CC BY
2JWPR
2018, Scienceline Publication
J. World Poult. Res. 8(1): 18-24, Mar 25, 2018
Journal of World'8 Research Paper, PII: S2322455X1800003-8
Poultry Research Llcense: CC BY 4 0
Reproductive Performances of a Cameroonian Dual-Purpose Local Chicken Strain Fed Pelleted Diets Containing Graded Levels of Cassava and Sweet Potato Meal as an Energy Substitute for Maize
1 O ^^ 1 ^ A
Keambou Tiambo Christian ,, , Vukiesu Christian Tsitoh , Toukala Jean Paul, Tedongmo Annie Marie Yvonne , Raquel Soares Juliano5, Frederico Lisita5, HakoTouko Blaise Arnaud6, Kana Jean Raphael7, Defang Henry Fualefac7
and Ndamukong Kenneth1
1Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, Cameroon 2Bioscience Eastern and Central Africa - International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya 3Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty ofScience, University ofBuea, Buea, Cameroon 4Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie, Tunis, Tunisia 5Embrapa Pantanal, Corumba, MS-Brasil 6School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Catholic University Institute of BueaBuea, Cameroon
7Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon
gher Technical Teachers Training College, Kumba, U * Corresponding author's Email: [email protected]
8Department of Agriculture, Higher Technical Teachers Training College, Kumba, University of Buea, Cameroon
Received: 25 Dec 2017 Accepted: 30 Feb 2018
ABSTRACT
The continuous rising price of maize due to an increasing competition between humans and livestock requires palliative measures to sustain animal production. cassava-sweet potato meal combination can be used as a substitute for maize in feeding chicken. This study aimed at improving poultry productivity through the enhancement of the reproductive performances of Cameroon Kabir chickens fed pelleted diets of graded levels inclusion of cassava-sweet potato meal as an energy substitute for maize.315 Kabir chickens (270 hens and 45 rosters) of 23 weeks of age, were randomly allocated to five treatments T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 with graded levels of cassava-sweet potato meal as energy substitute for maize, and eggs were collected for the evaluation of laying performances and characteristics. Fertility and hatchability were also evaluated across four successive batches of incubations. The eggs' weight was significantly (P<0.05) different between treatments at weeks 2, 4, 5 and 12, highly significant (P<0.01) at week 9, and very highly significant (P<0.001) at week 6, 7, 8 and 10. The highest number of eggs laid, egg weight and mass were recorded in chicken receiving 25% (T2) replacement of maize with cassava and sweet potato meal, followed by T4 (75%), T5 (100%), T3 (50%) while T1, receiving control diet without cassava and sweet potato meal performed less for all the parameters. Generally, the trend of the feed conversion ratio was decreasing with increasing the inclusion level of cassava and sweet potato meal. The egg index showed significant differences in weeks 6 and 12, while week 2 showed high significant difference between the treatments. T2 (25%) recorded the highest fertility, while animals receiving control ration without maize substitution recorded the highest hatchability. In general, incorporation of 25% of fifty-fifty percent weight to weight of cassava and sweet potato meal can be recommended for reproduction in chicken without affecting neither the hatchability nor the physical characteristics of the eggs, though hatchability will require better attention.
Key words: Reproduction, Local chicken, Cameroon, Cassava-sweet potato
INTRODUCTION requiring palliative measures to be taken. With the present
trend of rising prices of animal feedstuff, greater attention Acc°rding to FA0 (2°14), WFP (2°16) and FA0 is being paid to the search for safe and cheap alternative
(2018), cereal prices have risen more than their five-year and locally available feedstuff, by-products from
average in Afnca. There is an increasing competition for agriculture and industry, especially in the rural areas of the
maize between humans and livestock populations, developing countries where farmers cannot afford the
noiSteiffhflisiMBB Keambou TC, Vukiesu TC, Toukala JP, Tedongmo AMY, Soares RJ, Lisita F, Hako TBA , Kana JR, Defang FH and Ndamunkong KN (2018). Reproductive Performances of a Cameroonian Dual-Purpose Local Chicken Strain Fed Pelleted Diets Containing Graded Levels of Cassava and Sweet Potato Meal as an Energy Substitute for Maize. J. World Poult. Res., 8 (1): 18-24.
expensive commercial feed for livestock (Okereke, 2012; World Economic Forum, 2018).
