EFFECT OF REPLACING MAIZE WITH CASSAVA ROOT MEAL AND MAIZE/SORGHUM BREWERS’ DRIED GRAINS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF STARTER BROILERS

Abstract

A study was carried out with one hundred and twenty one-week-old Hubbard broilers to determine the effect of replacing maize with cassava root meal (CRM) and maize/sorghum brewers’ dried grains (MSBDG) on performance of starter broilers. Four experimental diets were formulated to contain 0, 15, 30 and 45% CRM and MSBDG combined in the ratio of 1:1 in the broiler starter rations. There was no difference (P>0.05) in feed intake among the birds on 0, 15 and 45% CRM/MSBDG, but these were lower (P<0.05) than the feed intake of birds on 30% CRM/MSBDG. There was no difference (P>0.05) in daily weight gain among the birds on 0, 15 and 30 CRM/MSBDG diets, and each of these was higher than that of the birds on 45% CRM/MSBDG diet. The feed convertion ratio of 0% compared favourably with that of the birds on 15% diets, and these two diets were better (P<0.05) utilized than 30% and 45% CRM/MSBDG diets. The result showed that CRM/MSBDG can be successfully incorporated in broiler starter diets up to 30% dietary level.