Influence of dietary fortification of cassava peel meal with Calapogonium mucunoides on performance of broiler chickens

Abstract

The use of cassava peel meal (CPM) in broiler diets is not popular due to its negative effects. Hence an experiment was conducted to determine its dietary effect when fortified with Calapogonium mucunoides. One hundred and forty-four (144) one day-old Hubbard chicks were used. There were six dietary treatments (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6) containing 24 birds each. Each treatment was replicated three times with 8 birds each on completely randomized design (CRD). T1 was the control diet containing no CPM. Treatments 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 contained CPM fortified with 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% C. mucunoides respectively. The CPM was fortified by substituting it for equal amount of C. mucunoides, mixed, ground, dried and sieved. Starter phase lasted for 28 days and finisher phase 21 days. The birds were fed and water given ad libitum for 49 days. At the starter phase fortified and non-fortified CPM did not improve performance compared to the control treatment. Non-fortified, 10% and 40% fortified CPM reduced live weight and feed intake. However, 20 and 30% C. mucunoides fortified CPM improved these parameters compared to the non-fortified group. Feed: gain ratio and protein efficiency ratio of the control and 20% fortified treatment were similar (P>0.05). Except protein efficiency ratio which was improved by 20% over the control treatment, fortification did not improve performance at the finisher phase. Live weight was better in 20% than in non-fortified. Feed and protein intakes were similar in non-fortified and fortified CPM. It was concluded that fortification of CPM with 20% Calapogonium mucunoides improved protein efficiency in broiler chickens.