Utilisation of cassava products-copra meal based diets supplemented with or without Allzyme SSF by growing pullets

Abstract

The utilisation of cassava root-leaf meal (CRLM) and copra meal with or without enzyme by growing pullets was investigated. A total of 180 six week-old Shaver 579 pullets (549.79 ? 0.39 g/bird) were allotted to 12 floor pens containing 15 birds each. A commercial grower diet (control) and 2 diets based on CRLM and copra meal with or without added Allzyme? SSF (test diets) were fed each to 4 replicate pens in a completely randomized design. Growth performance, age at first egg, feed cost of rearing and the count of floor primary feathers formed the major response criteria. Birds fed the control commercial diet consumed more feed and gained more weight (P0.05) between the control and enzyme supplemented CRLM groups. There was no dietary effect (P>0.05) on the weight of the first egg among the 3 groups. Feed cost of rearing was reduced (P0.05) between the two test diets as well as between the enzyme supplemented and the control diets. It was concluded that CRLM and copra meal can be used as major energy and protein sources respectively in growing pullets? diets. Enzyme supplementation may however, be needed to maintain performance of the birds.

Keywords

• cassava products
• copra meal
• enzyme
• Shaver Brown pullets
• growth
• age of lay