Studies on Growth, Organs Weight and Haematological Parameters of Broiler Chicken Fed Graded Level of Sun Dried Cassava Root Meal

Abstract

Ninety (90) day old broiler chicks were used to investigate the response of broilers fed sun-dried cassava root meal (CRM). Five diets at starter and finisher phases in which CRM replaced maize at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% and designated T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. Diets were allocated to day old broiler chicks in a completely randomized design (CRD). Birds were raised on dip-litter system and the experiment lasted for eight (8) weeks. Feed intake was taken daily, while body weights were recorded weekly. On days 22 and 44 two millilitres (2ml) of blood were collected using sterile syringe and needle from the wing vein into vacutainer tubes containing 2mg ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) as anticoagulant from two birds in each replicate. At eight weeks of age, two birds per replicate were randomly selected and used for carcass analysis. At the starter phase, final weight, daily weight gain and feed intake were significantly (P<0.05) higher in T1 and T2 compared to other treatments. Feed conversion efficiency tend to increase as the inclusion level of CRM increased at (P<0.05). No significant difference (P>0.05) was observed among the treatments for haematological parameters (PCV, Hb, MCHC and Total Protein). Highest mortality at starter and finisher phases were recorded in T4 and T5. Generally, there was decrease in feed intake as the inclusion level of CRM increased. Inclusion of CRM at finisher phase significantly affects the weight of some internal organs in T2, T3 and T4 (P<0.05). It is concluded that cassava root meal could be used to replace maize up to 25% without any adverse effect on the performance of broiler chicken.

Nutritional evaluation of differently processed cassava-soya blends in the diets of broiler chickens

“…Also, the feed intake of birds fed sun dried CSB decreased significantly as the inclusion level of cassava increased at both starter and finisher phases. This is as well in line with the findings of Hassan et al (2012) who fed broiler chickens graded levels of sun-dried cassava root meal. The best FCR was observed in the birds fed dry heated soya beans in fried CSB at 80:20 inclusion ratios (CDF ).…”

“…Feed intake decreased as the level of inclusion of cassava increased at the finisher phase, and was lowest for blends containing 80:20 mixing ratio of CSB. This could be an indication of the adequate energy contents of these diets as birds feed to satisfy their energy requirements, as this agrees with the findings of Hassan et al (2012) and that of Ukachukwu (2005) who reported a significant difference in daily feed intake of birds when cassava root meal was fed. Omekan (1994) also reported a drop in feed intake of birds fed cassava leaf meal which could be due to the fact that the leaf meal imparted unpalatable taste to the feed which consequently inhibited the birds from consuming adequate quantities.…”

Effects of dietary inclusion of cassava root flour in broiler diets on growth performance, carcass characteristic and haematological parameters

“…There was however, 8.5% decrease (P>0.05) in feed intake of birds fed the diet containing the cassava flour. In contrast, Ukachukwu (2005) and Hassan et al (2012) also reported a decline in feed intake of birds fed cassava-based diets, and this negative effect was increased as the inclusion level of the cassava in the diet increased. This could have also been due to the dusty nature of the cassava flour.…”

“…All the assessed haematological parameters including WBC, RBC, HB, MCH, MCHC, HCT, and MCV were within the reference range of healthy birds (Campbell et al, 2003). Unigwe (2011) and Hassan et al (2012) reported no detrimental effect on blood haematology parameters when cassava meal was fed to broiler chickens.…”

“…Completely substituting maize with cassava flour decreased (P<0.05) the body weight by 56 days of age (Table 2). Hassan et al (2012) reported a considerable decrease in average daily weight gain when cassava flour was substituted with maize at 50, 75 or 100% in broiler diets. In their work, the birds fed on 75 or 100% inclusion levels of cassava meal had the lowest growth performance as compared to those on the other dietary treatments.…”