Department of Poultry Science, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore560 024, India
*Present address:- Faculty of Vcicmiciy Science & Animal Husbandly, S K. University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Shuhama, Srinagar - 190 001, India
Online published on 5 January, 2012.
High replacement level s (50% and 75%) of maize grain wiih raw and drocessed tapioca meal In the diet of broiier chicks was attempted in a 6 wk feeding experiment on 210 chicks kept in batery brooders. The processing included autoclavtng and boiling. Body weight gain at 6 wk in 50% replacement of maize with boiled tapioca meal was higher than raw and autoclaved meal groups, but not much different than the control group. However, inclusion of raw ana processed tapioca meal at higher level, (75%) resulted in significant (P<0.05) growth depression. There was no significant difference in the feed consumption either due to processing or the level of replacement. The feed efficiency of control and boiled tapioca meal diets at 50% replacement of maize was comparable at all weeks and was ssgnificantly (P<0.05) different from raw tapioca meals. A significantly lower (P<0.05) feed efficiency was observed at higher levels of replacement of maize with raw and autoclaved tapioca meal when compared to control diet. Mortality percentage was not affected by any of the treatment employed.
