NUTRITIVE POTENTIAL OF CASSAVA ROOT WASTE MEALS AND CASSAVA LEAF MEAL-- MIXED DIETS FOR BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

This study was carried out to ascertain the nutritive potential and economic benefits of cassava root harvest wastes meal and cassava leaf meal- mixed diets on broiler chicken. Five experiments were conducted and the first experiment determined the nutritive values of the wastes and their mixes typified by proximate composition, Ca, P, and Cyanide contents. The second and fourth experiments determined the replacement value of CPLM mixes (9:1 and 9.5:0.5) and cassava starch residue meal/cassava leaf mixes in the ratios of 9:1 and 9.5:0.5 for maize in the diet of broiler chickens for 42 days each in a completely randomized design. The criteria of response included: growth performance, carcass and relative organ weight, hematological and serum biochemical indices. The third and fifth experiment assessed the profitability of using the different waste mixes. For each of these feeding trials, three hundred (300) one-week old Marshall breed chicks were used and randomly allotted to the six dietary treatments after balancing for weight. Each treatment group was replicated five times with ten (10) broiler chicks. Growth curves of the birds were drawn and growth and feeding models developed using polynomial equations. The crude protein (11.24 and 10.39%) and crude fibre (14.13 and 12.64%) of the cassava peels meal / cassava leaf mixes (9:1 and 9.5:0.5) were higher than that of maize (8.8 and 2.1%). The cassava starch residue meal / cassava leaf mixes (9:1 and 9.5:05) had lower crude protein (7.29 and 6.65%) and higher crude fibre (14.14 and 11.14%) than maize. The final weight gain of birds on the control diet (1.97kg) were better than those of birds fed the test diets in all the balance trials as depicted with a model while feed intake increased as the cassava peel leaf mixes (9:1 and 9.5:0.5) increased in the diet as shown with a model. The feed intake for birds on the cassava starch residue leaf mix (9.5:0.5) was significantly (P<0.05) depressed with increased inclusion of the mixes in the diets. Generally, birds fed CPLM (9.5:0.5) mix had higher final weight gain than the birds fed cassava peel meal /cassava leaf meal (9:1% ) mix while the birds fed the cassava starch residue meal /cassava leaf meal (9:1%) mix performed better than their counterparts fed 9.5:0.5% mix. Feed cost decreased with reduction in the amount of maize in the diets. However, all profitability indicators (net profit, profit per naira invested, gross margin and gross margin per naira invested) decreased with increased substitution of maize with the mixes. The inclusion of cassava root harvest wastes mixes did not have adverse effect on the health status of the broilers as indicated by the haematological indices and serum metabolites which were in most cases not significantly (P>0.05) different. It could be recommended that all the cassava root harvest wastes mixes could replace maize up to 50% in starter diets while 9.1 at 10% level of maize replacement was optimum level for finisher without negative effects on the performance characteristics and economy of production.