EVALUATION OF PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF MAIZE WITH COOKED WILD VARIEGATED COCOYAM CORM MEAL (Calatli~rttIi rovtulanul~t)I N BROILER STARTER DIET

Abstract

A three-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of partial replacement of maize with cooked wild variegated cocoyam corn meal (caladium hortulanum) in broiler starter diet. Corns of wild variegated cocoyam were cooked for one hour (Unpeeled), sliced to 1 cm thick flakes and sun dried for 4 - 5 days. The dried flakes were ground. Four different broiler starter rations were formulated by substituting maize with the ground wild cocoyam corn meal at O%33.3% and 66.6% levels respectively. Three hundred (300) two-week old broiler chicks of Ross breed were divided into four groups and each group randomly assigned to the four experimental diets, giving 75 birds per treatment group in a completely randomized design (CRD). Each Treatment group was further subdivided into five replicates of 15 birds. Individual Weights of the birds were recorded at the beginning of the experiment and thereafter on weekly basis. Feed and water were provided ad-libitum There was no significant (P > 0.05) differences among the treatment groups in feed Intake and feed conversion~ ratio. The body weight gain of the birds decreased with increased replacement level of maize with cooked wild cocoyam corn meal. This Decrease became significant (Y < 0.05) at 66.6'% dietary level. The result of this trial suggests that cooked wild variegated cocoyam corn meal can replace 50%, of dietary maize in broiler starter diet.