Effect of Different Levels of Brewer’s Spent Sorghum (Pito Mash) Supplemented with Exogenous Enzymes on the Reproductive Performance, Blood Profile, and Economic Efficiency of Indigenous Guinea Fowl.

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of different levels of brewer’s spent sorghum (pito mash) supplemented with exogenous enzymes on the reproductive performance, blood profile, and economic efficiency of indigenous Guinea fowl. A total of 60 sixteen-week-old Guinea fowl were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD). Each treatment had three replicates, with five Guinea fowl per replicate in a male-to-female ratio of 1:4. The dietary treatments included: T1 (control, 0 % pito mash), T2 (15 % pito mash), T3 (20 % pito mash), and T4 (25 % pito mash), with 0.02 % Ronozyme enzyme included in all pito mash-based diets. Data were collected on feed intake, water intake, egg production, egg characteristics, fertility, hatchability, keet characteristics (chick body length, beak length, shank length, and body weight), haematological and biochemical parameters, and economic efficiency. Egg production, fertility, and hatchability were not significantly affected (P > 0.05), suggesting that pito mash inclusion did not compromise reproductive performance. Yolk colour and Yolk height were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by the dietary pito mash, with T2 (20 % pito mash) recording the highest values. Keet characteristics, including body weight and body measurements were comparable across treatments. Haematological and biochemical parameters remained within normal physiological ranges, indicating that brewer’s spent grain inclusion did not adversely affect bird health. Results showed that dietary inclusion of pito mash significantly (P < 0.05) reduced feed cost per kilogram and total feed cost, with T4 (25% pito mash) recording the lowest feed cost. However, the analysis showed that dietary Brewer’s spent grain, supplemented with exogenous enzymes, and did not improve feed utilization efficiency in Guinea fowl. It was concluded that dietary Brewer’s spent grain, at inclusion levels up to 25%, may not adversely affect reproductive performance or blood indices, but may also not offer a financial advantage despite its lower cost in Guinea fowl layer production.