Replacing Maize with Cassava Feels in Finisher Ration of Cockerels. The Effects on Cut-Up Pieces of the Eviscerated Carcass

Abstract

The effects of partial replacement of maize with graded levels of sun dried cassava peels in the finisher ration of cockerels on the yields of various cut-up pieces of eviscerated carcass were determined in a 7 -week study using 2,835 13-week old cockerels of Isa White breed. Seven finisher rations containing 0, 5, 10,15, 20, 25 and 30% sun dried peels were respectively given to a group of 405 cockerels. The results showed that the birds fed 25 and 30% cassava peels rations had the least response in terms of body weight and eviscerated weight. The proportions of head, shank and viscera were significantly higher in the cockerels fed these rations than those fed with lower grades. This indicates that 25 and 30% cassava peel rations induced the development of inedible offals at the expense of edible meat. Finisher ration containing 20% cassava peels supplied the optimum nutrients for optimum performance in terms of eviscerated yield, growth, body weight and feed conversion efficiency beyond which these parameters started to dedine. The results also showed that the low cost of production of cockerels fed rations or highest level of cassava peels (30%) compensated for the drop in their performance. Including 20% cassava peels in the cockerel finisher ration for optimum edible meat yield and 30% cassava peels for potential economic gain is therefore recommended.

Keywords: Cockerel, Carcass, Cassava Peels, Finisher Ration