Quantitative replacement of soybean meal with toasted African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) meal in broiler starter diets

Eighty-four Anak broilers were used to study the effect of quantitative replacement of toasted soybean meal (TSBM) with toasted African yam bean (TAYB) meal in broiler starter diet. The experimental design was completely randomized design (CRD). There were four treatments each replicated three times with seven broilers per replicate. The inclusion levels of toasted African yam bean meal in diets were 0, 25, 50 and 75% in treatments I, II, III, and IV respectively. The parameters measured were final live weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and cost/kg feed. Results showed that the starter broilers fed treatment IV diet had significantly (P<0.05) lower final live weight (592g) than those fed treatments III (631.66g), II (656g) and I (670g) diets. Daily weight gain followed the same trend as in final live weight. The feed intake of treatments IV (1241.66g) and III (1235.00g) diets were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those of treatments I (1222.66g) and II (1225.33g) diets. Starter broilers fed treatment IV diet had significantly (P<0.05) higher feed conversion ratio (2.10) than those fed treatment III having (1.95) which was also significantly (P<0.05) higher than those of treatments II (1.87) and I (1.28). Finally, parameters evaluated showed no significant different (P>0.05) between starter broilers fed treatment I and treatment II. From the result, one can conclude that 25% AYB (treatment II) compared favourably with the control diets 0% AYB in starter broiler diets and is hereby recommended as optimal for quantitative replacement of soybean in broiler starter diet.Key words: Broiler Starter diet, African Yam Bean, Soyabean replacemen

Utilization of rice milling waste (RMW) in local turkey diets: effect on haematological indices and blood chemistry

One hundred Local Turkey Poults brooded on commercial broiler starter mash for four weeks were utilized in a Completely Randomized Design Experiment to evaluate the effect of feeding varying levels of Rice Milling Waste (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%), on the haematological and blood chemistry indices of grower and finisher turkeys. Five grower and finisher diets were respectively formulated such that rice-milling waste was substituted for maize at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. The poults were randomly assigned to the five experimental diets, having 20 poults per treatment. Each treatment group was replicated twice with 10 poults per replicate at the grower and finisher phases. Feed and water were provided ad-libitum. The study lasted 20 weeks covering a growing period of 16 weeks and finishing period of 4 weeks. Haematological indices of interest (Hb, PCV, WBC, RBC) and blood chemistry measurement (Creatine, Urea, Alkaline phosphate, Albumen and Globulin) were measured. Results obtained showed that substituting maize with 50% RMW produced superior blood quality in terms of Hb counts, white blood cell and red blood cells at the grower and finisher phases. Considering the biochemical values, 50% substitution also proved superior to other treatment groups in terms of Albumen, Globulin and Total protein concentration, at the grower and finisher phases.It was concluded that, substituting maize with 50% rice milling waste enhanced the haematological values and serum biochemical indices in grower and finisher turkeys, which in turn led to, enhanced biological performance of the turkeys placed on this diet.Keywords: Local turkeys, Haematological indices, blood chemistry and rice milling waste

The effect of forage to concentrate ratios on the performance of weaner rabbits

The effect of forage to concentrate ratios on the performance of weaner rabbits was investigated using twenty (20) weaner rabbits. They were randomly assigned to five treatment diets/with two replicates of two (2) rabbits per pen in a completely randomized design CRD). The experiment lasted for 56 days. T1 = forage 80%: concentrate 20%, T2 = forage 60%: concentrate 40%, T3 = forage 40%: concentrate 60%, T4 = forage 20%: concentrate 80% and T5 = forage 50%: concentrate 50% served as the control. Data were collected for feed intake, weight gain, carcass quality and the economics of the diet. The growth performance result was significantly different (p<0.05) for all the parameters considered except for total feed intake. Treatment 3 (T3) had the highest value for final weight (1423.0 g), total weight gain (925.5g) and daily weight gain (16.52 g), with the least feed conversion ratio of (2.58) among others. The cut parts results showed that there was significant difference (p<0.05) for all the parameters considered. T3 also had the highest value for the prime parts. The organ weights results did not follow any specific pattern that could be attributed to the effect of the test ingredients. The economics /gross margin showed that T3 was favoured among others (N 731.38, N929.18, N1045.78, N828.81, N825.39),T3 (forage40%:concentrate60%) was therefore recommended.Keywords: Effect, Forage :Concentrate ratios ,performance, weaner rabbit

Evaluation of Body Weight Lines of Divergently Selected Broiler Chicken Types in a Hot-Humid Tropical Environment of Umudike, South-Eastern Nigeria

This study was conducted to evaluate the production performance of high and low body weight lines of divergently selected crossbred normal feather (NF), naked neck (Na) and frizzle (F) indigenous broiler chickens raised in a hot-humid environment of Umudike, South-eastern Nigeria. Results showed that targeted 6 weeks body weight in the two body weight lines were significantly (p>0.05) different, with the heavy normal feather (ExHNF) and heavy frizzle (ExHF) individuals recording the highest body weight (1512.10 and 1508.30 g), respectively. Average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were also better in these heavy weight lines. The linear body measurements (LBMs) namely, body length (BL), keel length (KL) and shank length (SL) were significantly higher in the heavy body weight, when compared with the low body weight lines. It was evident from the study that the genetic background of the selected lines influenced the performance of the progenies, with each line resembling its dam of origin

Effect Of Replacing Soybean Meal With Lima Bean Meal On Finishing Broiler Chicken

Lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus) was processed by soaking and toasting before usage to feed 75 broiler birds for 28 days. The birds were randomly assigned to five treatment diets with each treatment being replicated three times and containing five birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. The bean was soaked for twenty four (24) hours, oven-dried and then toasted. It was milled and then incorporated into diets. Excepts diet 1, each of the diets (2-5) contained quantitative replacement of soyabean with the processed lima bean at 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% levels respectively. The result showed a significant (

Bioefficacy And Economics Of Ronozyme™ P As A Substitute For Bone Meal In Turkey Poult Ration

The biological and economic efficiencies of Ronozyme ™ p as a substitute for bone meal in female Turkey poults was investigated. A total of eighty local female poults were brooded and fed commercial broiler starter diet containing 23% CP and 2800kcal/kg ME from day-old to four weeks of age. Sixty (60) female poults were thereafter randomly selected and allotted to each of the four experimental groups of fifteen (15) birds each. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of five poults for 8 weeks in a completely randomized design. A total of four isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets containing 25 CP and 2932kcal/kg ME were formulated. Each of the diets was supplemented with Ronozyme TM P while inclusion level of bone meal was varied from diet 1 to 4 respectively. Of all the production and economic parameters considered only the mean daily feed intake was significantly (P < 0.05) influenced. Diet 2 proved to be the best, by having the best feed to gain ratio (2.55), and higher gross margin (₦1,356.35). The difference in the mean total body weight gain for the two diets (2, 323.33 (D2) and 2,380.00g (D3)). It was concluded that 2% level of bone meal inclusion in poults diets proved better than diets having 3%, 1% and 0% respectively, especially when supplemented with 30g of Ronozyme TM P as recommended. This will cut-down cost and also probably improve calcium and phosphorous availability and absorption.Keywords: Bioefficacy, RonozymeTM P, bone meal, turkey poult ratio