Effect of processed wild cocoyam corm meal (caladium bicolor) on the growth and carcass characteristics of broiler birds

Authors

  • E. O. Ahaotu Department of Animal Production and Health Technology, Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Imo State, Nigeria
  • J. C. Okonkwo Department of Animal Science and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, PMB 5025 Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
  • R. E. Uwalaka Department of Animal Forestry Technology, Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Imo State, Nigeria
  • J. P. Ihezuo Department of Crop Production Technology, Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Imo State, Nigeria

Keywords:

Anak, Caladium bicolor, Broiler starter, Maize grain, Poultry feed

Abstract

The study was designed to determine the effect of feeding graded levels of processed wild cocoyam corn meal (Caladium bicolor) on the performance and carcass characteristics of broiler birds. One hundred Anak broilers of one week old were randomly assigned to five treatment groups with five replicates. Conventional broiler diets were formulated with 0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5% and 10.0% inclusion levels of processed wild cocoyam corn meal (PWCCM), and designated as T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively. Feeding trial was carried out for twenty-eight days during which, growth and carcass characteristics of the chicks were determined. The result of the study revealed that up to 10% PWCCM could be used in formulation of broiler starter diet; however, optimum performance was achieved at 7.5% inclusion level. Furthermore, the study maintained that 7.5% of PWCCM may be included in broiler starter diet without any deleterious effect on the carcass characteristics of the chicken. This entails 32.5% reduction in feed cost.

References

Ahaotu, E.O., Guang-Hai, Q., Ekenyem, B.U., Korie, A.U., Madubuike, F.N., 2010b. Replacement value of feather

meal for fish meal on the performance of starter cockerels, Anim. Product. Res. Adv., 6(1), 48-52.

Ahaotu, E.O., Njoku, P.O., Karsten, K., Yang, N., Ekenyem, B.U., Korie, A.U., Madubuike, F.N., 2009a. Effects of

Partial Replacement of Soya bean meal with Cassava leaf meal in Broiler Finisher Rations. Anim. Product. Res.

Adv., 5(4), 295-299

Ahaotu, E.O., Ekenyem, B.U., 2009. Replacement Value of Feather meal for meal on performance of finisher broiler

chicks. Int. J. Trop. Agr. Food sys., 3(3), 233-237.

Ahaotu, E.O., Onwuka, C.F., Ayo-Enwerem, C.M., 2008. Commercial Rabbit Production, Jeolas Publishers, Owerri

Nigeria., Pp. 1-2.

Ahaotu, E.O., 2004. Nutritive value of wild cocoyam (caladium bicolor) as an energy source in pullet ration. Faculty

Seminar Series No. 3, Department of Animal Science and fisheries, Imo State University, Owerri. Nigeria.

A.O.A.C., 1995. Official methods of Analysis, Association of Official methods of Analytical Chemists (Ed. K. Heirick)

th Edition. Washington., D.C. U.S.A.

Feltwell, R., Fox, S., 1998. Practical Poultry feeding, Revised Edition. Faber and Faber Press., U.S.A.

Femi, O.J., 2010. Proximate Analysis of Processed Wild Cocoyam (Caladium bicolor) corn meal, College of Animal

Science and Livestock production laboratory, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

Gomez, M., 1982. Nutritional Characteristics of some selected Non-Conventional feedstuff, Their acceptability

improvement and potential use in poultry feeds. Proceeding of a workshop on applied research, Nairobi.

Kenya.

Gordon, S.P., Gordon, F.S., 2004. Contemporary Statistics, A computer Approach, Mc Graw Hill Publishers. U.S.A.

Grueling, H.T., 1966. The Chemical Analysis of tissues, Mimew No. 6622, Agronomy Department Cornell

University, Ithaca, New York., U.S.A.

Kay, D.E., Gooding, E.G.B., 2007. Root Crops, Revised Edition. TDRI Press, U. K., Pp. 223-252.

Makkar, H.P.S., Sanchez, M., Speedy, A.W., 2007. Feed supplementation Blocks. Simple and Effective feed

supplement technology for ruminant agriculture, F.A.O. Press. Rome .

Madubuike, F.N., Ekenyem, B.U., Ahaotu, E.O., 2009. Effects of Dietary substitution of feather meal for fish meal

on the performance of starter broilers. Anim. Product. Res. Adv., 5(1), 1-5.

Madubuike, F.N., Agiang, E.A., Ekenyem, B.U., Ahaotu, E.O., 2003. Replacement value of Rubber Seed cake for

Groundnut cake on performance of starter broilers. J. Agr. Food Sci., 1, 21 – 27.

Obioha, F.C., 1992. A Guide to poultry production in the Tropics, 1st Edition, Acena Publishers, Enugu, Nigeria.

Onu, P.N., Otuma, M.O., Nwakpu, P.E., Ahaotu, E.O., 2008. Enzyme and probiotic supplementation of maize

processing waste based diets for weaned rabbits, Proceeding of Animal Conference, Agr. Soc. Niger., 42,644-

Onu, P.N., Madubuike, F.N., Esonu, B.O., 2001. Wild Cocoyam (Caladium bicolor) on the performance and internal

organism weight of finisher Broilers. J. sci. Agr. Food Technol. Env., 1, 9-24

Onwueme, I. C., Sinha, T.D., 1992. Field crop produciton in Tropical Africa, Macmillan press., U.K.

Ziegler, P.T., 1964. The Meat we eat. The Interstate Printers and Publishers Inc. IIIinois. USA.

Published

2013-11-28

How to Cite

O. Ahaotu, E. ., C. Okonkwo, J. ., E. Uwalaka, R., & P. Ihezuo, J. (2013). Effect of processed wild cocoyam corm meal (caladium bicolor) on the growth and carcass characteristics of broiler birds. Scientific Journal of Animal Science, 2(11), 304-309. Retrieved from http://sjournals.com/index.php/sjas/article/view/860

Issue

Section

Original Article