Effect of using processed date pit with different methods in diet on broiler performance

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of processed date pit on broiler performance. In this experiment, 280 broiler chicks were usedin a completely randomized design with seven treatments and four replicates. The experimental treatments were: 1- control (diet without date pit), 2-10 percent raw date pit, and treatments 3 to 7- were 10 percent date pit that processed with steam pressure, NaOH, and fermented with Lactobacillusfermentum, Bacillus subtilis, and Aspergillus niger respectively. The crude protein content of processed date pit was higher, and the ether extractcontent was lower (exept NaOH) than raw date pit (P<0.05). The feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and cecal microbial populationof broiler chickens were not affected by experimental treatments. The small intestine length of birds that fed diets containing processed date pit withsteam pressure and NaoH was significantly reduced in comparison with birds resived diets containing fermented date pit with Aspergillus niger andwithout date pit (P<0.05). The highest amount of litter dry matter and lowest amount of excreta ash was observed in groups fed diet containing rawdate pit (P<0.05). According to the results of this study, the processing methods of date pit has no effect on broiler performance and cecal microbialpopulation. Therefore, due to the high cost of processing, and the favorable effects of feeding raw date pit on broiler litter quality, the use of raw datepit in broilers diet is recommended.