Performance, carcass characteristics and economy of production of broilers fed maize grit and brewers' dried grain

A 28 – day feeding trial involving ninety six (96) four weeks old broiler chicks was conducted to investigate the effect of total replacement of maize with different combination ratios of maize grit and Brewers' Dried Grain (BDG) on the performance, carcass characteristics and economy of finisher broilers. Four experimental diets were formulated by substituting maize with maize grit and BDG at the ratio of T1 (0%, control), T 2 (3:1-45 + 15%), T 3 (1:1-30+30%) and T4 (1:3-15+45%) respectively and the birds randomly assigned to the four diets. Each experimental unit of 24 birds was replicated twice giving 12 birds per replicate in a completely Randomized Design (CRD). Feed and water were provided ad-libitum. Performance indices showed that body weight and weight gain of birds placed on the control diet were significantly (p0.05) different in weight gain. Body weight and weight gain per feed intake though higher and at high cost with the control diet, improved in cheaper diets formulated with maize grit and BDG. There was no consistency in the carcass characteristics of the groups particularly among the internal organs showing that dietary maize grit and BDG could not pose any discernible nutritional problems that might manifest in the carcass of the broilers. Cheaper feeds formulated with maize grit and BDG gave the higher gross margins especially diet 4. Animal Production Research Advances Vol. 2(2) 2006: 81-8

Haematological and histological evaluation of the response of pigs to Leucaena Leucocephalaleaf meal supplement

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Performance of broilers fed different combinations of Bambara groundnut offal, cassava root meal and yam peels as energy source

Feeding trials were conducted with broiler starters and finishers to determine the effect of replacing maize with three combination ratios of bambara groundnut offal (BGO), cassava root meal (CRM) and yam peels (YP). Four broiler starter diets were formulated such that maize which made up 50% of the control diet (diet S 1) was completely replaced in the three subsequent diets by BGO, CRM and YP combined in the ratios 3:5:2 (diet S 2), 5:2:3 (diet S 3) and 2:3:5 (S 4) respectively. Thereafter, each diet was randomly assigned to 3 replicates of 8, one-week-old broilers. The feeding trial lasted four weeks. Similarly, four broiler finisher diets were formulated such that combinations of BGO, CRM, and YP as in the broiler starter diets completely replaced the 60% maize of control diet (F 1) in diets F 2, F 3 and F 4 respectively. Eighty-four, 5 weeks old broilers were then divided into four groups of 21 birds each. Each group was randomly assigned to one of the broiler finisher diets; each group was further subdivided into 3 replicates of 7 birds each. The finisher phase lasted four weeks. At the starter phase, average daily feed intakes were 42.85, 57.21, 65.80 and 65.03g. Average daily weight gains 24.29, 18.21,21.43 and 21.79g, while feed conversion ratios (FCR) were 1.76, 3.14, 3.07 and 2.85 for broilers on diets S 1, S 2, S 3 and S 4 respectively. Average daily feed intakes were significantly (

Growth performance, hematological and serum biochemical constituents of grower rabbits fed Microdesmis puberula, Hook. – Euphorbiaceae

A twelve (12) weeks feeding trial was carried out to determine the effect of varying dietary inclusions of Microdesmis puberula leaf meal (MPLM) on the growth performance, hematological indices and serum biochemical constituents of growing rabbits. Four grower rabbit diets were formulated to contain the leaf meal at inclusion levels of 0, 10, 20, and 30% respectively. Twenty-four crossbred rabbits aged between 7 and 9 week were divided into 4 groups of 6 each and randomly assigned to the 4 dietary treatments. Feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio were not significantly different (

Effect of Feeding Sun Dried Cocoyam (Xanthosoma Sagittifolium) Corm Meal on the Performance of Starter Broilers

