Fatty acid composition of meat from the hind leg cut of rabbits (Oryctolagus cunniculus): Fed diets containing graded levels of processed tallow (Detarium microcarpum) seed meal

Eighty one (81) weaned rabbits of mixed breeds and sexes (male and female) were randomly allotted to nine treatment groups with nine rabbits per treatment. Each treatment had three replicates with three rabbits per replicate. Processed tallow was included in the diets as a source of protein which was set at 16 % CP. The control diet had 100 % palm kernel cake (PKC) and 0 % tallow seed meal (TSM). Diets 1 - 4 contained cooked tallow seed meal (CTSM) included at 75 % PKC: 25 % CTSM, 50 % PKC: 50% CTSM, 25% PKC:75 % CTSM and 0 % PKC: 100 % CTSM, while groups 5 - 8 had fermented tallow seed meal diets (FTSM) and included at the same levels as in the cooked diets. Fifty four rabbits were randomly selected for slaughtering from the nine groups with six rabbits (male and females) per group. Fatty acid content of the hind leg of rabbits were determined. All the fatty acids measured were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the processing methods except decosenoic acid methyl ester and pentadecanoic acid methyl esters. The levels of inclusion of tallow also significantly (P<0.05) affected all the fatty acids composition measured. It was therefore concluded that irrespective of the processing methods the use of tallow in the diets of rabbits has no negative effect on the fatty acid composition of rabbit meat

Influence of dietary nano zinc and selenium supplementation on growth performance, nutrients digestibility and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of nano zinc and selenium supplementation on growth performance, nutrients digestibility and carcass characteristics of broiler chicks. Three hundred and twenty 28 day old broiler chicks of Arbor Acre strain were used in a completely randomized design with 4×4 factorial combinations. Birds were fed control diets containing 20% CP and 3000kcal/kg ME supplemented with varying levels of nano zinc (20, 30, 40.and 50mg/kg) and selenium (0.10, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.25mg/kg) respectively for 21 days. Data generated were subjected to Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS version 16.0). The supplementation of nano zinc (30mg) and selenium (0.10mg) increased weight gain, reduced feed consumed and better FCR. Dry matter, crude fibre, crude protein, ether extract and ash digestibility were significantly enhanced. The carcass traits were improved irrespective of the levels. The use of nano zinc and selenium in broiler feeding can improve productive performance of broiler chickens without any detrimental effect to the animal

Carcass characteristics and sensory evaluation of meat from growing rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) fed diets containing varying levels of fermented lebbeck (Albizia lebbeck) seed meal

Following a 12 weeks feeding trial with growing rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) fed diets containing varying levels of fermented Lebbeck (Albizia lebbeck) seed meal, forty-five (45) mixed breeds of rabbits aged between 6-8 weeks with an average initial weight of 588.87g were used to determine the carcass characteristics and sensory evaluation. Five experimental diets were formulated such that fermented Albizia lebbeck seed meal was included to replace groundnut cake at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 % on weight to weight basis using completely randomized design (CRD). The rabbits were randomly allotted to five treatments in three replicates with 9 rabbits per treatment and 3 per replicate. The rabbits were also offered fresh Amaranthus hybridus ad libitum daily. The results showed significant reduction of saponin from 90.0-12.33 (86.30%), Tannin from 2.12-0.00 (100%), Cyanide 63.66-0.43 (99.32%), Flavonoid 0.24-0.00 (100%) and Alkaloid 1.28-0.00 (100%) after fermentation. Feeding fermented Albizia lebbeck seed meal however, resulted in non-significant differences (P&gt;0.05) in dressed weight irrespective of inclusion level. The overall acceptability of both the cooked and fried meat also showed no significant difference (P &gt; 0.05) in all the dietary groups. It is therefore recommended that fermented Albizia lebbeck seed meal (FALSM) can be used to replace groundnut cake up to 20 % in rabbit diet with optimum carcass yield.Keywords: Rabbits; Albizia lebbeck seed; carcass characteristic

Effects of aqueous moringa oleifera leaf extracts on gut morphology and pH of hubbard broiler chickens

