Potential of mango (Mangifera indica L.) seed kernel as a feed ingredient for poultry : a review

Mango (Mangifera indica) is an important fruit crop grown in the tropics mostly for its pulp. Mango seed, which represents between 20-60% of the fruit, has limited food or industrial use in most producing countries and is therefore wasted. The kernel contained in the seed (mango seed kernel: MSK) is a good source of carbohydrates (58-80%), contains moderate quantities of proteins (6-13%) and fat (6-16%). The protein of MSK has a good essential amino acid profile and its oil is a good source of stearic and linoleic acids. However, despite these attributes MSK contains a number of anti-nutritional factors (e.g. tannins, phytate, cyanide, antitrypsin, oxalate and saponins) which limit its utilisation in poultry diets. Amongst these factors, tannins are largely responsible for the poor nutritional value of MSK. Several processing methods have been used to reduce the concentration of anti-nutritional factors in MSK and improve its utilisation by poultry. The following paper reviews the composition (nutrients and antinutrients) of MSK, recommendations for its use in poultry diets and processing methods to enhance its utilisation by poultry

Utilisation of cassava products-copra meal based diets supplemented with or without Allzyme SSF by growing pullets

The utilisation of cassava root-leaf meal (CRLM) and copra meal with or without enzyme by growing pullets was investigated. A total of 180 six week-old Shaver 579 pullets (549.79 ± 0.39 g/bird) were allotted to 12 floor pens containing 15 birds each. A commercial grower diet (control) and 2 diets based on CRLM and copra meal with or without added Allzyme® SSF (test diets) were fed each to 4 replicate pens in a completely randomized design. Growth performance, age at first egg, feed cost of rearing and the count of floor primary feathers formed the major response criteria. Birds fed the control commercial diet consumed more feed and gained more weight (P0.05) between the control and enzyme supplemented CRLM groups. There was no dietary effect (P>0.05) on the weight of the first egg among the 3 groups. Feed cost of rearing was reduced (P0.05) between the two test diets as well as between the enzyme supplemented and the control diets. It was concluded that CRLM and copra meal can be used as major energy and protein sources respectively in growing pullets’ diets. Enzyme supplementation may however, be needed to maintain performance of the birds

Factors affecting the utilisation of cassava products for poultry feeding

SHORT supply and high cost of traditional ingredients affect efficientlivestock productionglobally. This has driven interest in alternative cheap materials mostly products of agro-industrial processing to replace traditional feed ingredients. Products such as discarded roots, leaf, peel and pulp are wasted or dumped in landfills in many developing regions, which could replace part of the expensive feed ingredients in livestock feeding. Cassava (Manihotesculenta Crantz) processing emitsseveral products such as peel, pulp and leaves. The sebeneficial cassava products are underutilised and more investigation is warranted to improve its utilisation, reduce feed cost and environment sustainability. Cassava peel, pulp and leaves are potential cheap feed ingredients for poultry feeding. However, these products may contain anti-nutritional factors such as cyanogenic glucosides which affect their maximum utilisation in poultry feeding. Several factors such as cultivar, stage of maturity, cyanide levels and processing methods affect the utilisation of cassava products in poultry diets. Several processing techniques have been used to reduce cyanogenic glucosides concentration to safe levels and enhance the utilisation of the products in poultry diets. This paper discusses the anti-nutritional factors affecting cassava utilisation, processing methods to reduce cyanide levels and future of cassava products for poultry feeding

