Effects of supplementing different levels of meat and bone meal on productive performance, carcass characteristics and hematobiochemical parameters in broiler

Meat and bone meal (MBM) is a potential source of dietary protein for broiler. One hundred Cobb 500™ unsexed day old broiler chicks were used in a 28-day trial to investigate the effects of different levels MBM on productive performance, carcass characteristics and blood parameters in commercial broiler. Birds were randomly distributed into five dietary treatment groups designated as T₀, T_p T₂, T₃ and T₄ and supplemented with 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8% MBM for T₀, T_p T₂, T₃ and T₄ treatment groups, respectively. All birds had free access to feed and water. Results indicated that, weekly average weight gain increased significantly (P<0.05) as the level of MBM supplementation increased from 0 to 8%. The highest average weight gain was recorded in T₄ group at 4^th week. Similar to weight gain, average weekly feed intake differed significantly (P<0.05). Unlike feed intake, FCR remained unchanged (P>0.05) at 2^nd and 3^rd weeks but differed (P<0.05) at 1^st and 4^th weeks. The best FCR was recorded in T₄ group at 4^th week. Drumstick weight (P<0.05), neck weight (P<0.05), breast weight (P<0.001) and ether extract content (P<0.05) increased linearly with increasing levels of MBM supplementation. Supplementation of MBM had no influence (P>0.05) on blood parameters. Total protein differed (P<0.01) at 4^th week. It was concluded that, increasing levels of supplemental MBM substantially improved performance parameter and carcass characteristics without interfering hematobiochemical parameters in broilers.