Abstract
A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets containing varying levels of high-quality cassava peel (HQCP) fine mash on broilers’ performance, carcass characteristics, and cost benefit. A feeding trial was carried out using four hundred (400) 21-day old Arbor Acres broiler chicks weighing 570 – 630 g (live weight). The chicks were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments (T); (T1- 0 kg/t of HQCP, T2- 150 kg/t of HQCP, T3- 200 kg/t of HQCP, T4- 250 kg/t of HQCP and T5- 300 kg/t of HQCP) for 21 days in a completely randomized design. Data on live performance, carcass characteristics, and feeding costs were collected. The results showed significant (P<0.05) differences in final live weight, feed conversion ratio/feed efficiency ratio (FCR/FER), dressing percentage, total feed cost, and feed cost per weight gain across the treatments. T2 and T4 produced birds with the highest live weights of 2.08 and 1.98 kg, respectively. The dressing percentage ranged from 63.2% (T5) - 70.0% (T1). T5 had the lowest total feed cost (0.97 $/kg) while T2 had the lowest feed cost per body weight gain ($0.74), and best cost savings ($0.22). It was concluded that replacement of maize with 150 kg/t high quality cassava peel (HQCP) in broiler finisher diets improved production performance and save cost. Key words: HQCP, broilers, live weight, dressing percentage, feed cost, finisher diet.
Highlights
In the poultry industry, feeds and feeding account for about 50 -70% of total production cost (Babiker et al., 2009, Makinde et al, 2014)
The final body weight and weight gain recorded from birds fed T2 and T4 were similar (P
Lowest feed intake was recorded from birds fed T5, while birds fed T1, T2, T3, and T4 had similar feed intake
Summary
Feeds and feeding account for about 50 -70% of total production cost (Babiker et al., 2009, Makinde et al, 2014). FAO (2014) had reported on the potentials and utilization of agro-industrial by-products as feed ingredients in the reduction of feed cost and enhancement of sustainable feed resources for poultry production. One of such agro-industrial by-products with potentials replacing maize in livestock feed is cassava peel and was estimated to be about 15million MT in Africa in 2015 (Okike et al, 2015). Cassava is produced in abundance in Nigeria and its tuber products are among the highly consumed for food by animals and humans in subSaharan Africa (Ayasan, 2010). Most of the products produced from cassava are usually without its peels which contribute up to 13% of the cassava tuber (Omotosho and Sangodoyin, 2013)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
