Growth performance of and microbial activities in broilers fed supplementary bitter kola (Garcinia kola)

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dietary bitter kola (Garcinia kola) on growth performance and hematological indices of broilers and as antibacterial agent in their diets. Bitter kola seeds were processed into meal (bitter kola seed meal) and analyzed for proximate and phytochemical composition. The meal was then used to make broiler diets at 0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5% inclusion levels respectively (23%cp for starter and 19%cp for f inisher phases), which were then used to raise groups of 30 broiler chicks for 8 weeks. At the end of the 8 weeks, 4 birds were selected from each group and used for determination of blood indices and internal organ weights. Fecal samples were analyzed for parasite and bacterial load. There were no significant differences in feed intake among the groups (p>0.05) but the group on 2.5% bitter kola diet had significantly (

Effect of graded dietary levels of Garcinia Kola seed meal on performance, intestinal microbial load, haematological and serum biochemical profile of rabbits.

Effect of dietary Garcinia kola seed meal (GKSM) (bitter kola) on the performance, microbial activities and blood constituents of rabbits were investigated. Four rabbit grower mash were prepared such that diet T0 (control) contained no Garcinia kola seed meal while diets T1, T2 and T3 contained 2.5%, 5.0% and 7.5% Garcinia kola seed meal, respectively, partly replacing maize. Each diet was fed to a group of 9 grower rabbits for 56 days, in completely randomized design (CRD) experiment. Each group was further subdivided into three replicates of 3 rabbits each. Faecal samples were collected from four rabbits per treatment at the first and last weeks of the experiment and used to determine intestinal microbial load of the rabbits. At the end of the feeding trial, blood samples were randomly collected from four rabbits per treatment and used to determine heamatological and serum biochemical profile of the rabbits. Body weight gain, daily body weight gain and feed conversion ratio (g feed/g gain) of the groups on GKSM diets decreased significantly (P < 0.05) while the feed intake increased (P < 0.05). GKSM had no significant effects (P<0.05) on the parasite, cysts of Isospora belli, but significantly eradicated Salmonella and Streptococcus species. Haematological indices (RBC, HB, PCV, MCV, MCHC, MCH, WBC and platelets) were not affected by the treatments (P > 0.05). There were no traces of eosinophils, basophils and monocytes. Biochemical indices (serum cholesterol, serum protein, serum albumin, serum globulin) were also not significantly affected (P > 0.05) by the treatments. The glucose levels of GKSM fed groups were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced. The electrolytes (potassium, sodium and chloride) as well as calcium and bicarbonate levels were not affected by the treatments (P > 0.05). Cost of production (N/Kg gain) was highly increased with increase in dietary GKSM.Keywords: Diets, Garcinia kola, grower rabbits, performance

The performance and egg quality characteristics of layers fed diets containing graded levels of Garcinia kola seed meal

Effects of dietary Garcinia kola meal (bitter kola) on the performance and egg quality characteristics of laying hens were investigated. Four layers diets were made such that diet T0 (control) contained no Garcinia kola meal while diets T2.5, T5.0 and T7.5 contained 2.5%, 5.0% and 7.5% Garcinia kola meal, respectively. Each diet was fed to a group of 30 laying hens at 30 weeks of laying life for 84 days, using completely randomized design (CRD). Each group was further sub-divided into three replicates of 10 hens each. The layers on T2.5 and T5.0 diets added significantly (P < 0.05) less body weight than those on T0 and T7.5 diets. There were no significant differences in their feed intake (P > 0.05). T2.5 significantly (P < 0.05) depressed hen-day egg production but enhanced egg weight. Feed conversion ratio (g feed/ g egg) was not affected by the treatments (P > 0.05). Egg quality indices (egg shape index, egg specific gravity, Haugh unit, egg shell thickness, albumen index and yolk index) were not affected by the treatments (P > 0.05). Egg shell index was significantly (P<0.05) enhanced by Garcinia kola meal. At 2.5% level, it significantly enhanced percent albumin and reduced percent yolk (P<0.05). Cost of egg production (N/kg eggs) was adversely increased as the level of Garcinia kola meal increased.Key words: Egg production, egg quality, Garcinia kola, laying hens

Gelatinization of fermented cassava tuber meal and its nutritive value for broilers

The effect of fermentation of cassava tuber followed by its gelatinization was evaluated as a method of processing cassava for use as source of energy in broiler diets. Peeled and unpeeled cassava tubers were separately fermented in water for 4 days, dried in the sun and then milled to produce fermented peeled and unpeeled cassava tuber meals, respectively. The dusty meals were then gelatinized by mixing with water in pots seated over fire at the rate of 1kg of cassava tuber meal to one litre of water and stirred until they gelatinized into fufu. The gelatinized pastes were then taken bit by bit and flattened on polythene sheets and dried in the sun. The resultant fermented and gelatinized peeled and unpeeled cassava tuber cakes were then milled to produce fermented and gelatinized unpeeled cassava tuber meal (UFGC), a brownish-looking non-dusty product and fermented and gelatinized peeled cassava tuber meal (PFGC), an ash-looking non-dusty product. Three broiler diets were made such that diet 1 (control) contained maize as source of energy, while in diets 2 and 3, the maize in the control diet was completed replaced with UFGC and PFGC, respectively, both in the starter and finisher diets. One hundred and twenty (120) broiler chicks were divided into 3 groups of 40 birds each and each group assigned to one of the diets, using completely randomized design, and fed for 4 weeks with the starter diets and finisher diets for another 4 weeks. At the starter phase, the UFGC diets gained significantly (P < 0.05) less weight and consequently had poorer feed conversion ratio. There were no significant differences in feed intake (P < 0.05). At the finisher phase, the group on UFGC gained significantly (P < 0.05) more body weight. The groups on cassava diet tended to consume less feed and so had better feed conversion ratio. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in dressed weights and weights of internal organs but the group on PFGC diet accumulated significantly (P < 0.05) more abdominal fat.Keywords: Broiler, Cassava, diet, fermentation, gelatinization