Effect of Processed Cassava Tuber Meal (Garri) on the Performance and Serum Metabolites of Broilers

An investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of processed cassava tuber meal (garri) on the growth performance and serum chemistry of broiler chickens. One hundred and twenty (120) day-old Marshal Broiler chicks were used in a completely Randomized Design (CRD) in an experiment that lasted for seven weeks (49 days). The chicks were randomly assigned to four (4) treatments consisting of 30 birds per treatment with ten (10) birds per replicate, that is, 0 % (control), 15 %, 20 % and 25 % garri replacement per 25kg feed. At the end of the trial two (2) birds were picked randomly from each treatment and blood samples collected for haematalogical and serum analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The result obtained showed there was no significant (Pgreater than0.05) difference in the treated groups when compared to the control group. However there was numerical increase in weight gain in the group that received feed with 25 % garri replacement. It was therefore concluded that processed cassava meal (garri) had beneficial effects in the production of broilers even though it is known to be an atherogenic feed substance.