Cassava and sweet potato can be used as a substitute for maize at high level in diets for all species of livestock, provided that they are supplemented with a nitrogen source (Heuze et al., 2015) and sulphur amino acids such as methionine and cysteine. Their fibre contents are also low, which makes cassava roots highly digestible for livestock.
Cassava and sweet potato products have been used in feeding chicken (Ladokun et al., 2007; Adewolu, 2008; Nguyen et al., 2010; Afolayan et al., 2012; Etchu et al., 2013; Khalid et al., 2013; Oyewumi,2013; Beckford and Bartlett, 2015) with limited levels of inclusion. However, no work has been done yet, on using a combination of cassava and sweet potato as energy substitute for maize to produce pellets for chicken production in Cameroon.
Apart from the hydrocyanic acid content, one of the greatest limitation in the use of cassava or sweet potato root meal is their dustiness causing crop impaction and irritation of the respiratory tract of animals, but feed pelleting could be a solution (Chhay et al., 2003; Ukachukwu, 2005). Furthermore, transformation of mash feed into pellets reduces feed wastage with an added advantage of improving digestibility and ease of incorporation of additives and drugs when necessary.
Cassava and sweet potato are potential substitutes for energy source which are not fully explored in animal feed in Cameroon. On the other hand, though the banning of imported frozen chicken has boosted poultry production in Cameroon, indigenous species are underutilized, probably due to their low productivity. The Cameroon Kabir chicken is a dual purpose locally adapted strain, phenotypically comparable to it common indigenous relatives but with superior performances in term of meat and egg production. It also displays good adaptability to low input production systems. Its meat and eggs have better organoleptic characteristics and most appreciated by consumers. It can be used to boost the productivity of the family poultry farming in rural Africa.
This study is aimed at contributing to family poultry productivity by evaluating the reproductive performances of Cameroon Kabir chickens fed on pelleted diets containing graded levels of cassava and sweet potato meal as an energy substitute for maize.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study was carried out at the Green Gold Agro-Venture experimental farm, located in Buea-Cameroon (4° 10' 57" N and 9° 18' 40.55" E). A total of 315 Kabir chickens (270 hens and 45 rosters) of 23 weeks of age,
were randomly allocated to five treatmentsT1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 are defined as follows:
T1:100% maize, no substitution of Cassava and Sweet Potato Meal (CASPM), control diet.
T2: 25% replacement of maize with CASPM (50% cassava and 50% sweet potato meal by weight)
T3: 50% replacement of maize with CASPM (50% cassava and 50% sweet potato meal by weight)
T4: 75% replacement of maize with CASPM (50% cassava and 50% sweet potato meal by weight)
T5: 100% replacement of maize with CASPM (50% cassava and 50% sweet potato meal by weight)
Animals within the treatments were balanced for weight within each sex, each treatment having 63 Kabir chickens in three replications of 18 hens and 3 roosters each. The composition and bromatological values of the diets are summarized in the table 1. The various diets were then pelletized to 6 mm in diameter at 80°C for five minutes, allowed to cool down, sun dry, then packaged into pre-labelled bags and stored in a dry environment.
