Growth and nutrient utilization of Heteroclarias (H. Bidorsalis x c. Gariepinus) fed dietary levels of Alchornia cordifolia leaf meal

The experiment was carried out to determine the effect of dietary levels of Alchornia cordifolia leaf meal on the growth and nutrient utilization of Heteroclarias (H. bidorsalis x C. gariepinus) post fingerlings. 35% isonitrogenous dietary levels of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% Alchorniacordifolia leaf meal were formulated. These were fed to 225 post fingerlings of Heteroclarias, randomly assigned to 5 treatments – TCN, TA1, TA2, TA3 and TA4 in 3 replicates of 15 post fingerlings each using 15 plastic aquaria (250 x 150cm). The fishes were fed twice daily at 5% body weight within the experimental period of 56days. Growth and nutrient utilization of the experimental fishes were determined. The specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, and feed conversion ratio of the control were significantly (

Comparative evaluation of raw and urea/toasted velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) for broiler chicks

Feeding trials lasting 28 days were conducted to investigate the nutritive value of raw and urea treated/toasted mucuna bean for broiler chicks. Raw mucuna bean contains 30.33% crude protein, 7.20% crude fibre, 6.9% ether extract and 5.0% ash. Mucuna bean seeds were divided into two batches. One batch was ground raw and the other batch was ground raw, treated with 3% of its weight of urea and toasted. Mucuna bean meals so produced were then used to formulate broiler chick diets incorporating these meals at 5% and 10% respectively. One hundred and fifty (150), 7-day-old Anak broiler chicks were randomly assigned to the five dietary treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD) and each treatment group was further sub-divided into three replicates.Feed intake of the birds was inconsistent with the treatments, increasing at 5% inclusion level and decreasing at 10% inclusion level (P<0.05). Body weight gain of the birds followed the same pattern as feed intake, decreasing at a higher dietary level of mucuna bean meal. The decrease became significant (P<0.05) also at 10% dietary level. Dietary inclusion of mucuna bean meal at all levels reduced cost of feed and meat production.The results of this trial suggest that broiler chicks could not tolerate raw mucuna bean meal beyond 5% dietary level Urea treatment at this level (3% of the weight of mucuna bean) and toasting did not improve the nutritive value of mucuna been beyond 5% dietary level.Keywords: Raw velvet bean, urea toasted velvet bean, broiler chicks, evaluation

Substitution value of a mixture of rice milling by-products for maize in diets of weaner rabbits.

A 12 - week feeding trial involving 64 weaner rabbits in a completely randomized design was carried out to determine the substitution value of a mixture of rice milling by-products (in the ratio of 1:1:1:2 respectively for straw, husk, hull, and bran) for maize in the diets of New Zealand white type weaner rabbits at four substitution levels: 0%, 50%, 75% and 100%. Rabbits on the experimental diets recorded higher feed intake of 68.83, 68.11 and 66.97gm respectively for 50%, 75% and 100% as against 52.71gm for 0%. The difference in feed intake between the group on 0% and the group on experimental diets became significant (P < 0.05) at 50% dietary substitution level, but there was no significant (P> 0.05) difference among the group on the experimental diets. Rabbits on 50% substitution level recorded the highest feed intake (68.83gm) while the  group on 100% recorded the highest feed conversion ratio (15.72). Body weight gain of the groups showed significant difference (P < 0.05). The mixture of rice milling by products used for this study contained 9.10% crude protein, 30.4% erode fibre, 0.29% calcium, 0.19% phosphorus and 2.01 kcal/kg metabolizable energy levels. The results of this trial suggest that a mixture of rice milling by products could substitute maize in weaner rabbits diets up to 50% with good results.Keywords: rice, by-products, maize substitute, weaners, Rabbits

Effect of crude papain on the nutritive value of raw, toasted and cooked jackbean for broiler finisher

No Abstract

The effect of replacing maize with cassava peel meal on the performance of weaned rabbits

A 12-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the optimal replacement level(s) of dried cassava  peel meal (DCPM) for maize in diets for weaner rabbits. Four experimentnl diets were formulated such that dried cassava peel meal replaced maize at 0, 50%, 75% and 100% levels, respectively. Each diet was fed to five replicates of 3 weaner rabbits of mongrel type (Newzealand White and Flemish Giant). Fecal collections were done as from the 10th dny of the feeding trial for determination of dry matter  digestibility. Dl"ied cassava peel meal significantly (P<0.05) depressed feed intake of the rabbits at 100% replacement level. At both 75% and 100% replacement levels, DCPM also significantly (P<0.05) depressed body weight gain of the rabbits. Feed  conversion ratio was not affected hy the trentments but dry matter digestibility wns significnntly (P<O.OS) depressed by DCPM at the three levels. Feed cost suvings in percent were 8.25, 18.65 and 32.72, l'especti\'ely for the three levels of replacement.Key words: cussava peel meal, maize replacement, rabbits

