Effect of methionine and lysine supplementation on performance and intestinal morphometrics of finisher broiler chickens fed diets containing processed cassava peel meal

Tolulope O. Adebowale; Muhammed A. Arowolo; Mukaila Adekola; Tolulope Adeleye; Oyegunle E. Oke

doi:10.1071/AN25047

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

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Effect of methionine and lysine supplementation on performance and intestinal morphometrics of finisher broiler chickens fed diets containing processed cassava peel meal

Tolulope O. Adebowale

^A ^B ^* , Muhammed A. Arowolo ^C , Mukaila Adekola ^D , Tolulope Adeleye ^E and Oyegunle E. Oke

^F

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Department of Animal Nutrition, Federal University of Agriculture, PMB 2240, Alabata, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

^B Department of Food Engineering, Izmir Institute of Technology, Izmir, Turkey.

^C Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.

^D Department of Environmental Toxicology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

^E Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

^F Department of Animal Production and Physiology, Federal University of Agriculture, PMB 2240, Alabata, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

^* Correspondence to: adebowaleto@funaab.edu.ng

Handling Editor: Natalie Morgan

Animal Production Science 65, AN25047 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN25047

Submitted: 7 February 2025 Accepted: 23 May 2025 Published: 16 June 2025

© 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Context

The current high prices of conventional feedstuffs in developing countries seems to warrant intensified efforts to find sustainable alternatives to the major feed ingredients that would support performance without compromising gut health, reduce cost of production and promote a sustainable environment.

Aims

The aim of the study is to evaluate the performance and health-related responses of finisher broiler chickens to the dietary replacement of corn with processed cassava peel meal (high- quality cassava peel meal) at 50% inclusion level, supplemented with methionine and lysine.

Methods

Three hundred and twenty Cobb500 broiler chickens were allocated to four dietary treatments on a weight equalization basis. Each treatment was replicated eight times. A control diet based on corn and soybean meal was formulated to meet the recommended digestible methionine and lysine specification of 4.0 and 0.96 g kg⁻¹ respectively (VenCobb 500 Broiler Management Guide, Cobb-Vantress Inc., Siloam Spring, AR) for the finisher phase. The corn in the control diet was replaced with cassava peel meal at 50% replacement level in three other treatments (Diet 2–4). Diets 2–4 were then formulated to contain 100%, 112.5% and 125% of the recommended digestible methionine and 100%, 106.25% and 112.5% of the recommended digestible lysine, yielding 4.0, 4.4, and 4.8 g kg⁻¹ digestible methionine respectively, and 0.96, 1.02, and 1.08 g kg⁻¹ digestible lysine respectively, for the finisher phase.

Key results

The highest bodyweight gain, improved feed conversion ratio and increased duodenal and jejunal villus height:crypt depth ratio was found in birds fed Diet 4. The lactobacillus count was highest in birds fed Diet 4 and total bacteria counts was highest in birds fed Diet 2. The feed cost per kilogram weight gain was least for the birds fed diets containing the processed cassava peel meal. However, morphological changes were observed in the liver and intestinal tissues of the birds.

Conclusion

The study showed that the adequate supplementation of methionine and lysine to processed cassava peel meal can improve production performance of finisher broiler chickens but may not prevent morphological changes in the liver and intestine of the birds.

Implication

The result implied that processed and fortified cassava peel meal can reduce high dependence on maize in the production of finisher broiler chickens, while mitigating the enviromental challenges associated with the disposal of the agrowaste. The morphological changes in the liver and intestine of the birds require further investigation.

Keywords: blood profile, cassava peel, intestinal health, liver health, lysine, methionine, microbial load, performance.

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