| dc.description.abstract | Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the feeding value of raw and processed
cocoyam (C%casia esculanta). The tubers were dried in a solar drier, milled and used to
formulate isonitrogenous. isocaloric diets. These diets were fed to day old chicks for a period of
four weeks. In the first experiment. the chicks were put on diets containinq 0, 29 and 58 per
cent cocoyam meal or cassava meal. The chicks on cocoyam based diets gained 299g. which
was significantly lower than 499g and 580g obtained from chicks on cassava and maize based
diets. Feed conversion efficiency of 2.93 for cocoyam based diets was significantly
(P<0.05110wer than 2.73 and 1.99 obtained in chicks on cassava and maize based diets
respectively. In the second experiment, cocoyam meal was included in the diet atthe rate of
29%. The cocovarn was either raw, peeled, treated with hot water or fed with 2% CaC03
caused a slight increase in weight gain. In the third experiment, cocoyam meal constituted
either 29% or 58% of the diet. while CaC03 included in the diet ranged from 0% to 4%. Chicks
on the higher level of cocoyam meal receiving either 0% or4% CaCo] gained 361 g and 387g
respectively. Atthe lower level of cocoyam, with calcium CaCoJat 1 %, 2% and 3%, weight gain
was 479g, 471 and 441g respectively. At high levels of cocoyam meal, CaC03 had no
siqniflcant effect (P<0.05) on live weight gain. With an effective processing method like
cooking to overcome the irritant which was suspected to cause the poor performance and with
amino acid supplementation to compensate for losses during processing, cocoyam meal may
serve as a substitute for maize at the lower Jevel of inclusion. | en |
