Growth performance of broiler chicks fed graded levels of processed taro cocoyam (<I>Colocasia esculenta</I>) meal based diet

Abstract

An eight-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the growth performance characteristics of (120) broiler starter fed varying levels of parboiled  sundried taro cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) meal (PSCM). Four treatments were formulated with diet one containing 100% maize as control, while in diet two, three and four parboiled sundried cocoyam meal (PSCM) replaced the percentage proportion of maize in diet one at 50, 75 and 100% inclusion level respectively. Thirty (30) birds were randomly assigned to the four treatment diets in a completely randomize designed (CRD) each treatment group comprising of three replicates with ten (10) birds each. Growth performance revealed a significant variation (P<0.05) in the values of final live weight, daily feed intake and weight gain with highest value (1.62kg, 480.00g and 62.00g/bird) among those fed 50% PSCM. Feed conversion ratio (13.02) was least and best among those on 50% PSCM and protein efficiency ratio was higher (0.06) among those fed the control. It  is concluded therefore from this study that parboiled sundried taro cocoyam meal is a valuable replacement for maize up to 50% in broiler diets without adverse effects on the growth performance of starting broiler chickens.

Keywords: Broiler Chicks, Taro Cocoyam, Growth Performance, Parboiled-Sundried