Chapter II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

There are several literatures and related studies compiled by the researchers study which has a

direct bearing on the present study. The compiled literature will be used in the analysis and interpretation

of the data in the present study.

Effects of the inclusion of coconut meat on the apparent digestibility of the dry matter in the diet of

broilers by Cervantes Nunez, Camacho Diaz and Pescador Salas

Coconut meat can be a valuable raw material in poultry diets, because of its availability at

relatively low cost in some contexts. The amino acid profile is not optimal for poultry due to a relative

lack of lysine and sulphur amino acids. The energy value of coconut meat is low because of the high fiber

content though it can be increased by the high content of residual oil in expeller meals. In this case, the

energy value can be estimated by combining the values of defatted coconut meat. There seem to be a

difference between the value for young chicks or hens (Baidya, 1995). The low feeding value in poultry is

also partly due to physical properties of coconut meat (Sundu, 2009).

Effect of coconut meat inclusion in broilers diets by Silvana Bastos and Ednardo Freitas

Growth depression is particularly important in young animals, in which performance can be

decreased with inclusion rates as low as 5% (Bastos, 2007). High inclusion rates can result in a 30 to

50% drop in weight gain (Sundu, 2006). The effect is less strong in older animals that increased gradually

their feed intake and growth performance (Panigrahi, 2007).

The use of enzymes to lower the effect of fiber fraction has been tested. In most studies, there is a

significant improvement of animal performance with enzyme supplementation, compared to untreated

coconut meat. However, the performances are not equivalent to the control without coconut meat (Sundu

2010). No particular effect on the quality of carcass was noted (Jacome, 2007).
 A general recommendation for using coconut meat in broiler diets is to formulate feeds carefully,

taking into account a good evaluation of energy level and the amino acid digestibility values should be

avoided because of the mycotoxin risks.

Energy from feed is needed for all metabolic processes. The energy in broiler feed comes from

carbohydrates, mainly from cereals. Corn and wheat are the reference energy sources in broiler diets. Fats

are concentrated forms of energy which are used to boost the energy level of diets. Fats also improve the

physical consistency of diets and dispersion of micro-ingredients in feed mixtures (NRC, 1994).

Supplemental fats may also increase energy utilization in adult chickens in association with a decreased

rate of food passage through the gastro-intestinal tract (NRC, 1994). Fats are also sources of glycerol and

fatty acids and serve as medium for fat-soluble vitamins (Oluyemi and Roberts, 2000). However, young

chickens do not metabolize the oil in full-fat oil seeds as well as adult birds do (Farrell, 1987).

The protein requirement of a bird is defined as requirement for a supply of each essential amino

acid together with a sufficient supply of suitable nitrogenous compounds from which non-essential amino

acids can be synthesized (Smith, 2001). Proteins, formed from amino acids, are required for growth and

development of muscles, bones, feathers and organs. Both essential and non-essential amino acids are

needed by broilers for growth and development.

The requirement of broiler chicks for methionine and total sulphur amino-acids is well

established (Schutte and Pack, 1995; Baker et al.,1996; Huyghebaert and Pack, 1996). According

Huyghebaert and Pack (1996) observed that slaughter yield and breast meat yield were clearly increased

while fat deposition was decreased by sulphur containing amino acid addition from 2 to 5 weeks of age.

According to Esteve-Garcia and Llaurado (1997) found an improvement in feed conversion in broilers

with methionine supplementation. Body weight and breast meat yield were also improved and abdominal

fat weight relatively reduced in a linear manner by increments in dietary methionine concentration

(Yalcin et al., 1999). Finishing broilers grown from 1.8 to 2.6 Kg required about 0.72% of total sulphur

amino acids to optimize feed conversion efficiency, but responded favorably to concentrations close to

0.8% in terms of breast meat deposition (Yalcin et al., 1999). Abasiekong and Tyokpat (2000)
recommended 2.4% of combined supplementation of both lysine and methionine for optimum

performance in broiler chickens. The requirements of poultry for protein and amino acids also differ

among breeds and strains (NRC, 1994) and age (Baeza and Leclercq, 1998). According to Pond et al.

(1995) and Bartov (1998), chickens are sensitive to dietary balance in amino acid in terms of weight gain

and feed efficiency. Methionine is normally supplemented only when crude protein cannot provide the

required levels of methionine as excess dietary methionine depresses growth (Kim et al., 2006). Lysine

concentrations of 1.2 and 1% have been recommended for starting and finishing broilers respectively

(NRC, 1994).