Performance Characteristics of Indigenous Turkeys Fed Indomie Waste Based Diets

. This study evaluated the performance of Turkey poults fed indomie waste based diet. A total of ninety six (96) local strain Turkey poults were allotted to four dietary treatment in which indomie waste was used to replace maize at 0, 33.33, 66.67 and 100% levels, representing one to four treatments respectively. Each treatment was replicated three times with eight poults per replicate. The study which lasted for eight weeks was a completely randomized design experiment. Results showed that indomie waste significantly increased the average weight gain and improved feed conversion ratio. The cost of feed per kg decreased with increasing levels of indomie waste in the diet. The lowest cost was obtained at 66.67% inclusion level. It was evident that indomie waste could be incorporated into the diet of local strain Turkey poults up to 66.67% level without any deleterious effect on the performance of the Turkeys. There is also a concomitant reduction in feed cost per kg weight gain

Physiological Response Of Laying Birds To Neem (Azadirachta Indica) Leaf Meal-Based Diets: Body Weight Organ Characteristics And Haematology

A 12-weeks feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of Neem (Azadirachta indica) leafmeal (NLM) on body weight gain, carcass and organ characteristics and haematological values of laying hens. The leaves were harvested, chopped to facilitate drying in the sun until they became crispy but still greenish in coloration. The Sun-dried leaves were milled using a hammer mill to produce the leaf meal. Four layers diets were formulated to contain the NLM at 0%,5%, 10% and 15% dietary levels respectively and were used to feed 120 Shikka brown layers already 10 months in lay. The birds were divided into 4 groups of 30 each and randomly assigned to the 4 treatment diets in a completely randomized design (CRD). NLM did not show any appreciable difference in weight gain between the birds at 0% and those at 5%, 10% dietary levels. Carcass weight, dressed weight, liver, heart and gizzard weights were significantly (P<0.05) increased at 5% dietary level of NLM. There were no significant difference in Hb and PCV between birds on O% and 5% treatment diets. However, these differed significantly (P<0.05%) from those of birds on 10% and 15% treatment diets. There were variations in the differential WB count , marked lymphocytopenia adversely affected the total leucocyte counts in the birds on 5%, 10% and 15% treatment diets. The results of this study suggest that laying birds could tolerate 5%- 15% dietary levels of NLM without deleterious effects

USE OF FERMENTED CASSAVA, PALM KERNEL CAKE AND DRIED BREWERS«¤?? GRAINS TO PRODUCE MAIZE- FREE LOW-COST DIETS FOR LAYING HENS

An experiment was carried out to determine the performance of laying hens fed maize-free diets based on combinations of fermented cassava tuber meal (FCMT), palm kernel cake (PKC) and dried brewers«¤?? grains (DBG) as source of energy. Diet I (control) contained maize as the main source of energy while diets 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 contained FCTM, PKC and DBG at percentages of 30, 20, 20; 35, 15, 20; 35, 20, 15; 25, 20, 25 and 25, 25 and 20, respectively, completely eliminating maize. Each diet was fed to a group of 24 laying hens for 12 weeks, using completely randomized design (CRD). The layers on the maize-free diets tended to consume more feed than those on the control diet. The group on diet 3 (35%: 15%: 20%) recorded significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher hen-day egg production (69.50%) than those on the other diets. There were no significant differences (P&gt;0.05) in egg weights. The group on the control diet and that on diet 3 recorded significantly (P&lt;0.05) superior feed conversion ratios. Haugh unit of the eggs from diet 4 was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher than the others. Diets 3 recorded the lowest feed cost of egg production with the value of N178.67 per kg eggs as against N210.25 per kg eggs from the control. The results of the trial have shown that fermented cassava tuber meal, palm kernel cake and dried brewers«¤?? grains can be used to produce maize-fee low-cost diets for laying hens if properly combined

USE OF FERMENTED CASSAVA, PALM KERNEL CAKE AND DRIED BREWERS’ GRAINS TO PRODUCE MAIZEFREE LOW-COST DIETS FOR LAYING HENS

An experiment was carried out to determine the performance of laying hens fed maize-free diets based on combinations of fermented cassava tuber meal (FCMT), palm kernel cake (PKC) and dried brewers’ grains (DBG) as source of energy. Diet I (control) contained maize as the main source ofenergy while diets 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 contained FCTM, PKC and DBG at percentages of 30, 20, 20; 35, 15, 20; 35, 20, 15; 25, 20, 25 and 25, 25 and 20, respectively, completely eliminating maize. Each diet was fed to a group of 24 laying hens for 12 weeks, using completely randomized design (CRD). Thelayers on the maize-free diets tended to consume more feed than those on the control diet. The group on diet 3 (35%: 15%: 20%) recorded significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher hen-day egg production (69.50%) than those on the other diets. There were no significant differences (P&gt;0.05) in egg weights. Thegroup on the control diet and that on diet 3 recorded significantly (P&lt;0.05) superior feed conversion ratios. Haugh unit of the eggs from diet 4 was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher than the others. Diets 3 recorded the lowest feed cost of egg production with the value of N178.67 per kg eggs as against N210.25 per kg eggs from the control. The results of the trial have shown that fermented cassava tuber meal, palm kernel cake and dried brewers’ grains can be used to produce maize-fee low-costdiets for laying hens if properly combined

Evaluation of the Nutritive Value of Mixture of Fermented Bovine Blood and Rumen Digesta for Broiler Finisher

