Effect of cadmium as feed additive on broilers growth performance

ABSTRACT

A total of 120 one day-old Cobb broiler chicks to were evenly distributed to four equal groups of 30 chicks for each, fed on four experimental rations for six weeks of the experimental period. The first group was fed on a basal diet [control group [G1]], and the other groups were fed 2.5 [G2, 5 [G3] or 7 [G4] mg cadmium /kg diet. The average body weight development G2 and G3 showed highly significant [p<0.01] and significant [p<0.05] improvement respectively. Feed intake was more in treated groups but was progressively reduced with increasing cadmium levels, also feed conversion ratio was increased and significant decrease of edible parts and giblets weight percentages was also observed. The breast muscle weight percent significantly decreased in G4. Feed economical efficiency was decreased as cadmium levels increased. Concentration of cadmium in the examined tissue increased progressively with increased dietary cadmium additive but still within the permissible limits of cadmium in poultry meat and offal. In conclusion the present study showed that cadmium additive at level of 2.5 ppm in broiler diets has improved growth performance and the economic efficiency