Performance and Hematological Parameters of Broilers Fed Graded Levels of A Mixture of Sun-Dried Cassava Tuber Meal, Brewers’ Dried Grain and Palm Oil as a Substitute for Maize

U. Okpanachi, A. A. Musa and K.E. Idachaba

Department of Animal Production, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted to evaluate the growth performance and hematological parameters of broilers fed graded levels of a mixture (mix) of sun-dried cassava tuber meal, brewers dried grains and palm oil as a substitute for maize. The sun-dried cassava tuber meal, brewers’ dried grains, and palm oil were mixed in a ratio of 60%, 35% and 5% respectively. Day old unsexed broilers (Anak strain, n = 120) were randomly divided into four dietary groups (T1, T2, T3, and T4) of 30 broiler birds per treatment in a complete randomized block design with 3 replicates for each treatment. The T1 contained 0% CBP-mix +45% maize, T2 15% CBP-mix +30% maize, T3 30% CBP-mix +15% maize and T4 45% CBP-mix +0% maize. The experiment lasted for 63 days. Results revealed that daily weight gain was significant (p<0.01) at both the starter and finisher phase. Daily feed intake, FCR and feed cost per Kg feed were significant (p<0.05) at the starter phase. There was no significant differences (p>0.05) in the hematological parameters measured at both starter and finisher phases of the study. It was concluded that 30% CBP-mix can be included in the diet of broilers at both phases without adverse effect on performance and hematological parameters of the birds.
Key words: Sun-dried cassava tuber meal, brewers dried grains, palm oil, maize, broilers.

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