EFFECT OF CASSAVA FIBRE MEAL AND ROXAZYME® G2 SUPPLEMENTATION ON THE PERFORMANCE AND HAEMO-BIOCHEMICAL PROFILE OF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of cassava fibre meal (CFM) and Roxazyme® G2 supplementation on performance and haemo-biochemical indices of broiler chickens in a 56 day feeding trial. A batch of 360 day-old Arbor acre broiler chicks was randomly distributed to 12 dietary treatments with 5 replications of 6 birds per replicate in a 4 x 3 factorial arrangement. CFM was substituted for maize at 0, 20, 40 and 60% levels. Each level was supplemented with Roxazyme® G2 at 0, 100 and 200 mgkg- 1 to make a total of 12 diets. CFM substitution for maize at 40 and 60% levels led to significant (P<0.05) decrease in weight gain of between 1.75 and 5.51% when compared with birds on the control diet. At starter phase, enzyme supplementation at 100mgkg-1 led to improvement in weight gain by 0.42% while at the finisher phase, enzyme supplementation resulted in an improvement in weight gain by 0.32-0.37%. Among the haemo-biochemical properties, the aspartate amino transaminase of the birds fed CFM-based diets was significantly (P< 0.05) influenced. The effect of interaction was not significant on the performance and haemo-biochemical indices of the birds, showing that growth and health of the birds were independent of the two factors under investigation.