Poultry offal meal as a protein supplement for grower pigs

A 16-week feeding trial, involving 18 weaner pigs in a randomized complete block design, was carried out to determine. the value of poultry offal meal (POM) as a protein supplement for grower pigs at three dietary levels, 0%, 10% and 20%. Liveweight gain, dressing percentage and backfat thickness were significantly (<0.05) higher in pigs fed 20%POM dietary level. The cut parts, heart, liver and kdney, , also increased with increasing level of POM), the diets. The poultry offal meal (POM), the processed, edible and inedible parts of poultry (viscera feathers, beaks blood, discarded eggs and dead birds) used for this study, contained 56 .4% crude protein 20.9% crude fat , 7 .7% total ash. 4.6% crude fibre and 3 J 8Kcal/gm metabolizable energy. The results of this study suggest that POM could be incorporated in grower pig rations up to 20% with good results.Key words: Poultry offal meal (POM), protein supplement

Performance of starting broiler chicks on sandbox (Hura crepitans) seed meal

A 21-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the feeding value of raw and cooked Sand box (Hura crepitans) seed meal for broiler chickens . Sand box seeds (100kg) were divided into two batches, the first batch was milled raw undicorticated with a hammer mill to produce raw sandbox meal, the second batch was cooked for 60 minutes also undicorticated, sun dried for 48 hours and milled with a hammer mill to produce cooked sandbox meal. Five broiler starter diets were formulated to contain raw and cooked sand box seed meal at 0%, 5% and 10% dietary levels respectively. Two hundred and twenty five (225) 14-day old broiler chicks of Marshal breed were divided into five groups of forty five(45) birds each. Each group was further divided into three (3) replicates of fifteen (15) birds each and randomly assigned to the five treatment diet in a completely randomized design (CRD). Data were collected on feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Dietary treatments significantly (P<0.05) influenced feed intake and body weight gain but had no effect( P>0.05) on feed conversion ratio. The results of these studies suggests that sand box (Hura crepitans) seed meal could enhance the performance of broiler starter chicks at 10% (raw) and 5% (cooked) dietary levels.Keywords: Sandbox seed meal, Broiler starter, performanc

Effect of Trona-treated jackbean on growth performance and nutrient utilization of catfish (Heterobranchus bidorsalis) fingerlings

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the performance of Heterobranchus bidorsalis fingerlings fed trona (specific name) pre-treated jackbean meal. The jackbeans were soaked in trona solution (3% of the weight of jackbean) for 24 hours and cooked for 30 minutes, dehulled, before sundrying and ground into meal. The jackbean so prepared was then used to formulate the experimental diets at 0%, 10% and 20% levels respectively. Three hundred and sixty (360) fingerlings were divided into three groups and each group randomly assigned to the three treatment diets in a completely randomized design (CRD). Each group was further sub-divided into two replicates. The fish were fed twice daily at 3% body weight. The result of this trial showed no significant difference (P>0.05) among the treatment groups. Trona pre-treated jackbean meal at 10% and 20% dietary levels, supported or improved fingerling performance comparable to the control. International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development Vol. 7(2) 2006: 107-11

The Effect Of Toasting, Dry Urea Treatment And Sprouting On Some Thermostable Toxic Factors In The Jackbean Seed

Raw unprocessed jackbean seed contains 26 - 32% crude protein and also toxic elements most of which are thermostable, which limit its use as feed ingredient for livestock especially non-ruminant animals. Rawjackbean seeds were divided into three batches. One batch was ground raw and toasted, the second, batch was ground raw and mixed with 2% of its weight of dry urea and all.owed to stand for 11 days. The thirdbatch was sprouted for four days and later ground into meal. Toxicological studies on the three batches of the jackbean meals were conducted for concanavalin A, (Con A ), Canatoxin, Urease activity and Haemoglutinin activity. The results or these studies show that dry ureatreatment is effective in detoxifying urease activity, Concanavalin A (Con A) and canatoxin in jackbean seed, while sprouting was effective in detoxifying concanavalin A (Con A) and canatoxin but not very effectivein detoxifying the urease activity in jackbean seed. Toasting alone did not have appreciable effect on these toxic factors.Keywords: Jack bean, thermostable toxicfactors, toasting, urea treatment, sproutin

Preliminary investigation on the potentials of wild variegated cocoyam (Caladium hortulanum) as replacement for maize in diets of catfish (Heterobranchus bidorsalis)

Experiment was conducted to evaluate the nutritive potentials of wild variegated Cocoyam corms (Caladium hortulanum) as substitute for maize in diets of catfish fingerlings. Four practical diets were formulated such that they contained cooked wild variegated cocoyam meals as substitute/replacer for maize at O%, 33%, 66% and 100% respectively. Four hundred and eighty fish fingerlings of H.bidorsalis were assigned to eight indoor concrete tanks (150x 130x 130cm) and fed with isonitrogenous diets (cp=40%) at 3% body weight for 63 days. Twenty fingerlings were randomly sampled weekly from each treatment, weighted and returned to individual tanks thereafter. At the end of the trials, the fingerlings showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in body weight gain between control diet and cocoyam based diets. However, there was significant difference (