Volume 62, Issue 342, September - December 2026

Effects of dietary inclusion of Fermented Brewer’s Dried Grains (FBDG) on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and Caecal microbial profile of broiler chickens

Xing Liu¹ , Alagbe John Olujimi^2,3♦, Anorue Daniel Nnadozie⁴ , Friday Ubong⁵ , Ige Odunayo Felicia⁶

¹Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Science, Sumitra Research Institute, Gujarat India
²Adjunct Lecturer, Department of Animal Nutrition and Biochemistry, Gandhi College of Agriculture, Rajasthan, India
³Department of Animal Science, Center for Distance Learning and Continuing Education, University of Abuja, Gwagwalada, Nigeria
⁴Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Nigeria
⁵Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Nigeria
⁶Department of Veterinary Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Nigeria

^♦Corresponding Author
Alagbe John Olujimi, Adjunct Lecturer, Department of Animal Nutrition and Biochemistry, Gandhi College of Agriculture, Rajasthan, India

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the effects of dietary inclusion of Fermented Brewer’s Dried Grains (FBDG) on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and caecal microbial profile of broiler chickens over a 42 days period. Proximate analysis of fermented brewers dry grain showed that it contained dry matter (92.28 %), crude protein (26.18 %), crude fibre (10.21 %), ether extract (4.87 %), ash (6.67 %) and energy (2850 Kcal/kg). A total of 300 one- day-old unsexed broiler chicks (Hubbard) were randomly allocated to 5 dietary treatments in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), with 6 replicates of 10 birds each. Experimental diet was formulated according to the nutritional requirements for broilers according to NRC (1994). Fermented brewers dry grain was used to replace maize at 0 % (T1, control), 5 % (T2), 10 % (T3), 15 % (T4), and 20 % (T5). Results obtained demonstrated that birds fed T2 to T5 achieved higher body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake alongside lower Feed Conversion Ratios (FCR) compared to control (T1) groups. Similarly, there was an increase in dressed weight, carcass weight, dressing percentage and weights of organs in T2 to T5 compared to T1. Apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE) and ash content was highest in T3 - T5, intermediate in T2 and lower in T1. Furthermore, the population of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp and Streptococcus spp profile in the caecum high in T2 to T5 compared to the other group except Lactobacillus spp which increased among birds which received FBDG. In conclusion, solid-state fermentation successfully degraded all fibre fractions and reduced the anti-nutrients in brewer’s dry grain. Replacing maize with FBDG up to 20 % can improve growth performance, feed intake, optimize gut digestive function and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens.

Keywords: Brewers Dry Grain, Fermentation, Trichoderma reesei, Growth, Performance, Digestibility

Discovery, 2026, 62, e28d3327

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Published: 01 October 2026