Effect of Microbial-Fermented Cassava Wastes as Dietary Replacement for Ground maize on Cockerel Production

Research efforts have been directed at the use of non-conventional feed ingredients of agro-industrial origin in the poultry industry. Cassava tuber wastes (CTWs) such as the peels, sievates or pulp waste, cassava whey and cassava starch residues are part of such ingredients. Thus, there is need to evaluate their impact in the poultry industry. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding microbe-fermented CTWs to cockerels using performance parameters and the cost of production as response criteria. Two hundred and ten cockerel chicks were randomly assigned to the seven treatment diets in a 16-week feeding trial. Seven diets were formulated containing 0% CTWs, 20, 40 and 60% microbe-fermented cassava peel (MFCP), 20, 40 and 60% microbe-fermented cassava starch residue (MFCSR). The results showed 20% MFCP had similar (P = 0.02) feed conversion ratio to the control. Furthermore, the cost of feed per kg decreased with increasing level of CTWs. In addition, the cost of production per kg body weight gain decreased with increasing inclusion level up to 20% MFCP and 40% MFCSR. It was concluded that the inclusion of 20% MFCP and up to 40% of MFCSR in cockerels’ diet would not adversely affect growth and economics of production. Graphic Abstract