Performance of local fowls fed plantain peels meal

Experiment was carried out to determine performance of day old local fowls, fed supplemented plantain peels meal (PPM). The birds were arranged in completely randomized design having six birds per replicate and two treatments comprising one test diet and one control diet. At starter phase, all the parameters (body weight, body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio) measured were not significant (p>0.05). The birds on the test diet had average initial weight, 42.00g while that of the control had average weight, 43.75g and at 5 weeks of age average weights of 133.30g and 134.54g (p>0.05) ,respectively. At the finisher phase, all the parameters measured were not significant (p>0.5). The prices per kg of feed for the test and control diets were N93.05 and N95.05, respectively. Therefore, PPM inclusion fed at early stage of life of the birds enhanced performance at a lower costKeywords: Performance, local fowls, plantain peels mea

Blood chemistry and relative organ weights of rabbits fed neem leaf meal based diets

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of neem leaf meal (NLM) based diets on blood and relative organ weight characteristics of rabbits. In the first experiment, 36 rabbit bucks aged 7 to 8 months were distributed into four dietary groups, T1 , T2 T3 and T4 of 9 rabbits using completely randomized design. Each group was replicated 3 times with 3 rabbits per replicate. Rabbits in T1 group were fed diet that contained 0% NLM while those in T2 T3 and T4 groups were fed diets that contained NLM at 5%, 10% and 15%, respectively for 112 days. In the second experiment, 36 rabbit does were used and experimental procedures were laid out as described in experiment 1. Blood samples for analysis, live weight and organ weights were collected from each replicate and data obtained analysed statistically. Higher (p<0.05) kidney weight was obtained for rabbit does on diets T2 T3 and T4 . Bucks on diet T2 recorded significantly (p<0.05) higher pancreas weight than those on diet T1 diet. No significant effect (p>0.05) on haematological parameters was observed among all treatments except for MCV and neutrophils which were significantly (p<0.05) decreased in the groups fed diets T2 and T4 and diets T1 and T3 groups respectively than others. Rabbit bucks and does on diet T1 recorded significantly (p<0.05) higher serum cholesterol values than those on the other diets. Serum glucose value of rabbits on diet T4 was significantly (p<0.05) different from those on the other diets. Serum ALP value of rabbits on diet T1 differed significantly (p<0.05) from those on the other 3 diets with the exception of bucks on diet T4 that had similar value with those on diet T1 . Addition of neem leaf meal in rabbit diets increased serum AST and ALT values but the differences were not significant (p>0.05). It was therefore concluded that up to 5% of neem leaf meal can be included in the diet of pubertal rabbits without any deleterious effects on their organs and blood characteristics.Keywords: Rabbits, neem leaf meal, haematology, serum biochemistry, organ

Nutritional Evaluations and the Effects of Ensiled and Sun-Dried Cassava Peel Meals on the Performance of Finisher Broilers

A 28-day feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of dietary inclusion of ensiled cassava peel meal (ECPM) and sun-dried cassava peel meal (SCPM) on the performance of finisher broilers. Three treatment diets were formulated such that 50% of the maize in diet 1 (control) was replaced in diet 2 with ensiled cassava peel meal (ECPM) and in diet 3 with sun-dried cassava peel meal (SCPM). Each diet was fed to a group of 20 finisher broilers for four weeks. The birds fed on SCPM diet recorded significantly (p<0.05) depressed body weight. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the control birds and birds fed the ECPM diet in terms of body weight gain and growth rate. The feed conversion ratio of the groups followed similar trend. There was however significant difference (p<0.05) between the average feed intake of the control birds and those on sun dried cassava peel meal. Cost of feed was reduced by about 20% by replacing 50% of the maize in the control diet with either ECPM or SCPM in the finisher diets

Growth performance of boilers fed palm oil treated diets supplemented with Vitamin E.

No Abstract.Animal Production Research Advances Vol. 4 (1) 2008: pp. 78-8

Biometric measurements of body and internal organ traits of indigenous chickens on free range in South-Eastern Nigeria

A biometric study of the body conformation and internal organs of the indigenous chickens on free range in rural areas of Imo State in South-Eastern Nigeria was conducted using 5 Local Government Areas. It was observed that the predominant plumage colours were black (51.25%) and brown (36.25%) for the hens while the cocks were predominantly black (30.36%) and red (25.01%). The dressed colour of the birds was majorly yellow and white comprising of (70.68%) and (29.32%) for the hens and (77.75%) and (22.25%) for the cocks, respectively. Shank colour was black (95.4%) and white (4.65%) for the hens, while the cocks were (54.24%) black and (46.76%) white respectively. The mean shank length, neck length and back length of 6.725±0.09 cm, 11.11±0.20 cm and 17.77±0.29 cm were estimated for the hens, while the cocks had mean shank length, neck length and back length of 7.79±0.13 cm, 11.35±0.30 cm and 18.29±0.44 cm, respectively. The mean body weights of the hens and cocks were 868.48±21.18 g, and 1032±57.84 g, respectively with cocks being significantly (P<0.05) higher in body weight and back length than hens. The mean biometric and internal organ measures of chickens per Local Government Area (LGA) were also investigated with no significant (P>0.05) differences among chickens in the five LGAs except for weight of proventriculus and full intestine. Regression equations for the prediction of body weight using the biometric and internal organ measurements were obtained under two functional forms (linear and semi-log) which showed a weak coefficient of determination (R2) ranging between 7.5 to 24.3% for biometric measurements, and a strong coefficient of determination (R2) ranging between 21.4 to 98.89% for internal organs. There was no significant correlation coefficient (r) between the biometric measurements taken, but strong and significant correlation (r) was shown between internal organs and body weight. Therefore, indigenous chickens of South-Eastern Nigeria exhibit wide variability among phenotypes in terms of physical appearance, biometric measurement and internal organ characteristics. More so, the internal organs can be predicted more effectively than biometric measurements by the body weight, using regression models of the two functional forms; and significant indirect selection can be made to improve internal organs like gizzard weight using the bodyweight, due to significant correlation coefficient established.Keywords: - biometric, internal organs, prediction equation, indigenous chicken, extensive, South -Eastern Nigeria