Effect of Replacement of Maize with Cassava Peel in Cockerel Diets on Performance and Carcass Characteristics

Tropical Animal Health and Production, 37 (2005) 495^501

# 2005 Springer. Printed in the NetherlandsShort CommunicationEect of Replacement of Maize with Cassava Peel in

Cockerel Diets on Performance and Carcass CharacteristicsS.O. Nwokoro* and E.I. EkhosuehiDepartment of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, PMB 1154,

Benin City, Nigeria*Correspondence: E-mail: [email protected]/[email protected], S.O. and Ekhosuehi, E.I., 2005. Eect of replacement of maize with cassava peel in cockerel

diets on performance and carcass characteristics. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 37(6), 495^501Keywords: cyanide, dressing percentage, feed consumption, nitrogen retention, weight gainINTRODUCTIONFeed accounts for more than 70% of the cost of production of livestock, especially

monogastrics, in Nigeria. This has been attributed to the high cost of ingredients,

especially maize, which forms the bulk of the nished feeds. Thus, there is a need for

cheaper alternative sources of ingredients. Cassava (Manihot spp.) is a widely cultivated

crop in tropical countries. FAO (1992) reported that Nigeria produced about 26

million tonnes of cassava annually, which forms about 17% of the world total and

36% of Africa's total production. Cassava has many uses in Nigeria and one major

primary waste product in tuber processing is the cassava peel. The peel according to

Tewe (1994) and Iyayi and Tewe (1994) constitutes 11^15% of the cassava; hence, the

waste resulting from processing large amounts of cassava produced annually are

considerable. This study was initiated to determine the eect on performance and

carcass characteristics of partial replacement of maize with cassava peel in a cockerel

starter diet.MATERIALS AND METHODSProduction and processing of cassava peelsFresh cassava peel was collected from the garri (products obtained after dewatering

grated cassava followed by frying) processing centres. The peel was sorted, mixed,

bulked and sun-dried (30^358C) on a clean cement oor for 8 days. The peel was

subsequently collected and milled, followed by the proximate analysis of samples

(Table I). The peel was used to replace maize (up to 60% level) in cockerel diets (TableII).495496TABLE IChemical composition of cassava peel mealConstituent CompositionCrude protein 4.35Crude bre 12.01

Ether extract 0.20

Ash 1.01

Nitrogen free extract 71.04

Dry matter 88.65

Phosphorus 0.44

Calcium 1.33TABLE IIGross composition of experimental diets fed to cockerel startersInclusion level (%)

Ingredient 0 20 40 60Yellow maize 47.00 37.60 28.20 18.80

Maize oal 20.00 20.00 20.00 20.200