Effect of phytase and protease supplementations on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens fed suboptimal levels of crude protein

Two hundred and seventy (270) day old unsexed Arbor Acre broiler chicks were assigned to nine dietary treatments comprising three replicates of 10 chicks each. During the starter phase birds were fed the control 23% crude protein (CP) without enzyme (T1), 21% CP without enzyme (T2), 21% CP plus phytase (PHY) (T3), 21% CP plus protease (PRO) (T4), 21% CP plus PHY and PRO (T5); and 19% CP without enzyme (T6), 19% CP plus PHY (T7), 19% CP plus PRO (T8), 19% CP plus PHY and PRO (T9). Phytase and protease supplementation followed the same arrangement in all the phases, but the crude protein were 23, 20 and 18% CP (in T1); 21, 18 and 16% CP (in T2, T3, T4 and T5) and 19, 16 and 14% CP (in T6, T7, T8 and T9) during starting, growing and finishing phases respectively. Feed and water were given unrestrictedly. The feed intake and weights of birds were recorded on weekly basis. Nutrient digestibility was determined at each phase and carcass evaluation was done at the end of the experiment. From 0-56 days, PHY supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) improved final body weight and daily weight gain in suboptimal CP diets (T3). Enzymes had no significant effect on the carcass characteristics except drumstick, which was highest (P < 0.05) on PRO treatments. The addition of phytase or protease alone and in combination increased the available nutrient levels and there was a significant effect of enzymes supplementation on nutrient digestibility. It could be concluded that phytase, protease and their combination improved performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass cut part of broiler chickens fed suboptimal crude protein diets.Keywords: Feed additives; enzymes; suboptimal crude protein; carcas

Performance And Carcass Characteristics Of Growing Rabbits Fed Bacterial Protein Meal

In an 84 days feeding trial, the effect of feeding bacterial protein meal (BPM) either as a replacement for fish meal or for groundnut cake meal in growing rabbits was examined. A total of 20 growing rabbits having an initial body weight of 617.2 (standard error 25) g were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments. A control diet based mainly on agro-industrial by-product palm kernel meal was formulated to meet the nutrient requirement of growing rabbits. Other conventional protein and energy rich ingredients such as maize, groundnut cake (GNC) and fish meal (FM) were included as composite at levels up to 17% of the weight. Bacterial protein meal (Streptomyces sp., species not specified by the manufacturer) with a crude protein, fat and fibre content of 70, 6.5 and 4.1%, respectively was added to the control diet (diet I) either as a replacement for FM at 0, 20 and 40 g/kg in diets I, II and III or as a replacement for GNC at 34 and 68 g/kg in diets IV and V, respectively. Each diet was offered to four rabbits housed individually in raised metal hutches with wire screen floors with each hutch representing an experimental unit. The rabbits were individually weighed on a weekly basis until the end of the experiment. Water and feed were supplied ad libitum and daily voluntary feed intake was monitored. Growing rabbits responded non-significantly (p > 0.05) in feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion to BPM as a replacement for either FM or GNC over the 84 days of experiment. Six rabbits (3 rabbits from each treatment) on diet I (zero inclusion of BPM) and diet V (highest level of BPM inclusion) were slaughtered at 12 weeks to determine carcass composition. The inclusion of BPM in diet V reduced the skin weight significantly (p < 0.004) and kidney fat weight (p < 0.067), while dressing percentage and other carcass indices were not significantly (p > 0.05) affected. It was concluded that BPM can completely (to 100 %) replace FM and GNC in the diet of growing rabbits. BPM also reduced kidney fat content (which is an index of carcass fatness). BPM can be fed (up to 6.8% of the total diet) to 5 - 6 weeks old rabbits through finishing with no adverse effect on growth or carcass characteristics

Effect of two direct-fed microbials and mycotoxin binder on performance and blood parameters of weaned pigs

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of multi-strain direct-fed microbials, mycotoxin binder and yeast culture on the growth performance and blood parameters of weaned pigs. Sixty four (64) crossbred (Landrace × Large White) weaned pigs with an average initial weight of 5.9 ±0.3 kg (± SE) were assigned to four dietary treatments in a completely randomised design. Each treatment had four replicates of four pigs each. Pigs on T1 were given control diet without any additive, while pigs on T2, T3 and T4 were fed the same diet as in T1, to which multi-strain direct-fed microbials, mycotoxin binder (bentonite) and yeast culture were added respectively and the study lasted for 56 days. There were significant (P&lt;0.05) differences in daily feed intake and daily weight gains, thereby resulting in variation in the final body weights across the groups. Pigs on T2 had the highest daily feed intake (kg) and cost of feed consumed per day (₦) but had the least feed conversion ratio and feed cost per kilogram weight gain (N/kg). The highest final body weight (20.90kg) was observed in pigs on treatment 2, while the least final body weight of 16.95kg was recorded with for pigs on treatment 4. The haematological parameters were within the normal range for healthy pigs and there was a significant effect of the feed additives on the serum biochemical parameters such as AST, ALT, ALP, glucose and albumin. It could be concluded that multi-strain direct-fed microbial promoted growth over and above the mycotoxin binder and yeast culture in weaned pigs and none of the feed additives had any deleterious effect on the health status of the weaned pigs.Keywords: Direct fed microbials, bentonite, feed additives, pigs, bloo

