Effect of Supplementation of Distiller’s Dried Grain with Soluble (DDGS) on Desi-Chicken Performance and Carcass Characteristics

Abstract

Utilization of unconventional feed ingredients in poultry ration is a key determinant of successful poultry production. Distillers Dried Grains with Soluble (DDGS) is now becoming a popular unconventional and low-cost ingredient for livestock feed due to its high nutritive value. Hence, a study was conducted to assess the effect of DDGS on native chicken production performance. A total of 126, 8 weeks old desi-chicken were distributed randomly to 3 different dietary treatments that includes T₁ (control), 10 per cent inclusion of DDGS (T₂) and (T₃) 15 per cent inclusion of DDGS, respectively. The first experiment was performed between 8-12 weeks and the second experiment between 13-16 weeks of age. Performance parameters and carcass traits were studied at the end of feeding trial. The results showed that performance traits like body weights, body weight gains and feed efficiency and carcass traits such as New York dress weight, eviscerated carcass yield, ready to cook yield, cut-up parts, giblets yield and relative organ weights were not influenced by dietary inclusion of DDGS. The present study indicated that up to 15 % level of inclusion of DDGS has no deleterious effect on the performance, carcass characteristic of desi-chicken. Thus, DDGS can be safely incorporated to desi-chicken diet at this level without hampering production performance.