Substituting Maize for Processed Cassava Peels

This study was carried out at the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) Ekona from May to July 2014, to investigate the performance of broiler birds fed processed cassava peels (PCP) as energy substitute to maize. Five treatment diets were formulated, with PCP substituting maize at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% in T0, T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. T0 (0% PCP) served as the control treatment. A total of 225 broiler birds were randomly assigned to the five treatments (45 birds per treatment) and each treatment had three replicates with 15 birds per replicate. The birds (Tropic Broc breed) were fed ad libitum during the starter (first 28 days) and finisher (second 28 days) phases. Data on feed intake, growth rate, feed conversion ratio, feed conversion efficiency, digestibility, carcass cut parts, haematology (red blood cells, white blood cells and haemoglobin), enzymes (alanine aminotransferase and aspatate aminotransferase), serum chemistry (total protein, albumin, globulin), mortality and cost benefit were recorded. Results showed a significant difference (P<0.05) in all parameters within weeks and between treatments in both the starter and finisher phases.