Multi-processed cassava root meal: A suitable replacement for maize in Japanese quail diet

The aptness of multi-processed cassava root meal in place of maize was examined using four hundred (4 0 0) day-old Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) chicks. The quails were randomized to five sets of four replicates each, of 20 quails per replicate. The experiment lasted for 5 weeks. Fresh cassava roots (Manihot esculenta) were rid of extraneous materials, ground to pasty form, and left in the sac for seven days to let out the water content and ferment. The cassava tuber cakes obtained were further sundried to reduce the moisture level. The resulting meal was used to formulate the experimental diet at 0.00%, 25.00%, 50.00%, 75.00%, and 100.00% replacement levels for maize in the diets C1, C2, C3, C4, and C5 respectively. The final weight, weight gain, feed intake, and all hematological parameters were significantly different (p < 0.05). However, Alanine aminotransferase, total protein, triglyceride, and cholesterol were not significantly different (p > 0.05) among the serum biochemistry parameters. Similarly, meat sensory properties were not significantly influenced (p > 0.05) but yolk color, smell, taste, and overall acceptability differ significantly (p < 0.05) for egg sensory properties. The liver, empty gizzard, abdominal fat, and testicle weights were significantly different (p < 0.05). The results obtained suggest that maize can totally (100%) be replaced with multi-processed cassava root meal in the diets of Japanese quails because the feed conversion ratio was not affected, the birds were not anemic, serum metabolites were not adversely influenced and meat sensory properties were not affected. In addition, egg organoleptic showed that yolk color, smell, and taste were improved.