ABSTRACT

This experiment was carried out to investigate the response of starter broiler chicks to substitution of composite cassava meal (0CM) for maize in broiler diets. Six starter broiler diets were formulated in which 0CM replaced maize at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100%, and designated T1 12 T3T4T5and T6 respectively. One hundred and forty-four (144) day-old broiler checks were randomly allocated to the six diets at 24 chicks per diet (treatment) in completely randomized design (CRD) experiment. Each treatment was replicated into three, with each replicate having eight chicks. Feeds and water were supplied ad libitum and the experiment lasted 4 weeks. There were no significant (P<0.05) differences in the initial live weight (37.5-38.log) and average feed intake (42.69 — 46.69g). However, there were significant (P<0.05) differences in the final live weight, daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio arid protein efficiency ratic. Substitution of 0CM for maize up to 60% did not significantly (P>0.05) depress the final live weight. However, at 80% substitution depression of the live weight became significant (P<0.05). The trend was the same for daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio. The mortality also followed the same trend, except that the mortality of T2 (20%substitution) birds was significantly (P'zo.05) higher.