Effect of Bio char and Clay on Growth Performance and Organ Weight of Broiler

ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary inclusion of biochar and clay as feed additives on the growth performance and organ weight of broilers in a 56-day feeding trial. A total of ninety-six day-old broilers (Ross 308) were fed diets containing biochar and clay. Treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4 were composed of T1(control), T2(5% biochar), T3 (5% clay) and T4 (2.5% biochar + 2.5% clay) in a completely randomized design with three replicates, each consisting of eight birds. The growth parameters were measured during the feeding trial and organ weight parameters were measured at the end of the experiment. The data collected were subjected to one-way analysis of variance to determine the significant differences among the dietary treatments. The results showed that treatments were significantly (p < 0.05) different in final weight, total weight gain, average daily weight gain, total feed intake, average daily feed intake, feed cost per kg weight gain and kidney weight. Treatment 4 had the highest final weight value of 1.4067kg, highest total weight gain of 1.3597kg, highest average daily weight gain of 0.0242kg, highest total feed intake of 5.1097kg, highest average daily feed intake of 0.0910kg and highest feed cost of N3227.21. However, there were no significant (p > 0.05) differences in initial weight, feed conversion ratio, feed cost per kg weight gain, heart, liver, pancreas, gizzard, spleen and lung weights. The results imply that inclusion of biochar and clay at 2.5% each in broiler diet can potentially increase growth performance