Productive performance of naked neck chickens that were fed leaf meal shrubs

ABSTRACT Objective. To compare the productive performance of naked neck chickens (phases of initiation, growth and final) that were fed meals Gliricidia sepium, Cajanus cajan and Morus alba leaves. Materials and methods. 192 chickens, 1-84 days of age were distributed in a randomized block design with three experimental groups (5% of shrub in the diet), 48 animals/ group, eight replicates/ treatment, six animals/ reply and three animals/ sex in each replicate were used. The control group consumed diet based on corn and soybeans. They were reared on floor. Weighed every seven days. Weight gain, voluntary intake, conversion, balance and efficiency of feed utilization were calculated. Results. The highest total feed intake and average daily gain in rearing were 37.43g 9509.96 g respectively for M. alba (p<0.05), which also presented the best efficiency of energy and protein. Meanwhile, G. sepium showed the lowest values. Conclusions. It is possible to replace 5% of corn and soy in the diet of naked neck chickens, with the inclusion of leaf meal M. alba and get a favorable productive behavior. RESUMEN Objetivo. Comparar el comportamiento productivo de pollos cuello desnudo (fases de inicio, crecimiento y final) que se alimentaron con harinas de hojas de Gliricidia sepium, Cajanus cajan y Morus alba. Materiales y métodos. Se utilizaron 192 pollos, de 1-84 días de edad que se distribuyeron en un diseño de bloques al azar, con tres grupos experimentales (5% de arbustivas en la ración), 48 animales/ grupo, ocho réplicas/ tratamiento, seis animales/ réplica y tres animales/ sexo, en cada réplica. El grupo control consumió dieta a base de maíz y soya. Se criaron en piso. Se pesaron cada siete días. Se calcularon la ganancia de peso, el consumo voluntario, la conversión, el balance y la eficiencia en la utilización de alimentos. Resultados. El mayor consumo total de alimento y la ganancia promedio diaria en la crianza fueron de 9509.96 g y 37.43g, respectivamente, para M. alba (p<0.05), donde también se presentó la mejor eficiencia en el uso de la energía y la proteína. Mientras, la G. sepium presentó los valores más bajos. Conclusiones. Es posible sustituir el 5% de maíz y soya, en la dieta de pollos cuello desnudo, con la inclusión de harina de hojas de M. alba y obtener un favorable comportamiento productivo.

Evaluation of Chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius) leaf meal as an ingredient in poultry diets : its availability and effect on the performance of chickens

