THE IMPACT OF REPLACEMENT OF MAIZE WITH GRADED CASSAVA ROOT MEAL ON HEMATOLOGY AND GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF STARTER BROILER.

Sixty day-old chicks with an average initial body weight of 136.51 + O.64 were fed for 28 days with feed compound by grading replacement of maize with cassava root meal (CRM) as the major source of energy at various percentages. They were randomly assigned to four treatments of T₁ (control, 60% maize without CRM) , T₂ (48% maize and 12% CRM), T₃ (36% maize and 24% CRM) and T₄ (24% maize and 36% CRM)  in a completely randomized  design. Each of the treatments was replicated thrice with five chicks per replicate. Data on the daily feed intake, weekly weight gain and end of experiment’s occult blood analysis were got. All the data were subjected to analysis of variance and where difference in means was detected, it was separated using Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test. The results showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the weekly body weight gain when T₄ was compared with T₁, T₂ and T₃ but no significant difference  (P > 0.05) among T₁, T₂ and T₃ chicks. There was no significant difference (P > 0.0 5) in the daily feed intake among all the treatments although with gradual numerical increases as CRM progressively increased in quantity. In the same vein, there was no significant difference (P > 0.0 5) among the treatments in respect of haemoglobin concentration, PCV, RBC and WBC counts although the Hgb, PCV and RBC showed a progressive decline numerically as the CRM increased in quantity. Therefore, 24% CRM can be included in the diet of chicks without a marked detrimental effect in the growth and haematology.