Utilization of cassava brown streak diseased roots as replacement for maize on growth performance of broiler chickens

Abstract

Cassava roots afflicted with Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) were used in a study involving 600 Hubbard broiler chicks to evaluate their utility as a substitute for maize meal in broiler rations. The chicks were allocated to three dietary treatments with varying damages and cassava inclusion levels (CL1 – CL3) each with 60 birds in a complete randomized design. Three diets were formulated to keep ME content at between 12-12.55MJ/kgDM and the CP around 18-20%. The CBSD cassava replaced maize at 25%, 50% and 75%. Average voluntary feed intake per bird for CL1 at 25,50 and 75% inclusions were respectively 130.31±8.46, 110.86±3.32 and 108.76±5.01; the corresponding intakes for CL2 were 104.33±2.20, 105.10±7.02 and 105.31±4.42 ; and for CL3 were 90.06±14.71, 90.06±14.71 and 103.10±4.90. At 50% and 75 % levels of inclusions intakes were significantly lower (P<0.05) than that of the Control diet (128.23±6.53) regardless of class of root damage. The Average Daily Gain (ADG) per bird for CL1 at 25, 50 and 75% inclusion were respectively 30.48± 1.84, 27.57±0.62 and 27.35±0.94; for CL2 were 25.75±1.57, 26.15±2.58 and 24.98±0.84; and for CL3 were 22.17±2.11, 23.11±2.87 and 24.29±1.84. While for control diet was 30.62±1.59. It is concluded that CBSD afflicted cassava can replace Maize meal for up to 25% inclusion level.

Keywords: Cassava, intake, diets, broiler, carcass