Impact of Season and Storage Duration on the Nutritional Composition of Poultry Feeds in Plateau and Katsina States, Nigeria

Abstract

Poultry feed plays a vital role in the growth and productivity of poultry, and its quality can be affected by 
several factors, including seasonal variations and the duration of storage. The purpose of this research was 
to determine the proximate analysis of poultry feed produced in Plateau State (North-Central) and Katsina 
State (North-West) of Nigeria in relation to the shelf life and season. The first feed sample (VF) was 
purchased from the major distributor in Jos, Plateau State, while the second feed (JF) was purchased from 
the factory in Funtua, Katsina State. For VF -Dry Season (DSVF), the proximate results all falls within the 
specified values declared by the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) for both the DSVF, DSJF (JF -
Dry Season) and WSVF (VF -Wet Season) and WSJF (JF -Wet Season) feeds in the two seasons. The 
findings indicated a significant and strong positive correlation between crude fiber and ash content at 99 % 
confidence level. The results obtained for WSJF (wet season JF) shows that there was a significant 
moderate inverse correlation between moisture content (MC) and crude protein (CP) (-0.742, P < 0.01), and 
a moderate correlation between MC and crude fiber (-0.715, p < 0.01). JF had higher fat and ash than VF. 
This infers that moisture due to season, moderately led to decrease of crude protein and crude fibre of the 
two feeds. Despite these variations, both feed brands maintained their nutritional values within 
recommended limits. Proper storage conditions are essential for sustaining feed quality and poultry 
productivity. This study highlights the need for improved storage strategies to ensure optimal poultry 
nutrition and food security