EFFECT OF GRADED LEVELS OF CASSAVA PEEL MEAL ON THE HAEMATOLOGICALPARAMETERS OF COCKERELS

Résumé

Twenty nine cockerels were used to investigate the effect of graded level of cassava peel meal on the haematology of cockerels. The birds were assigned to 3 treatments namely DI, D2 and D3. DI served as control. D2 and D3 contained 20% and 30% CPM. respectively. Statistical analysis of the haematological parameters showed significant differences (P<0.05) between the control diet (DI) and the cassava peel based diets (D2 and D3) in the levels of PCV and HB. Mean total WBC values were 6235.56+-19 for DI, 7888.00+-73.56 for D2 and 9906.80+-144.17 for D3, respectively. Among the differential count, significant differences (P<0.05) were observed between the 3 treatments in the levels of neutrophils, between DI and D3 in lymphocytes and between Dland D2 and DI and D3 in eosinophils. The result of this study finally suggested that the cassava peel based diets (D2 and D3) with higher haematological values in PCV and HB which ultimately reflected better physiological status of the birds seemed to be superior to the control diet (DI) with no cassava peel meal and that cassava peels could be safely used as an alternative energy source for cockerel production.