Growth performance, haematological and serum biochemistry of broiler chickens fed Taro Cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) peel meal as feed ingredient

Growth performance, haematology and serum biochemistry of broiler chickens fed taro cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) peel meal (CRM) as feed ingredient was investigated using 150 one week-old Ross strain broiler birds. The birds were randomly assigned to five (5) dietary treatment groups having three (3) replicates with 10 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). Diet I was maize based and served as control diet. The test material replaced maize at 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% in diets II, III, IV and V respectively. Water and each of the diet were offered ad-labium for a period of 56 days (8 weeks). That is the first seven days, the birds were fed commercial feed to stabilize them and thereafter place on their respective experimental diets. The result of the growth performance showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) in the mean final live weights, mean weight gain, mean daily weight gain, mean daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio. The mean final live weights, mean weight gain g/bird and mean daily weight gain (g) followed the same trend with birds fed diets I and II are the same but statistically similar to birds fed diets III and IV but differ from birds fed diet V. Birds fed Diets III and IV are statistically similar to birds fed diet V. Daily feed intake increased (P<0.05) with the level of cocoyam peels meal in the diet. Feed conversation ratio result for diet I was comparable to broilers on diet II. The parameters evaluated under biochemistry indices showed no significant effect for alkaline phosphate and creatinine, while results for diet III in total protein, albumin and urea were comparable to the control diet. Haematological indices like Hb, PVC and MCHC were not significantly affected by the diets but diet II was similar to control diet in all the parameters evaluated. Economic analysis showed that there were significant differences in all the parameters except in feed cost/bird and price/kg live weight. Cost/kg of feed was lowest for diet V followed by diets IV, III, II, I; due to the lower cost of Taro cocoyam when compared to maize in the control diet. Cost/kg weight gain favoured diet I followed by diets II and III, lastly diet IV and V. Finally, considering the growth performance, biochemical indices (especially albumin and urea), hematological indices and feed cost analysis (especially gross margin), diet II (5%) is recommended. Keywords: Cocoyam Peel Meal, Broiler Chickens, Serum Biochemistry, Haematolog