The effect of partial replacement of yellow corn by banana peels with and without enzymes on broiler's performance and blood parameters.

Abstract

Six weeks experiment was performed using 288 (one dayold) ROSS chicks in order to evaluate the effect of replacing 15, 30 or 45% of yellow corn with dried banana peels (with and without enzyme) in broilers’ diets on their growth performance and blood parameters. The metabolizable energy of banana peels was calculated from a digestibility trial and was found to be 2932 Kcal/Kg. The proximate analysis of dried banana peels showed that they contain 10g/100g (crude protein), 14.91 g/100g (crude fiber), 18.64 g/100g (ash), 0.31 g/100g (calcium) and 0.25 g/100g (phosphorus). The results of the growth experiment showed that the inclusion of banana peels in broilers’ diet did not cause significant changes in broilers’ performance. The supplementation of enzyme in the diets resulted in an enhancement in broilers’ performance parameters numerically with no statistically significant differences. The groups fed on banana peels at the different tested levels with and without enzyme had significantly lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides as compared to the control groups. The economic study revealed that increasing the replacement level of banana peels resulted in a lower feed cost of the diets. In conclusion, the results of the present study confirmed the use of banana peels in broiler’s diet as a promising application in animal feed.