Effect of cassava peel meal on morphometric characteristics of reproductive organs and visceral organ weights of Cockerels

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of cassava peel meal on the morphometric characteristics of reproductive organs and visceral organ weights of cockerels. Four treatment diets were formulated to contain 0% (1), 10% (2), 20% (3) and 30% (4) cassava peel meals (CPM) respectively. Forty cockerels, 24 weeks of age, were randomly assigned to the four treatment diets with two replicates of five birds per treatment group. Data were collected on morphometric characteristics of the reproductive organs as well as the visceral organ weights. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significant means were separated using Duncan's multiple range test. The results of this study showed non-significant differences (P>0.05) in right and left testicular weights, paired testicular weights, right and left epididymal weights, paired epididymal weights, right and left ductus deferens, and paired ductus deferens. There were also non-significant differences (P>0.05) in the average heart weights, gizzard weights, abdominal fat weight and percentage, average spleen weights, liver weights, lungs and kidney weights. It could be concluded from this study that dietary inclusion of sun-dried cassava peel meal up to a level of 30% has no adverse effect on the morphometric characteristics of the reproductive organs as well as the visceral organ weights of cockerels.