Dried Date ( Phoenix dactylifera L.) Meal Inclusion in the Diets of Broilers Affects Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, Nutrients Digestibility, Fecal Microbiota and Economics

Muhammad Haseeb Raza, Muhammad Tahir, Shabana Naz, Ibrahim A. Alhidary, Rifat Ullah Khan (), Caterina Losacco and Vincenzo Tufarelli ()
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Muhammad Haseeb Raza: Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar 25130, Pakistan
Muhammad Tahir: Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar 25130, Pakistan
Shabana Naz: Department of Zoology, Government College University, Faisalabad 54000, Pakistan
Ibrahim A. Alhidary: Department of Animal Production, College of Agriculture and Food Science, King Saud University, Riadh 11421, Saudi Arabia
Rifat Ullah Khan: College of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar 25130, Pakistan
Caterina Losacco: Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Jonian Area, Section of Veterinary Science and Animal Production, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Valenzano, 70010 Bari, Italy
Vincenzo Tufarelli: Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Jonian Area, Section of Veterinary Science and Animal Production, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Valenzano, 70010 Bari, Italy

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-14

Abstract: The availability of suitable feedstuffs for poultry nutrition is a significant challenge faced by the global poultry production industry. This issue has been exacerbated by the shift towards using grains for biofuel production, leading to a subsequent rise in feedstuff prices. The study aimed to assess the impact of different levels of dried date wastes in the diet of broiler chicks on their growth, carcass characteristics, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbiota and economics. A total of 240 day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308/Ross 308 FF) were divided into five experimental groups and fed 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12% of dietary date meal (DDM). The formulated diets were provided to chicks for a duration of 35 days. The findings of the study indicated that chicks fed with a diet containing 9% dried dates exhibited a significantly ( p < 0.05) higher increase in body weight compared to the control group by the end of the study period. Additionally, dressing percentage, carcass weight, leg weight and breast weight were notably higher ( p < 0.05) among birds that consumed the 9% dried dates diet. Moreover, the digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and ether extract showed a significant ( p < 0.05) increase in birds that were fed a 9% dried dates diet. Furthermore, DDM at 9% experienced significantly ( p < 0.05) higher levels of Lactobacillus and decreased ( p < 0.05) the level of E. coli count. Similarly, economically, birds supplemented with 9% DDM exhibited significantly ( p < 0.05) higher profit compared to the control. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that broiler chicks fed with a diet including 9% dried date waste experienced improved growth performance, enhanced carcass quality, supported digestibility of nutrients, elevated the count of fecal Lactobacillus , reduced E. coli count and economics.

Keywords: broilers; dried date meal; growth; carcass; nutrients digestibility (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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