Effect of the inclusion of chemical silage of red tilapia (oreochromis spp.) viscera in diets for broilers on productive and blood parameters

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Industrial poultry farming is an efficient chain for obtaining high-quality, low-cost animal protein, making chicken meat a complete, healthy and affordable food for millions of people around the world. However, most of the total feed cost is destined to satisfy protein and energy needs, with fishmeal and soybean meal being the main sources of animal and vegetable protein, respectively. OBJETIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of chemical silage of red tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) viscera in diets for broilers of the Ross 308 line, on the productive variables and blood parameters of the birds. MATERIALS AND METHODS The methodology presents several subsections, initially the preparation of the chemical silage (EQ) was described, followed by the bromatological and microbiological characterization of the same, the feeding of the birds, the evaluation of the productive variables, the quantification of blood chemistry and hemogram and finally, the statistical analysis was established. For this purpose, the productive variables such as weight, size, feed consumption, feed conversion and mortality were evaluated, which were measured weekly, as well as the blood parameters and the complete blood count, which were measured at the end of the birds' productive period. RESULT The results show an increase of approximately 50% in the protein value of the silage with respect to the fresh viscera, mainly due to the defatting process, which reduces the fat by approximately 80% (table 1). The productive variables of the experimental feed showed statistically significant differences respect to the control, in the weekly weight parameter (1684 and 1830 g respectively), while the blood components of both diets were in the normal range for the specie under study. The productive, hematological and blood chemistry parameters of the birds are not affected by the inclusion of silage in the diets, being within the normal range for the broiler line used (Ross 308). However, cholesterol and triglycerides in the EQ diet may be increased due to the concentration of lipids and fatty acids present in the silage. Table 2 shows the productive variables feed consumption, percentage mortality and feed conversion rate for each of the diets during the 40 days of the study, additionally different letters in the superscript indicate the presence of statistically significant differences. The analysis of variance showed that the variables evaluated did not present statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) between the two diets. Within the white series (table 3), four basic leukocyte types were evaluated: heterophils (H), lymphocytes (L), eosinophils (E), monocytes (M), which were found within the parameters established for this species and only lymphocytes showed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) between the diets evaluated. CONCLUSION In conclusion, the chemical silage of red tilapia viscera has the bromatological and microbiological characteristics required to be used as a protein source in the feeding of poultry such as broilers. The design of diets using tilapia silage as a protein source is technically feasible since it provides the necessary nutrients for broiler growth without negatively affecting broiler health.