A series of experiments were carried out with the aim of evaluating chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius) leaf meal (CLM), a fibrous protein-rich foodstuff, in terms of both digestibility and poultry performance as a potential ingredient to be utilised in poultry diets. In the first experiment, chaya plants at either 4, 8 or 12 weeks of regrowth were harvested. With the exceptions of ether extract and oxalic acid, no differences in chemical composition of the leaves were found between the different ages of re-growth for the contents of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, lignin, ash, or hydrogen cyanide. In experiment two, true metabolisable energy (TME) content as well as TME corrected to nitrogen equilibrium (TMEN) and dry matter and nitrogen digestibilities in CLM were evaluated in commercial broilers and criollo chickens. Neither CLM inputs nor genotype of the bird significantly affected the TMEn values. The collection period of droppings and the body weight of the bird significantly (P<0.05) affected TMEN. In experiment three, the effect of different fibre sources on endogenous losses of nitrogen, uric acid and amino acids as well as on energy balance and body weight loss were evaluated in cockerels. The different fibre sources caused significant (P<0.05) differences in all the dependent variables. An important fact, demonstrated by experiments 2 and 3, was that the endogenous losses of birds showed a very high variation; however, possible explanations for those findings were put forward. In experiment four, TME, net energy and heat increment values of CLM and wheatfeed were determined using cockerels in calorimeter chambers. Lower (P<0.05) values of TME and net energy were found in CLM compared with wheatfeed, and that was attributable to the different chemical composition of the ingredients evaluated and to the different properties of their fibre. In experiment five, the effect of different amounts of dietary CLM on apparent metabolisable energy (AME) of diets and on dry matter, nitrogen and amino acid digestibilities in broilers was evaluated. There were three experimental diets (0, 150 and 250 g/kg CLM) which were fed to the broilers from 1 to 21 days of age. AME and all the dependent variables were significantly (P<0.05) affected by dietary CLM contents, in both 7- and 21-day-old birds. There were higher values for all dependent variables in birds aged 21 days than in those aged 7 days. There were no differences between the control diet and CLM 150 g/kg diet for amino acid digestibility, with the exceptions of alanine, arginine and proline. However, amino acid digestibility was lower (P<0.05) in the diet containing 250 g/kg CLM than in either control or 150 g/kg CLM diets. In experiment six, the effect of adding the enzymes B-glucanase and pectinase on amino acid digestibility of CLM was evaluated in broilers. Ileal samples were collected from birds given two doses of CLM by tube feeding. Only the pectinase treatment increased (P<0.05) lysine and total amino acid digestibility. In experiment seven, the performance of broders fed different CLM dietary amounts was evaluated. Two studies were carried out in this experiment. The performance parameters of birds decreased as CLM in diets increased to 350 and 250 g/kg in the first and second studies respectively, and this was attributable to the fibre content of CLM rather than to its oxalic acid and hydrogen cyanide contents. The length and weight of caeca were greater (P<0.05) as dietary CLM increased, but the weight of the gizzard showed the opposite tendency. It was concluded that CLM is an alternative ingredient for inclusion in diets for broilers, mainly in small-farm systems. It represents an acceptable source of amino acids but it contains low concentrations of both metabolisable and net energy as would be expected in a high-fibre foodstuff

Improving the nutritive value and utilisation of non-conventional protein feed resources in smallholder village chicken production systems.

