REPLACEMENT VALUE OF LOW-GRADE CASSAVA MEAL (GARI) FOR MAIZE IN THE DIETS OF PULLETS

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the nutritional value of low-grade cassava meal (gari) in the diets ofpullets, one hundred and eighty (180) pullets at nine weeks of age and approximately equal body weight (0.65kg) were randomly allocated to six dietary treatments. There were six dietary treatments in which gari replaced maize at graded levels of0.00, 10.00, 20.00, 30.00 and 40.00% with treatment one as control and treatment six having maize replaced by 100% gari (58.90%). The results showed that feed consumption significantly (P<0.05) reduced as the level of gari increased in the diets. However, no significant difference (p>0.05) in weight gain was observed between control treatment up to treatment four with 30% replacement of maize by gari. Feed conversion ratio and percent mortality did not show any significant difference (P>0.05). The cost N/Kg gain reduced significantly (P<0.05) from control to treatment four beyond which higher level of inclusion did not confer advantage. Therefore, there was an economic advantage of using gari as replacement for maize in the diet ofpullets up to 30% since N53.31 savings was made for every kg gain in body weight of the birds.