EFFECT OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF CASSAVA (MANIHOT ESCULENTA CRANTZ) LEAF MEAL AS PROTEIN SUBSTITUTE ON POST-WEANING GROWTH PERFORMANCES AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF 8 WEEK-OLD MALE GUINEA PIGS IN THE HIGHLANDS OF CAMEROON

N. Mweugang Ngouopo, F. Djitie Kouatcho, E. Miegoue E., R.M. Radu-Rusu, I.M. Pop, A.F. Fonteh, T.E. Pamo

Abstract
   The effect of soybean meal substitution by cassava leaf meal (CLM) on growth performance was evaluated during 5 weeks on 20 young male guinea pigs weaned at 3 weeks of age (mean live weight 206.89 ± 22.78g). These animals were placed in a completely randomized design and subdivided into 4 bathes of 5 animals / batch. They were fed ad libitum to Pennisetum purpureum and supplemented with 4 rations in which were incorporated 4 levels of CLM (0, 8, 10 and 12%) corresponding to the 4 batches. Post-weaning growth was measured between 22 and 56 days of age in 20 guinea-pigs (5/batch). Those animals were sacrificed and the carcass yield evaluated at the end of the 56th day. Results showed that the level of CLM incorporation had a significant effect on all growth parameters throughout the test. The 10% CLM incorporation rate gave better performances with respect to weight evolution, Total Gain (TG) and Mean Daily Gain (MDG) (128.06g and 3.67g respectively), Live weight at slaughter (LWs) and carcass yield (334.00g and 74.73% respectively) significantly (P<0.05) higher as compare to those of other animals of other batches. Animals of Control and RC10 rations showed comparable caecum weights and significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of RC8 and RC12 rations. Comparable performances of Control (RC0) and RC12 rations suggest that CLM up to 12% incorporation may advantageously replace soybean meal in guinea pig feed.