Physio-biochemical evaluation of broiler chicken fed with processed fish wastes

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to study the effect of dietary incorporation of processed fish wastes; acid silage (fish waste) and surimi waste powder on the physio-biochemical parameters in broiler chicken. The experiment was conducted on forty five, day old broiler chicken of Vencob strain for a period of seven weeks. After three weeks of age, they were randomly divided into three groups G-I, G-II and G-III of 15 birds each. During the first three weeks, they were fed with standard broiler starter ration of BIS specification. After three weeks, G-I was fed with the standard broiler finisher ration, G-II was fed with the standard broiler finisher ration in which there was 100 per cent replacement of unsalted dried fish with acid silage (fish waste) and G-III was fed with the standard broiler finisher ration in which there was 100 per cent replacement of unsalted dried fish with surimi waste powder. The rations of G-I, G-II and G-III were made isocaloric and isonitrogenous. Body weight and feed consumption were recorded at weekly intervals from fourth to seventh weeks of age. Blood samples were collected fourth to seventh week from the three groups at weekly intervals and haematological and biochemical parameters were analysed. Haematological parameters like Hb, VPRC, TEC, TLC, serum protein profile like total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin globulin ratio, serum lipid profile like total lipids, triglycerides, HDL,VLDL, NEFA, total cholesterol, serum enzymes like ALT,AST antioxidants like blood catalase, blood SOD, serum GSH, serum LPO, serum electrolytes like Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe were estimated. At the end of the experiment, the birds were sacrificed and giblet weight was assessed. The meat of three representative samples from each group was used for analysing meat cholesterol and the proximate principles like crude protein, ether extract and total ash. There was no significant difference between the three groups in body weight and feed consumption and they were gradually increasing during the experimental period in all the three groups. The haematological parameters also were comparable between the control and experimental groups. No significant difference was observed between the groups in the concentrations of total protein, albumin and albumin globulin ratio throughout the study. The concentration of globulin was significantly higher in the control group at the start of the study but later, the values were significantly comparable between the three groups. The concentrations of total lipids, triglycerides, NEFA, VLDL and total cholesterol maintained a similar trend between the control and experimental groups but at the seventh week, the concentration of HDL in the acid silage (fish waste) fed group was lower than that of the control group. The concentrations of serum enzymes and minerals (Na, K, Ca and Fe) did not show any significant change between the three groups during the entire study. Though the Mg level showed a fluctuating trend at fifth and sixth weeks of age, at the end of the study, there was no significant difference between any of the groups. The antioxidant status was also significantly comparable between the groups. The meat parameters like giblet weight, meat cholesterol and the proximate principles were also significantly similar in the three groups. It is obligatory to use animal protein source in broiler chicken for obtaining better growth performance. Fish meal is rich in certain amino acids essential for the proper growth of chicken that are limiting in the vegetable protein supplements. Unconventional protein sources like fish wastes are to be used in the ration due to the high cost and low availability of fish meal. In the present study, physio- biochemical effects of using processed fish wastes in the ration of broiler chicken instead of fish meal were assessed and they induced a growth similar to that of the standard normal ration which contain fish meal as animal protein. Thus the incorporation of the two fish wastes could be advocated to the farmers to reduce the feed cost and improve the profit without affecting the growth and meat quality of broiler chicken and also as a measure to minimize environmental pollution.