Table 1. Formulation of various diets using the least costful ingredients
^\Treatments T1 T2 T3 T4 T5
Ingredient (0%) (25%) (50%) (75%) (100%)
Maize 54 40.5 27 13.5 00
Cassava 00 6.75 13.5 20.25 27
Sweet potato 00 6.75 13.5 20.25 27
Wheat bran 16 15 14 10 08
Soya bean cake 07 07 08 08 10
Fish meal 03 04 05 08 08
Palm kernel 06 05 05 05 06
Oyster shell 07 07 07 05 07
Bone meal 02 03 02 05 02
Layer concentrate 05 05 05 05 05
Total 100 100 100 100 100
Calculated bromatological composition
Energy (Kcal/kg) 2796 2769 2779 2731 2719
Protein (%) 16.68 16.04 16.07 16.42 16.32
Fat content (%) 3.89 3.59 3.33 3.14 2.77
E/P ratio 167.63 172.63 172.93 166.32 166.61
Lysine (%) 0.75 0.75 0.79 0.87 0.88
Methionine (%) 0.29 0.29 0.29 0.31 0.30
Calcium (%) 4.16 4.60 4.38 4.95 4.70
Phosphorus (%) 0.89 1.07 0.96 1.56 1.09
E/P ratio = Energy/Protein Ratio
The chicken houses were disinfected using the conventional protocol in force in poultry farms in Cameroon, and the floor was covered with a deep litter of wood shaving. Water and feed were offered ad libitum, and each chicken house was provided with laying nests. The prophylaxis plan was that applied to layers. The adaptation period lasted for 3 weeks, during which chickens had received the control pelleted diet.
During the laying period, eggs were collected early in the morning and at 3:00 pm. They were cleaned, the internal and external characteristics immediately evaluated using a sample of them, and the remaining stored in labelled trays for a maximum of seven days for incubation. The parameters included concerned laying performances, characteristics of eggs, fertility and hatchability. Fertility and hatchability were evaluated across four successive batches of incubations.
Statistical analysis
All the data collected were analysed using Microsoft excel and Graph PadInStat version 3.10. The data was analysed using the following systematic approach. The data were submitted to one-way analysis of variance for the comparison of means at 95% confidence interval, and Duncan multiple range test was used for separation of these means in case of significant difference.
RESULTS
The reproductive performances of Kabir chickens had been significantly (P<0.05) affected by the treatments.
Evolution of eggs weight
The evolution of eggs weight laid of Kabir chickens fed the diets containing graded levels of CASPM as an energy substitute for maize is summarized in table 2.
No significant (P<0.05) difference in egg weight was observed in week one and three across the treatments. However, at weeks 2, 4, 5 and 12 and 6, 7, 8 and 10 egg weight was significantly higher (P<0.01) and (P<0.001) respectively. The highest number of eggs laid, egg weight and mass (table 3) were recorded with chicken fed diet T2 containing 25% replacement of maize with CASPM, followed by T4 (75%), T5 (100%), T3 (50%) while T1,
receiving no substitution performed less for all the parameters. Generally, the feed conversion ratio was found to decrease with increasing inclusion level of CASPM, but not in a regular trend, with T1 having the highest one, followed by T3, T2, T5 and T4 respectively. Table 3 presents the number of eggs laid, mean egg weight, egg mass and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) during the experimental period.
The weekly evolution of eggs' diameter and length was significantly (P<0.05) affected by the dietary treatments (table 4 and 5). No significant difference (P<0.05) was observed on egg length for week 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 12 among treatments, and for the diameter only for weeks 3 and 4. However, egg length was significantly (P<0.05) higher at the 2nd, 6th, 7th and 9thweek for chickens fed diets T1, T2, and T3compared to the rest of the treatments. At week 11, egg length was significantly (P<0.05) higher for chickens fed diets T2, T3 and T4 compared to treatments T5 and the control (T1). Table 6 displays values of egg index of Kabir chicken's fed pelleted rations containing graded levels of cassava and sweet potation inclusions as energy substitute for maize. No significant (P<0.05) difference was observed among treatments for egg shape index for the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5 th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th weeks. However, egg shape index was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the2nd week with T4 and T5, in the 6th week with T2 and T3 and 12thweek with T3, T4 and T5.
