Replacement of yellow maize with graded levels of pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides) in commercial broiler diets

An experiment was conducted to study the performance, carcass traits, serum lipid profile and immune competence in commercial broilers (2 to 42 d of age) fed graded levels (25,50,75 and 100%) of pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides) in place (w/w) of yellow maize (YM). Each diet was fed to eight replicate groups of chicks (five female Vencob broilers/replicate) housed in battery brooders. The estimated metabolizable energy content in pearl millet (PM) was about 650 kcal/kg less compared to YM (2736 vs 3389 kcal/kg). PM contained less protein and soluble carbohydrates compared to YM. Body weight gain and feed efficiency were not affected by replacing maize with PM up to 25% (w/w) and were adversely affected at higher levels. Ready to cook yield, relative weight of lymphoid organs, gizzard, liver, giblet, abdominal fat and intestine and length of intestine, antibody titers against Newcastle disease and sheep red blood cells at 10 d post inoculation were also not affected. Though the serum lipid profile, protein and fat contents in liver, breast muscle and thigh muscle were significantly influenced by replacing maize with PM, no particular trend was observed. Based on the results, it may be concluded that maize can be replaced with pearl millet up to 25% on weight basis without affecting growth, feed efficiency, carcass traits and immunity, but at higher levels (> 50%) growth and feed efficiency were depressed significantly.