title: Utilization of tigernut (Cyperus rotundus, L.) meal in diets for cockerel starters.
abstract: The effect of feeding graded levels of tigernut meal (TGN) as a replacement for maize in the diets of cockerel starters on carcass characteristics and economics of feed conversion was assessed for 70 days. Tigernut replaced maize at 0%, 33.33%, 66.67% and 100% levels. A total of 120 day-old chicks were randomly allotted to four experimental diets such that each dietary treatment had three replicates of ten birds. Inclusion of TGN at 33.33% in cockerel diets supported better carcass yield in terms of high plucked, eviscerated, drumstick, thigh, neck, wing, heads, shanks, livers, hearts and lung weights without significant differences (P>0.05) in values obtained. However, there were significant difference (P<0.05) in back, breast, abdominal fat, gizzard, spleen, kidney and intestinal weights and lengths. Inclusion of TGN 100% level significantly depressed parameters assessed. The optimum replacement level of maize with TGN was 33.33% as this gave no significant reduction in carcass yield of the birds but a significant reduction in the cost of feed consumed. It required a feed cost of 42.90 ( 0.31 US dollars) to produce one kilogram weight gain on diet 2 (33.33%). Inclusion of TNG in the diets resulted in feed cost savings of 4.88% (D2), 8.17 (D3) and 8.90% (D4) respectively.
authors.affiliation: Animal Nutrition Department, University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bamgbose
authors.forename: Daisy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eruvbetine
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dada
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis* / Q000191:economics; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D029786:Cyperus; D004032:Diet; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D012639:Seeds