International Journal of Zoology Studies

Authors
Rafiu T A, Aiyedun L O, Iyanda I A, Adetona M A

Abstract
A feeding trial was carried out to determine the effect of oven-dried cassava starch effluent (OCSE) and roasted cassava starch effluent (RCSE) on the egg production and quality of layers fed at varying inclusion levels. Five (5) were formulated such that, diets 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 containing 50% OCSE, 100% OCSE, 50% RCSE, 100% RCSE fibre replacements and a control diet having 0% inclusion of processed cassava starch effluent. Two hundred and twenty-five (225) laying birds were used for this experiment. The birds were randomly divided into five treatments of forty-five (45) birds per group. Each treatment group was sub-divided into three replicates of 15 birds per replicate. The experiment lasted for 15 weeks. Daily egg production and daily feed intake were documented while Hen-day production was estimated and egg quality parameters were also collected. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance of SPSS 2010 and means separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range test of the same Statistical package. All the production performance indices considered were statistically (P>0.05) similar. However, RCSE was found to be better economically than OCSE and the control. No significant difference (P>0.05) was observed on Hen-day production, egg weight, egg shell index, haugh unit, shell surface area, percentage albumin, percentage yolk and percentage shell, while shell thickness and yolk index were observed to be significantly different (P<0.05) across the various inclusion levels. It can be concluded that roasted dried cassava starch effluent in varying fibre replacement levels has positive effect on the performance of laying birds with respect to egg quality and also brings about a reduction in the production cost. It can therefore be recommended that 100% RCSE fibre sources replacement in layer diet could be adopted.