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Performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens fed graded levels of cassava peel meal based diets

Olaifa, R.O.¹*, Adeyemi,O.A.¹, Oloyede, S.T.², Sogunle, O.M.¹, Agunbiade, J.A.² andOkubanjo, A.O.³

¹Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, P. M. B. 2240, Ogun State, Nigeria,
²College of Agricultural Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, P. M. B. 2002, Ogun State, Nigeria,
³Department of Animal Science and Industrial Technology, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria

Malaysian J. Anim. Sci. 2015 18(2): 103-112

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A total of 96 unsexed day-old broiler chicks (Arbor Acre breed) were used in a 28-day feeding trial to evaluate the effect of inclusion levels of rumen filtrate fermented cassava peal meal (RFFCPM) on the performance and carcass characteristics of finishing broiler chickens. The birds were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments formulated with the ratios of 100:0, 75:25, 50:50 and 25:75 maize:RFFCPM, respectively. Each treatment was sub-divided into four replicates comprising 6 birds each. The results showed that the inclusion of RFFCPM affected (p<0.05) the final weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and carcass characteristics which decreased with increasing levels of RFFCPM in the diets of broiler chickens among the treatments. Birds fed 25% RFFCPM competed favourably with those on control diet (0% RFFCPM) for most of the performance and carcass characteristics measured. However, feeding RFFCPM at 25% inclusion level in the diet resulted in best economy of production as this produced similar body weight gain with those fed control diet. Conclusively, finishing broiler chickens effectively utilized up to 25% RFFCPM as substitute for maize in their diet as they were superior in performance and carcass characteristics when compared with those fed 50% and 75% inclusion levels of RFFCPM.