Ph. D. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2014.Poultry production is one of the most important activities for creating wealth in developing countries. This study was conducted to assess methods of improving the nutritive value and utilization of cowpeas, and ameliorating the negative effects of aflatoxins in chicken feeds. Farmer perceptions on feed resource availability and utilization of non-conventional feed resources for indigenous chickens were investigated in three Mozambican districts (n=240). Scavenging was the major source of feeds for chickens and two out of five of the respondents experienced feed shortages during the dry season (from May to October/November). Nearly 90 % of the respondents were willing to use novel protein sources (e.g. houseflies, earthworms and snails) as chicken feed. Household leftovers were identified as the major supplemental feed source, followed by kitchen waste, then crushed grain and maize bran, suggesting protein is deficient in chicken diets. Most often, the kitchen scraps include foods that are spoiled with mould or damaged by insects and are not used in human consumption. Farmers had no specific biases against the use of non-conventional feed ingredients for chickens. Households in mountain zones were more likely to use maize bran for feeding chickens than those near dams (odds ratio 8.26). Educated farmers were three times more likely to feed chickens with maize bran (odds ratio 3.01). Topography highly influenced household’s likelihood of experiencing feed shortage. Farmers in mountains zones were 2.3 times more likely to experience feed shortage than the farmers in dam areas. Households headed by females were 1.2 times more likely to experience feed shortage than households headed by men. Chemical composition, amino acid digestibility and the true metabolisable energy of cowpeas and pigeon peas- under various processing (heat and enzyme) treatments, as well as effects on growth performance, growth of internal organs, and gut health were investigated through feeding trials. The precision-fed cecectomized rooster assay was used to determine amino acid digestibility and true metabolizable energy of cowpeas. Crude protein (CP) content was higher (P0.05) amino acid concentrations compared with raw black-eyed beans. Heat treatment had no effect (P>0.05) on the levels of methionine, threonine, proline, alanine, valine or leucine. The amino acid content of nhemba was reduced (P0.05) on amino acid digestibility in black-eyed beans, but increased amino acid digestibility of nhemba by 3.4 %. True metabolizable energy (TMEn) was significantly increased (3535 versus 3164 kcal/kg) by extrusion. Body weight gains, feed conversion and gut morphology demonstrated that, despite the overall lower nutritional value of local legumes compared to soybeans, extruded cowpeas with enzymes, or roasted pigeon peas, could improve bird production and gut health. The effectiveness of diatomaceous earth (DE), bentonite clay (BC) and turmeric (TUM) in ameliorating the toxic effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was assessed in growing chickens. Addition of AFB1 to the BD depressed (P0.05) from those of control chicks. In contrast, chicks fed the 2.0 mg AFB1/kg diet alone had significantly depressed (P0.05) feed intake and growth rate of chickens fed the AFB1 diet. Chickens fed a control diet plus BC and either DE or TUM were as healthy as the control chicks. Bentonite clay gave a higher (P<0.05) body weight gain than the control chicks. Compared with chicks fed AFB1 alone, the addition of TUM into the AFB1 diet was not effective in preventing or reducing the increase in relative liver or kidney weight. Addition of a combination of both BC and TUM to the AFB1 diet prevented the increase in relative liver and kidney weights caused by AFB1. In contrast, the addition of a combination of DE and TUM to the AFB1 diet was not effective in reducing or preventing the increase in the weight of these organs caused by AFB1. Chickens fed the AFB1 diet supplemented with combinations of BC and TUM or DE and TUM had lower (P0.05) concentrations of Alanine aminotransferase (AST), Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and uric acid (UA) to that of chicks fed AFB1 only. In conclusion the addition of TUM alone into the AFB1 diet also did not demonstrate an ameliorating effect. The addition of the combination of BC and TUM to the AFB1 diet was not as effective in reversing the effect of AFB1 on BWG as the combination of DE and TUM. When BC and DE were fed in combination with TUM, the results showed a reversal in the comparative individual effectiveness of BE and DE in their ameliorating effect on BWG

