Search

Two cassava tuber wastes (CTW): cassava peels and cassava starch residues were enriched through solid substrate fermentation using Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactobacillus coryneformis and Aspergillus fumigatus, a process which took the advantage of the lysine and linamarase secreting ability of the two lactic acid bacteria and cellulose degrading potential of the fungus. The enriched wastes were used to formulate broilers diets in which each was included at 0, 20, 40 and 60% in a completely randomized design in an 8-week trial. Three hundred and fifty (350) day old (Ross 308) broiler chicks were randomly allotted to 7 treatment diets at 10 chicks per replicate of five. The control diet contained no enriched CTW (0%) while diets 2-4 contained 20-60% microbially fermented cassava peel [MFCP], diets 5-7 contained 20-60% microbially fermented cassava starch residues [MFCSR]. Growth performance, blood variables, serum biochemistry and economy of production were the response criteria. The final body weight (1.20-1.48 kg) and weight gain (1.16-1.44 kg) and weight gain (1.16-1.44kg) were not significantly (P>0.05) affected. Total feed intake increased with increased MFCP inclusion but decreased with increasing level of MFCSR with bird fed control diet having the best FCR (2.56). Only the Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) was not significantly (P>0.05) affected of all the blood haematological indices measured. Of the entire serum metabolites measured only the albumin and globulin were significantly (P<0.05) affected. The feed cost per kilogram body weight decreased by 27.3-39.4% when the CTW was included. However, within the limit of this study, the inclusion of 40% and 60% of MFCP (27.3% and 23.9% cost reduction, respectively), could lead to profitable broiler production in sub-Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]