Growth performance and blood profile of West African dwarf goats fed urea treated wild cocoyam (Colocasia esculentum) meal

Wild cocoyam is a non edible plant found growing around riversides and can serve as source of energy to ruminants. Hence, a twelve weeks study was conducted to investigate the effect of wild cocoyam – urea meal on the growth performance and blood profile of West African dwarf (WAD) goats. Twelve WAD goats with an average weight of 7.25 ± 0.04kg were randomly allotted into four dietary treatments: T1 (raw wild cocoyam), T2 (urea treated wild cocoyam), T3 (urea treated cooked wild cocoyam) and T4 (urea treated fermented wild cocoyam), replicated thrice in a completely randomized design. Results obtained showed that the experimental diets significantly (p < 0.05) influenced the growth performance. Goats fed urea treated cooked wild cocoyam had the best feed conversion ratio (10.35), the highest values of dry matter intake (405.35 g/day) and daily weight gain (39.17 g/day) when compared to other dietary treatments. The dietary treatments did not significantly (p < 0.05) influence the haematological parameters except the red blood cells (9.62 - 11.67×106 mm3), white blood cells (4.07-9.05×106 mm3) and monocytes (1.00-2.50%). No significant (p >0.05) differences among the dietary treatments were observed in all the serum biochemical indices evaluated except for urea which ranged from 15.50 – 28.70mg/dl. It can therefore be concluded that addition of urea with processing, further improved the utilization of the experimental diets thus improving performance of the animals

Utilization of bovine blood-rumen digesta mixture as replacement for soybean meal and groundnut cake feedstuff in growing pigs

Mixture of bovine blood and rumen digesta (BBRDM) was evaluated for 56 days as a replacement for soybean meal (SBM) and groundnut cake (GNC) at 100% on protein to protein basis in the diets of growing pigs to assess the nutritive value of BBRDM on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and cost benefits. Hence, a total of 18 growing pigs were allotted on weight equalization basis into three dietary treatments consisting of six pigs per treatment in a completely randomized design. Three diets were formulated such that T1: served as the control diet without BBRDM but contained both soybean meal and groundnut cake. T2: BBRDM replaced soybean meal and T3: BBRDM replaced groundnut cake. Result indicated that BBRDM contained 28.65% crude protein, 13.17% ether extract, 5.26% crude fibre, 11.29% ash and 31.65% nitrogen free extract. Dietary treatments did not significantly (P>0.05) influenced the growth parameters observed in this study. Although there were no significant (P>0.05) difference on the nutrient digestibility parameters investigated but birds in T3 recorded highest numerical values for crude protein (77.23), crude fibre (62.46%), ether extract (92.33%), nitrogen free extract (89.61%), ash (70.28%) and nutrient dry matter (91.67%) while the least values were obtained from birds in T1. Cost of feed decreased with the inclusion of BBRDM while the cost per weight gain also improved with the replacement of the conventional feed ingredients. The result also showed that an appreciable amount of money was saved when BBRDM was included in the ration of growing pigs. It is therefore concluded that BBRDM could be used as an animal protein source to compliment plant protein source such as soybean meal and groundnut cake in the diet of growing pigs. Keywords: Pig, Bovine Blood Rumen Digesta Mixture, Groundnut cake, Soybean mea

Impact of diets containing graded level of malted sorghum sprout mixed with pineapple waste on rumen fermentation profile of West African dwarf goats using In Vitro gas production technique

An experiment was conducted to determine the impact of diets containing graded levels of malted sorghum sprout mixed with pineapple waste (MSPW) on rumen fermentation profile of West African dwarf goats using in vitro gas production techniques. The malted sorghum sprout and pineapple waste mixture were obtained at ratio 1:2 (weight/weight) respectively and incorporated in graded levels to produce four treatment diets; T1 (0% MSPW), T2 (20% MSPW), T3 (40% MSPW) and T4 (60% MSPW). Each diet sample (200mg) was incubated in buffered rumen liquor for 48 h and in vitro gas parameters were determined using in vitro gas production technique. Gas production was measured at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 18, 21 and 24 h post incubation to estimate total gas volume, methane (CH4), metabolisable energy (ME; MJ/Kg DM), organic matter digestibility (OMD; %) and short chain fatty acids (SCFA; μmol/200 mg DM) were estimated using 4mL of 10M NaOH. Results showed range of values for the compounded feed in which dry matter (87.27–92.00 %), crude protein (2.59-7.47 %), ether extract (13.20-18.44 %), ash (10.07-10.68 %), nitrogen free extract (36.42-44.14 %), neutral detergent fibre (46.75-71.85 %), acid detergent fibre (24.25- 45.50 %) and acid detergent lignin (9.20-12.25 %). There was significant (P<0.05) difference in all the parameters observed across the dietary treatments. Gas volume varied significantly (P<0.05) from 38.00 to 54.00 ml/200mg DM. Diet containing 20% MSPW produced highest (P<0.05) volume of gas at 24, 42, and 48 hrs. Volume of gas produced in time (b) recorded highest value (15.552) in 60% MSPW. Fractional rate (c) of gas production (0.810-1.118 ml/hr) and lag time (0.952-1.098 hr) varied significantly (P<0.05) across the dietary treatment. The pH (5.07), temperature (26.600C), ammonium nitrogen (15.60mg), metabolizable energy (9.54 MJ/KgDM), organic matter digestibility (62.89%), short chain fatty acids (1.23 μmol), gas volume h (54.00) and methane (7.50 ml) were significantly (P<0.05) higher with inclusion level of 20% MSPW. It was therefore concluded that efficient gas production was attained in diet containing 20% MSPW which could serve as a valuable alternative animal feed source in ruminant production.Keywords: Malted Sorghum Sprout, Pineapple Waste, In Vitro Gas Productio

Effects of water acidification on growth response and serum biochemical indices of broiler chicken

An experiment was conducted with 180 unsexed day-old Arbor acre breed of broilers to evaluate the effects of water acidification on the growth response and serum biochemical indices of broiler chicken in a 49 days feeding trial. The birds were randomly distributed into 5 dietary treatments of 36 birds per treatment which were further distributed into 3 replicates in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The birds in control (T1) were served with ordinary water (i.e water without any organic acid), while other groups were served with acidified water containing 4% Acetic acid (T2), 4% Citric acid (T3), 4% Formic acid (T4) and 4% Lactic acid (T5) respectively. All birds were vaccinated while only the control group (T1) was medicated with antibiotics. Data were collected on weight gain, feed intake, and water intake, while blood sample were collected for serum biochemical assay. The results of growth response revealed significant differences (P<0.05) in the values obtained for final weight, weight gain, feed intake and average daily water consumption, while all other parameters were not significant (P>0.05). Final weight ranged (1.90 – 1.56kg/bird), weight gain (1.79 – 1.42kg/bird), Feed intake (4.16-4.70kg), daily water intake (87.10- 129.22ml/bird/day). Among the serum biochemical indices evaluated only Alanine amino transferase (ALT), glucose, cholesterol and uric acid were significantly influenced by the dietary treatment. It can therefore be concluded that serving broiler chicken with water containing 4% citric acid compared favourably with the control in terms of growth response. Also serving broilers with acidified water does not have any detrimental effects on their serum biochemical indices.Key words: Growth response, Serum, water acidification, organic acid.