Performance and Digestibility of West African Dwarf Sheep fed varying forage and concentrate ratios

This study was conducted to determine performance and nutrient digestibility of twenty four West African Dwarf Sheep aged between 10 and 12 months fed varying levels of forage and concentrate. Animals were allotted to three treatment groups in a completely randomized design at 75% concentrate and 25% grass, 50% grass and 50% concentrate and 25% concentrate and 75% grass designated as treatment 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Daily nutrient intake, apparent digestibility, average daily gain, and protein efficiency were measured. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance. The protein efficiency, average daily gain and daily nutrient intakes were significantly (P< 0.05) influence by the treatments. Apparent digestibility of nutrients by the sheep were also significantly (P< 0.05) different across the treatments except for the FE and DF which were not significantly (P> 0.05) influenced by the treatments. Diet 3 (75% forage and 25% concentrates) which supported superior sheep performance in most of the economical traits considered was thereby recommended.Keywords: Sheep, forage, concentrate, performance and digestibility

Response of finishing broiler chickens to supplemental Neem (Azadirachta indica) and garlic (Allium sativum) on oocyst count, bacteria count and gut morphology

An eight weeks feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding diets containing Neem Leaf Meal (NLM), Garlic Meal (GM) and their combinations (NLM +GM) on oocyst count, bacteria count and gut morphology of finishing broiler chickens. A total of 180 day-old Cobb broiler chickens were divided into twelve groups of fifteen chicks with three replicate of five chicks each. The diet containedNLM, GM and NLM + GM at four levels of inclusion (0mg/kg, 500mg/kg, 1000mg/kg and 1500mg/kg). The experiment was arranged in a 3 × 4 factorial layout in a completely randomized design (CRD). Additives did not significantly (P>0.05) affect oocyst and bacteria count. There was significant (P<0.05) decrease in oocyst and bacteria count of birds fed 1000mg/kg levels of inclusion than those of 0mg/kg levels of inclusion. Significant (P<0.05) reduction in oocyst and bacteria count was achieved in birds fed NLM at 1500mg/kg levels of inclusion and GM at 1000mg/kg levels of inclusion. There was significant (P<0.05) increase in duodenum villi height, apical width and lamina propria depth of birds fed NLM + GM compared to that ofNLM. Jejunal villi height in birds fed GM (686.67μm) and NLM + GM (686.42μm) was statistically similar but superior (P<0.05) to that obtained in NLM (622.67μm). Birds fed diets containing NLM (103.42μm) affected (P<0.05) jejunum apical width compared to GM (72.67μm). Ileum villi height and basal width of birds fed NLM + GM was significantly (P<0.05) improved than those of NLM. However, ileum apicalwidth was influenced in birds fed NLM + GM (61.33μm) but statistically similar to that of NLM (60.75μm) compared to GM (55.17μm). Gut morphology parameters were significantly (P<0.05) improved by all the levels of inclusion but more at 1500mg/kg inclusion levels compared to 0mg/kg which was lowered. Significant (P<0.05) improvement on gut morphology parameters were recorded by added additives at various inclusion levels except duodenum villi height which was not affected. It was evident that additives employed most especially NLM and GM at 1500mg/kg and 1000mg/kg reduced oocyst and bacteria count and NLM + GM at 1500mg/kg improved gut morphology.Keywords: Day-old broiler, neem, garlic, broilers, oocyst count, bacteria count, gut morphology

Effect of fibre and digestible energy levels on retail cuts, gut characteristics and morphology of growing rabbits

