Growth performance and carcass yield of broiler chickens fed commercial finisher and cassava copra meal-based diets

Figures & data

Table 1. Ingredient composition and calculated analysis of the experimental broiler finisher diet.

Ingredients	Quantity (g/kg)
CRM	340.30
Copra meal	500.00
Coconut oil	12.50
Fish meal	102.70
Limestone	30.00
Enzyme	3.00
Lysine	3.00
Methionine	3.00
Premix	2.50
Salt	3.00
Total	1000.00
Calculated analysis
Crude protein (g/100g)	20.00
Metabolisable energy (Kcal/kg)	2999.16

Table 2. Proximate composition of the CRM, copra meal, fish meal and the formulated and commercial finisher (CF) diets.

Constituents (g/100 g)	CRM	Copra meal	Fish meal	Formulated diet	Commercial diet^a
Dry matter	91.67	90.25	97.19	92.44	86.00
Crude protein	5.91	24.90	68.70	19.25	20.20
Ether extract	0.14	6.61	13.27	4.96	5.30
Crude fibre	2.25	11.29	0.16	6.44	4.00
Total ash	2.15	6.60	12.69	9.66	5.70
Nitrogen-free extract	81.22	47.46	2.37	56.13	NR
Metabolisable energy (Kcal/kg)	2873	2683	3250	3095	3200

NR, not reported.

^aCalculated according to Pauzenga (1985). Values from the feed company.

Table 3. Growth performance of broiler chickens fed a CF or a cassava copra meal-based finisher (CCMF).

Variables	CF	CCMF	SEM
Initial weight (g/bird)	722.00	721.25	0.87^NS
Final weight (g/bird)	2247.10^a	1764.00^b	108.96*
Daily feed intake (g/bird)	149.13^a	132.17^b	3.82*
Daily weight gain (g/bird)	72.63^a	49.63^b	5.18*
FCR (feed: gain)	2.05^b	2.66^a	0.14*
Cost of kg feed (WST$)	1.76	1.02	NA
Feed cost (WST$/kg live weight)	3.61^a	2.71^b	0.17*
Mortality (number)	0	0	NA

SEM, standard error of the mean; NS, not significant (P > 0.05). WST$ 1 = $ 0.45 at the time of the experiment.

^a,bMeans within the row with different superscripts differ significantly (P < 0.05).

*Significant (P < 0.05).

Table 4. Carcass measurements and organs weight of broiler chickens fed a CF or a cassava-copra CCMF.

Variables	CF	CCMF	SEM
Slaughter weight (g/bird)	2192.00^a	1692.00^b	117.73*
Dressing percent	81.52^a	69.38^b	2.29*
Carcass cut-up parts (% live weight)
Breast	17.99^a	15.90^b	0.54*
Thighs	12.13	11.45	0.22^NS
Drumsticks	10.71	9.98	0.18^NS
Organs weight (% live weight)
Liver	2.12	2.13	0.04^NS
Pancreas	0.18^b	0.29^a	0.03*
Heart	0.52	0.61	0.03^NS
Gizzard (full)	1.25^b	2.37^a	0.26*
Small intestine (full)	0.55^b	4.56^a	0.53*
Ceaca (full)	0.43	0.48	0.02^NS
Abdominal fat	0.30^a	0.62^b	0.42*

SEM, standard error of the mean; NS, not significant (P > 0.05).

^a,bMeans within the row with different superscripts differ significantly (P < 0.05).

*Significant (P < 0.05).