Energy utitlzation by broilers fed different micro-nutrient mixtures

Three commercial micro-nutrient mixtures, designated A, B and c were evaluated in terms of broiler performance characteristics, energy efficiency and blood metabolites. The study was conducted using Randomized Complete Block (RCB) design. The results obtained were confirmed by measuring the specific enzymes involved in the oxidation of carbohydrates and energy utilization. Micro-nutrient mixture C was found to result in lower growth rate, smaller live weight gain, higher blood glucose and lower serum Glutamic Oxaloacetate Transaminase (SGOT) activities. Feeding micro-nutrient mixture B improved energy efficiency. It was concluded that the poor performance and the poor energy efficiency of C-fed broilers was as a result of the micronutrient imbalance of the mixture since the mixture is deficient in Zinc and four B-vitamins that affect energy utilization. It also contains unbalanced over dosing of vitamin K. The better performance and better energy efficiency of B-fed broilers compared to A-fed broilers was due to the inclusion of adequate amounts of vitamin K, Zinc and the four B-vitamins that affect utilization of energy. The poor performance of A-fed broilers was attributed to deficiency of thiamine and vitamin K. B was recommended followed by A. It was suggested that the value of thiamine in B be increased to meet the NRC recommendation and further enhance efficiency of energy utilization.Keywords: Energy, Broilers, Micro-nutrient mixture

Performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens fed sodium sesquicarbonate processec soyabean diets

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Effect of alkaline treated soybean meal on the performance, protein and energy utilization of starter broilers

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of alkaline treated soybean seeds on the performance, protein and energy efficiency of starter broilers. Soybean seeds were divided into 4 batches. The first batch was autoclaved at 100°C and the other batches soaked in aqueous solution of 3% concentration of sodium chloride (NaCl), trona (Na2CO4NaHCO3.2H2O) and alum (Al2(SO4)2.24H2O) respectively for 24 hours, air-dried and milled. These soybean preparations were used in formulating four treatment diets as follows; autoclaved soybeans (T1), NaCl treated soybean (T2), trona treated soybean (T3) and alum treated soybean (T4). The diet containing the autoclaved soybean (T1) served as the control. The soybean meals were included at the level of 33.82% for each diet and fed to 180 day-old Sussex broiler chicks randomly divided into 45 birds per diet and replicated in 3 groups of 15 birds per group. Records of average weight and feed intake were taken over a period of 28 days and from these, values for body weight gain, feed to gain ratio, protein efficiency ratio (PER) and energy efficiency were calculated. The results indicated that soaking soybean in alkaline salts solution slightly reduced dry matter (DM), crude fiber (CF), nitrogen free extract (NFE) and gross energy (GE) while ether extract (EE) and ash were lower in the control meal. Birds fed NaCl and trona treated soybean had significantly lower (

The response of wild West African guinea fowl to varying levels of dietary protein under intensive management

A total of 186 eggs from Wild West African Guinea fowl were collected from the bush at the on set of raining season. The eggs were incubated at 36-370 to get the Guinea fowl keets used for this work. The hatchability of the eggs was 86% and the eggs hatched on the 27th day of incubation. The keets were fed on 24% protein diet for 8 weeks. At the end of the 8th week the keels were divided into 4 experimental groups in two replicates. Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 birds were fed on diets containing 18, 22 and 26% levels respectively up to 20th week of age. The results showed that the average body weight of the Guinea fowls increased with the increasing dietary protein level. The 26% dietary protein level promoted the heaviest Guinea fowls and the least was found in 18% protein fed Guinea fowls. This pattern was observed in weight gains. Feed consumption and dry matter digestibility were highest in 26% dietary protein fed Guinea fowls. Protein was better utilized for growth by Guinea fowls fed 26% protein than any other group resulting in the higher nitrogen retention for this group. It was concluded that for intensive management of the wild indigenous West African Guinea fowls the keets could be fed on 26% dietary protein level up to the end of the growing stage. Key words: Guinea fowl, Wild, Protein and Intensive Management

Effect of commercial diets on egg quality characteristics

The effect of four commercial feeds in Niger State Nigeria on egg quality characteristics was studied. The feed designated diets 1, 2, 3 and 4 were fed to Rhode Island Red (RIR) hens and their eggs were collected as from 38 weeks of age for 4 weeks. A total of 384 eggs were analysed for both external and internal egg quality traits. Diet 1 was found to be superior in terms of better levels of inclusion of crude protein, ether extract, energy and iodine. Consequently the hens fed diet 1 produced heavier eggs with greater circumference, egg shape index, yolk height and albumen weight than hens on diet 4. Diets 2 and 3 were similar in their effect on the egg quality traits. All the feeds had lower crude protein, energy and micronutrient than the recommended levels for laying hens in the tropical region. The feed millers are advised to look into these deficiency areas in order to improve egg quality and hen productivity and this encourage poultry farmers to remain in business. Keywords: Egg quality, commercial diets