High quality cassava PEEL® mash supplemented with direct fed microbial as an alternate source of energy supplement: effect on performance and economic analysis of weaned pig

The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Direct fed microbial (DFM) on High quality cassava peel® (HQCP) utilization when HQCP is used to replace maize up to 15% out of total 40% maize in the diet of weaned pigs for weaner phase(1-8week), early growing phase(9-14week) and total trial period (1-14week). A total number of ninety (90) crossbred (Large White × Landrace) weaned pigs with an average initial weight of 11.10 ± 0.4 kg (± SE) were used for the study. The experimental animals were assigned to five dietary treatments (T) in a 2 × 2 +1 factorial design of eighteen weaned pigs per treatment. Pigs on T1 were given 40% maize- based diet without HQCP, while T2 had 7.5kg (18.75%) of the total maize replaced with HQCP and T3 had 15kg (37.5%) of total maize replaced with HQCP. The pigs on T4 were given same diet as in T2 with the addition of multi-strain DFM and pigs on T5 were given the same diet with those on T3 with addition of multi-strain DFM. Experimental diets had no significant effects (p>0.05) on the body weight gain, final live weight, average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio were not adversely affected by the inclusion of HQCP and DFM supplementation in the diets for weaner phase and total trial period. For weaner phase the least final weight (24.42kg) was recorded in treatment 3 while the highest final (26.97kg) weight was recorded in treatment 2. Treatment 2 also recorded the highest final weight (40.25kg) for total trial period, but it was treatment 5 that has the least weight gain (36.77kg) for total trial period. Treatment 4 recorded the lowest daily weight gain (236.57g) for weaner phase while the highest daily weight gain (285.87g) for this phase was recorded in treatment 2. The same trend goes for the total trial period for the daily weight gain for total trial period. There was no significant (P>0.05) effect of DFM on the performance of the pigs for neither weaner phase nor for total trial period, as the treatments (T4&T5) with DFM inclusion did not give improved performance over the treatment(T2&T3) without the DFM. The feed conversion ratios range of 2.60 to 3.10 was obtained for weaner phase in this study. Treatment 2 recorded the least feed conversion ratio (2.60) while treatment 4 feed conversion ratio (3.10) was the highest. There was neither significant (P>0.05) effect of HQCP level nor DFM inclusion on all the performance parameters. The interaction between HQCP levels and DFM was likewise not significant (P>0.05). The cost of feeding per unit weight gain (₦/kg) was comparable among the groups mainly due to the savings on account of the lower cost of HQCP for both phases. It was therefore concluded that weaned pig can utilized HQCP up to 15% without any deleterious effect on their performance while addition of DFM may not be necessary in order to reduce cost of production

High quality cassava peel mash supplemented with direct fed microbial as an alternate source of energy supplement: Effects on performance and blood parameters in growing pig

The feeding trial was carried out to determine the effect of feeding high quality cassava peel mash (HQCP) with or without multi-strain direct fed microbials (DFM) as replacement for maize in the diet of growing pigs on growth, cost benefit, haematology and serum biochemical indices. A total of 90 growing pigs with an initial weight of 25.36±0.87 kg were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments in a 2×2+1 factorial arrangement in a completely randomised design. The factors were 2 levels of HQCP (7.5% and 15%), two DFMinclusions and a control diet with neitherHQCPnorDFM. Pigs on T1 were given corn (40%) based diet without HQCP, T2 had 18.75% of Maize (7.5kg) replaced by HQCP and T3 had 37.5% of total Maize (15kg) replaced byHQCP. The pigs in T4were given same diet as in T2 with addition of multi-strain DFMand animals on T5 were given the same diet with those on T3 with addition of multi-strain DFM microbial. Each treatment group had three replicates with six animals per replicate. No significant (P&gt;0.05) difference was observed in the performance characteristics of the growing pigs among the diets. The body weight gain ranged between 10.97 and 13.56 Kg in T5 and T3, respectively. The least feed conversion ratio of 3.98 was observed in T3 while the highest feed conversion ratio (4.77) was observed in T5.All the haematological and serum biochemical indices examined were not significantly (P&gt;0.05) different among the treatments. There was no significant (P&gt;0.05) effect ofHQCP, DFM or their interaction on all the haematological parameters analysed. There was significant effect of HQCP and DFM interaction on the serum cholesterol (p=0.0062), high density lipoprotein (p=0.05) and low density lipoprotein (p=0.0018). It can be concluded from this study that growing pigs can utilize HQCP up to 15% in their diet without any adverse effect