PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMIC OF PRODUCTION OF BROILER FINISHER CHICKENS FED GRADED LEVELS OF CASSAVA LEAF MEAL

The Effect of graded levels of Cassava Leaf Meal on the Performance and economics of production of Broilers Finisher Chickens was evaluated. Sixty (60) broiler birds of mixed sexes with initial live weight of 750g were randomly assigned to four dietary treatment groups with three replicates using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The experimental diets were formulated to contain 0, 5, 10 and 15% of cassava leaf meal representing treatments T₁, T₂, T₃ and T₄ respectively. The parameters measured were; performance traits (final body live weight, average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio and mortality). Carcass characteristics parameters included (slaughter weight, carcass weights, dressing percentage, offal and organs expressed as percentage live weight) and economic of production of rearing broiler birds was also determined. The results obtained from the parameters measured showed that, daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio, slaughter weight, and dressing percentage were significantly (P0.05). Birds fed with 0% and birds fed 15% recorded the best performance when compared with other treatment groups. The cost benefit analysis also indicated that birds fed 15% inclusion of cassava leaf meal had the best profit margin of ₦2350.24, which was higher than ₦1257.76 in the control group. Based on the performance of the study, it was therefore, concluded that 15% cassava leaf meal should be included broiler diet, since it improves the performance, carcass characteristics and also reduce the cost of production is therefore, recommended for rearing broiler birds.