Effects Of Graded Levels Of Ethanolic Piliostigma thonningii Bark Extract On Performance Of Broiler Chicken

Twenty day old broiler chicks were used to investigate the effects of graded levels of ethanolic Piliostigma thonningii bark extract in diet on feed conversion efficiency and performance. They were divided into four equal groups, maintained on starter feed for 6 weeks and on finisher for another 4 weeks. As from their second week of age those in groups A, B and C were fed diets containing 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0mg of the extract per kg feed respectively. Values of the extract were doubled from 7th to 10th week of slaughter age. Control group D received normal diet. Water was provided ad – libitum. Daily feed and water intake, weekly live weight gain, live weight relative to organ weights at slaughter were determined. Faeces were sampled on 4th and 8th weeks for helminth eggs and coccidial cysts. Animal groups fed diets containing plant extract showed short-lived mild neurological symptoms. All groups responded positively to treatment against respiratory distress. Inclusion of plant extract in diets relatively promoted feed conversion efficiency and broiler growth particularly at its threshold level of 1.0 mg/kg feed. Optimum effect of the extract occurred by the 5th week. Feed intake correlated positively with water intake (corr. Coeff. = 0.6-0.8). Traces of eggs and cysts seen in the treatment groups (A,B,&C) differed significantly with those of the control group (.D.)It is concluded that the extract may be included in broiler diet at 1.0mg/kg feed. KEY WORDS: P. thonningii, feed conversion efficiency, anthelmintic. Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol.11(2) 2005: 201-20

Studies of management effects on fertility of purebred and crossbred exotic gilts in two breeding farms at Nsukka, Nigeria

Sixty healthy gilts comprising 15 Landrace (LR), Large White (LW) and LW x Hampshire (HS) breeds respectively, were selected from Federal Government (FG) breeding center at Okpuje near Nsukka and University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) farms. They were bred through 4 years (1993 to 1996) during which management effects on fertility were assessed. Gilts were mated on obsenration of third cyclic oestrus and at subsequent postweaning oestrus. Fertility was assessed from vital reproductive traits due to dams and offsprings. All gilts had successful first and second parity breeding. Thereafter there were increasing cases of abortion and anoestrus particularly among purebred groups in FG farms. Generally, 8 (53.3%), 6 (40.0%), 10 (66.7%) and 13 (86.7%) out of 15 dams in respective groups could attain fifth parity within four years. Both groups exhibited long breeding intervals (ranging from 192-268 days). Purebred LW and LR offspring had slightly lower mean litter size of 8.5 ± 1.8 and 8.8 ± 1.5 compared with 9.5 ± 0.9 and 9.7 ± 1.4 (P<0.05) for LW x LR and LW x HS crossbred counterparts respectively. Birth end weaning weights and daily weight gain were similarly lower for purebred than crossbred offsprings. Attendant mortality rates of 13.1 % and 15.7% for the former were significantly higher than 9.8% and 10.1 % (<0.05) obtained for the latter offsprings respectively. The FG farm was more understocked, underutilized and undermanaged than the UNN farm probably because of inconsistencies arising from administrative bureaucracy. Consequently constraints are identified for improvement through efficient resources inputs, staff incentives and application of modem strategic management techniques re-commended for tropical environment. Further research into stocking Hamphsire crossbred pigs in the tropics is suggested, in view of its favourable performance.Keywords: Exotic pigs, management, fertility, production, tropics