The effects of different levels of cocoyam corm meal on performance of starter broilers were determined in a 28-day feeding trial. Five diets containing cocoyam corm meal at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% levels and labeled T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively were formulated and fed to one hundred and fifty (150) starter broilers (Hybro strain) in a completely randomized design experiment in which each treatment group was replicated thrice. Each replicate contained 10 birds. Birds fed T3, T4 and T5 diets had significantly (p<0.05) lower daily weight gain than the control group T1 and T2 group birds that were similar (p>0.05). Feed intake values of the birds on 5, 10 and 15% cocoyam corm meal were significantly (p<0.05) lower than that of T1 and T5 birds. Feed conversion ratio of birds on T1 and T2 were significantly lower and better than that of T3, T4 and T5 dietary group. Analysis of the results revealed that starter broilers could tolerate up to 20% level of inclusion of cocoyam corm meal without serious deleterious effects on their performance. The significance of this research finding is that sun drying alone can achieve the incorporation of cocoyam corm meal to the tone of 20% in broiler starter ration. Keywords: Broiler chicks, nutrition, cocoyam corm meal, maiz

Effect of total replacement of maize with brewer's spent grain and maize offal on performance of laying hens

A 56-day feeding trial was conducted to determine the possibility of total replacement of maize component in layer diets with combinations of maize/sorghum-based brewer's dried grains and maize offal using 96 Shika Brown layers, 15 weeks in lay. Four experimental layer diets were formulated to contain maize, brewer's spent grains and maize offal at 50, 0, 0; 0,12.5, 37.5; 0, 25, 25; and 0, 37.5, 12.5 levels for T1 (control) T2. T3 and T4 respectively. Each diet was fed to a group of 24 layer hens already in their 15th week of lay for 56 days. There was no significant (p0.05) values but superior to T4. There was no significant difference observed in all groups in other egg quality characteristics – Haugh unit, albumen index and yolk index. Keywords: Maize; brewer's spent grain; maize offal; laying hens International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 2 (3) 2006: pp. 268-27

Biometric measurements of body and internal organ traits of indigenous chickens on free range in South-Eastern Nigeria

A biometric study of the body conformation and internal organs of the indigenous chickens on free range in rural areas of Imo State in South-Eastern Nigeria was conducted using 5 Local Government Areas. It was observed that the predominant plumage colours were black (51.25%) and brown (36.25%) for the hens while the cocks were predominantly black (30.36%) and red (25.01%). The dressed colour of the birds was majorly yellow and white comprising of (70.68%) and (29.32%) for the hens and (77.75%) and (22.25%) for the cocks, respectively. Shank colour was black (95.4%) and white (4.65%) for the hens, while the cocks were (54.24%) black and (46.76%) white respectively. The mean shank length, neck length and back length of 6.725±0.09 cm, 11.11±0.20 cm and 17.77±0.29 cm were estimated for the hens, while the cocks had mean shank length, neck length and back length of 7.79±0.13 cm, 11.35±0.30 cm and 18.29±0.44 cm, respectively. The mean body weights of the hens and cocks were 868.48±21.18 g, and 1032±57.84 g, respectively with cocks being significantly (P<0.05) higher in body weight and back length than hens. The mean biometric and internal organ measures of chickens per Local Government Area (LGA) were also investigated with no significant (P>0.05) differences among chickens in the five LGAs except for weight of proventriculus and full intestine. Regression equations for the prediction of body weight using the biometric and internal organ measurements were obtained under two functional forms (linear and semi-log) which showed a weak coefficient of determination (R2) ranging between 7.5 to 24.3% for biometric measurements, and a strong coefficient of determination (R2) ranging between 21.4 to 98.89% for internal organs. There was no significant correlation coefficient (r) between the biometric measurements taken, but strong and significant correlation (r) was shown between internal organs and body weight. Therefore, indigenous chickens of South-Eastern Nigeria exhibit wide variability among phenotypes in terms of physical appearance, biometric measurement and internal organ characteristics. More so, the internal organs can be predicted more effectively than biometric measurements by the body weight, using regression models of the two functional forms; and significant indirect selection can be made to improve internal organs like gizzard weight using the bodyweight, due to significant correlation coefficient established.Keywords: - biometric, internal organs, prediction equation, indigenous chicken, extensive, South -Eastern Nigeria

Is Rising Inequality Unavoidable in a Globalizing Economy Characterized by Rapid Technical Change?

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