The Effect of Different Levels of Cassava Root Meal on the Performance of Broiler Chicks

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the experimental units of the Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural Studies, Sudan University of Science and Technology, during the period from 24 December 2002 to 12 February 2003 to investigate the effect of feeding cassava root meal (CRM) as a replacement of sorghum grains on the performance of broiler chicks. Fresh cassava roots were processed according to the traditional procedure adopted in the Blue Nile area for making cassava root flour. Diets containing 0%, 10%, 20% and 25% (CRM) as a substitute for sorghum, were fed to one hundred unsexed Ross 308 broiler chicks. All diets were isonitrogenous and isoenergetic and were prepared in a mash form, vegetable oil was added to balance the energy and to reduce the powdery characteristic of cassava root flour. Replacement of cassava root meal up to level of 20% in broiler ration at early age (0 – 3) weeks significantly (P ≥ 0.05) affected the bodyweight and feed conversion ratio. On the other hand, at high level of 25% replacement of CRM there was significant (P ≥ 0.05) reduction on body weight gain at all ages. The treatment groups did not differ significantly (P ≤ 0.05) on dressing percentage for cold and hot weights. The replacement of iv CRM sorghum had no significant effect on the mortality percentage (1%) (P ≤ 0.05). Treatment effect was not significant (P ≤ 0.05) on commercial cuts, meat percentage of selected cuts thigh, drumstick and breast. Also no significant effect (P ≤ 0.05) on the weight of liver, heart and gizzard was noticed. The panel test for all treatments was very good, and showed in significant different (P ≤ 0.05). Cassava root meal could be used as substitute for sorghum up to 20% in nutritionally balanced rations for broiler as indicated by the study.