Effect of feeding rice based brewers dried grain on growth performance and carcass quality traits of broiler chickens

A biological experiment was undertaken with 175 newly hatched broiler chicks for six weeks. The chicks were divided in completely randomized design into five treatments with 35 chicks each with five replicates per treatment. Five experimental diets as per ICAR (2013) were prepared by incorporating rice brewers dried grain (RBDG) at inclusion level of (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%) respectively by replacing maize and soybean meal from basal diet. The results indicated that body weight decreased significantly (P<0.01) at inclusion level of 20% RBDG but feed intake increased significantly (P<0.01) at same inclusion level of RBDG as compared to control group. The body weight gain was comparable at 15% inclusion level of RBDG with control group containing 0% RBDG Significantly (P<0.01) poor feed conversion ratio was observed at higher inclusion levels (20%) group. However, feed conversion 1ratio was found comparable at inclusion level of 15% RBDG to the control group. The carcass quality traits such as pre slaughter weight, blood loss, feather loss, dressing yield and eviscerated yield and various cut-up parts such as breast, thigh, neck, back, wing and drumstick did not differ significantly due to different dietary treatments. However, abdominal fat was significantly lowered (P<0.05) at 15 and 20% inclusion levels of RBDG. Thus, it is concluded that RBDG can be safely incorporated in broiler diet at the inclusion level of 15% with better carcass yield without any adverse effect on growth performance.