A 35-day feeding trials involving three hundred (300) 5 week old broilers was carried out in a completely randomized design to evaluate the performance, organ characteristics, nutrient utilization and economic analysis of broiler finishers fed diets containing a mixture of fermented dried bovine blood and rumen digesta (FBBRD) at dietary levels of 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% respectively. At the end of the feeding trials, two birds were randomly selected from each treatment and transferred to a metabolism cage for faecal collection and determination of nutrient digestibility. Another set of five (5) birds were randomly selected from each treatment for carcass and organ weight evaluation. Birds on the test material performed generally better in all the parameters measured than the control group. There were no significant (P&lt;0.05) difference among the groups in relative organ weight. The groups on the test materials (FBBRD) also recorded better nutrient nutrient utilization values than the control group. The results suggest that up to 20% inclusion level of FBBRD meal could be tolerated by broiler finisher without any adverse effects on performance. Keywords: Fermented Bovine Blood and Rumen Digesta, Performance, Broiler Finisher

Effects of trona treatment on the feeding value of jackbean (Canavalia - ensiformis) for broiler birds

35 - day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of trona on the nutritive value of jackbean. One batch of jackbean was soaked for 48 hours in trona solution (3% of the weight of jackbean) prior to cooking for 30 minutes, dried and ground into meal. The second batch was cooked directly in the presence of trona (3% of the weight of jackbean) for 30 minutes, then dried and ground into meal. Jackbean meals so prepared were then used to formulate broiler finisher diets at 0%, 20%, 25%, and 30% levels respectively (Table 3). Two hundred and eighty (280), 21-day old broiler chicks were divided into 7 groups and each group randomly assigned to the 7 treatment diets in a completely randomised design (CDR). Each group was further sub-divided into four replicates. Feed and water were provided ad-libitum. The results of this trial suggest that jackbean meals so prepared significantly (P < 0.05) depressed performance of broiler finishers at all levels tested. When compared with the control, mortality was similar in all cases

Evaluation of Processed Velvet Bean (Mucuna Pruriens) as a Feed Ingredient in Starter Diets for Broiler Chickens

Raw Mucuna pruriens seed meal contains 30-32% crude protein, but also contains toxic substances, which limit its use as a feed ingredient for non-ruminant animals. Results on the use of M. pruriens seed in poultry nutrition have shown that heat treatment alone could only improve the nutritive value of Mucuna bean to the extent of 10% dietary level for broilers. A 28-day feeding trial was conducted to determine the performance of broiler chickens fed diets containing cracked, soaked and cooked velvet bean seed meal. The seeds were cracked, soaked in water and cooked before drying and milling. The processed meal contained 28.64% crude protein, 6.75% crude fibre, 6.00% ether extract and 2.20% ash. The cracked, soaked and cooked meal (CSCM) was included in a broiler chicken starter diet at 0,20,25 and 30% respectively. None of the three dietary levels of the seed meal significantly (P&gt;0.05) affected the performance of the birds in terms of feed intake and growth rate. Birds fed 30% CSCM had the lowest growth rate and grew to 83.3% of the control. At 30% dietary level, the feed conversion ratio was significantly (P&lt;0.05) decreased relative to the control. We conclude that cracking Mucuna seed prior to soaking in water and cooking, partially destroys its growth inhibiting factor(s), allowing successful use of up to 25% CSCM in broiler starter rations. Higher levels of CSCM reduced broiler performance although the results were much better than those of processed Mucuna bean in literature

Occurrence of Tet Gene-Bearing Antimicrobial-Resistant Escherichia coli From Dairy Farms in Nigeria

This study focused on antibiotic resistance genes as emerging contaminants with potential global human health implications. Intensive livestock farming has been identified as a major contributor to the spread of resistant bacteria and genes. The study examined antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli and tetracycline-resistant genes in raw milk from commercial dairy farms in Kano State. Out of 300 registered farms, 54 (18 %) were purposively sampled for the study. A total of 313 milk samples were collected and processed through enrichment and inoculation on selective media for Escherichia coli isolation. The antibiogram pattern of the isolated Escherichia coli strains was assessed using the disk diffusion method. The results revealed resistance to various antimicrobial agents, with no resistance to quinolones but high resistance to ampicillin (100 %), erythromycin (73.3 %), and tetracycline (46.7 %), among others. The multiplex polymer-ase chain reaction was conducted on all Escherichia coli isolates to detect tet genes (tet A, B, C, D, and M), and one isolate carried the tet M resistance gene, while six (40 %) others carried the tet A resistance gene. The study concludes that a significant proportion of the cultured Escherichia coli strains were resistant to one or more tested antibiotics, indicating a potential public health threat associated with Escherichia coli contamination in raw milk. We recommend implementing robust regulatory policies governing the use and sales of antimicrobials in animal production. Furthermore, we suggest further investigation into other resistant genes that these isolates might carry to better understand the extent of antibiotic resistance in the region

Performance And Economic Analysis Of Broiler Starter Fed Dried Rumen Digesta

A 28-day feeding trial involving 300, day-old Hubbard broilers was carried out in a completely randomized design to evaluate the performance and economic analysis of broiler starters fed dried rumen digesta meal at dietary levels of 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10% respectively. Feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ration of the groups were similar. Birds on dried rumen digesta showed slight increase in body weight gain and feed intake which was however not statistically significant (P>0.05). Dietary inclusion of dried rumen digesta reduced cost of producing one kilogramme of feed and this reflected in the feed cost savings (%), but the N/kg meat production values were inconsistent with the dietary levels of dried rumen digesta. Further research is necessary to investigate the biosafety of dried rumen digesta. Keywords: Dried rumen digesta, performance, broiler starter. International Journal of Agriculture and Development Vol. 9 2007: pp. 77-7