A comparison of the potency of groundnut and aplm oils as detoxicants of residual cyanide in Cassava tuber meal based broiler-starter rations

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Value of Bitter Leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) Meal as Feed Ingredient in the Diet of Finisher

A 28-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) leaf meal as feed ingredient on the performance, feed cost and carcass and organ weights of finisher broilers. The leaves were air dried under room temperature, ground and sieved through a 3 mm mesh to produce the meal. Laboratory analysis revealed that the meal contained 15.67 crude protein, 6.95 ether extract, 11.53 crude fibre, 13.00 total ash and 38.18% nitrogen free extract. The leaf meal was used at 0,5,10 and 15% inclusion levels to formulate the test rations. Thereafter 168 Marshall broiler strain (at their fourth week of age), were shared into four groups and assigned to the four treatment diets in a Completely Randomised Design (CRD). Data were collected on feed intake, body weights, feed conversion ratio, carcass and organ weights and cost of production. There were significant (P<0.05) differences in final body weight, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and carcass weights between the birds on the 0% inclusion of the leaf meal and the rest of the groups and between the birds on 5% and the birds on 10 and 15% inclusion levels. No significant difference (P>0.05) was observed in the organ weights. Abdominal fat weight, cost of feed production per kilogram price and profit made decreased significantly (P<0.05) as the inclusion levels of the leaf meal increased across the groups. The results of the study suggest that dietary inclusion of Vernonia amygdalina leaf meal in broiler finisher diet at a level not exceeding 10%, does not have any adverse effect on their performance

Evaluation of production parameters and nutrient utilization of hens fed rations containing Anthonata macrophyla seed meal

A 15-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the production parameters and nutrient utilization of hens fed rations containing Anthonata macrophyla seed meal. Anthonata macrophyla seeds were collected from the wild, washed, chopped into bits, milled and sun-dried to produce the test meal. The meal contained on dry matter basis 21.11% crude protein, 1.90% crude fat, 2.00% total ash, 5.03% crude fibre and 54.36% nitrogen free extract. Five (5) layer rations were formulated to contain the meal at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% level respectively. Two hundred and fifty Babcock hens in their 10th week of lay were divided into 5 groups of 50 hens each and randomly assigned to the 5 treatment rations in a completely randomized design (CRD). Data were collected on average final weight, body weight change, average feed intake, average hen-day lay, average egg weight, feed conversion ratio, cost of production of one kilogram of each test feed, cost of feed per 10 eggs, nutrient digestibility and utilization and organ weights. There were no significant (P > 0.05) differences observed in all parameters examined except in feed intake, egg weight and feed conversion ratio. The group on 20% inclusion level of Anthonata macrophyla seed meal recorded the least feed cost and the highest hen-day lay. No mortality was observed. The results of this experiment suggest that 20% of Anthonata macrophyla seed meal can be incorporated in the diet of laying hens. Animal Production Research Advances Vol. 2(2) 2006: 104-10

Effect of total replacement of maize with brewer's spent grain and maize offal on performance of laying hens

A 56-day feeding trial was conducted to determine the possibility of total replacement of maize component in layer diets with combinations of maize/sorghum-based brewer's dried grains and maize offal using 96 Shika Brown layers, 15 weeks in lay. Four experimental layer diets were formulated to contain maize, brewer's spent grains and maize offal at 50, 0, 0; 0,12.5, 37.5; 0, 25, 25; and 0, 37.5, 12.5 levels for T1 (control) T2. T3 and T4 respectively. Each diet was fed to a group of 24 layer hens already in their 15th week of lay for 56 days. There was no significant (p0.05) values but superior to T4. There was no significant difference observed in all groups in other egg quality characteristics – Haugh unit, albumen index and yolk index. Keywords: Maize; brewer's spent grain; maize offal; laying hens International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 2 (3) 2006: pp. 268-27

Nutritive Value of Maize/Sorghum Brewers’ Dried Grains Supplemented With Palm Oil in Broiler Starter Diets

A 28-day feeding trial involving 81 one-week-old Anak broilers was carried out in a completely randomized design experiment to investigate the nutritive value of maize/sorghum brewers’ dried grain (MSBDG) supplemented with palm oil in broiler starter diets. The diets were formulated to contain 0% levels of MSBDG without palm oil (T1) serving as control, T2 contained 8% MSBDG and 2% palm oil, and T3 contains 18% MSBDG and 2% palm oil. The treatment feeds were randomly assigned to the three experimental groups of 27 birds, sub-divided into three replicates of 9 birds each. Data were collected on feed intake, daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Feed intake of the birds on T1 was significantly (p<0.05) lower than that of T2 and T3 birds. Body weight gains of T1 and T3 bird were similar (p> 0.05) and better than T2 birds. Feed conversion ratio of T1 birds was better than T2 and T3, which were similar. It is possible to include MSBDG up to 18% with 2% palm oil in broiler starter diets when there is need to replace maize with an alternative feedstuff, considering the continual rise in the cost of maize and the fact that there are periods when palm oil prices are usually low in the Southeastern part of Nigeria. Keywords: Broilers, brewers’ dried grain, maize, sorghum, palm oi

Cassava root meal as substitute for maize in layers ration

The effect of replacing maize with graded levels of cassava root meal (CRM) as energy source in the diet of laying hens was evaluated during the eight weeks of feeding experiment on performance and cost benefits on layers. Forty-five Nera black laying hens of 24 weeks of age were allocated to five dietary treatments, with nine birds per treatment in a completely randomized design. CRM was used to formulate the diets at 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%. The result showed that the feed intake of birds in the control group was significantly (p<0.05) different from those fed the CRM diets. The average weight gain of layers receiving up to 50% CRM was similar to the control birds, but significantly different from layers fed 75 and 100% CRM. No mortality was recorded. Egg production per hen per day and average egg weight were significantly different (p<0.05) for birds consuming more than 50% CRM in T4 and T5. Layer feed ration was made cheaper by the replacement of maize with cassava root meal in the diets