Evaluation of sun-dried cassava fufu meal as a source of dietary energy for starter broilers

Abstract

Sun-drying of cassava fufu was investigated as a method of processing cassava to eliminate its cyanide content and dusty nature so as to enhance its nutritive value as a source of energy in starter broiler diets. Cassava tubers were prepared in the traditional way into fufu and dried in the sun by flattening in bits on polyethylene sheets. The dried cakes were milled using a 2 mm sieve to produce sun-dried cassava fufu meal (DCFM). The raw cassava tubers and the DCFM produced were analyzed for proximate and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) contents. Two broiler starter diets were made such that diet 1 (control) contained maize as the main source of energy, while in diet 2, the maize was completely replaced with DCFM. The diets were balanced for crude protein. Ninety-six (96) starter broilers were divided into 2 groups of 48 birds each and each group randomly assigned to one of the diets, using completely randomized design. Each group was further sub-divided into 3 replicates of 16 birds and fed the experimental diets for 4 weeks. No trace of HCN was detected in the DCFM, whereas the raw fresh cassava tubers contained about 800 ppm HCN. DCFM resembled milled polished rice in appearance, but did not differ much in proximate composition from the fresh cassava tubers on dry matter basis. The birds on DCFM diet consumed significantly (p<0.05) less
feed than the control (82.73 g/d vs 94.93 g/d) and gained significantly (p<0.05) more body weight. Feed conversion ratio was significantly (p<0.05) enhanced by DCFM (2.39 vs 1.89).

Keywords: Cassava tubers, cassava fufu meal, dietary energy, starter broilers