This study was conducted to determine the effect of varying aqueous Moringa oleifera leaf extracts (AMOLE) on the gut morphology and pH of&nbsp; Hubbard broiler chickens. A total of 240 Hubbard broiler chickens were randomly allocated into six treatments with four replicates in a completely randomized design. The treatments were positive control (AMOLE ), negative + control (AMOLE), AMOLE (60mL of the extracts per litre), AMOLE&nbsp; (90mL of the extracts 60 90 per litre), AMOLE (120mL of the extracts per litre) and AMOLE (150mL of the extracts 120 150 per litre). Data on gut morphology weight and length and their pH were measured and analysed by one way analysis of variance. The results showed that dressed, crop,&nbsp; large intestine, kidney and lung weights of birds were influenced (P&lt;0.05) by the treatments. Birds in the control treatments (94.67 %, 94.93 %) had the higher (P&lt;0.05) dressing percentage. Birds on the AMOLE had the higher (P&lt;0.05) crop and large intestine weights (4.47 60 and0.23 %, respectively). The birds on the AMOLE treatment had the largest kidney weight 90 of 0.33 %. Absolute crop and caecum length were influenced&nbsp; byaqueous Moringa oleifera leaf extracts while the relative caecum length was the only relative organ length that was influenced by aqueous Moringa oleifera leaf extracts treatment.The pH of the internal organs showed that the gizzards, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, caecum, kidney and lung were influenced (P&lt;0.05) by the treatments. Birds on positive control treatment had higher pH values in most of the parameters measured. Birds on the AMOLE had the lowest (P&lt;0.05) 120 duodenum, jejunum and lung pH. This study revealed AMOLE had influence on the gut morphology and pH of broiler chickens. Therefore, it can be concluded that the substitution of antibiotics as a growth promoter with aqueous Moringa oleifera leaf extracts up to 120 ml improved the gut morphology and pH of the intestinal segmentsin broiler chickens. Thus, is recommended that farmers, poultry producers and nutritionists to administer between 60 and 120 mL/litre of AMOLE in the drinking water of broiler chickens to nourish them for good gut morphology and optimum pH of their internal organs.&nbsp; Keywords: Aqueous, morphology, hubbard, Moringa oleifer

ROASTED AFRICAN STAR APPLE (Chrysophyllum albidum) KERNEL MEAL IMPROVES GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF GROWING RABBITS

Nutritionally, Chrysophyllum albidum seeds have been reported to contain high amount of energy. However, the presence of anti-nutritional substances such as phytate, oxalate, saponin, and tannin in the seeds hinder animals from benefitting from it nutritionally. A 12-week study was carried out to examine the effect of substituting dietary maize with roasted African star apple kernel meal (RASAKM) on growth performance and blood indices of growing rabbits. A total of forty eight weaner rabbits (mixed breed, average weight, 590 g) were randomly allocated to four experimental diets containing 0, 5, 10 and 15 % RASAKM as substitute for dietary maize in a Completely Randomized Design. Roasted ASAKM influenced (P0.05) weight gain (17.47 g and 16.69 g) with those fed the control diet (18.62 g). Rabbits fed 5 and 10 % RASAKM diets produced higher (P0.05) by the dietary treatments except for white blood cell and monocytes. It was concluded that RASAKM could be used up to 10 % to replace dietary maize in the diet of growing rabbits without compromising performance and carcass quality

Effect of soft and moderately hard water intake on meat quality characteristics of broiler chickens

A Fifty-six (56) days experiment was conducted to evaluate the “Effect of soft and moderately hard water intake on meat quality characteristics of broiler chickens”. Three hundred (300) day old broiler chickens of Hubbard breed were used. The  chickens were randomly allotted to two (2) treatment groups. Group one are chickens administered soft water (SW) and group two are chickens administered moderately hard water (MHW). Each treatment had six replicates with twenty-five (25) birds per  replicate. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. Data were collected on carcass  cut-up parts and visceral organs, breast meat quality   characteristics and breast meat proximate composition. The percentage cut-up parts and visceral organ characteristics were significantly (P&lt;0.05) different. Breast meat quality characteristics was also significantly (P&lt;0.05) different in cold breast meat water holding capacity. Breast meat proximate composition values were also significantly different in the ether extract. MHW can replace SW without any adverse effect on meat quality characteristics of broiler chickens.Key words: Soft; Moderately, Hard water; Meat quality; Broiler chickens