Performance of broilers fed graded levels of cassava leaf-meal

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the performance of broilers fed graded levels (0,5, 10,15 and 20%) of cassava leaf meal (CLM) in a corn-soybean based diet. The starter and finisher diets were formulated to be isocaloric and isonitrogcnous. The starter diet contained approximately 2825 Keal ME/kg and 21 % CP while the finisher diel contained approximately 2930 Keal ME/kg and 18% CP. Each diet was fed ad lib, to 4 replicates of6 birds per replicate 3 weeks. Results of the experiment showed no significant (P<0.01) difference in feed intake (4.25, 4.19 and 4.18 kg), liveweight gain (1.84, 1 76 and 1.70 kg) and feed conversion ratio (1.31,2.39 and 2.47) for birds fed O. 55 and 10% CLM respcctively.llowever increasing levels of CLM signiticantly (P<0.05) decreased dressing percentage and was associated with an hypertrophy of all visceral organs. The pattern of mortality was not influenced by CLM inclusions.