EFFECT OF PALM KERNEL AND CASSAVA PEEL MEALS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF FINISHER BROILERS

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of palm kernel and cassava peel meals on growth performance of finisher broilers. One hundred and eighty (180) four week old broiler birds of Anak strain were used. The birds were first raised together and fed a single starter feed for the first four weeks. Thereafter, they were assigned into four dietary treatments (T) of 45 birds. The dietary treatments were each replicated three times. There 15 birds in each replicate arranged in completely randomized design (CRD). Treatment one (TI) was given a diet containing palm kernel meal but without cassava peel meal as the control while treatments 2-4 contained respectively 25, 50 and 75% cassava peel meal in replacement of palm kernel meal. The diets were fed for four weeks during the finisher phase (week 5-8). Feed and water were offered ad libitum. The diets had no significant (P>0.05) effect on final live weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed: gain ratio. In conclusion, up to 75% of cassava peel meal could be included in final diets for broiler chickens in replacement of palm kernel meal.