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Preliminary investigations in Giant Taro (Alocasia macrorrhiza L.) Corm Meal as Energy source in poultry diets

Diarra, Siaka S. (2020) Preliminary investigations in Giant Taro (Alocasia macrorrhiza L.) Corm Meal as Energy source in poultry diets. Proceedings, 36 (1). p. 205. ISSN 2504-3900

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Abstract

Giant taro (Alocasia macrorrhiza var. Tonga) grows wild in Pacific Island countries and has become invasive in most countries. Proximate analysis of giant taro (GT) corm at USP Alafua Central Laboratory showed ~12 MJ ME/kg, 127 g crude protein/kg DM. Currently however, the crop has low food value in the region and its use in poultry feeding is still limited because of the acrid taste due to the presence of calcium (Ca) oxalate. Two preliminary studies (PS) were conducted to evaluate the feeding value of GT for poultry. Study 1 investigated the effect of coconut oil addition on the utilsation of GT corm meal by layers and broilers. Replacing dietary maize with whole GT corm meal at 200 g/kg adversely affected performance of broilers and layers (P < 0.05). Addition of coconut oil at 9:1 (corm meal: oil) improved utilisation of the meal by laying hens but not in broilers. Study 2 investigated the effect of peeling and inorganic calcium addition on the utilisation of GT corm meal by laying hens. Results showed that feeding whole GT corm meal at 200 g/kg diet had adverse effects on egg production and egg qualities (P < 0.05) but peeling or increasing dietary Ca carbonate level from 40 to 60 g/kg improved the utilisation of whole or peeled corm in terms of egg production and egg qualities. In view of the ready availability and low food value, more research is recommended into processing and diet formulation to improve the utilsation of GT corm meal by poultry.

Item Type: Journal Article
Additional Information: doi:10.3390/proceedings2019036205
Subjects: S Agriculture > SF Animal culture
Divisions: Faculty of Business and Economics (FBE) > School of Agriculture and Food Technology
Depositing User: Siaka Diarra
Date Deposited: 04 May 2020 23:41
Last Modified: 28 Mar 2022 01:26
URI: http://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/12088
UNSPECIFIED

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