Abstract:
Cereals, the main energy source ingredients, usually constitute more than half of poultry feed. Maize, the most commonly used cereal is expensive and scarce. Cashew Apple Pomace (CAP) is a residue of cashew nut production with Gross Energy (GE) content similar to maize. However, information on CAP as an energy source in poultry diets is currently inadequate. Therefore, CAP as an energy source for broiler chickens was investigated.
Cashew apple was pressed, sun-dried and milled (2mm sieve size) to obtain Dry Cashew Apple Pomace (DCAP). Chemical composition and Apparent Metabolisable Energy (AME) of DCAP were determined using standard procedures. Five diets, in which maize was replaced with DCAP at 0% (T1), 5% (T2), 10% (T3), 15% (T4) and 20% (T5), were fed at starter and finisher phases to 400 one-day-old Arbor Acre Plus Broiler Chicks (AAPBC) in eight replicates for 42 days using completely randomised design. Feed Intake-FI (g), Total Weight Gain-TWG (g) and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) were determined. Blood (3mL) was sampled and analysed for triglycerides. In another trial, maize in starter and finisher diets was replaced with DCAP at 0% (C1, C2), 15% (C3, C4) and 30% (C5, C6). Diets C2, C4 and C6 had fibrolytic multienzyme complex inclusion at 350g/tonne. The diets were fed to 288 one-day old AAPBC in a 2x3 factorial arrangement. At day 42, FI, WG and FCR were determined. Two chickens per replicate were sacrificed to determine Relative Dressed Weight (RDW) and Abdominal Fat (AF). The DCAP was stored in Woven Polyethylene Sacks (WPS) and Plastic Container (PC) for 12 months and insect infestation was monitored. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, orthogonal contrast and ANOVA at α0.05.
The DCAP contained 11.1±1.7% Crude Protein (CP), 23.4±1.0% available carbohydrate, 4,227.6±5 kCal/kg GE, 0.002mg/mg methionine, 0.005mg/mg lysine, 35.5% neutral detergent fibre, 23.3% acid detergent fibre, 18.8% acid detergent lignin and 2,146.8±2.4 kcal/kg AME. The total FI ranged from 2,566.8±111.9 (T1) to 2,897.8±92.7 (T5). The TWG ranged from 1,038.2±23.0 (T5) to 1,136.8±25.0 (T1). The FCR at starter phase ranged from 2.02 (T1) to 2.36 (T3). At finisher phase, FCR of T1 (2.24) was similar to T2 (2.46), T3 (2.48) and T4 (2.67) but differed significantly from T5 (2.80). Triglycerides (mg/dL) ranged from 22.8±1.6 (T5) to 27.1±1.7 (T1). Enzyme inclusion significantly reduced FI in C4 (903.8±25.4) against C3 (1014.1±47.5) and increased WG in C6 (464.0±40.4) against C5 (410.5±26.1) at starter phase. Enzyme had no effect on FCR, RDW and AF at starter and finisher phases. The TWG was also not affected. However, maize replacement with DCAP increased: WG (C3 - 443.5±20.1 and C5 - 410.5±36.1 than C1 - 361.7±46.2), FCR (C5 - 2.99 than C1 - 2.35) and reduced AF (C5 - 0.40 than C1 - 0.75). Lasioderma serricorne was identified as a pest in DCAP stored in PC and WPS within a year.
Dietary dry cashew apple pomace enhanced performance and lowered abdominal fat of broiler chicken up to 15% replacement in broiler diets. Dry cashew apple did not deteriorate after one year in storage.
