Effects of Dietary Neem (Azadirachta indica) Leaf Extract on the Performance of Laying Hens

The effects of dietary neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extract (NLE) on egg production, egg quality characteristics and blood indices of laying hens were investigated. Dry matter content of fresh neem leaves was determined and used to determine the quantity of the fresh leaves to be extracted to correspond with the required dietary dry matter inclusion. Three white maize-based experimental diets were made such that diet 1 (control) contained no NLE while diets 2 and 3 contained 2.5% and5.0% NLE respectively, representing 2.5% and 5.0% dry leaf meal. Seventy-two laying hens were divided into 3 groups of 24 birds each and each group randomly assigned to one of the diets and fed for 8 weeks. Average daily feed intakes of the birds (101.3g, 104.8 g and 104.5 g) were not affected by the treatments (P> 0.05). The groups on NLE diets lost weight. At 5.0% dietary level, NLE significantly (P 0.05). The NLE had limited effect on egg yolk colour. The weights of the internal organs were not affected by the treatments (P> 0.05) but NLE tended to deplete blood haemoglobin. It is recommended that for optimalperformance, inclusion of NLE in layers diets should be limited to 2.5 percent

Effect of graded dietary levels of Garcinia Kola seed meal on performance, intestinal microbial load, haematological and serum biochemical profile of rabbits.

Effect of dietary Garcinia kola seed meal (GKSM) (bitter kola) on the performance, microbial activities and blood constituents of rabbits were investigated. Four rabbit grower mash were prepared such that diet T0 (control) contained no Garcinia kola seed meal while diets T1, T2 and T3 contained 2.5%, 5.0% and 7.5% Garcinia kola seed meal, respectively, partly replacing maize. Each diet was fed to a group of 9 grower rabbits for 56 days, in completely randomized design (CRD) experiment. Each group was further subdivided into three replicates of 3 rabbits each. Faecal samples were collected from four rabbits per treatment at the first and last weeks of the experiment and used to determine intestinal microbial load of the rabbits. At the end of the feeding trial, blood samples were randomly collected from four rabbits per treatment and used to determine heamatological and serum biochemical profile of the rabbits. Body weight gain, daily body weight gain and feed conversion ratio (g feed/g gain) of the groups on GKSM diets decreased significantly (P < 0.05) while the feed intake increased (P < 0.05). GKSM had no significant effects (P<0.05) on the parasite, cysts of Isospora belli, but significantly eradicated Salmonella and Streptococcus species. Haematological indices (RBC, HB, PCV, MCV, MCHC, MCH, WBC and platelets) were not affected by the treatments (P > 0.05). There were no traces of eosinophils, basophils and monocytes. Biochemical indices (serum cholesterol, serum protein, serum albumin, serum globulin) were also not significantly affected (P > 0.05) by the treatments. The glucose levels of GKSM fed groups were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced. The electrolytes (potassium, sodium and chloride) as well as calcium and bicarbonate levels were not affected by the treatments (P > 0.05). Cost of production (N/Kg gain) was highly increased with increase in dietary GKSM.Keywords: Diets, Garcinia kola, grower rabbits, performance

Physiochemical nature and nutritive value of dried cassava Fufu meal for laying hens

No Abstract.Nigeria Agricultural Journal Vol. 39 (1&2) 2008: pp. 44-4

The performance and egg quality characteristics of layers fed diets containing graded levels of Garcinia kola seed meal

