Effect of composite cassava meal with or without palm oil and/or methionine supplementation on broiler performance

S N Ukachukwu

Department of Animal Nutrition and Forage Science, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike,
P M B 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria
snukachukwu@yahoo.com

Abstract

Two experiments were carried out to investigate the response of broiler chicks to substitution of composite cassava meal (CCM) for maize in broiler diets as well as to assess the impact of supplementing CCM-based diet with palm oil and/or methionine on performance of starter broiler chicks. In experiment 1 six diets in which CCM replaced maize at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% and designated T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6, respectively were fed to 144 day-old broiler chicks in a completely randomized design (CRD) experiment. In experiment 2, five diets designated D1 (control, without CCM), D2 (maize-CCM type diet), D3 (maize-CCM type diet with methionine supplementation), D4 (maize-CCM type diet with palm oil supplementation), and D5 (maize-CCM type diet with palm oil and methionine supplementation) were fed to 150 day-old broiler birds in a CRD experiment.

At end of experiment 1 (day 56), daily feed intakes (DFI) of birds in T1, T2, T3, and T4 were similar (P>0.05), but significantly lower (P<0.05) than the DFI of birds fed diet T6. Birds fed diets T1, T2, T3, and T4 had similar (P>0.05) final live weight, daily weight gain (DWG), feed conversion (FCR), and protein efficiency ratio (PER), which were significantly better (P<0.05) than the final live weight, DWG, FCR, and PER of birds fed diet T6. Generally, there was increasing intake as the CCM inclusion level increased, while the response parameters showed a general trend of decreasing performance as the inclusion level of CCM increased. On economics of production of finished broilers, the cost/Kg feed, on relative basis using the control diet (T1) as baseline, ranged from 100% to 79.62% for T1-T6 respectively. Feeding of diets T4 and T5 yielded the highest (P<0.05) gross margin (GM) values that were however similar to the GM values of birds fed diets T2 and T3 but higher (P<0.05) than the GM value of birds fed diet T1, while the GM of birds fed dietT6 was the lowest (P<0.05). 

In experiment 2, there were significant (P<0.05) differences among treatment means of all the parameters. Birds fed D4 and D5 diets had significantly higher (P<0.05) body weight (BWt) and daily weight gain (DWG) than birds fed D2 but were similar to those fed D1 (control) and D3.The feed conversion ratios (FCR) and protein efficiency ratios (PER) of D5, D4 and D1 were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of D2 but similar to those of D3.

Keyword: alternative feedstuff, broiler nutrition, energy supplementation , feed additives, growth response

Introduction

Meat is highly valued food for human consumption. Its nutrition involves a science and art of selective eating with a view to providing the body with essential nutrients for its various activities (Esonu 2000).

Unfortunately, meat production requires large quantities of material and time. If the FAO (1992) standard for animal protein intake for proper human nutrition and growth is to be met, especially in Nigeria, it therefore means that production should be geared towards those meat sources with higher food value, having short duration of production and with higher consumer preferences, as well as nutrient quality, e.g. poultry (Madubuike and Ekenyem 2001). Broiler, a type of poultry, has the ability to grow fast and reach market weight fater than ruminants (Madubuike and Ekenyem 2001). Achievement of this in the poultry sector directly depends on the availability and supply of feedstuffs to meet the energy requirement of the animals for their optimum production. The only available basal energy feedstuff (maize) is in constant demand for man and animal nutrition and for industrial processing (Montilla 1976, Esonu 2000).

These days the use of maize for intensive animal production compared to its cost is no longer justifiable especially for intensive broiler production. Thus, there is an increasing cost of feedstuff for animal nutrition (Fajimi et al 1993, Tewe et al 2002). This cost constitutes about 80% of the total cost of intensive production in the livestock industry (Esonu 2000, Tewe et al 2002).

Hence today, the focus in the livestock industry (involving intensive production) is on alternative feedstuff; mostly those which can either substitute directly for maize or can be included at certain level to attain a comparable quality with the convectional maize, but must not be deleterious to the animal’s health (Muller et al 1974).

Cassava is a root crop planted mostly for its root for human consumption and as industrial raw material (e.g. starch). Cassava appears to be the best possibility for overcoming these chronic high feed cost in the livestock industry. Its cultivation requires no special expertise that applies to cereal production (e.g. maize, wheat, e.t.c.) and, with minimal input it yields about 10.83t/ha annually. Currently, Nigeria is the largest world producer (FAO 2002).

