Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online) Vol.8, No.4, 2018 23 Performance, Carcass and Organ Weights Characteristics of Finishing Broiler Chickens Fed Pro-Vitamin A ( UMUCASS 36) Cassava Meal Essien, C. A. and Sam, I. M. Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Akwa-Ibom State University, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria. Abstract A 4-week study was conducted using 120 unsexed Anak strain broilers to determine the performance, carcass and internal organs characteristics of finishing broilers fed unpeeled and peeled fermented pro-vitamin A cassava meal as total replacement for maize. Fresh bio-fortified pro-vitamin A cassava was harvested and divided into two batches. The first batch was peeled and the second batch was unpeeled. Both were soaked separately in a plastic vat containing clean water and allowed to ferment for 72 hours. Thereafter, they were washed with clean water, sundried and milled to produce i. peeled fermented pro-vitamin A cassava tuber meal (PFPC). ii. Unpeeled fermented pro-vitamin A cassava tuber meal (UFPC). The broilers were divided into three groups and fed diets containing 100% maize T 1 (control) as the source of energy, while T 2 and T3 contained 100% unpeeled and peeled fermented pro-vitamin A cassava as the source of energy respectively. Each group was replicated four times with 10 birds per replicate in a completely Randomized Design (CRD). Feed and water were provided ad libitum for the period. Result showed that final body weight, daily weight gain and breast weight of the control were significantly (p<0.05) higher than UFPC and PFPC groups. The treatment had no significant (p > 0.05) effect on the internal organs of the birds. Abdominal fat of the PFPC group was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the control and UFPC. The results of this study revealed that unpeeled and peeled fermented pro-vitamin A cassava meal can completely replaced maize in the diets of finishing broilers. Keywords: Broiler, performance, pro-vitamin A cassava Introduction Provision of feed is the most important consideration in poultry enterprise. Feed alone has been reported to account for 60-80% of the total cost of poultry production in developing countries [1, 2] maize contribute 50- 55% of the total cost of poultry diets. Limitations imposed by scarcity and high cost of maize due to it consumption by humans has forced many farmers into employing other readily available alternative source of energy such as cassava. Cassava is one of the alternative energy source that can replace a considerably proportion of maize in livestock feed industry [3]. Its products has been in use for a long time in place of cereal grains for livestock [4] but its use as animal feed is being hampered by the present of toxic cyanogens linamarin and lotaustrulin in it leaves and tubers [5]. Research conducted with cassava in terms of its feeding value, nutritional problems encountered, biological responses and productive performances of birds fed cassava products have exhibited wide variability [6]. In order to reduce levels of toxic cyanogens, increase shelf-life and vitamin A content in cassava, pro- vitamin A also known as UMUCASS 36 bio-fortified cassava was introduced by plant breeders who conducted series of crosses among selected parents and also evaluate their promising progenies for over 10 years [7]. Research work on the potentials of pro-vitamins A cassava has not been fully explored as animal feed stuff, therefore, the aim of this research work was to assessed the potentials of pro-vitamin A cassava as a source of energy on the performance; carcass and internal organs of finishing broilers. MATERIALS AND METHODS Experimental Site The experiment was carried out at the poultry and research unit of the Department of Animal Science, Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa campus. Obio Akpa is located between latitudes 5 0 17 1 N and 5 0 27 1 N and between longitudes 7 0 27 1 N and 7 0 58 1 E with an annual rainfall ranging from 3500mm – 5000mm and average