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Utilisation of cassava products-copra meal based diets supplemented with or without Allzyme SSF by growing pullets

Diarra, S. S.

The University of the South Pacific, School of Agriculture and Food Technology, Alafua Campus, Apia, Samoa.

Malaysian J. Anim. Sci. 2015 18(1): 67-76

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The utilisation of cassava root-leaf meal (CRLM) and copra meal with or without enzyme by growing pullets was investigated. A total of 180 six week-old Shaver 579 pullets (549.79 ? 0.39 g/bird) were allotted to 12 floor pens containing 15 birds each. A commercial grower diet (control) and 2 diets based on CRLM and copra meal with or without added Allzyme? SSF (test diets) were fed each to 4 replicate pens in a completely randomized design. Growth performance, age at first egg, feed cost of rearing and the count of floor primary feathers formed the major response criteria. Birds fed the control commercial diet consumed more feed and gained more weight (P<0.05) than those fed the test diets. Age at first egg did not differ (P>0.05) between the control and enzyme supplemented CRLM groups. There was no dietary effect (P>0.05) on the weight of the first egg among the 3 groups. Feed cost of rearing was reduced (P<0.05) on the test diets compared to the control diet. The count of floor primary feathers was higher (P<0.05) in the group fed the control compared to the test diet without enzyme but did not differ (P>0.05) between the two test diets as well as between the enzyme supplemented and the control diets. It was concluded that CRLM and copra meal can be used as major energy and protein sources respectively in growing pullets? diets. Enzyme supplementation may however, be needed to maintain performance of the birds.