Nutritional evaluation of palm kernel meal types: 1. Proximate composition and metabolizable energy values

Studies were conducted to determine the proximate composition and metabolizable energy values of palm kernel meal (PKM) types. The PKM types studied were obtained from Okomu, Presco and EnvoyOil Mills and were either mechanically or solvent extracted using different varieties of palm kernels. Samples of PKM types were assayed for proximate composition and the results obtained indicated thatOkomu, Presco and Envoy PKM resulted in crude protein values of 14.50, 16.60 and 19.24%, respectively. Crude fibre values were in the order of 10.00, 12.29 and 17.96%, respectively for Okomu,Presco and Envoy PKM types. Envoy PKM resulted in the lowest fat content (1.30%) while Okomu and Presco PKM gave fat values of 9.48 and 7.59%, respectively. The values of ash ranged from 3.40 to4.34% and nitrogen free extract, 50.05 to 53.42%. Apparent metabolizable crude energy values were 2654, 2423 and 1817 for Okomu, Presco and Envoy PKM, respectively. It can be concluded that Okomu and Presco PKM which were mechanically extracted had close nutrient values and were particularly higher in fat but lower in protein as compared to Envoy PKM

Bio-Chemical Evaluation of Yam Peel Meal for Broiler Chickens

The nutritional properties and inclusion levels of yam peel meal (YPM) in broiler diets were investigated. Four diets in which YPM substituted maize at 0, 25, 50 and 75% were fed to 180 Anak broiler-type chickens over a 63-day period. Results indicated that YPM contained 89.74% dry matter (DM), 12.03% crude protein (CP), 9.31% crude fibre (CF), 1.03% ether extract (EE), 8.56% ash and 69.07% nitrogen-free extract (NFE). Similarly, mineral analysis revealed that YPM contained 0.12% calcium, 1.28% phosphorus, 0.16% magnesium, 0.31% potassium and 0.91% sulphur among others. The amino acid contents observed were: Alanine, 0.60%; arginine, 0.87%; leucine, 0.51%; lysine, 0.83%; methionine, 0.21%; phenylalanine, 0.38% and proline, 0.29% among others. Yam peel meal resulted in apparent metabolisable energy (AME) of 3,070.5 kcal/kg and AMEn of 3,027.4 kcal/kg. Results of the feeding trial indicated that body weight gain of broiler chickens was not significantly depressed (P>0.05) except at 75% replacement level. Feed intake per bird was not significantly affected (P>0.05) by diets. Feed-to-gain ratio appeared to increase with increase in the level of dietary YPM. There was a decrease in feed ost per bird as dietary YPM increased. Increased level of dietary YPM seemed to increase water intake by broiler chickens. From the results of the studies, it can be concluded that YPM can substitute up to 50% of dietary maize for broiler chickens without any adverse effect on performance and at reduced cost of feed production.Keywords: yam peel, amino acids, minerals, broiler starter, broiler finisher, fiber, dietsJournal of Agriculture and Social Research (JASR) Vol. 11, No. 1, 201

Nutritional Evaluation of Yam Peel Meal for Pullet Chickens: 2. Effect of Feeding Varying Levels on Sexual Maturity and Laying Performance

A study was conducted to determine the effect of replacing maize with yam peel meal (YPM) on sexual maturity and laying performance of pullet chickens reared on yam peel meal (YPM) based diets from day-old to point-of-lay. A total of 150 gold-coloured Anak pullet-type chicks were used for this study. The birds were reared on their various diets up till point-of-lay (20 weeks). Thereafter, they were fed a common layer diet over a 35-day trial period. The results indicated that for Diets, 1 (0%), 2(25%), 3 (50%), 4(75%) and 5 (100%), days to first egg were in the range of 161, 147, 155, 155 and 169 respectively. Weight of first egg (g) resulted in values of 50.30, 50.83, 45.83, 45.83, 45.53 and 41.63. The birds fed Diets 2, 3 and 4 in which YPM substituted 25, 50 and 75% of dietary maize attained 5, 15, 25 and 50% hen day production (HDP) earlier compared to those fed control diet and Diet 5(100% replacement) which indicated almost similar values. Weekly HDP was depressed with increasing dietary level of YPM but only significantly so at weeks 23 and 24 with particular reference to Diets 4 and 5. This was about the same trend with average weekly egg weight. Conclusively, substituting maize with YPM in pullet diets hastened sexual maturity and improved laying performance.Keywords: Nutritional evaluation, yam peel meal, pullet, sexual maturity, layingperformance