The roots of cassava are usually processed by peeling, followed by grinding and compressing to remove water and reduce its cyanide (HCN) content (Montaldo 1973). It contains an energy value of about 3.65 Kcal/g ME comparable to that of maize (3.66 Kcal/g ME). The foliage (leaves + tender stems) is a good source of dietary ash and vitamins (Montilla 1976, Akinfala 2000). The main stem, about 1-4m long is usually meant for propagation (Rogers 1965). These stems have been found also to be a source of dietary fibre (Akinfala et al 2003). Ukachukwu (2005) has evaluated the nutritional value of composite cassava meal (a mixture of whole root: discarded stems: leaves::5 : 2 : 2) and adjudged it a potential feedstuff in poultry and livestock diets.

This study was therefore aimed at determining the performance (growth and economics aspects) of broilers fed graded level of composite cassava meal (CCM), as well as assessing the effect of supplementing CCM-based diet with methionine and/or palm oil on the growth performance of starter broilers.

Materials and methods

Cassava roots, leaves and stems harvested from mature cassava plants grown at Ikot Ekepene, Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, were prepared in accordance with the recommendation of Ukachukwu (2005). This involved sun-drying the leaves and discarded stems on a concrete floor until the leaves were crispy and the stem could be easily broken without bending. They were later milled. The unpeeled cassava roots were washed with water, chipped, bagged and pressed for 24hrs, then sun-dried on a concrete floor. After drying they were also milled. The cassava root floor was mixed with the leave meal and the stem meat at the ration of 5:2:2. The mixture was termed composite cassava meal (CCM).

Experiment 1

Tables 1 and 2 show the six formulated diets in which the CCM replaced maize at six levels of 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100%. The diets were roughly iso-nitrogenous.

This study was carried out in the Livestock Farm of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State in Nigeria. A total of 144 day-old “Anak” broilers with an average weight of 37.5 g were used in a completely randomized design experiment. They were randomly allocated to the six diets at 24 birds per treatment and each treatment was replicated into three. There were 8 birds per replicate and the birds were raised under deep litter system.

The experiment lasted 4 weeks (28days) in the starter phase and 4 weeks (28days) in the finisher phase. Heat sources for brooding were kerosene stoves, kerosene lanterns and electric bulbs. Feeds were given daily and leftover feeds were recorded daily. From these, daily intakes were calculated by subtracting the leftover from the quantity given. Birds were weighed on the first day of the experiment and subsequently seven daily. Feed and water were given ad libitum.

Experiment 2

Five broiler starter diets were formulated to incorporate CCM in partial replacement of maize (Table 3).

The diets were supplemented with methionine and/or palm oil. The five diets were designated D1, D2, D3, D4 and D5. D1 was the control and had neither CCM nor methionine or palm oil supplementation. Others had CCM substituted for maize at 60%. D2 was not supplemented with methionine or palm oil, D3 had methionine supplementation only and D4 had palm oil supplementation only, while D5 had both methionine and palm oil supplementation.

A total of 150 seven days-old broiler chicks were used. They were randomly allocated to the five dietary treatments at 30 birds per treatment, and each treatment was replicated into three at 10 birds per replicate. The birds were raised in a deep litter system for four weeks, with the first 7 days serving as preliminary period during which the birds were fed a common proprietary feed. Thereafter the birds were randomly distributed to the five treatments. Heat sources for brooding were kerosene stoves, lanterns and electric bulbs. Vaccinations and other medications were administered to the birds. The birds were weighed initially and subsequently every 7 days. Feed and water were given ad libitum. Feeds were given in the morning and leftover feed weighed and recorded the following morning. Feed intake was calculated by subtracting leftovers value from quantity given.

Data collected in experiments 1 and 2 were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) in completely randomized design (CRD) and the means were separated using Duncan’s multiple test (Duncan 1955, Steel and Torrie 1980, Obi 1986).

Results and discussion

Experiment 1

At day 28 (Starter phase)

Table 4 shows the effect of replacing composite cassava meal (CCM) for maize in starter broiler chicks’ mash. There were no significant (P>0.05) differences among treatment means of the initial live weight and average daily feed intake of the birds. However, intake tended to increase numerically as the inclusion level of CCM increased.