EFFECT OF DIETARY ENZYME AND SUN DRIED CASSAVA PEELS MEAL AS REPLACEMENT FOR WHEAT BRAN ON PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER STARTER

Abstract

The study was examined performance characteristics of broiler starter fed varying levels of sundried cassava peels meal with enzyme supplementation. One hundred and fifty (150) day old broiler chicks were allocated to five (5) dietary treatments replicated five (5) times of ten (10) birds per replicate in a completely randomized designed (CRD) in a feeding trial that lasted for 28 days. There were significant (p<0.05) differences on all parameters examined except initial weight that was not differed significantly (P>0.05). Initial weight had 39.00g across dietary treatments. T1 had highest final weight (668.63g) gain while least (463.43g) was observed on T5. Weight gain showed highest (629.63g) on T1 while least (424.43g) value was recorded on T5. Highest (983.49g) feed intake was observed on T5 while T2 had least (872.88g). Highest (2.33g) feed conversion ratio was obtained on T5 while least (1.29) was recorded on T1. Zero mortality was recorded throughout experimental study. The comparable growth performance of birds fed sun dried cassava peels meal with enzyme supplementation and those fed control diet is quite interesting in such a way that sun dried and enzyme supplementation in the diets helped to improve its texture, palatability and nutritive value by destroying or inactivating heat labile toxic compounds and anti-nutritional factors. Conclusion, it is proved from this study that cassava peels meal with enzyme supplementation can be included in the diet of broiler starter up to 40% without adverse effects on the growth performance.