Growth Performance of Colored Broilers Fed with Commercial Feeds Supplemented with Cassava Leaf Meal During the Finishing Period

Abstract

The study on the growth performance of colored broilers fed with commercial feeds supplemented with cassava leaf meal during the finishing period was conducted in January 2015 to March 2015. Specifically, the study was conducted to determine the growth performance of colored broilers in terms of final weight, gains in weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, morbidity and mortality rates and feed cost to produce a unit gain in weight. A total of one hundred twenty (120) colored broilers which were 29 days old were distributed randomly into three treatments as follows: T0= Commercial feeds (CF), T1=(CF) + 5grams cassava leaf meal (CLM), T2=CF + 10grams CLM. Results showed that there were no significant differences in the initial and final weights and the total and average daily gains in weight of the experimental birds. The overall mean initial weight, final weight, total and daily gains in weight were 0.709kg, 1.626kg, 0.9165kg and 0.0296kg, respectively. On the other hand, significant differences were obtained in the feed conversion ratios (FCR) of the birds. The birds given 0 gram CLM had a better FCR of 2.83 followed by the birds given 10g CLM with an FCR of 2.92 and 2.96 for those given 5g CLM. Highly significant differences were observed in the feed intakes of the birds. Highest feed intake was obtained from the birds given 10g CLM with a mean of 2.719kg followed by the birds given with 5g CLM with a mean of 2.702kg and 2.566kg for those given 0g CLM. Also, highly significant differences were observed in feed cost to produce a kilogram gains in weight of the birds from 29 to 60 days. Birds given CLM at levels of 5-10g/bird/day registered higher feed cost than the control birds. There was no mortality nor morbidity that was incurred during the whole period of the study.