Effect of Commercial Feed Substitution with BSF Maggot Flour (Hermetia Illucens) on Laying Quail Production Performance

This study aims to determine the effect of substituting commercial feed with BSF maggot flour (Hermetia illucens) on the performance and productivity of laying quail. One hundred (100) 20 days-old laying quails with an initial weight of 2.9±8.26 g/head were divided into four treatments with five replicates per treatment using the completely randomized design (CRD). The treatments were T1 (0% BSF maggot flour as control), T2 (1.50% BSF maggot flour and 98.5% commercial feed), T3 (2% BSF maggot flour and 98% commercial feed), and T4 (2.50% BSF maggot flour and 97.5% commercial feed). The parameters measured were feed intake (g/head/mg), the body weight at first egg-laying (g/head), age at first egg-laying (days), the weight of first egg (g/grain), daily egg production (%), quail egg weight (g/item), and feed conversion ratio. The results showed that BSF maggot flour in commercial rations significantly affected feed intake (P<0.05) with a consumption range of 153-154 g/head/week. However, the provision of BSF maggot flour up to 2.50% of commercial feed had no significant effect (P>0.05) on the body weight at first egg-laying, the age at the first egg laying, the weight of the first egg, daily egg production (%), egg weight (g/grain), and feed conversion ratio. This study shows that substituting 2% maggot BSF flour in commercial rations can increase feed intake and maintain egg production, weight, and conversion. Furthermore, giving BSF maggot flour to a level of 2.50% could not improve the body weight at the first laying of quail and the age at the first egg-laying. Keywords egg weight, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, BSF maggo

Mycotoxin toxicity and residue in animal products: Prevalence, consumer exposure and reduction strategies – A review.

Mycotoxin residues are transferred from feed to animal products, yet, less attention has been paid to it in developing countries like Nigeria, India, Mexico etc. There is a need to find alternative alleviation material for reducing the impact of mycotoxin. This review is meant to elucidate different additives that can reduce mycotoxin residue in animal products in the world, especially in developing countries. . There is evidence of relationship between mycotoxin residue in breast milk of nursing mothers and mycotoxin exposure through crop and animal product (egg and milk) intake, especially in Asia, Africa, Middle East, Latin America, and some parts of Europe. Younger livestock tends to have more toxin residues in their tissue compared to older animals. Grazing animal are also exposed to mycotoxin intake which corresponds to high level of mycotoxins in their products including meat and milk. . This review shows that phytogenic, probiotic, and prebiotic additives can decrease mycotoxin residues in milk, eggs, meat liver and other tissues of livestock. Specifically, bentonites, difructose anhydride III, yeast (Trichosporon mycotoxinivorans), Bacillus spp., or their biodegradable products can reduce mycotoxin residue in animal products. In addition, Ally isothiocyanates from mustard seed were able to mititgate mycotoxins in silo-simulated system. Evidence shows that there are now low-cost, accessible, and eco-friendly feed additives, which could alleviate the effect of mycotoxin in feed and food. There is a need for aggressive public awareness and farmers’ education on the prevalence, and danger caused by mycotoxins as well as possible additives that can reduce toxin absorption into animal products

Comparative studies of nutrients intake and haemato-biochemical indices of bucks fed at three different times of the day

This study objective was to assess the effect of time of feeding on nutrients intake and haemato-biochemical indices of West African dwarf (WAD) bucks. Fifteen bucks with an initial live-weight of 7.50 ± 0.35 kg aged between 8 – 12 months were grouped into three treatments and five replicates for 115 days. The bucks were fed once daily in the morning, noon or evening either at 06:00, 12:00 or 18:00 hour for 90 days respectively under natural light-dark cycles. The experimental diets were Panicum maximum (Guinea grass) and concentrate diets at 50:50 % DM ratio. Serum glucose in evening fed-bucks was significantly higher (p&lt;0.02) than noon and morning-fed buck. Nitrogen retention also increased from dawn to dusk with the morning-fed bucks (64.31 ± 3.79 %) having significantly lowest (p&lt;0.02) value, while evening-fed bucks had the highest (74.73 ± 1.15 %) nitrogen retention. However, time of feeding did not significantly affect (p&gt;0.05) nutrient digestibility, haematological parameters, total protein, lipid profile, and mineral utilization. Feeding animals in the evening or early hours of the morning may be healthy for livestock in a changing climate

Effect of Commercial Feed Substitution with BSF Maggot Flour (Hermetia Illucens) on Laying Quail Production Performance

This study aims to determine the effect of substituting commercial feed with BSF maggot flour (Hermetia illucens) on the performance and productivity of laying quail. One hundred (100) 20 days-old laying quails with an initial weight of 2.9±8.26 g/head were divided into four treatments with five replicates per treatment using the completely randomized design (CRD). The treatments were T1 (0% BSF maggot flour as control), T2 (1.50% BSF maggot flour and 98.5% commercial feed), T3 (2% BSF maggot flour and 98% commercial feed), and T4 (2.50% BSF maggot flour and 97.5% commercial feed). The parameters measured were feed intake (g/head/mg), the body weight at first egg-laying (g/head), age at first egg-laying (days), the weight of first egg (g/grain), daily egg production (%), quail egg weight (g/item), and feed conversion ratio. The results showed that BSF maggot flour in commercial rations significantly affected feed intake (P0.05) on the body weight at first egg-laying, the age at the first egg laying, the weight of the first egg, daily egg production (%), egg weight (g/grain), and feed conversion ratio. This study shows that substituting 2% maggot BSF flour in commercial rations can increase feed intake and maintain egg production, weight, and conversion. Furthermore, giving BSF maggot flour to a level of 2.50% could not improve the body weight at the first laying of quail and the age at the first egg-laying.Keywords egg weight, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, BSF maggo