Comparative Resistance of Three Line Crosses of Broiler Chickens to Three Species of Eimeria

Resistance of three line crosses of broiler chickens to challenges with three species of Eimeria (E. tenella, E. maxima and E. acervulina) as measured by body weight gain, feed efficiency, pigmentation, liveability and faecal scores were compared in this study. Mild infections of E. acervulina, E. tenella and E. maxima produced growth depression from the infection during the first week post inoculation (pi). Differences in body weight gains at 7 days pi between the infected broiler strains (A x A verses B x A and D x D versus D x D) were significant (p<0.05), whereas, differences in weight gains between infected D x D and B x A were not significant (p>0.05). The uninfected birds had significantly better liveability (p<0.05) than the infected ones, but, the difference between the uninfected and the infected (B x A) was not significant (p>0.05). Feed efficiency for the entire period, D – 2 to D+14, for the three line crosses were best in the following order: B x A, D x D and A x A. The A x A line crosses had significantly more watery and bloody faces (p<0.05) than the other line crosses.  More watery and bloody faeces were seen at 7 days pi than any other day the faces were scored. The study shows that B x A line crosses of broilers performed significantly better (p<0.05) in all categories tested than the other line crosses

Comparative Resistance of Three Line Crosses of Broiler Chickens to Three Species of Eimeria

The resistance of three line crosses of broiler chickens to challenges with three species of Eimeria (E. tenella, E. maxima and E. acervulina) as measured by body weight gain, feed efficiency, pigmentation, liveability and faecal scores were compared in this study. Mild infections of E. acervulina, E. tenella and E. maxima produced growth depression in the infected birds during the first week post inoculation (pi). Differences in body weight gains at 7 days pi between the infected broiler strains (A x A verses B x A and D x D versus D x D) were significant (p<0.05); whereas, differences in weight gains between infected D x D and B x A were not significant (p>0.05). The uninfected birds had significantly better liveability (p<0.05) than the infected ones; but, the difference between the uninfected and the infected (B x A) was not significant (p>0.05). Feed efficiency for the entire period, D – 2 to D+14, for the three line crosses were best in the following order: B x A, D x D and A x A. The A x A line crosses had significantly more watery and bloody faces (p<0.05) than the other line crosses. More watery and bloody faeces were seen at 7 days pi than any other day the faces were scored. The study shows that B x A line crosses of broilers performed significantly better (p<0.05) in all categories tested than the other line crosses

Performance and some carcass measurements in starter broiler birds fed sweet potato meal (Ipomea batatas)

A 28 day feeding trial was conducted to investigate the performance and some carcass measurements in starter broiler birds fed sweet potato meal. Three hundred and five (305) Anak broilers of one week old were randomly assigned to five treatment diets. Diets 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 contain 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0% levels of sweet potato meal. Each treatment made up of 60 birds was replicated five times with twelve birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. The results of the experiment showed significant differences (p<0.05) in feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and cost of diet per Kg weight gain. The wing length, body length, body height, heart girth and drum stick did not differ (p>0.05) significantly. However, treatment T3 and T4 were found to be the most effective rations.Keywords: Sweet potato meal, Ipomea batatas, broiler starter, maize grain, poultry fee

Maternal and neonatal outcomes after caesarean delivery in the African Surgical Outcomes Study: a 7-day prospective observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Maternal and neonatal mortality is high in Africa, but few large, prospective studies have been done to investigate the risk factors associated with these poor maternal and neonatal outcomes. METHODS: A 7-day, international, prospective, observational cohort study was done in patients having caesarean delivery in 183 hospitals across 22 countries in Africa. The inclusion criteria were all consecutive patients (aged ≥18 years) admitted to participating centres having elective and non-elective caesarean delivery during the 7-day study cohort period. To ensure a representative sample, each hospital had to provide data for 90% of the eligible patients during the recruitment week. The primary outcome was in-hospital maternal mortality and complications, which were assessed by local investigators. The study was registered on the South African National Health Research Database, number KZ_2015RP7_22, and on ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT03044899. FINDINGS: Between February, 2016, and May, 2016, 3792 patients were recruited from hospitals across Africa. 3685 were included in the postoperative complications analysis (107 missing data) and 3684 were included in the maternal mortality analysis (108 missing data). These hospitals had a combined number of specialist surgeons, obstetricians, and anaesthetists totalling 0·7 per 100 000 population (IQR 0·2-2·0). Maternal mortality was 20 (0·5%) of 3684 patients (95% CI 0·3-0·8). Complications occurred in 633 (17·4%) of 3636 mothers (16·2-18·6), which were predominantly severe intraoperative and postoperative bleeding (136 [3·8%] of 3612 mothers). Maternal mortality was independently associated with a preoperative presentation of placenta praevia, placental abruption, ruptured uterus, antepartum haemorrhage (odds ratio 4·47 [95% CI 1·46-13·65]), and perioperative severe obstetric haemorrhage (5·87 [1·99-17·34]) or anaesthesia complications (11·47 (1·20-109·20]). Neonatal mortality was 153 (4·4%) of 3506 infants (95% CI 3·7-5·0). INTERPRETATION: Maternal mortality after caesarean delivery in Africa is 50 times higher than that of high-income countries and is driven by peripartum haemorrhage and anaesthesia complications. Neonatal mortality is double the global average. Early identification and appropriate management of mothers at risk of peripartum haemorrhage might improve maternal and neonatal outcomes in Africa. FUNDING: Medical Research Council of South Africa.Medical Research Council of South Africa