Poultry sector is playing substantial role in agriculture sector of Pakistan. In the present era extensive research in poultry sector has brought vital changes which are accelerating growth and lowering feed conversion ratio. Nutritional improvements in the poultry dietsare improving the growth performance and nutrient digestibility. Poultry diets are majorly formulated cost effective for the sustainability of poultry industry and its consumers. For this reason, the main focus is on using nutritionally rich and locally available raw feed ingredients in broiler diets. Cereal grain are main energy sources used in broiler diets and among cereal grains maize is being used as a major energy source in broiler diets, but its availability, price fluctuations, incidence of mycotoxins are the major concerns and hence, a suitable alternate energy source is required. Rice broken may serve as the substitute, but, a little data is available about the efficacy of different types of rice broken at different dietary inclusion levels regarding growth performance and total tract protein digestibility studies. Therefore a study was designed with the objectives to determine the impact of different types of rice broken (white, parboiled and brown) at different dietary inclusion levels (10%, 30% and 50%) in replacement with maize on broiler growth performance and total tract digestibility of protein. An experiment with 1-d-old 600 Cobb-500 broilers was conducted to test the hypothesis that rice broken from different sources may successfully substitute maize in broiler diets. The effects of the energy sources (white broken rice, parboiled broken rice and brown broken rice) and dietary inclusion levels(10%, 30% and 50%) were tested by using one way ANOVA under Completely Randomized Design and red maize as a control diet was used. The broilers fed different energy sources had significant variation in body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Better body weight gain and feed conversion ratio was observed in control group followed by white broken rice and lower body weight gain and highest feed conversion ratio was observed in birds fed brown rice broken in diets, similarly total tract digestibility of protein was observed higher in birds fed 50 % maize (control group) and birds fed white rice in diets up to 30% inclusion level and lower total tract digestibility of protein was observed in birds fed brown rice broken in diets. The results of the study showed that red maize is the most beneficial energy source used in broiler diets and white rice broken could be used as good alternative energy source as compared to other types of rice broken i.e. parboiled and brown.
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, white rice broken can easily substitute maize up to 30% dietary inclusion level in broiler but other types of rice broken i.e. parboiled and brown give comparatively good results in terms of growth performance and total tract protein digestibility up to 10% dietary inclusion level in broilers.