Growth performance of cockerel chicks fed cassava Leaf meal

Abstract

The effects of diets containing 0, 150 and 300g/kg sun-dried cassava leaf meal (CLM) on the growth performance of cockerel chicks were studied. The experimental diets A, B and C were both isonitrogenous and isoenergetic in formulation. Chicks on diets A, B and C consumed 89.89, 103.16 and 104.71g/bird/day, respectively. The mean daily body weight gain showed a significant difference (P <0.05) between treatments A and C but not between B and C (P >0.05). The highest mean daily body weight gain (20.11g/bird) was obtained on diet A, while the lowest value (11.70g/bird) was obtained on diet C. The chicks on diets B and C showed a continous depression in growth rate with increasing dietary CLM. The feed conversion ratio showed significant differences (P<0.05) between treatments. A value of 0.22 was obtained on diet A, while 0.11 was recorded on diet C. The chicks on treatment A tended to rest more often than those on treatment B or C, which appeared more "active" and "visited" the feed troughs more often.