Abstract

EGBUNIKE, G.N.; AGIANG, E.A.; OWOSIBO, A.O.  and  FATUFE, A.A.. Effect of protein on performance and haematology of broilers fed cassava peel-based diets. Arch. zootec. [online]. 2009, vol.58, n.224, pp.655-662. ISSN 1885-4494.

A experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of the protein source on the performance and haematology of broiler chickens on cassava peel-based diets using fishmeal and groundnut cake as protein sources. In a 42 days feeding trial, a total of 192 Anak, four weeks old, unsexed broiler chickens with average initial body weight of 0.685±0.0027 (mean±SD) were divided into two groups of diets containing 0, 5, 10 and 15% dried cassava peel meal. Birds in one group had fishmeal as protein source while the other had groundnut cake. Each diet was offered to three pens of 8 birds each. Final live weight, weekly weight gain, feed and protein intake, feed conversion and protein efficiency ratios, haematology and corpuscular indices were not significantly affected by protein source. Fishmeal inclusion resulted in higher (p<0.001) serum albumin and lower (p>0.05) serum cholesterol than groundnut cake inclusion. It was concluded that groundnut cake could serve as protein source for broiler chickens without any adverse effect on performance indices.

Keywords : Unconventional feedstuff; Blood parameters.

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