The Effect of cassava grits and Local Maize alone or the combination on the performance of Broilers at Animal Production Division Njala University

A seven-week study was carried out using -day old chicks. Thirty chicks were assigned to a pen in a large room with each chick having a floor space of 2sq.ft. To evaluate the effect of cassava grits and maize alone or the combination on the growth performance of Broilers The chicks were fed ad-lib. The birds were weighed weekly and weight gained was recorded. Variables measured included feed intake, water intake, weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, morbidity, mortality, and economic impact. The effect of maize and cassava alone or in combination as energy source for broilers was tested. The two rations namely wheat meal feed and imported broiler concentrates were added to the cassava grit and maize as indicated in the study. All the rations contained nearly equal amounts of protein but the inclusion rates of concentrates and wheat meal feed differ. Also oyster shell was added to treatment A in order to meet calcium requirement but the requirement for phosphorus was highest for treatment C. The content of lysine and methionine vary from 1.42, 1.78 and 0.9 respectively. These were above normal requirement to the stated nutrients. Result indicated that feed intake did not differ much but it tended to be highest in treatment C which contained only maize. This was followed by treatment B and it was lowest in treatment A. Weight gains did not also differ much. They tend to be highest in treatment C followed by treatment B and lowest in treatment A. Water intake was highest in C followed by B and then A. Conclusively with regards, weights and water intake, the cassava containing diets (A and B) were much inferior compared with maize. This was clearly proven by the linear regression imposed with regards weights. The A and B rations though inferior were not significantly different from the result obtained from C. In fact, in the earlier ages of the birds there was no marked difference between all the three treatments. The differences between C and others became pronounced only after four (4) weeks and increasingly so afterwards. The cost of various rations showed that ration B (cassava and maize in combination) was higher in cost followed by A and C. Treatment C had the lowest inclusion rate of concentrate and thus the price per 50kg which is NLe158.34 was lowest. Therefore, the limiting factor in the preparation of feed for poultry is concentrates and it cost is exorbitant. With regards feed cost, ration A was the most expensive but less superior. Ration C was the least expensive but the most superior. However, the high cost of maize may be escalated by substantial losses during storage; also availability of this product may be strictly seasonal thus nullifying the benefit. Or economic returns.in the use of maize.