Response of broiler starter chicks to diets supplemented with cassava leaf meal

Abstract

In a 4-week trial, seventy-two Anak broiler day old chicks were randomly distributed to four experimental diets. Each diet had eighteen birds with three replicates. Each replicate had six birds. The diets were formulated by partial replacement of groundnut cake (GNC) with cassava leaf meal (CLM). Diet I was the control and contained 150g kg-1 of GNC. Diets 2, 3 and 4 were formulated with a 16.67%, 33.33% and 50% replacement of the GNC with CLM respectively

Inclusion of CLM up to a level of 5% in the diet caused a significant (P<0.05) increase in feed intake and body weight gain. Further increase in the level of CLM caused a depression in weight and feed intake.

Blood haematological parameters were not significantly affected (P>0.05) by CLM supplementation. CLM supplementation resulted in lower feed cost and weekly feed cost per unit weight of the birds. Results show that CLM can be used to supplement 33.33% of GNC in chick diets with positive results.


(Tropical Veterinarian: 2002 20(2): 68-73)