Sustainable Livestock Production in Nepal: A Focus on Animal Nutrition Strategies

publishedVersio

Effects of hydric stress on the growth, blood chemistry and meat quality characteristics of indigenous chickens.

Ph.D. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2013.The broad objective of the study was to determine the effects of restricted water intake on the growth, blood chemistry and meat quality characteristics of indigenous chickens in semi arid environments. A total of 15 flocks in communal villages and 12 flocks in resettlement schemes of Msinga District in South Africa were monitored for 30 months to determine the effects of production system and season on flock size, dynamics and constraints faced by indigenous chicken producers. As a follow up, 281 and 233 chicks hatched in November 2011 from 18 and 9 households in communal villages and resettlement schemes, respectively were monitored using a structured checklist to determine survival and causes of mortality from hatching up to 12 weeks of age. Kaplan-Meier survival distributions and the odds ratios for effects of potential risk factors were determined using survival analysis and logistic regression models, respectively. Flock composition and structure were significantly affected by production system and month. Farmers in resettlement schemes had approximately one cock and three hens more (P 0.05) between the two production systems but chicks were the predominant age group (38 %) of each flock. The cock to hen ratio in households in communal villages was 1:3.5, while that in resettlement schemes was 1:3.7, suggesting that inbreeding might have been reducing flock productivity. Flock sizes in communal villages peaked in March (45.1 ± 3.02) during the post rainy season and declined steadily to a low of 34.7 ± 3.63 in September during the hot-dry season. The largest flock sizes in resettlement schemes were observed in January (52.4 ± 5.09) during the hot-wet season and the smallest in August (36.1 ± 5.98) during the cold- dry season. Households in communal villages had more chicks (P 0.05) by production system. Hatched chicks were the major mode of entry, accounting for more than 97 % of entries into flocks. The contribution of purchases, gifts and exchanges was negligible. Mortality was the main cause of exits from flocks, accounting for 70 and 63 % of total exits among households in communal villages and resettlement schemes, respectively. The major causes of mortality were aerial predators, sub-optimalnutrition and inclement weather conditions, which were similar between production systems. The number of birds that exited flocks through slaughter for household consumption was higher (P < 0.05) among households in resettlement (34% of total exits) than communal villages (21 % of total exits). The proportion of chickens exiting flocks through sales was higher in communal (9 %) than resettlement (4.3 %) households. Chick survival from hatching to 12 weeks was higher (P 0.05) between communal (56 ± 3.30 days) and resettlement (49 ± 3.23 days) flocks. Provision of water ad libitum and treatment of sick birds were important covariates in prolonging the survival time of chicks. The effects of restricted water intake on growth performance, blood chemistry, physicochemical properties, and sensory characteristics of meat from Naked Neck (NNK) and Ovambo (OVB) chickens were also assessed. In the experiment, 54 pullets of each strain with an average weight of 641± 10g per bird were randomly assigned to three water restriction levels for 60 days in a completely randomized design. The treatments were ad libitum, 70% of ad libitum and 40% of ad libitum water intake. Each treatment group was replicated three times. The pectoralis (breast) muscle was sampled for meat quality, fatty acid composition and sensory quality analyses. Ovambo chickens had superior body-weight at 16 weeks of age, average daily gains (ADG) and average daily water intake (ADWI) than NNK chickens. Body weight of birds at 16 weeks of age, ADG, average daily feed intake (ADFI), ADWI and water to feed ratio (WFR) declined progressively (P < 0.05) with increasing severity of water restriction, while food conversion ratio (FCR) values increased (P < 0.05) as the severity of water restriction increased. Naked Neck chickens had better FCR at the 40 % of ad libitum water intake level than OVB chickens. The dressing percentage per bird was higher (P<0.05) in water-restricted birds than those on ad libitum water consumption, irrespective of strain. Heart weight was significantly lower in birds on 40% of ad libitum water intake than those on ad libitum and 70% of ad libitum water intake, respectively. Packed cell volume was higher (P < 0.05) in NNK than OVB chickens offered waterad libitum, but similar in birds offered 70 and 40 % of ad libitum. There were no differences in erythrocyte count (RBC) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) values between strains, but MCV was higher in birds on 40 than 70 % of ad libitum water intake, irrespective of strain. Naked neck chickens had higher (P < 0.05) white blood cell count (WBC) values than OVB chickens at 40 % restriction level, but lower WBC than OVB at 70 % water restriction level. Uric acid, creatinine, triacylglycerides, total cholesterol, low density lipid cholesterol, total protein and globulin increased (P < 0.05) with each increment in water restriction, but the increase in creatinine and total cholesterol was more pronounced in OVB than NNK chickens. The opposite was observed for uric acid. Alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and aspartate transaminase activities were not influenced by strain and water restriction. It was concluded that the two strains could withstand up to 40 % of ad libitum water restriction, but NNK chickens tolerated water stress better than OVB chickens. Water intake levels of 40% of ad libitum produced meat with significantly lower (P 0.05) on lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) values, shear force, moisture and protein contents in both strains. The fat content of NNK meat was 41 % lower (P 0.05) ash contents. Birds on 40 % of ad libitum water intake had significantly higher (P < 0.05) proportions of octadecanoic acid (C18:0), cis, cis-9,12-octadecadienoic acid (C18:2 ῳ-6), cis-8,11,14,17-eicosatetraenoic acid (C20:4 ῳ-6), cis-7,10,13,16-docosatetraenoic acid (C22:4 ῳ-6), cis-4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6 ῳ-3), total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), total omega-3 PUFA and total omega-6 PUFA proportions, but lower (P < 0.05) cis-7-hexadecenoic (C16:1c7), cis-9-octadecenoic (C18:1c9), cis-11-octadecenoic acid (C18:1c11), cis-13-docosenoic acid (C22:1c13), total monounsaturated fatty acids than those on the 70% of ad libitum and ad libitum water intake, respectively. The proportion of trans-9-octadenoic acid (C18:1t9) was higher (P < 0.05) in NNK chickens on 40 % of ad libitum water intake than OVB chickens. It was concluded that water restriction at 40 % of ad libitum water intake resulted in favourable cooking loss values and meat redness (a*) values, omega-3 and 6 PUFA proportions and a high ῳ-6/ῳ-3 ratio. The high fat content of NNK chickens at 40 % of ad libitum water intake compared to OVB chickens suggests a superior adaptation to hydric stress. Naked Neck breast meat had higher initial impression of juiciness scores than that from OVB chickens, but only in birds on ad libitum and 70 % of ad libitum water intake. Sensory scores for first bite, connective tissue and tenderness decreased with increasing severity of water restriction (P 0.05). There were significant strain differences for sustained impression of juiciness and tenderness, with the highest scores occurring in NNK chickens (P < 0.05). Aroma had a significant influence on the flavour of breast meat (P < 0.05). Fat content was significantly correlated with initial impression of juiciness, first bite and sustained impression of juiciness of breast meat. It was concluded that water restriction up to 40 % of ad libitum had a significant and adverse impact on juiciness and first bite scores of meat