Nutritional Evaluation of Yam Peel Meal for Pullet Chickens: 1. Effect of Feeding Varying Levels on Performance from Day- Old to Point-of-Lay

Studies were conducted to determine the effect of replacing 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% dietary maize with yam peel meal (YPM) on performance characteristics of pullet starter and grower chicks. Consequently, five experimental diets were fed to 150 Anak pullet chicks from day-old to point-of-lay to cover the starter phase (1 to 9 weeks of age) and the grower phase (10 to 20 weeks of age). The results of the pullet starter trial indicated that final body weights (g/bird) were in the order of 479.2, 404.8, 469.2, 442.5 and 350.0 for 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% respectively. Feed intake values (g/bird) were in the order of 3184, 3281, 2953, 3235 and 3251. Feed cost per bird (N) resulted in values of 215.3, 197.3, 155.4, 146.0 and 122.3. Average daily water intake values (ml/bird/day) were 72.6, 75.0, 69.0, 71.2 and 71.9. Similarly, the results of the trial with pullet growers indicated final body weights (g/bird) of 1336, 1260, 1255, 1260and 883. Total feed intake (g/bird) resulted in values of 4728, 4964, 4334, 4038 and 3936. Feed cost per bird (N) decreased linearly with increasing levels of dietary YPM and resulted in values of 279.55, 261.50, 200.37, 160.63 and 131.17. Average daily water intake (ml/bird/day) was in the order of 180.6, 172.2, 191.0, 231.9 and 218.0. From the results of the studies it can be concluded that YPM can substitute up to 75% of maize in the diets of pullet starter and grower chicks without adverse effects on performance and at reduced cost of production.Keywords: Nutritional evaluation, yam peel meal, pullet, performance

Nutritional evaluation of palm kernel meal types: 2. Effects on live performance and nutrient retention in broiler chicken diets

Studies were conducted to determine the effect of palm kernel meal (PKM) types on productive performance and nutrient retention of broiler chickens. The three PKM types used in this study wereobtained from different sources and were processed using different methods or different types of kernel. The results obtained indicated that for the starter phase, Okomu and Presco PKM diets gavemean body weight gain values (g/bird) of 924.1 and 922.0 which were similar to that of control diet (955.1) but superior to that of Envoy PKM diet (823.4). Feed intake values were 1802.0, 2087.1, 2017.8and 1924.44 g/bird; feed cost per bird (N) was in the order of 94.82, 87.28, 84.38 and 77.02 for control diet, Okomu, Presco and Envoy PKM diets, respectively. For the finishing phase, Okomu and PrescoPKM diets which were comparable in all the parameters were superior to Envoy PKM in terms of final body weight and body weight gain. Feed intake values were 2869.5, 3280.9, 3106.4 and 2674.0 g/bird forcontrol diet, Okomu, Presco and Envoy PKM diets (Diets 1, 2, 3 and 4), respectively. Feed cost per bird (N) was 145.93 for Diet 1, compared with 127.45, 119.72 and 99.01 for Okomu, Presco and Envoy PKMdiets, respectively. Percentage nutrient retention was optimal for animal performance on the PKM based diets. It can be concluded that mechanically processed PKM can replace 50% of maize in the dietwithout any adverse effect on performance of broiler chickens