Cassava root peel as a replacement for maize in diets for growing pigs: effects on energy and nutrient digestibility, performance and carcass characteristics

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate cassava root peel (CRP) as diet component for fattening pigs. In the first experiment, ten male pigs were used to investigate the nutrient digestibility and the nutritive value of CRP as replacement for maize in the diet at 0 %, 30 %, 40 %, 50 % and 60 %, while supplementing free amino acids (fAA). During two experimental periods, faeces were quantitatively collected and analysed for chemical composition. In the second experiment, 40 pigs received the same diets as in Experiment 1, and daily feed intake and weekly weight changes were recorded. Four pigs per diet were slaughtered at 70 kg body weight to evaluate carcass traits. Digestibility of dry and organic matter, crude protein, acid detergent fibre and gross energy were depressed (p0.05) at 60 % CRP; digestible energy content (MJ kg^(−1) DM) was 15.4 at 0 % CRP and 12.7 at 60 % CRP. In the second experiment, CRP inclusion had only a small impact on feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio (p0.05) as well as on the length of the small intestine and the Longissimus dorsi muscle area. The missing correlation of daily weight gain and feed-to-gain ratio up to a CRP inclusion of 40 % indicates that negative effects of CRP on pig growth can be avoided by respecting upper feeding limits. Hence, a combined use of CRP and fAA can reduce feeding costs for small-scale pig farmers in countries where this crop-by product is available in large amounts

Potential of Breadfruit Meal as Alternative Energy Source to Maize in Diet of Broiler Chickens

This study was conducted to investigate the response of broiler chickens to diets containing breadfruit meal (BFM). Two hundred and fifty-six (256) day-old unsexed Anak 2000 broiler chicks were randomly allotted to the eight dietary treatments consisting of four replicates of eight chicks each. The experimental layout was a 2×4 factorial arrangement with two types of breadfruit meal (raw and cooked breadfruit meal) and four levels (0, 10, 20, 30%) of each BFM (Table 2). The diets were balanced for energy and crude protein. Cooking of the BFM increased (P<0.05) daily weight gain of birds while it decreased (P<0.05) with increase in inclusion level of BFM. The interaction between processing and inclusion levels of BFM was significant (P<0.05) for daily weight gain, feed/gain and protein efficiency ratio. Crude fibre (CF), ash and nitrogen free extract (NFE) digestibility reduced (P<0.05) in cooked BFM diets while inclusion of BFM increased the NFE digestibility and reduced ash digestibility. Processing of BFM had no effect (P>0.05) on the measured serum metabolites except serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) which was reduced (P<0.05) with processing of BFM. Uric acid decreased (P<0.05) while globulin increased (P<0.05) with increased inclusion level of BFM. Relative weights of breast muscle, drumstick and thigh were higher in birds fed cooked BFM. Total cost of feed consumed per bird and cost of feed per kg weight gain decreased (P<0.05) in the BFM diets. Total cost of feed consumed per bird was higher (P<0.05) in cooked BFM but the cost of feed per kg weight gain decreased (P<0.05) in the cooked BFM

Feed value of enzyme supplemented cassava leaf meal and shrimp meal in pigs

Ten crossbred male pigs of 49.3±3.97 kg body weight were used to evaluate the digestibility, energy value and N (nitrogen) retention of two unconventional protein sources, i.e. cassava leaf meal (CLM) and shrimp meal (SM), with or without the addition of a nonstarch polysaccharide (NSP) enzyme complex (β-glucanase and xylanase). During two trial periods, each lasting 7 days, two pigs each were fed the following five experimental diets: Basal diet (BD), BD+cassava leaf meal with (CLM+E) and without enzyme addition (CLM) and BD+shrimp meal with (SM+E) and without enzyme (SM) supplementation.Total tract digestibility of Dry matter (DM) was general depressed in pigs fed diets containing the alternate protein sources. Crude protein (CP) and Gross energy (GE) digestibility were depressed in pigs fed cassava leaf meal (CLM) diet. Enzyme supplementation did not improve the digestibility of the energy and other proximate constituents. Faecal N output increased in pigs fed the alternate protein sources while Urine N and N retention were not affected (P>0.05) by the use of the alternate protein sources in the diets of pigs. There was reduced (P<0.05) conversion to ME in pigs fed diets containing the alternate protein sources. The ratio of DE/GE was lower in pigs fed diets containing CLM as compared to the basal diet. The digestibility energy values obtained for CLM, CLM+E, SM and SM+E were 10.2, 8.8, 10.1 and 10.0 MJ/kg DM respectively. Corresponding metabolizable energy were 9.8, 8.3, 9.0 and 9.3 MJ/kg DM, respectively. It was concluded that SM and CLM can be use individually be use in feeding growing pigs as partial substitute for the more expensive conventional plant protein feedstuffs, such as soybean; and can replace up to 23% of the diet of growing pigs.Keywords: Cassava leaf meal, shrimp meal, digestibility, N-retention, pig

Nutrient Utilization, Growth and Carcass Performance of Broiler Chickens Fed Graded Levels of Kolanut Husk

The effect of feeding kolanut husk meal (KHM) at five levels (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200g/kg) on growth performance and apparent nutrient digestibility of Anak 2000 broiler chicks was investigated. Weight gain and feed/gain were reduced (P<0.05) with increased level of KHM in the diets. Feeding of KHM decreased (P<0.05) nitrogen retention, dry matter, ether extract and ash apparent digestibility of the diets while crude fibre digestibility increased. No significant effect was found for feed intake but protein intake and protein efficiency ratio decreased (P<0.05) with increased KHM in the diets. Alkaline phosphatase, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyrurate transaminase and urea increased (P<0.05) with the levels of KHM in the diets while serum protein decreased with increased KHM levels. Carcass measurements indicated a significant (P<0.05) decrease in dressing percent, drumstick, breast and abdominal fat while weight of heart, liver and gizzard increased with KHM inclusion in the diet. Cost of feed reduced (P<0.05) with increased KHM level but the cost of feed per kg weight gain increased