Economic importance and growth rate of broiler chickens served fluted pumpkin (Telfaria occidentalis) leaves extract

An 8-week experiment was conducted to assess the weight gain and the economic importance of broiler chickens served fluted pumpkin leaf extract (FPLE) during the late dry season in Ibadan, Nigeria.One hundred and twenty day-old Anak 2000 broiler chicks were randomly distributed to 5 treatments which contained 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 ml of FPLE per litre of water for A, B, C, D and E, respectively, in acompletely randomized design. Each treatment was replicated three times. The birds were fed with the same starter and finisher diets. The feed and water were served ad libitum. The experiment lasted for 8weeks. The FPLE is rich in protein (21.31%), ash (10.92%) and low in crude fibre, oxalate and tannin. Results of average body weight gain was significantly (

Spices and food condiments in Niger-Delta region of Nigeria

Spices and food condiments studies here have both local and international values and recognition. Forty seven crop species commonly used as spices and condiments in the rainforest ecosystem of the Niger delta region of Nigeria were evaluated. The study revealed that leafy vegetables are richer in crude protein (CP) than the spices and bulb. However, all these crops are rich in minerals, relatively low in crude fibre (CF), phylate, oxalate and tannin. Hence they need to form part of our daily diet. Gongronema latiffora had the highest concentration of CP (34.07%) and ash (15.50%), while the least was Allium cepa with 1.55% CP and 0.60% ash. Calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), sodium (Na) and iron (Fe) were the most available minerals. These crops are natural and contain mainly minerals and vitamins and sometimes stimulants and protein which are curative. Herbal medical practitioners are always in love with these plants because they add value to life when properly used and bring income to the farmers that cultivate them. There is need to intensify the cultivation of these crop species in all parts of Nigeria where they grow very well.Key words: Spices, food condiments, Niger Delta

Performance of broiler chickens served heat-treated fluted pumpkin (Telfaria occidentalis) leaves extract supplement

Performance of broiler chickens served heat-treated fluted pumpkin (Telfaria occidentalis) leaves extract (FPLE) was investigated. The experiment was carried out during the early rainy season of 2005.One hundred and twenty five day-old chicks of Anak 2000 were weighed and randomly distributed to five dietary treatments A, B, C, D and E which contained no FPLE (control), fluted pumpkin leaves (FPL)no heat treatment, FPL immersed in hot water (100°C) for 1, 3 and 5 min, respectively. Each treatment was replicated 3 times in a completely randomized design. The broiler starters were fed the samestarter diet, while broiler finishers were equally fed the same finisher diet. Water and feeds were served ad-libitum. The FPLE is a valuable protein and mineral supplement for broiler chickens. One to fiveminutes heat treatment of FPLE reduced the concentrations of phytate and tannin by 13.51 - 24.32 and 5.26 - 7.89%, respectively, but had no effect on the reduction of saponin. The results revealed that FPLEserved to the birds had significant (

economics importance of replacement of groundnut cake with full fat extruded soyabean meal on broiler production

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Effects of agro-industrial wastes on the performance of exotic cockerels

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Prospects and economics of broiler production using two plant protein sources

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Growth performance and nutrient digestibility of Wistar albino rats fed processed dehulled jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis)

A total of fifty 3-4 weeks old albino rats of the Wistar strain weighing 50-60g were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments in a completely randomized block design to investigate the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of the rats fed diets containing processed dehulled jack bean. Five diets were formulated to contain casein (T1)-control diet, dehulled jack bean soaked in filtrate obtained from raw pap(T2), dehulled jack bean soaked in lye solution (T3), dehulled jack bean boiled for 15minutes (T4) while a protein free diet served as a negative control (T5). The experiment lasted for 28-days.Dehulled jack bean significantly (P>0.05) influenced the growth parameters measured for the Wistar rats. Rats on control diets had the highest value for all the growth indices, feed intake (210.90g), final body weight (103.40g), body weight changes (41.90g), feed conversion ratio (5.10) and protein efficiency ratio (1.41). Rats on T2 (soaked in ‘ogi’ liquor) had feed intake value of (147.40g), followed by rats on T4 (boiled for 15minutes) (117.00g), T5 (negative control) (119.07) and T3 (soaked in lye solution) (79.40g) respectively. Rats on T4 had the highest value for final body weight (67.80g), body weight changes (6.30g), feed conversion ratio (12.27) and protein efficiency ratio (0.25) while rats on T3 had the lowest value for final body weight (67.80g), body weight changes (-32.45g), total feed intake (79.40g) with FCR of (-0.96) for the tested diets. Wistar rats placed on lye treated diet had depressed body weight changes of 59.8% compared to the control. Digestibility studies however showed that rats on control diets had the highest digestibility value of DM and other nutrients, while there was no significant (P<0.05) difference in digestibility value of CF, significant (P>0.05) differences existed in DM, digestibility value of CP, EE and Ash. Rats on T3 and T5 had the lowest digestibility value for Ash (11.48) and CP (37.66). Rats fed dehulled jack bean seed soaked in ogi liquor and boiled for 15 minutes showed slight improvement in growth performance and nutrient utilization over those fed lye soaked jack bean. All the processing methods were ineffective when compared to the performance of rat fed casein based diets.Keywords: Growth performance, Wistar rats and dehulled jack bea

Performance of different breeds of snails under the same management conditions

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