Hematological and serum biochemical evaluation of broilers fed fermented cassava flour meal diets

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the hematological and serum biochemical effect of feeding cassava flour meal (CFM) to Ross broiler chickens. The diets containing CFM at 0.0 (control), 20.0 and 40.0 % were designated T 1, T 2 and T 3 and were fed ad-libitum. The results show that broilers fed 40.0 % CFM consumed significantly (

Effect of varying levels of cornflakes waste based diets on protein utilization and organ weight characteristics of broilers

An 8 week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of varying levels of cornflakes waste (CFW) based diets on protein utilization and organ weight characteristics by broiler chickens. Cornflakes waste was used to replace maize at 0.0 (control), 20.0, 40.0, 60.0, and 100.0% levels as energy source. A total of 150 broilers were allotted to 5 treatment groups in 3 replicates per treatment. The feeding trial was done for 8 weeks. The parameters measured included proximate, mineral and amino acid composition of CFW, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, protein utilization and organ weight characteristics of the birds. It was found that amino acid content of CFW, a measure of the protein quality, was very low and was specifically deficient in methionine. The Na ion content of CFW was high (4.80%) possibly due to the addition of table salt during the processing of maize to cornflakes. Protein utilization as measured by nitrogen retention percentage and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were better at starter phase while only PER was better in the finisher phase in the control than 100.0% CFW substituted diet. Body weight gain and PER of the control diet and 100% CFW based diets were similar at 56 days. The high weight gain (56.70 g/ day) recorded in 100.0% CFW-based diet was attributed to the good PER of the birds at the finisher phase. Heart proportion was significantly (p0.05) different from each other. The high heart proportion was attributed to more work done by the organ as a result of higher salt content of the 100% CFW diet. The 100.0% CFW fed birds recorded the highest body weight gain and PER, which compared favorably (p>0.05) with the control birds. The results show that CFW can be used to replace maize in broiler diet with a concomitant increase in feed intake. Animal Production Research Advances Vol. 2(1) 2006: 39-4

Effect of feeding processed Cassia tora seed based diets on growth performance and biochemical indices of weaner rabbits

The effects of feeding Cassia tora seed based diets on the growth performance and biochemical parameters of growing rabbits over a 10 week period was investigated. Four dietary treatments were formulated such that diets 1, 2, 3, and 4 contained 0, 5, 10 and 15% Cassia tora seeds, respectively. Forty-eight mixed breeds weaner rabbits with an average weight of 500g were randomly distributed into four treatment groups in three replicates. Each replicate had 4 rabbits (2 males and 2 females). Chemical composition and anti-nutritional factors of Cassia tora seeds and the diets were determined. Cassia tora seeds were processed using dry heat at temperatures of 800C for 20 minutes. The roasted Cassia tora seeds were milled and included in rabbit diets at 0, 5, 10 and 15% and designated T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. An average daily feed intake of 60g of concentrate diets and 90g of fresh Tridax forage was recorded for the Cassia tora groups, while an average daily feed consumption of 70g of concentrate diet and 95g of Tridax forage was observed for the control group. Data were collected on growth parameters, digestibility, carcass components of the rabbits, organ proportions and  some biochemical parameters. The results showed that Cassia tora seeds contained high levels of phytate, saponins and alkaloids and low levels of cyanogens, tannins and trypsin inhibitor. Rabbits fed the control diet T1 had significantly (P<0.05) reduced performance when compared to the performance (P>0.05) of the rabbits fed Cassia tora diets (T2, T3 and T4). Cassia tora based diets significantly (P<0.05) lowered the serum blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels of the rabbit compared to the control diet. Conversely, the inclusion of Cassia tora seed in rabbit diets significantly (P>0.05) increased the total blood protein contents of rabbits. This study suggests that Cassia tora inclusion at the levels of 5 to 15% improved rabbit growth performance, and lowered blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.Keywords: Rabbits, Growth, Cassia tora seed, Biochemical indice

Effect of Inclusion of Cotton Seed Cake on the laying Performance and Egg Quality of Layers

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