Growth Response, Carcass Analysis and Hematological Characteristics of Finisher Broilers Fed Diets Containing Ensiled Cassava Peel Meal

Abstract

A 28-days feeding trial was conducted to determine the growth response, carcass analysis, and hematological characteristics of finisher broilers fed diet containing ensiled cassava peel meal. A total of sixty (60) day-old broiler chicks raised on a deep-litter system to finisher phase were used for the experiment. They were divided into two treatment groups of thirty (30) birds each, and each group were randomly assigned to one of the experimental diets, each group were later sub-divided into three replicates of 10 birds each. Two treatment diets were formulated such that 50% of the maize in diet 1 (control) was replaced in diet 2 (ECPM). The birds were fed for four weeks after which, their growth response was determined using the following parameters; feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, initial body weight, final body weight. Also 12 birds were randomly selected from the treatments (2 birds per replicate), and then slaughtered and prepared for carcass analysis. Blood samples were also collected from two (2) birds per replicate at the end of the feeding trial for assessment. Result shows that there was no significant different (p>0.05) between the control group and the ensiled cassava peel meal group in their growth response, carcass analysis, and hematological characteristics.