Science Letters

Effect of Dietary Treatment of Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Roots on Kuroiler Chicks' Performance

William A. Charles 1, Milton M. Lado 2*, Salah K. Jubarah 2, Abubakr O. Ismail 3, Erneo B. Ochi 2

1 Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Juba, South Sudan

2 University of Juba, College of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, Department of Animal Production, Juba, South Sudan

3 University of Bahri, College of Animal Production, Department of Animal Nutrition, Khartoum North, Sudan

Abstract

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) roots are an essential feedstuff used for public consumption, but little attention has been given to broiler' production in South Sudan using cassava as feedstuff. Hence, the effect of feeding treated cassava roots as an alternative feed source to maize on Kuroiler chicks' performance was evaluated. Ninety, one week old, Kuroiler chicks were allocated to three dietary treatments, three replicates each, with ten chicks per replicate in a completely randomized block design. Birds were fed ad-libitum on formulated dietary levels of cassava at 0.0% (control group), and 10.0% and 20.0% (experimental groups) for six weeks. The feed intake for respective three treatments (3.9, 3.2 and 3.1 g/kg DM) and the final body weight gains (1,042, 826 and 733 g) were revealed. However, feed conversion ratio revealed values of 0.46, 0.50 and 0.96, respectively. Therefore, a cassava root could be used as an alternative feed ingredient to maize at low inclusion levels in poultry feeding regimens for sustainable development of the poultry industry in South Sudan.