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

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.

Keywords:

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