Entrepreneurial orientation and the business performance of SMEs: a quantitative study from the Netherlands

Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) is often mentioned as an antecedent of growth, competitive advantage and superior performance, and prior empirical research has often shown a positive relationship between EO and performance appears to exist. However, an important question that remains unanswered is what effect EO might have on firm performance during periods of economic crisis, and the severe environmental turbulence that accompany such crises. This research is a first investigation towards the effects of EO on the performance of small and medium sized firms during the current global economic crisis. In this study we use the multidimensional model of EO and test a series of hypotheses pertaining to its performance effects using survey data gathered from 164 Dutch SMEs. The present research shows that proactive firm behavior positively contributes to SME performance during the economic crisis. We further show that innovative SMEs do perform better in turbulent environments, but those innovative SMEs should minimize the level of risk and should take action to avoid projects that are too risky

Evaluation of methods of processing chaya leaf meal (CLM) in terms of chemical composition and on performance and physiological parameters of chicks

Four processing methods, air drying, oven (mechanical) drying, fermentation and parboiling of chaya  leaves, were evaluated for their effect on the chemical composition ofthe resulting dry leaves. They were evaluated further in terms of performance and some physiological parameters using 450 day-old  cockerels. There were no significant (P > 0.05) differences in chemical composition of the chaya leaf meal due to method of   processing with the exception of the hydrogen cyanide content which were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the air dried and fermented meals. The feeding of diets incorporating SOg/kg feed of the variously processed chaya leaf meal did not significantly (P > O.OS) affect final body weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion efficiency, water intake and mortality of chicks, as compared to a chaya-free (control) diet. Treatment  differences in blood cellular elements of chicks were not significant (P > 0.05). Histological observations on the liver of chaya-fed birds indicated no morphological or gross issue changes.Key words: Chaya leaf meal, processing, chemical composition, performance, chicks

Effects of dietary vitamin C addition on the performance of broilers in a hot, humid environment

In an experiment lasting 7 weeks, 288 one-day-old unsexed broiler chicks were used to assess the effect of supplementary vitamin C on the performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicks raised in a hot, humid environment. The birds were randomly alloted in equal numbers to four dietary treatments based on maize and fishmeal to which were added 0, 100, 150 or 200 mg vitamin C per kilogram, respectively. The diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous, containing 12.51 MJ (ME) and 212.4 g crude protein per kg. Each treatment had three replicates. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum. Supplementary vitamin C had no significant effect on all the performance and carcass traits studied, including feed intake, growth rate, and feed conversion efficiency. No economic advantage was gained by adding vitamin C to broiler feed. Ghana Jnl agric. Sci. Vol.31(1) 1998: 113-11

Utilization of chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Mill)) leaf meal in chick diets

Diets containing O, 45, 90 and 135g chaya leaf meal/kg feed were fed ad libitum to 384 day-old cockerels  (Dekalb G-Link strain) which had been randomly alloted to the various dietary treatments and the experiment  was terminated when birds were four weeks old. Birds had free access to water. The concentration of chaya  leaf meal in the diet had no effect on food intak. Overall significant correlations were found between the concentrations of chaya leaf meal in the diet and weight gain (r = -0.97), food con· version ratio (r = 0.96), water consumption (r = -0.92), liver weight (r = 0.79), heart weight (r = 0.82) and gizzard weight (r = 0.93).  The Inclusion of cbaya leaf meal in the diet led to a redution in feed cost.Key words: Chaya leaf meal, chicks, organ weights

The nutritive value of quality protein maize in the diets of broiler chickens

Two experiments, each lasting 6 weeks, were conducted to evaluate quality protein maize (QPM) as a feed gredient for broiler chickens. In Experiment 1, either normal hybrid maize (NM) or QPM was used as the sole source of protein and amino acids, and the diets were balanced for vitamins and minerals by the addition of a vitamin-mineral premix. These diets were compared with a balanced 21 per cent crude protein starter-finisher broiler diet. In Experiment 2, broiler chicks were fed combined starter-finisher diets of varying protein contents in which QPM replaced normal maize. The aim was to assess the potential for reducing dietary fishmeal incorporation as QPM replaced normal maize. In both experiments, feed and water were supplied ad libitum. The parameters measured included feed intake, growth rate, feed conversion efficiency, and carcass characteristics. The economics of broiler production was determined in Experiment 2. In Experiment 1, birds receiving QPM as the sole source of amino acids performed significantly better (