Effects of duckweed meal supplementation in Un-processed and extruded diets on performance and economics of broilers Singh Inderpal1,*, Lamba J.S.1, Grewal R.S.1, Singh Udeybir1, Kaur Daljeet2, Ansal Meera D.3 1Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Sciences, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India 2Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary Sciences, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India 3Department of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India *Correspondence: bajwa8844@gmail.com
Online published on 22 March, 2023. Abstract A study was conducted for nutritional evaluation of duckweed meal (DWM) as an alternate protein source in broilers. DWM supplemented in un-processed and extruded diets and performance of broilers was observed. 256 IBL-80, day old commercial broiler chicks were randomly distributed into eight treatments with, four replicates each. The treatments were divided into two dietary groups: Un-processed dietary group and Extruded dietary group. Both groups were having 4 treatments. Each replicate was housing eight birds (8×4×8). Treatment T1 in both groups served as control treatment with 0% DWM, treatment T2, T3 and T4 were supplemented with 2, 4 and 6 % DWM. In both dietary groups significant differences for feed conversion ratio (FCR) was observed only during starter phase. In unprocessed dietary group best FCR, protein efficiency ratio (PER) and calorie efficiency ratio (CER) was observed for 2% duckweed meal supplemented group whereas in extrusion processed dietary group the best FCR, PER and CER was observed for 4% duckweed treatment. The results indicated that duckweed meal can be safely included in the broiler ration at 2 % level without treatment and at 4% level if used in extruded form. Top Keywords Calorie Efficiency Ratio, Duckweed meal, Feed Conversion Ratio, Protein Efficiency Ratio. Top |