The egg fertility of the Kabir chicken fed pelleted diets containing graded levels of CASPM meal is presented in table 7. All the treatments had shown a mean fertility level of greater than 80%. Treatment T2 recorded the highest mean % fertility, followed by T4, T3, T5 and T1. It was noted that there were no marked differences in fertility between the treatments. What about CV?
Table 2. Evolution of eggs weight by Kabir chickens fed pelleted diets containing graded levels of cassava and sweet potato meal as an energy substitute of maize in Cameroon_
^^^^ggWeight (g) Weeks ^^^^^^ T1 (0%) T2 (25%) T3 (50%) T4 (75%) T5 (100%) P Value
Week 1 45.8±0.89 49.2±1.59 50.4±3.12 62.31 No record 0.23
Week 2 48.0±2.20b 52.2±1.20c 47.8±0.69b 47.6±0.30b 44.8±1.01a 0.01*
Week 3 51.9±0.51 55.2±3.58 50.4±0.45 48.6±1.20 48.4±1.35 0.15
Week 4 52.1±2.00b 52.3±1.62b 48.8±0.78a 49.2±1.08a 47.5±0.83a 0.043*
Week 5 52.4±1.92b 52.0±1.26b 51.7±1.00ab 50.5±2.18ab 48.3±0.81a 0.024*
Week 6 55.6±0.12b 53.3±1.07b 51.5±1.39ab 49.8±0.44a 48.5±0.93a 0.0003***
Week 7 55.9±1.48b 56.9±1.88b 56.3±1.16b 51.5±0.67ab 49.1±0.70a <0.0001***
Week 8 54.9±1.41b 55.3±0.39b 55.4±1.78b 51.1±0.88ab 49.4±0.60a <0.0001***
Week 9 52.3±1.42ab 55.6±0.52b 54.6±1.16b 50.7±0.79a 50.0±1.34a 0.0016**
Week 10 53.8±1.08ab 56.2±0.43b 55.4±1.84b 50.7±1.05a 50.4±0.86a <0.0001***
Week 11 45.4±1.46a 57.1±1.89c 52.4±3.25b 51.5±1.11b 46.4±1.01a 0.0016**
Week 12 50.4±0.81a 55.4±0.66b 52.5±1.17ab 53.4±0.88ab No record 0.021*
Mean egg weight 51.6 ± 1.15 54.2±1.34 52.3±1.48 51.4±0.88 48.3±0.94 --
CV 2.23 2.47 2.83 1.71 1.94 --
*P< 0.05, **P< 0.01, ***P< 0.001, abcd Treatments within a row (week) having the same letter are not significantly different, no record; indicates periods where no eggs were collected before onset of laying and during the resting period (confirm by observation of some hens molting and others brooding), CV= coefficient of variation
Table 3. Total eggs laid, mean egg weight and egg mass of Kabir chickens fed sweet potato meal as an energy substitute of maize in Cameroon on pelleted diets containing graded levels of cassava and
------^^ Treatments Parameter T1 (0%) T2 (25%) T3 (50%) T4 (75%) T5 (100%)
Total eggs laid 204 441 294 432 414
Mean egg weight (g) 51.6 ± 1.15 54.2±1.34 52.3±1.48 51.4±0.88 48.3±0.94
Egg mass (kg) 10.5±0.23 23.9±0.59 15.4±0.43 22.2±0.38 20.0±0.39
FCR 5.10 2.82 3.39 2.46 2.51
FCR = food conversion ratio
Table 4. Diameter of Kabir eggs fed pelleted diet containing graded levels of cassava and sweet potato meal as an energy substitute of maize in Cameroon
