Abstract:
A study was conducted to investigate the effects of replacing maize (MZ) with cassava peels (CSP) on the performance
characteristics of broiler finisher.
Five diets were formulated where MZ was replaced with CSP. The diets were diet 1
(100% MZ
:
0%
CSP
), diet 2 (
75% MZ :
25% CSP), diet 3 (50%
MZ
: 50% CSP) diet 4 (25%
MZ
:
75%
CSP) and diet 5 (0%
MZ
:
100%
CSP). Diet 1 served as control treatment. A total
of 150 birds were used for the experiment. Thirty birds were
assigned to each treatment and each treatment replicated three times with ten birds per replicate. The birds (
arbor acre
strain) were fed
ad libitum
for 28 days. Data on feed consumption, daily
weight gain, feed conversi
on ratio, nutrient
retention,
water intake and cost benefit ratio were recorded. Results showed
that
average feed intake (AFI) and body
weight gain (BWG) were significantly higher (P<0.05) for birds fed diet 3. Feed conversion rat
io (FCR), nutrient retention
and cost of feed consumed/bird decreased as CSP level increased. Water intake showed no significant difference (P>0.05)
among birds for all treatments. The cost per k
ilo
g
ram
live weight gain was lower (P<0.5) for birds fed diet
3. Cost
-
benefit
ratio showed a reduction of 20.6% in the cost of production of birds fed diet 3 over that of control group. Average
mortality of 6.67 % was recorded for birds fed diets 1, 3 and 5. It was concluded that CSP can replace MZ without any
adver
se effects on the performance characteristics of finisher broilers.