Response of shaver brown laying hens to different feeding space allowances

Three hundred 18 week-old Shaver Brown pullets (1,477.40±7.41 g) were allotted to 5 treatment groups containing 3 replicates of 20 pullets each. The treatments consisted of five feeding space allowances (FSA): 5.60, 8.40, 11.20, 14.00 and 16.80 cm/bird. Data were collected on feed consumption, weight change, egg production and feed conversion ratio (feed: dozen eggs) for a period of 20 weeks (18 to 38 weeks of age). All data collected were subjected to analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and significant differences reported at 5% probability. Mean feed consumption, body weight change and egg weight were not significantly affected by FSA. Pullets given access to FSA of 11.20, 14.00 and 16.80 cm/bird laid the first egg at a significantly younger age compared to those given 5.60 and 8.40 cm/bird. Hen-day egg production (HDP) and egg mass increased with increasing FSA up to 14.00 cm/bird. Hen-day production did not differ between the groups given 8.40 and 16.8 cm/bird. Groups given 5.60 cm/bird consumed more feed per dozen egg produced. The lowest feed consumption per dozen eggs was recorded on 11.20 and 14.00 cm FSA per bird. These results suggest that keeping the feeding space between 11.00 and 14.00 cm/hen will improve flock uniformity and reduce cost of egg production of Shaver Brown hens in the study area

Feeding Value of Some Cassava By-Products Meal for Poultry: A Review

Cassava root meal which has been used as good alternative energy source in poultry and pig diets is increasingly becoming an important energy source for feeding the world’s human population. There are however, several by-products of cassava harvest ranging from the leaves, peels and pulp which have potential as feed ingredients in poultry rations. Cassava peels and pulps are moderate to high in energy and have been included in diets as replacements for conventional energy sources. Cassava leaves, moderate to good protein contents, have been used as protein supplements. Dietary recommendations of cassava by-products for poultry have varied considerably. The major factors limiting the efficient utilization of these byproducts in poultry diets include the high fibre and low energy contents and likely presence of antinutritional factors, mainly hydrocyanic acid (HCN) in the bitter variety of cassava. Several technologies have been used to improve the utilization of cassava by-products by poultry. The following paper reviewed the composition of some cassava by-products (leaves, peels and pulp), their recommendations for inclusion in poultry diets and processing methods to maximize their utilization by poultry. It was concluded that efficient use of cassava by-products will reduce feed cost of poultry production and provide additional source of income to cassava farmers and processors

Poultry Industries in the South Pacific Region: Challenges and Opportunities

The demand for poultry products is growing rapidly with the fastest growth being in developing countries (Ravindran, 2012; FAO, Food Outlook, 2013). Poultry products are in high demand in all countries of the South Pacific region and this trend will continue due to expected population growth, the taste and health consciousness of the products and fast changing life styles in the region among others. While recognizing the importance of poultry products in the region however, the title “Poultry Industries in the South Pacific Region: Challenges and Opportunities” may be interesting but not so easy to address due to lack of reliable statistics of the industry in most countries. The South Pacific region consists of 22 small Island countries most of which do not have up to date statistics of livestock and poultry. Despite the high demand of the products, poultry sector is still less developed in the region and domestic production does not meet demand in most countries. Going by at the current trend of poultry industries the region can be grouped into; i) countries that have a fairly well established industry with few large scale poultry systems and ii) those where the industry is predominantly traditional with little or no commercial poultry systems. In the former group the industry is mainly driven by big companies while in the latter few small private investments may be seen in some countries. Out of the 12 member countries of the University of the South Pacific (USP) only Fiji falls in the first group. This paper highlights the main features of the poultry industries in Fiji and Samoa. Information provided is based on reports from the Livestock Departments of the Ministries of Agriculture and personal interviews

Performance of laying hens fed high copra meal - based diets with or without exogenous enzyme supplementation

The effect of enzyme supplementation of a high copra meal based diet on the performance of laying hens was investigated. A total of 60 Shaver Brown pullets aged 18 weeks were allotted to 12 floor pens in a completely randomised design. A control diet based on fish meal and 2 experimental diets containing 20% copra meal with or without supplemental Allzyme® were fed each to birds in 4 randomly selected pens for a period of 10 weeks. Data were collected on feed intake and egg performance (hen-day production, egg weight, egg mass, and feed: egg). Results showed significantly higher (P<0.05) feed intake, hen-day production, egg weight and egg mass on the non-enzyme supplemented copra meal diet. There were no dietary effects on final body weight and feed conversion ratio. It was concluded that at the level 20% of dietary copra meal, the enzyme supplementation is not required. This will beneficially reduce cost of egg production in the study area due to the readily availability and low cost of the test material

