ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to determine the performance of broiler finisher fed fermented composite cassava meal. One hundred and twenty (120) broiler chickens of Anak breed were used. They were allocated to four dietary treatments, each treatment was replicated thrice and each replicate had 10 birds in a completely randomized design (CRD). Diet 1(D1) was maize based diet while diet 2, 3, and 4 contained composite cassava meal (10:1:1) at 10%, 20% and 30% levels of inclusion respectively. Feed and water were given ad libitum. The experiment lasted for twenty two (22) days. The proximate composition of the test feed stuff (composite cassava meal) were as follows; crude protein (8.9%), crude fibre (11.30%), Ether extract (3.19%), Ash (2.83%), Nitrogen free extract (59.78%), moisture (14%) and Dry matter (86%). Results indicated that there were no significant (P>0.05) differences for Diet 1 and Diet 2 for final weight, average daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio while feed intake/bird/day differed (P<0.05) among the treatment means. Diet 1 and diet 2 recorded higher feed intake, final body weight, daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio than Diet 3 and Diet 4 respectively. For economics of the diet, the cost per kilogram diet decreased as inclusion of composite cassava meal increased. Cost of production showed significant (P><0.05) differences among the treatment means while total weight gain, cost per unit weight gain, revenue, and gross margin did not differ statistically (P>0.05) for diet 1 and diet 2 and as well between diet 3 and diet 4 respectively. Although the gross margin was not significantly (P>0.05) different in diet .1 and diet 2, the numeric higher value of the gross margin of diet 2 compared to diet 3 and diet 4 makes it the choice diet. Considering the statistical similarities between diet 1 and diet 2 for total weight gain (diet 1; 1153.3 g and diet 2; 1121.33 g), cost per unit weight gain (diet 1; N348.91 and diet 2; N 331.52), cost of production (diet 1 N 345.667 and diet 2 N 332.490), revenue (diet N 1038.00 and N 1009.20) and gross margin (diet 1; N 692.33 and diet 2 N 676.71), diet 2 (10% CCM) is recommended.