The retail cuts, gut characteristics and morphology of rabbits fed with varying dietary fibre and digestible energy (DE) levels were measured in a 70-d feeding trial using 135 weaner rabbits. The experiment was designed as a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments having 3 levels of dietary fibre (low, optimum and high) and 3 levels of DE (low, optimum and high). The rabbits were allotted to 9 dietary groups consisting of 15 rabbits each. Main effect of fibre and DE showed that dressing out percentage (P < 0.05), chilled carcass weight (P < 0.05) and reference carcass weight (P < 0.01) increased with increasing inclusion levels of fibre. Rabbits fed with (430 – 456 g/kg NDF, 249 - 253 g/kg ADF) had the highest (P < 0.05) weights of thoracic cage, loins, hind part, small intestine, empty caecum and highest (P < 0.05) villus height in the duodenum and jejunum. Rabbits fed (10.5 – 11 MJ/kg) diets had the least (P < 0.05) chilled and reference carcass weight. Interaction effect of fibre and DE showed that rabbit fed (445.70g/kgNDF, 252.10g/kgADF and 8.01MJ/Kg) diet recorded the highest (P < 0.05) chilled carcass weight. Rabbit fed with low fibre (249 – 258 g/kg NDF, 149 - 157 g/kg ADF) diets not withstanding the level of DE had low (P < 0.05) chilled and reference carcass weight. The villus height of the duodenum and crypt depth of the jejunum increased (P < 0.05) with increasing level of dietary fibre irrespective of the level of digestible energy. In conclusion, feeding of (440.41 g/kg NDF, 250.09 g/kg ADF, 10.52MJ/kg) diets to rabbits favoured improved retail cuts, gut characteristics and gut morphology.Keywords: Weaner rabbits; Carcass yield; Organ weights; Gut characteristics; Gut morpholog

Effect of fibre and digestible energy levels on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility and caecal fermentation of growing rabbits

A seventy-day feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary fibre and digestible energy (DE) level on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility and caecal fermentation of growing rabbits. The experiment was laid out in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of 3 levels of fibre (low (249 – 258 g/kg NDF, 149 - 157 g/kg ADF), optimum (349 – 381 g/kg NDF, 188 - 193 g/kg ADF) and high (430 – 456 g/kg NDF, 249 - 253 g/kg ADF)) and 3 levels of DE (low (8 – 8.5 MJ/kg), optimum (10.5 – 11 MJ/kg) and high (12 – 12.30 MJ/kg)). A total of one hundred and thirty five weaner rabbits were allotted to 9 dietary groups of 15 rabbits each. Main effect of fibre showed that the final live weight and weight gain of rabbits increased (P < 0.01) while Ca retention reduced (P < 0.001) with increasing dietary fibre level. Rabbits fed (249 – 258 g/kg NDF, 149 - 157 g/kg ADF), had the worst (P < 0.05) feed to gain ratio. Rabbits fed (349 – 381 g/kg NDF, 188 - 193 g/kg ADF) had the highest apparent dry matter (P < 0.05), ether extract (P < 0.05), NDF (P < 0.001), ADF (P < 0.001) and organic matter digestibility (P < 0.001). Main effect of DE showed that rabbits fed high DE recorded the highest (P < 0.05) weight gain. Highest (P < 0.01) apparent dry matter, crude protein, ash, NDF, ADF, organic matter digestibility and Ca retention were recorded with rabbits fed optimum DE diet. Rabbits(445.70g/kgNDF, 252.10g/kgADF and 8.01MJ/Kg) recorded the highest (P < 0.001) final live weight, weight gain and feed intake (P<0.05) while rabbits fed (249 g/kg NDF, 149 g/kg ADF and 8.17MJ/Kg) had the least (P < 0.001) final live weight, weight gain, apparent dry matter digestibility, NDF and ADF digestibility. Highest (P<0.001) NDF digestibility was obtained with rabbits fed (370.79 g/kg NDF, 189.61 g/kg ADF and 10.84MJ/kg). Not withstanding the DE level of the diets, rabbits fed with (430 – 456 g/kg NDF, 249 - 253 g/kg ADF) recorded the highest (P<0.05) total VFA and acetic acid concentration. Rabbits fed (445.7g/KgNDF, 250.09g/KgADF and 10.52MJ/kg) recorded the best growth performance, improved caecal fermentation with no adverse effect on apparent nutrient digestibility.Keywords: Growing rabbits; Dietary fibre; Digestible energy; Caecal fermentatio