Weeks !gg Diameter (cm) T1 (0%) T2 (25%) T3 (50%) T4 (75%) T5 (100%) P Value
1 3.9±0.02 3.98±0.01 4.10±0.07 4.38 No record 0.014*
2 4.08±0.03b 4.10±0.03b 3.90±0.69a 4.05±0.02ab 4.00±0.03a 0.028*
3 4.11±0.009 4.17±0.07 4.10±0.08 4.06±0.03 4.02±0.06 0.76
4 4.12±0.05 4.15±0.05 4.02±0.03 4.11±0.02 4.01±0.05 0.24
5 4.15±0.04ab 4.17±0.03b 4.12±0.03ab 4.09±0.06a 4.02±0.03a 0.042*
6 4.21±0.02b 4.22±0.03b 4.19±0.02ab 4.06±0.02a 4.03±0.03a <0.0001***
7 4.19±0.04b 4.27±1.88b 4.23±1.16b 4.15±0.04ab 4.05±0.03a <0.0001***
8 4.19±0.04b 4.24±0.01b 4.23±0.05b 4.11±0.02ab 4.07±0.03a 0.0003***
9 4.15±0.03b 4.35±0.10b 4.19±0.04b 4.09±0.02a 4.17±0.09b 0.0006***
10 4.14±0.02b 4.24±0.01b 4.23±0.06b 4.11±0.03b 4.09±0.04a 0.0002***
11 3.93±0.03a 4.36±0.08c 4.17±0.85b 4.11±0.03b 3.81±0.20a 0.0005***
12 3.96±0.02a 4.22±0.01b 4.12±0.06ab 4.14±0.02b No record 0.0029**
Mean eg g diameter 4.09±0.03 4.21±0.2 4.13±0.26 4.12±0.02 4.03±0.06 --
CV 0.73 4.75 6.29 0.48 1.48 --
*P< 0.05, **P< 0.01, ***P< 0.001, abcd Treatments within a row (week) having the same letter are not significantly different, no record; indicates periods where no eggs were collected before onset of laying and during the resting period (confirm by observation of some hens molting and others brooding, CV = coefficient of variation
Table 5. Length of Kabir eggs fed pelleted diet containing graded levels of cassava and sweet potato meal as an energy substitute of maize in Cameroon
Weeks „Egg Length (cm) T1 (0%) T2 (25%) T3 (50%) T4 (75%) T5 (100%) P Value
1 5.32±0.08 5.56±0.14 5.44±0.21 5.90 No record 0.42
2 5.52±0.02b 5.50±0.09b 5.68±0.12b 5.17±0.04ab 5.04±0.15a 0.02*
3 5.49±0.04 5.57±0.16 5.54±0.05 5.25±0.08 5.35±0.07 0.08
4 5.54±0.09 5.43±0.05 5.43±0.04 5.36±0.05 5.40±0.05 0.31
5 5.45±0.11 5.39±0.05 5.50±0.04 5.27±0.12 5.36±0.03 0.06
6 5.69±0.02b 5.42±0.03b 5.43±0.05b 5.40±0.03a 5.36±0.03a 0.009**
7 5.64±0.06b 5.58±0.07b 5.57±0.05b 5.38±0.05a 5.34±0.02a <0.0001***
8 5.61±0.08 5.43±0.10 5.54±0.06 5.44±0.04 5.38±0.04 0.056
9 5.49±0.11 5.48±0.03 5.56±0.04 5.41±0.05 5.40±0.04 0.18
10 5.59±0.06b 5.56±0.03b 5.58±0.05b 5.38±0.05a 5.41±0.05a 0.0072**
11 5.22±0.01a 5.58±0.02b 5.41±0.12ab 5.52±0.05b 5.32±0.04a 0.0012**
12 5.59±0.09 5.58±0.06 5.45±0.033 5.54±0.04 No record 0.64
Mean e gg length 5.51±0.06 5.51±0.07 5.51±0.07 5.42±0.05 5.34±0.05 --
CV 1.09 1.27 1.27 0.92 0.94 --
*P< 0.05, **P<0.01, ***P< 0.001,abcd Treatments within a row(week) having the same letter are not significantly different, no record; indicates periods where no eggs were collected before onset of laying and during the resting period (confirm by observation of some hens molting and others brooding, CV = coefficient of variation
