THE SUBSTITUTABILITY OF MAIZE WITH CASSAVA ROOT AND LEAF MEAL MIXTURE IN BROILER DIETS

Two experiments were conducted to investigate into the effects of replacing maize with a mixture of cassava root and leaf meal (CRLM) on the performance of broiler chickens. In experiment 1, CRLM replaced 50 or 100 percent of maize in the control diet. In experiment 2, the 100 percent CRLM based-diet was fortified at a further 3 percent level with coconut oil. A total of 180, one-day old Shaver Starbro chicks, raised up to 49 days of age, were used. There were no significant (p<0.05) differences in final body weights, feed intake and feed efficiency between the control group and the group fed the diet in which 50 percent of the maize was replaced with CRLM. At the 100 percent level of replacement of maize with CRLM, however, final body weights, feed efficiency and carcass yields, were significantly (p<0.05) reduced. Dressing percentage and feed intake were not affected (p>0.05) by level of substitution of maize with CRLM. In experiment 2, when the diet in which all of the maize was replaced with CRLM was fortified with coconut oil at an additional 3 percent level, broiler performance improved and equaled (p=0.05) that obtained on the control maize diet. It was concluded the CRLM can replace 50 percent of maize in broiler diet without adversely affecting performance. However, for the complete replacement of maize with CRLM, it is necessary to further supplement such a diet with a high energy density ingredient if broiler performance is to be maintained.