An experiment was conducted to study the performance, carcass traits, serum lipid profile and immune competence in commercial broilers (2 to 35d of age) fed diets containing graded levels (25,50,75 and 100%) of pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides) replacing yellow maize (YM) on weight and isonutrient based diets. Each diet was fed to 10 replicate groups of chicks (five Vencob broilers/replicate) housed in raised wire floor stainless steel battery brooders. The estimated metabolizable energy content in pearl millet (PM) was about 55 kcal/kg less compared to YM (3494 kcal/kg). PM contained more protein (10.30 vs 7.33%) and less crude fibre (2.46 vs 2.57%), ether extract (4.31 vs 4.48%), calcium (0.20 vs 0.24%) and phosphorus (0.31 vs 0.33%) compared to YM. Body weight gain and feed efficiency were not affected by replacing YM with PMWB at both 21 and 35 d of age. On iso-nutrient replacement of YM with PM, growth and feed efficiency were increased with increase in levels of PM in diet. At 21 d of age, growth and feed efficiency were significantly higher at >75% and >25% PM, respectively compared to those fed the YM reference diet (YMRD). At 35 d of age, growth was significantly higher in broilers fed PM as the principal source of energy (100% PM) compared to other treatments, but feed efficiency was not effected due to variation in energy source in diet. The relative weight of gizzard, length of intestine, serum LDL and total cholesterol contents decreased, while deposition of abdominal fat and serum triglycerides increased in broilers fed diets incorporated PM on nutrient basis compared to those fed the YMRD. Fat deposition in thigh muscle decreased with PMWB but increased PMNB diets. Fat deposition in liver increased significantly in broilers fed 75 and 100% PM on weight and nutrient basis compared to those fed the YMRD or other combinations of energy sources. Protein content in liver was not affected when YM was replaced with PM on weight basis but increased significantly at all levels of PM incorporation on nutrient basis. Based on the results, it may be concluded that maize can be replaced in tot to with pearl millet on weight basis without affecting growth, feed efficiency, carcass traits and immunity. Incorporation of pearl millet on nutrient basis increased growth and feed efficiency especially at higher levels of incorporation. The concentrations of LDL and total cholesterol in serum decreased, while abdominal fat and serum triglycerides increased with incorporation of PM in broiler diet.
Pearl millet, broilers, growth, lipid profile, immunity
