Comparative evaluation of sun-dried and ensiled cassava peel meals as substitute for maize in broiler starter diets

Abstract

A 28-day feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of dietary inclusion of Ensiled Cassava Peel Meal (ECPM) and Sun-dried Cassava Peel Meal (SCPM) on the performance of starter broiler chicks. Three treatment diets were formulated such that 50% of the maize in diet 1 (control) was replaced in diet 2 with ECPM and in diet 3 with SCPM. Each diet was fed to a group of 20 starter broiler chicks for 4 weeks. The birds fed on SCPM diet recorded significantly (P<0.05) depressed body weight. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) between the control birds and birds fed ECPM diet in terms of feed intake, body weight gain and growth rate. There was also no significant difference (P>0.05) between the control birds and birds fed ECPM but there was significant difference (P<0.05) between the feed conversion ratio of the control birds and birds fed SCPM. Cost of feed was reduced by about 20% by replacing 50% of the maize in the control diet with either ECPM or SCPM.

International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development Vol. 7(2) 2006: 52-55