Effect of Various Binders on the Quality of Feed Pellets and Growth Performance of Broilers.

Two experiments were conducted to study the effect of binders such as molasses, sodium bentonite, guar meal, wheat, hydrated lime and molasses + hydrated lime on the quality of feed pellets and growth performance of broilers by preparing the diets as per BIS (1992). Fifteen treatments having 3 replicates of each were prepared viz. control (T₁) pellets without binder, molasses, 2.5% (T₂) & 3.5% (T₃)) sodium bentonite, 2% (T₄) & 2.5% (T₅); guar meal, 2% (T₆) & 2.5% (T₇); wheat, 5% (T₈) & 7% (T₉); hydrated lime, 0.5% (T₁₀) & 1% (T₁₁) and a combination of molasses + hydrated lime at 2.5 and 0.5% (T₁₂); 2.5 and 1% (T₁₃); 3.5 and 0.5% (T₁₄) and 3.5 and 1% (T₁₅), respectively. The pellet quality was determined by measuring the pellet durability index (PDI) and hardness and was found to be better (P<0.05) were observed when hydrated lime alone or in combination with molasses was used as binder, compared to all other treatments. Levels of binders did not affect the PDI and hardness of pellets. On the basis of results obtained, one level of each binder was selected to find out its effect on the growth of a day old broiler chicks (n=320) randomly divided into eight treatments having two replicate each. Again control - T₁ was prepared as per BIS (1992); and T₂ - pellets without binder, T₃ - 2.5% molasses, T₄ - 2% sodium bentonite, T₅- 2% guar meal, T₆ - 5% wheat, T₇ - 0.5% hydrated lime and T₈-3.5% molasses + 0.5% hydrated lime were used as binders. The results obtained showed significantly (P<0.05) higher body weight gains, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and ration was economical in treatments having 2% sodium bentonite and 2.5% molasses as binders than those of control (mash) and pellets without binder. The pelleting of diets improved the overall performance of broilers in all the treatments as compared to mash diets and among binders 2% sodium bentonite group showed better performance than those of other groups. It can be inferred that the quality of pellets was best where hydrated lime alone and in combination with molasses were used as binders although performance and economics of broilers production was maximum when sodium bentonite was used as binder in pelleting and was minimum in hydrated lime group.