THE USE OF WHOLE CASSAVA MEAL AND LEAF MEAL ;N BROILER DIETS

Abstract

Two-week-old broilers of the "Anak" strain were randomly alloted to six isoenrgetic
and iso-nitrogenous experimental diets having energy: protein ration
maintained at about 0.55. Diet 1 was a maize-soyabean based control while
diets 2 through 6 contained whole cassava meal (WCRM) in total replacement
for maize. Diet 2 had full-fat soyabean (FFSB) as a major source of protein.
Taking the protein supplied by FFSB in Diet 2 as loo%, FFSB, cassava leaf
meal (CLM) and / or fish meal (FM) were combined in Diets 3 (75% FFSB:
25% CLM); 4(87.5% FFSB: 12.5% CLM); 5(75% FFSB: 12.5% CLM: 12.5%
FM) and 6(75% FFSB: 25% FM). The diets were fed over a 7-week period.
Average daily feed intake (ADFI), water intake (ADWI), weight gain (ADWG)
and feed conversion ration (FCR) were significantly (Pe0.05) affected by
dietary treatments. ADFI and ADWG of birds on the WCRM based diets
were significantly better (Pe0.05) than those of birds on the maize-baised
control diet. Dry matter faecal output was significantly higher (P~0.05o) n
WCRM diets while approximate dry matter digestiblity was lower (Pe0.05)
for birds on the WCRM based diets. Haematological measurements of packed
cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin value (Hb) were significantly (P<0.05)
higher on the WCRM based diets compared with the maize-based control
diet. Tehre no significant (P>0.05) effects of dietary treatment on thigh,
neck, wings, back, drumstick and shanks.
The weight of breast expressed as a percentage of eviscerated weight was
significantly (P<B.OEi) higher on the WCRM based diets. The liver and
pancreas weights were however significantly (P<0.05) reduced on the WCRM
diets. Improvement was observed in the performance of birds fed soyabeancassava
product ration as a result of fish meal addition, in indication that
the fish meal may have provided a deficient factar or removed an inhibiting
factor. Clarification of this siferaliun which would enable proper artilizatiore
of cassava products in a camplimentary manner strould he further pursued
in fnture studies.