Effects of dietary Garcinia kola meal (bitter kola) on the performance and egg quality characteristics of laying hens were investigated. Four layers diets were made such that diet T0 (control) contained no Garcinia kola meal while diets T2.5, T5.0 and T7.5 contained 2.5%, 5.0% and 7.5% Garcinia kola meal, respectively. Each diet was fed to a group of 30 laying hens at 30 weeks of laying life for 84 days, using completely randomized design (CRD). Each group was further sub-divided into three replicates of 10 hens each. The layers on T2.5 and T5.0 diets added significantly (P < 0.05) less body weight than those on T0 and T7.5 diets. There were no significant differences in their feed intake (P > 0.05). T2.5 significantly (P < 0.05) depressed hen-day egg production but enhanced egg weight. Feed conversion ratio (g feed/ g egg) was not affected by the treatments (P > 0.05). Egg quality indices (egg shape index, egg specific gravity, Haugh unit, egg shell thickness, albumen index and yolk index) were not affected by the treatments (P > 0.05). Egg shell index was significantly (P<0.05) enhanced by Garcinia kola meal. At 2.5% level, it significantly enhanced percent albumin and reduced percent yolk (P<0.05). Cost of egg production (N/kg eggs) was adversely increased as the level of Garcinia kola meal increased.Key words: Egg production, egg quality, Garcinia kola, laying hens

Gelatinization of fermented cassava tuber meal and its nutritive value for broilers

The effect of fermentation of cassava tuber followed by its gelatinization was evaluated as a method of processing cassava for use as source of energy in broiler diets. Peeled and unpeeled cassava tubers were separately fermented in water for 4 days, dried in the sun and then milled to produce fermented peeled and unpeeled cassava tuber meals, respectively. The dusty meals were then gelatinized by mixing with water in pots seated over fire at the rate of 1kg of cassava tuber meal to one litre of water and stirred until they gelatinized into fufu. The gelatinized pastes were then taken bit by bit and flattened on polythene sheets and dried in the sun. The resultant fermented and gelatinized peeled and unpeeled cassava tuber cakes were then milled to produce fermented and gelatinized unpeeled cassava tuber meal (UFGC), a brownish-looking non-dusty product and fermented and gelatinized peeled cassava tuber meal (PFGC), an ash-looking non-dusty product. Three broiler diets were made such that diet 1 (control) contained maize as source of energy, while in diets 2 and 3, the maize in the control diet was completed replaced with UFGC and PFGC, respectively, both in the starter and finisher diets. One hundred and twenty (120) broiler chicks were divided into 3 groups of 40 birds each and each group assigned to one of the diets, using completely randomized design, and fed for 4 weeks with the starter diets and finisher diets for another 4 weeks. At the starter phase, the UFGC diets gained significantly (P < 0.05) less weight and consequently had poorer feed conversion ratio. There were no significant differences in feed intake (P < 0.05). At the finisher phase, the group on UFGC gained significantly (P < 0.05) more body weight. The groups on cassava diet tended to consume less feed and so had better feed conversion ratio. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in dressed weights and weights of internal organs but the group on PFGC diet accumulated significantly (P < 0.05) more abdominal fat.Keywords: Broiler, Cassava, diet, fermentation, gelatinization

Effects of Dietary Toasted and Sun-Dried Icacinia Mani (Earth Ball) Meals on the Performance, Serum Biochemical and Haematological Indices of Weaner Rabbits

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of dietary Icacinia mani (earth ball) meal (locally called efik isong by the Ibibios of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria) on the performance of weaner rabbits. Sun-dried Icacinia mani meal (SIMM) and toasted Icacinia mani meal (TIMM) were analyzed for hydrocyanic acid (HCN) content and proximate composition and then used to make 4 diets at 10% and 20% levels each, respectively. The 5th diet (control) contained no Icacinia mani meal. Thirty weaner rabbits, weighing 720–880 g, were divided into 5 groups of 6 rabbits each and each group randomly assigned to one of the 5 experimental diets in a completely randomized design. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. Forage was provided to them as basal diet. At the end of the trial, the rabbits were slaughtered and their blood collected for determination of haematological and serum biochemical indices. No trace of HCN was detected but SIMM contained 6.13 % CP, 5.0 % EE, 8.62 % CF, 3.8 % ash and 76.5 % NFE which were not significantly affected by toasting. Feed intake, growth rate and feed conversion ratio of the rabbits on the control diet were significantly (P 0.05) and significantly (