Growth performance and nutrient digestibility of Wild Guinea Fowls (Numidea meleagris galeata) fed diets containing graded levels of fermented cassava (Manihot palmata) peel meal

Abstract

The study was carried out to ascertain the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of wild guinea fowls fed diets containing graded levels of Fermented Cassava Peel Meal (FCPM). One hundred and twenty guinea fowls aged three weeks were used. Complete Randomized Design (CRD) was used as the experimental design. Four experimental diets were formulated such that FCPM replaced maize at 0, 25, 50 and 75 % levels. The guinea fowls were randomly allotted to these four experimental treatments, each dietary treatment had three replicates with ten (10) guinea fowls in each replicate. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. The fermented cassava and experimental diets were analysed to determine their proximate composition and energy value. Data on growth performance and digestibility were collected and analysed by one way analysis of variance. Where difference occurred at P<0.05, they were separated using Duncan Multiply Range Test Significant (P<0.05) differences were observed for the final body weights which were 853.33, 873.33, 820.00 and 693.33 g for diets with 0, 25, 50 and 75 % FCPM, respectively. Daily weight gain of8.33, 8.65, 8.06 and 6.63 g were obtained for diets with 0, 25, 50 and 75 % FCPM respectively with value being significantly (P<0.05) lower for guinea fowl- fed 75 % FCPM. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) showed no significant (P>0.05) differences in all the treatment diets. The highest (P<0.05) apparent nutrient digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and crude fibre were obtained al 50 % maize replacement with fermented cassava peel meal in the diet of guinea fowl. It was therefore, recommended that FCPM can be used to replace up to SO % of maize in the diet of guinea fowls for optimum performance