Effects of Partial Replacement of Soybean Meal with Cassava Leaf Meal in Broiler Finisher Rations

Abstract

One hundred and fifty (150) four weeks old broilers were raised in eight litter pens for the period of four weeks to observe the effect of cassava leaf meal (CLM) on the comparative body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, feed efficiency and feed cost of the birds. Five experimental broiler finisher diets containing 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0% cassava leaf meal to replace soybean meal were formulated in which 0% CLM was the control. The birds were fed the experimental diets ad libitum and equally exposed to all necessary management practices. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in initial live weight and feed efficiency. Birds on diet containing 2.5% inclusion level had slightly better performance than those fed higher values. Results from this study showed that at low levels of inclusion, the feeding value for cassava leaf meal for poultry gives a better balance of amino acids.