Evaluation of para grass (Urochloa mutica) as litter material for laying hens

The increasing demand for wood shaving, a conventional litter material, necessitates research into alternative sources of litter for poultry. A total of 90 Shaver Brown pullets were used in a 126 day experiment to investigate the suitability of Para grass as litter material. The birds were allotted to 9 floor pens containing 10 birds each. The floor in 3 randomly selected pens was covered with one of the following materials: wood shavings (WSH), chopped Para grass hay (CPGH) and full Para grass hay (FPGH) in a completely randomised design. Growth and body weight change, feather count, and egg performance parameters formed the major response criteria. Results showed no significant effects of litter material on body weight change, feed intake, hen-day egg production, egg weight and egg mass. There was however, a significant increase in the count of floor primary feathers on FPGH compared to the control WSH and CPGH. No caking was observed on any of the materials. These results were used to conclude that Para grass hay can effectively replace wood shavings as litter material for laying hens. The substitution will save cost as well as reduce the invasive effect of Para grass in the study area

Utilisation of Giant African snail (Achatina fulica) meal as protein source for laying hens

A 12-week experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of substituting Giant African snail meal for fish meal in laying hens diet. Four diets were formulated to contain snail meal as replacement for fish meal at 0 (control), 33, 67 and 100 %. A total of 120 Shaver Brown pullets aged 18 weeks were allocated to the dietary treatments in a randomised design. Each treatment consisted of three replicates and ten birds per replicate. Feed intake increased only for the 33% treatment as compared to the 67% replacement diet but did not differ from the other treatments. There were no significant treatment effects on egg performance parameters observed (egg production, egg weight, total egg mass, feed conversion ratio and percent shell). The overall feed cost of egg production reduced on the snail mealbased diets. The organoleptic evaluation of boiled eggs revealed no difference between the treatments. Based on these results it was concluded that total replacement of fish meal with cooked snail meat meal does not compromise laying performance or egg quality. The substitution is beneficial in terms of production cost reduction and the reduction of snails will have a beneficial impact especially where these snails are a serious agricultural pest. The manual collection and processing of snails can also become a source of rural income

Potential of Morinda (Morinda citrifolia L.) products as alternative to chemical additives in poultry diets

THE CONCERN overuse of chemical substances in poultryfeed has increased research into feed additives from plant origin. Morinda (Morinda citrifolia), a well-adapted and distributed shrub in the tropics, contains several substances which have nutritional and nutraceutical properties. These attributes justify the maximum utilisation of Morinda products in poultry feeding. Several products from the fruit, and leaves have antimicrobial, digestion enhancing, cholesterol reducing, immune modulation and heat stress reducing effects in poultry. Morindafruit powder at 2 g/kg diet relieved heat stress in broilers; 30 g/kg reduced plasma cholesterol below 50% in broilers and 150 g/kg improved weight gain and feed efficiency in quails. Extracts from thefruit/leaf at 50 g/kg diet improved weight gain, feed efficiency, immunomodulation and reduced plasma cholesterol and E. coli count in broilers; at 1.5ml/bird/day and 50 g/kg diet improved weight gain and feed efficiency in broilers and quails, respectively. Morinda fruit granules at 200 g/kg was recommended as optimum for egg production in quails.There is however, need for more research into plant and animal factors and processing methods for maximum utilisation of these products in poultry diets. Morindaroot has many functional properties but itsuse in poultry feeding is still limited and needs investigationin orderto broaden our knowledge of the application of Morinda products in poultry nutrition