The aim of this study was to evaluate feed intake (FI), weight gain (WG), feed conversion (FC) and economic efficiency and cost for inclusion of cassava bagasse (CB) in diets of broiler chickens in two independent experiments (initial 1st to 21st days and growth from22nd to 40th days). The experimental design was randomized blocks (RBD) with five levels (0; 5, 10, 15 and 20% cassava bagasse inclusion) with 8 replicates of 20 birds each. The results of the first experiment (1st to 21st days) showed a linear cassava bagasse inclusion effect on feed intake (FI = 1196.2 to 3.46CB, P<0.0008, R² = 0.832), a quadratic effect for the weight gain (WG = 856.506 + 2.372CB - 0,2443CB², P<0.0001, R2 = 0.941), improving the weight gain up to the level of 4.86% cassava bagasse. No significant difference was found for feed conversion. In the second experiment (22nd to 40th days of age), there was no significant difference between treatments with the inclusion of cassava bagasse and may be used up to a 20% inclusion level. The economic efficiency and cost showed a level of 5% inclusion of cassava bagasse as the best in both experiments.
alternative food; performance; poultry; Manihot esculenta crantz; residue