Abstract
Three feeding trials were conducted using starter, grower and laying chickens to evaluate the feeding value of cassava root meal (CRM). During the first and second trials, diets containing 0, 15, 30 or 45 per cent CRM were fed to equal numbers of cockerel and pullet White Leghorn starter (0 to 6 week) and grower (6 to 12 week) chicks. During the third (laying) trial 18 week old ?-Hyline pullets were fed diets containing 0, 20 40 or 60 per cent CRM. The diets fed in all cases were isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Starter and grower cockerel chicks grew faster and converted their feed significantly (P< 0.01) better than pullets. It was concluded that starter and grower diets of layer-type chicks should not contain more than 15 and 30 per cent CRM respectively. It was suggested that the absence of added fat and increasingly dusty nature of the CRM diets might have limited the utilization of these diets at higher inclusion levels. The laying trial showed that feed consumption, egg production, feed efficiency and egg weight were similar for all the diets.
