F.C. Iheukwumere
Department of Agriculture,
Abia State University,
PMB 7010, Umudike, Nigeria
E.C. Ndubuisi
Department of Agriculture,
Abia State University,
PMB 7010, Umudike, Nigeria
E.A. Mazi
Department Of Food Science, Abia State University, PMB 7010, Umuahia, Nigeria
M.U. Onyekwere
Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Ebonyi State Nigeria
ABSTRACT
A 35-day feeding trial involving 120, 5-week old Anak broilers was carried out in a completely randomized design to evaluate the performance, nutrient utilization and organ characteristics of broilers fed cassava leaf meal at dietary levels of 0, 5, 10 and 15% respectively. Feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and organ weight of birds on the control (0%) and (5%) leaf meals were significantly superior (p<0.05) to the group on 10% and 15% leaf meal. The utilization of Dry Matter (DM), crude protein, ether extract and ash was significantly poorer at the 10 and 15% dietary levels. The organ weights (heart, liver, gizzard) were superior at 0 and 5% (p<0.05) groups to the groups on 10 and 15% inclusion levels of the leaf meal. It is suggested that 5% inclusion of cassava leaf meal could be used in broiler finisher diets without any deleterious effects.
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How to cite this article
F.C. Iheukwumere, E.C. Ndubuisi, E.A. Mazi and M.U. Onyekwere, 2008. Performance, Nutrient Utilization and Organ Characteristics of Broilers Fed Cassava Leaf Meal (Manihot esculenta Crantz)
. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 7: 13-16.
DOI: 10.3923/pjn.2008.13.16
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=pjn.2008.13.16
DOI: 10.3923/pjn.2008.13.16
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=pjn.2008.13.16