The effect of feeding graded levels of tigernut meal (TGN) as a replacement for maize in the diets of cockerel starters on carcass characteristics and economics of feed conversion was assessed for 70 days. Tigernut replaced maize at 0%, 33.33%, 66.67% and 100% levels. A total of 120 day-old chicks were randomly allotted to four experimental diets such that each dietary treatment had three replicates of ten birds. Inclusion of TGN at 33.33% in cockerel diets supported better carcass yield in terms of high plucked, eviscerated, drumstick, thigh, neck, wing, heads, shanks, livers, hearts and lung weights without significant differences (P > 0.05) in values obtained. However, there were significant difference (P < 0.05) in back, breast, abdominal fat, gizzard, spleen, kidney and intestinal weights and lengths. Inclusion of TGN 100% level significantly depressed parameters assessed. The optimum replacement level of maize with TGN was 33.33% as this gave no significant reduction in carcass yield of the birds but a significant reduction in the cost of feed consumed. It required a feed cost of N 42.90 (US$ 0.31) to produce one kilogram weight gain on diet 2 (33.33%). Inclusion of TNG in the diets resulted in feed cost savings of 4.88% (132), 8.17 (133) and 8.90% (D4) respectively. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.