Southern planter

LYRASIS Members and Sloan FoundationCollege of William and Mary, Earl Gregg Swem Librar

Estimation of body composition in tropical sheep raised under seasonal feed supply conditions: Prediction models

Prediction models were developed from isotope dilution space (D2O) and live animal measurements (heart girth, height at withers, body length and tail volume measurements) to estimate chemical body components of indigenous tropical fat-tailed sheep breeds in vivo. A STEPWISE multiple regression procedure of SAS was used to assess the predictive power of combinations of variables and models which minimise the predicted residual sum of squares. With regard to the accuracy and robustness of prediction, models containing body weight as the only predictor variable resulted in less accurate estimates of body components, especially that of body fat and energy contents. However, the use of isotope dilution space (as an index of Total Body Water) along with body weight measurements showed significant improvements in R² and accuracy of prediction equations. Testing the predictive ability of models containing live animal measures only, the result obtained showed that, despite a small reduction in accuracy, indices of live animal measures gave comparable estimation of body components with models containing isotope dilution space. Therefore, considering the cost of D2O and its applicability in the field, indications are that the use of models containing indices of live animal measurements only (in various combinations) is promising for field applications, to provide longitudinal measures of change in body composition of tropical fat-tailed sheep

Sustainable animal agriculture and crisis mitigation in livestock-dependent systems in southern Africa

These proceedings contain papers, abstracts and posters of the Regional Conference on Sustainable Animal Agriculture and Crisis Mitigation in Livestock-dependent Systems in Southern Africa that took place at Malawi Institute of Management (MIM) in Lilongwe, Malawi, from 30th October to 1st November 2000. A keynote paper opens each theme and is followed by scientific contributions, short communications, and abstracts. Posters are published as short communications and/or abstracts. These proceedings are organised as follows: Session 1 Livestock Management and Improvement (16 papers) Session 2 Policy Analysis, Socio-economics and Sustainable Integrated Animal Health (4 papers) Session 3 Crisis Mitigation in Livestock-dependent Systems - Held as a mini workshop within the conference (2 papers) Session 4 Product Enhancement and Human Resources Development (4 papers) Session 5 Short Communications (4 papers) Session 6 Abstracts (10 abstracts

Fedco Seeds 2021: Seeds and Supplies

When is a seed catalog more than a seed catalog? When it is the Fedco Seed catalog. Fedco, founded in 1978, is a worker-consumer cooperative in Maine known for promoting the ideals of cooperation, transparency, and the common ownership of seeds. These archives contain thousands of pages of Fedco’s seed catalogs. As one of its editors noted, “We give our readers things to think about.” Annual themes have included the role played by soil bacteria—the microscopic heroes that make life on this planet possible; the contributions of plant breeders and seed keepers; poetry by Walt Whitman, Vergil, and Russell Libby, among others. Editorials often stress the negative impact multinational corporations have on the genetic diversity of food crops, and provide annual updates on genetic engineering and the consolidation of the seed industry. Bits of humor are throughout, some of them in possibly the catalogs’ best feature: original art, and engravings from old seed catalogs and horticultural books. It is, in the words of Fedco’s founder CR Lawn, “More than a marketing tool.