Abstract

Tomi Balogun, Tope Ogunmola and Lanre Ojo

The study was carried to report morpho-physiological performances and economic implications of guinea fowl keets fed Dried Cassava Alabo Meal (DCAM) as a complete substitute for maize. Two guinea fowls tarter diets were made such that diet 1 (control) contained maize as the main energy source whereas in diet 2, the maize was completely replaced with DCAM and the diets were balanced for crude protein. Ninety six (96) guinea fowl keets of both sexes were divided into 2 groups of 48 birds and each group randomly assigned to one of the diets, using completely randomized design (CRD). After some mortality has been encountered, each group was further sub-divided into 3 replicates of 14 birds and fed the experimental diet for 6 weeks. No trace of HCN was detected in the DCAM whereas the raw cassava meal contained about 800 PPM HCN. The birds on DCAM diet consumed significantly (P < 0.05) less feed than the control and gained significantly (P < 0.05) more body weights. Feed conversion ratio was also significantly (P < 0.05) improved by DCAM. It is therefore, concluded that DCAM could completely replace maize in the diets of guinea fowl keets with economic efficiency. Though, diet based on DCAM seems more costly. The DCAM diet also promoted abdominal fat deposition which may be rejected by some fat intolerant consumers. It is therefore recommended that further research be conducted to developing a technology that could make the processing of cassava tuber into Dried Cassava Alabo Meal more easily for inclusion into poultry and other monogastric animals feeding ration with less capital involvement in terms of labour and cost of feed.