Table 6. Egg shape index of Kabir chicken fed pelleted diet containing graded levels of maize in Cameroon cassava-sweet potato meal as an energy substitute of
Weeks Egg shape index T1 (0%) T2 (25%) T3 (50%) T4 (75%) T5 (100%) P Value
1 73.3±0.00 71.7±2.82 75.3±2.43 74.2±0.00 No record 0.72
2 73.9±0.95ab 74.7±3.29ab 68.8±4.74a 76.3±5.22b 79.6±6.25c 0.037*
3 74.8±1.25 75.2±3.49 74.2±6.03 77.4±2.81 75.9±5.85 0.51
4 74.4±1.31 76.4±2.70 74.1±3.07 76.8±2.50 74.5±5.86 0.25
5 76.2±2.41 77.4±2.47 75.1±3.01 77.9±5.19 74.9±4.18 0.21
6 74.1±0.60a 77.9±2.04b 77.2±1.41b 75.1±3.11ab 75.2±3.34ab 0.01*
7 74.4±2.23 76.6±1.75 75.8±1.61 77.2±4.59 75.7±0.00 0.11
8 74.7±2.80 78.5±4.71 76.3±1.53 75.7±2.83 75.8±4.05 0.19
9 76.8±3.43 79.5±7.29 75.4±1.68 76.2±2.40 77.2±6.33 0.17
10 74.1±1.24 76.3±2.50 75.9±1.99 76.5±1.90 75.6±4.00 0.13
11 75.3±0.60 77.9±6.32 77.0±1.88 74.4±1.15 71.7±8.90 0.07
12 70.9±2.78a 75.7±3.19b 75.7±2.25b 74.7±2.32b No record 0.02*
Mean eg 1 length 74.4±1.63 76.5±3.54 75.1±2.63 76.0±2.83 75.6±4.88 --
CV 2.19 4.63 3.50 3.72 6.45 --
*P<0.05, **P< 0.01, ***P< 0.001, abcd Treatments within a row(week) having the same letter are not significantly different, No record; indicates periods where no eggs were collected before onset of laying and during the resting period (confirm by observation of some hens molting and others brooding), CV = coefficient of variation
Table 7. Percentage fertility of Kabir eggs fed pelleted diet containing graded levels of cassava and sweet potato meal as energy substitute
of maize in Cameroon_
.......—..................... % Fertility
—T1 (0%) T2 (25%) T3 (50%) T4 (75%) T5 (100%)
Batches ——___
1 74.0 84.6 90.0 88.9 94.4
2 100.0 100.0 75.0 84.6 90.5
3 100.0 92.3 88.9 88.2 58.3
4 50.0 87.5 100.0 93.3 100.0
Mean 81.0±24.0 91.1±6.7 88.5±10.3 88.8±3.57 85.8±18.7
CV 29.7 7.37 11.6 4.02 21.8
CV = coefficient of variation
Table 8. Yolk characteristics of Kabir chicken fed pelleted diet containing graded levels of cassava and sweet potato meal as an energy substitute of maize in Cameroon
Parameters T1 (0%) T2 (25%) T3 (50%) T4 (75%) T5 (100%) P Value
Weight (g) 15.39±0.34 16.29±0.35 16.56±0.50 14.94±0.64 15.90±0.48 0.13
Length (mm) 43.43±1.09 41.80±2.21 43.40±0.94 37.21±2.55 37.29±3.45 0.16
Width (mm) 10.09±0.90 10.48±0.53 10.30±0.58 10.49±0.92 12.07±0.35 0.20
Yolk index 23.39±9.20 27.03±10.47 24.12±6.52 29.22±14.57 29.26±12.6 0.47
Figure 1. Hatchability of eggs laid by Kabir chickens fed on pelleted rations containing graded levels of Cassava and sweet potato meal as an energy substitute of maize in Cameroon.
