Effect of replacing maize with processed cassava on the growth performance and haematological characteristics of broiler chickens Okpara O.*, Obakanurhe O., Onowhakpor C.N., Sorhue U.G., Gbayisomore O.S. Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Asaba, Delta State P.O. Box-320211, Nigeria *Corresponding author: okparaoghenesuvwe@gmail.com
Online Published on 21 July, 2022. Abstract Okpara, O., Obakanurhe, O., Onowhakpor, C.N., Sorhue, U.G. and Gbayisomore, O.S. 2022. Effect of replacing maize with processed cassava on the growth performance and haematological characteristics of broiler chickens. Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, 22: 155–166. The purpose of this study was to see how shifting from maize to a processed improved cassava variety (TME 419) affected the haematological parameters and growth performance of broiler chickens. A total of 137 day old chicks (Cobb 450 strain) were brooded for a week before being randomly allocated to three experimental groups in a completely randomized design. Each experimental group was replicated three times with 15 birds each. The three diets were designed using cassava root meal instead of maize (CRM). T1 had SD50 (50 percent maize, 50 percent sun-dried cassava root meal (CRM)), T2 had OD50 (50 percent maize, 50 percent oven-dried CRM), and MD100 (100 percent maize, 0% CRM) served as the control. Data were collected on performance characteristics and haematology parameters. The results on growth performance revealed that the feed intake of broiler chickens on the T3 was significantly (P<0.05) higher as compared to T1 and T2. T1 recorded the highest weight gain followed by T2 and T3. The FCR of T1 was statistically similar to T2 whose values were significantly better than T3. Birds on sun-dried cassava meal performed much better as compared to the control diet in terms of weight gain, final body weight, and feed conversion ratio. On haematogical indices of birds showed that packed cell volume (PCV) values in the three treatments indicated no significant (P>0.05) differences. Birds on OD50 diet had lower WBCs as compared to birds on SD50 and MD100 diets. The concentration of haemoglobin (Hb) in T1 was significantly (P<0.05) higher as compared to the control. These findings suggested that sun-dried cassava could efficiently replace maize up to 50% inclusion in broiler chickens diets without any detrimental effects. Top Keywords Broiler chicken, Growth performance, Haematology, Improved cassava, Maize. Top |