Growth performance and cost implication of broiler chickens fed fortified composite cassava stump meal based diets

Abstract

This study investigated fortifying cassava stump and leaf meals on general performance and cost implication of broiler chickens. Cassava stumps were collected, crushed, subjected to heat treatment and milled (CCSM). Cassava leaves were obtained air-dried and milled (CLM). CLM and CCSM were mixed in ratio 1:9 to produce fortified composite cassava stump meal (FCCSM). The FCCSM was used as feed ingredient. Five starter diets were formulated using FCCSM at the graded levels of 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 % and designated diets I, II, III, IV and V, respectively. The same procedure was followed for the finisher phase. 150 broiler chicks were assigned to five dietary treatments replicated thrice with 10 chicks per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design. The respective diets were fed to the chicks ad libitum from 1 – 49 days. All data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using SPSS version 17 package. Results showed that highest total weight gain (2477 ± 159.10 g/bird) and best FCR (2.12 ± 0.01) were obtained with birds fed diet I, the lowest total weight gain (2040.28 ± 159.59 g/bird) was obtained from bird fed diet V. The poorest FCR (2.68 ± 0.05) was observed in bird fed diet IV. Bird fed diet V yielded the highest profit/bird produced (N 807.35 ± 12.88). From the results, it is recommended that up to 15 % FCCSM be included in broiler diet without adverse effect on growth performance and up to 20 % level of FCCSM inclusion improved the profit/bird produced.

Keywords: Broiler chicks, Cassava leaf and stump, Fortified composite meal, Growth performance, Cost benefit