing period and food intakes were not significantly changed. Consequently, food efficiency was markedly altered in birds receiving 20% date kernel meal in diets. Additionally, carcass yield was remarkably improved in birds fed with 15% date meal and was associated with significant decline in relative weights of gastrointestinal tract whereas the faecal moisture was gradually increased with the date meal content added to diets. These results suggest that the incorporation of date kernel meal up to 15% in broiler diets may be benificial for growth.
Keywords :	broiler chickens, date kernel meal, weight growth, food efficiency, carcass, organ weight
Correspondence :	F. KHEIRI
Adress :	Department of Animal Science, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran. [email protected]
Link :	pdf

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