Open AccessEffects of dietary ammonium sulphate (AS) on the performance and abdominal fat of broilers
Author(s) -
J. O. Oyedeji,
J. O. Atteh,
O.O. Ogbonini
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
nigerian journal of animal production
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 0331-2062
DOI - 10.51791/njap.v30i1.1432
Subject(s) - ammonium , starter , broiler , chemistry , zoology , feed conversion ratio , food science , body weight , ammonium sulfate , biology , endocrinology , chromatography , organic chemistry
Two experiments were designed to investigate the response of broilers to dietary inclusion of ammonium sulphate. In experiment 1, day old chicks were fed diets with 0, 1, 2 or 3 % ammonium sulphate (AS) during the starter phase (0-4 weeks). In experiment 2, broilers chicks were raised on a standard diet from 0 - 4 weeks of age and then switched to diets with 0, 1, 2 or 3% ammonium sulphate during the finisher phase ( 5-8 weeks). In experiment 1, feed intake was significantly (P 0.05), however, in experiment 2, both feed intake and weight gain at market age were significantly suppressed (P 0.05). Dietary ammonium sulphate did not affect broilers liveability at any of the period. Protein retention was comparable (P>0.05) while fat availability was significantly reduced (P 0.05) of dietary ammonium sulphate on the abdominal fat during the finisher period. It was concluded that ammonium sulphate can be used as a feed intake suppressant and would be more effective in the broiler starter diet than in the finisher diet.