Hatchability
The hatchability of eggs from Kabir chicken fed pelleted rations with graded levels of CASPM meal as an energy substitute of maize is presented in figure 1. The control diet had the highest hatchability, followed by T4, T5, T2 and T3. All the groups receiving CASPM meal had fertilities lower than 75%. The yolk characteristics of eggs laid by Kabir chicken fed on pelleted diet containing graded levels of cassava and sweet potato meal as an energy substitute of maize is presented in table 8. Statistical analysis carried on the Kabir egg yolk parameters showed no significant (P<0.05) difference among treatments.
DISCUSSION
The significant (P<0.05) influence on the number of egg laid, egg weight and egg mass as compared to the control diet after substitution of maize with pelleted diets is in agreement with Kana et al. (2015) and May Galon et al. (2017), however it disagreed with the results of Aina and Fanimo (1997) and Salami, Odunsi (2003) and Aderemi et al. (2012) who observed that laying performances of layers decline with increasing levels of cassava root meal in the diet. The differences observed could be attributed to possible differences of the texture of the experimental diets. In fact, it is known that the texture or and the form of presentation of feed significantly affects the digestibility of the feed and in so doing, affecting the production performances. The breed used can also be a determining factor of variation. Of cause, local chicken adapts easier to various feed texture as it is the case in backyard production systems as compared to intensively selected chickens. Further, Kana et al. (2015) in his findings revealed that local chicken could tolerate up to 100% replacement of maize by cassava root meal without any adverse effect on laying performances.
The feed conversion ratio was higher in birds fed control diets. This is in conformity with Becford and Barlett (2015). This feed conversion ration difference ranging from 33.5 to 51.7% according to the level of CASPM could be of significant importance to producers as it could potentially be translated into reducing feed cost.
The mean fertility levels of the incubated eggs for all experimental treatments were all above 80%, but the chicken fed control diet still displayed the least performance, though having the best hatchability confirming that CASPM improves laying performances of chickens without a negative effect on its hatchability. A high fertility is an asset in animal breeding as rapid genetic progress can be achieved through artificial insemination using a roster with a high breeding value.
The hatchability levels of the incubated fertile eggs for all experimental treatments varied from 50% to 75%. T1 had the highest hatchability followed by T4, T5, T3 and T2. This is in conformity to what was reported by King'ori et al., (2010) for Kenyan local chicken eggs hatchability ranging from 66-73%. But also lower than the 80-90% reported for exotic hybrid egg and meat strains according to Moald (2013). Differences in hatchability between different research results can be explained by common environmental effect like the diet but, also the type of incubator used, altitude, temperature or additive genetic effect. Kabir egg yolk analysis was found to be insignificantly different between treatments. This agreed with Aina and Fanimo (1997).
CONCLUSION
The study has shown that the incorporation rate of 25% of fifty-fifty percent weight to weight of Cassava and sweet potato meal can be recommended as a good substitute of maize in the chicken diet raised for reproduction. Irrespective of the incorporation rate, CASPM improves the reproduction performances without affecting the hatchability as well as the physical characteristics of the eggs. Therefore, these diets can be highly recommended pending complementary studies on the cost effectiveness of CASPM-based diets.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by funds provided for the execution of the ID 207 Africa Brazil agricultural innovation marketplace project to which the authors extend their sincere gratitude. The authors also express their appreciation to AGR-science-action and development at Buea (Cameroon) and green gold agro-venture Cameroon cooperative society for making sure that the experimental and demonstration farm where the research took place was conducive and secured.
Author's contributions
Christian Keambou, Raquel soares, Frederico and Ndamukong designed, monitored and supervised the study, Vukiesu, Toukala, Tedongmo implemented the farm work, collected organised, analysed the data and drafted the first manuscript. Defang, Hako and Kana did the drafting and review of the manuscript. All the authors edited and approved the manuscript.
Consent to publish
All the authors gave their informed consent prior to their inclusion in the study.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing
interests.
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