YOU CAN START YOUR SMALL POULTRY WITH CASSAVA PEELS, SLUDGE AND LEFTOVERS AS FEEDSTOCK

Omolara Thomas

Cassava peels, sludge, and leftovers can be used as feedstock for your poultry, but they should be processed properly to ensure safety and nutritional value. Peels can be dried and ground into a meal, while sludge and leftovers might need treatment to remove toxins. Supplementing with other feed sources may be necessary to ensure a balanced diet for the poultry. Consulting with a veterinarian or poultry nutritionist is advisable for specific recommendations.

HOW TO INCORPORATE CASSAVA INTO POULTRY FEED TO REDUCE COST:

Incorporating cassava into poultry feed can be a cost-effective strategy. Cassava can replace a portion of the traditional feed ingredients like corn or wheat. However, it's important to note that cassava contains cyanogenic glucosides, which can be toxic if not properly processed. Here's a basic guide:

1. Processing: Cassava should be processed to remove cyanide compounds. This typically involves peeling, chipping, soaking, and drying. Ensuring thorough processing is essential to eliminate toxins.

2. Balancing:  Cassava can replace up to 10-20% of traditional grains in poultry feed formulations. Balance the rest of the ingredients to maintain nutritional requirements. Consult with a poultry nutritionist to formulate a balanced diet.

3. Energy Source:  Cassava is high in carbohydrates and can serve as an energy source in poultry diets. Adjust the amount based on the energy requirements of your birds and the energy content of other feed ingredients.

4. Protein Supplementation:  Cassava is low in protein, so additional protein sources may be needed to meet the birds' requirements. Consider adding soybean meal, fish meal, or other protein-rich ingredients.

5. Gradual Introduction:  Introduce cassava gradually into the feed to allow birds to adjust and monitor their performance and health.

6. Quality Control:  Regularly test the quality of cassava and the feed to ensure it meets nutritional requirements and is free from contaminants.

By following these steps, you can effectively incorporate cassava into poultry feed to reduce costs while maintaining the health and performance of your birds.

Physical properties of cassava-based diets are important factors limiting feed intake. Thus cassava-based diets should be fed to poultry in pellet forms or after the addition of fat or molasses to eliminate dust and improve texture.