M.A. Hossain
Associate Professor
Department of Dairy and Poultry Science, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Khulshi, Chittagong-4225, Bangladesh
J.R. Amin
School of Environmental and Rural Science, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia
M.E. Hossain
Department of Animal Science and Animal Nutrition, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Khulshi,Chittagong-4225, Bangladesh
Cassava tuber meal, Performance, Meat yield characteristics
Department of Dairy and Poultry Science, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Khulshi, Chittagong-4225, Bangladesh
Animal Health and Management
A total of 260 day-old (Cobb 500) unsexed commercial broiler chicks were used to conduct this experiment. The chicks were divided randomly into 4 dietary treatment groups [T1, T2, T3 and T4]; each treatment replicated 5 times, 13 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. The birds were reared under floor-pen system in a wire-netted house from d1 to 35 days. A total of 20 wire-netted pens of equal size (140 × 90 cm) were set up in a shed type house to accommodate the birds. Each pen was designed for 13 birds, and was equipped with a feeder and a drinker to supply diets and water ad libitum for the birds throughout the trial period. Rice husk litter materials to a depth of 2.5 cm were spread over the floor of each pen to maintain comfortable environment. The birds were brooded at 33oC for the first two days, and then the temperature was reduced gradually to 24oC at 19 days of age, and maintained at this level to the end of the trial. Continuous lighting (23 hours light and 1 hour darkness) including the natural light and electrical bulb was provided the birds throughout the trial period. All the birds received the necessary vaccines against Newcastle disease, Infectious bursal diseases and Infectious Bronchitis disease and some medication for disease protection and immunity.Collected cassava tubers were cleaned by removing dust, sand or any other foreign materials attached with these ingredients, then they were sliced, chopped, crushed and dried in the sunlight for 3 days. After drying tubers, meal was prepared by grinding sun-dried cassava tuber slices in a Mortar and Pestle. After that, these ground cassava meal (CM) was used in formulating diets at various dietary levels of 0, 100, 200, and 300 g kg-1 CM by replacing maize. Formulation of diets Four experimental diets, identified as T1, T2, T3 and T4 were formulated with maize, cassava meal, and vegetable oil as main energy sources, along with soybean meal and fishmeal as protein ingredients. Except for diet T1, cassava meal was included at the rate of 10%, 20% and 30% in T2, T3 and T4 diets, respectively, by replacing the corn. All the diets were prepared to meet or exceed NRC (1994) recommendations, and supplied the birds in mash form in both starter and finisher period. All diets were isocaloric and iso-nitrogenous and supplemented with exogenous microbial enzymes (Avizyme 0.5g and Phyzyme 0.1 g kg-1 of each diet, Danisco Animal Nutrition, UK). Starter diets were fed the birds for the first three weeks, and finisher diets were used for rest of the trial period (22 to 35 d). Body weight and feed intake data of the birds were recorded weekly. Mortality was recorded as it occurred. Feed conversion ratio was calculated weekly, and corrected for mortality. At the end of the trial period (35d), two birds from each pen were randomly selected, weighed and killed humanely to measure different body parts (thigh, shank, breast, giblet, neck, wing, drumstick and dressed yield) of the birds.
ISSN: 2224-0616
Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 3 (2): 59-65, December, 2013 Available online at http://www.ijarit.webs.com
Journal