Growth, Mineral Deposition, and Physiological Responses of Broiler Chickens Offered Honey in Drinking Water during Hot-Dry Season

Growing broilers were offered either 0 (0H), 10 (10H), 20 mL (20H) honey, or 0.5 g vitamin C/litre water (AA) during hot-dry season. Honey had no significant (>0.05) effect on feed intake (FI), weight gain (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), water intake (WI), survival (SURV), dressed percentage (DRE), breast meat (BRE), gizzard (GIZ), drumstick (DRU), shank (SHA), thigh (THI), tibia volume (VOL), and magnesium (MAG). Effect of honey was significant (0.005). Higher dose of honey lowered PR and HR. Honey significantly (0.05) affected. 20H broilers had higher THY than 0H and 10H groups. In conclusion, honey did not affect growth but might improve broilers’ welfare when offered up to 20H during hot periods

Genotypic differences in body weight and physiological response of local and exotic turkeys challenged with Salmonella typhimurium

To better understand susceptibility and/ or tolerance of locally adapted turkey to salmonellosis, we compared bodyweight, antibody titres and physiological traits based on genotype and sex of salmonella-infected turkeys. Three hundred poults from two genotypes (160 local and 140 exotic turkeys) were raised for twenty weeks. Bodyweight (BW), rectal temperature (RT), pulse rate (PR) and respiratory rate (RR) were measured weekly. Blood samples were collected from each turkey before and after inoculations at week 8 and 13 for serum antibody detection using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Genotype had a significant (p 0.05) effect on all the parameters measured. Exotic turkey had higher weight than local while sexual dimorphism was in favour of toms despite challenge with Salmonella typhimurium. The RT was significantly higher (p 0.05) in exotic turkeys except at week 2, 6 and 8. In like manner, PR was higher (p 0.05) in exotic turkey except at week 4 (204.28±2.48 beats/minutes) and 8 (216.98±1.46 beats/minutes) where it was higher in local turkey. RR also followed the same trend while HSI was higher (p 0.05) in week 2 (1.53±0.06 breaths/minutes) and 14 (1.17±0.07 breaths/minutes) in exotic turkeys. Local turkeys had higher (p 0.05) antibodies against Salmonella organisms before and after inoculation while the hens of both genotypes had higher (p 0.05) antibody titres at the 7th day after inoculations. The present results seemed not to be convincing enough to suggest differences in tolerance/susceptibility to Salmonella infection and therefore the two genotypes may be equally adapted

EFFECT OF MUCUNA (Mucuna pruriens) ON SPERMIOGRAMS OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF BUCKS

The study was carried out to investigate the potential effect of Mucuna pruriens seed powder on spermiograms of West African Dwarf bucks (WAD). Twenty bucks were randomly assigned to five treatments consisting of four animals each receiving 0, 25, 50, 75, 100mg/Bw of Mucuna pruriens seed powder administered via oral route for 30 days consecutively. Following treatment, spermiograms of the animals were determined. The results showed that exposure of bucks to Mucuna pruriens powder led to a significant increase in weight gain, scrotal width, scrotal circumference, testicular weight, gonadosomatic index, sperm motility and testicular parenchyma of animals compared to the control and the improvement in these parameters was much pronounced in bucks that received 75mg Mucuna pruriens seed powder (P<0.05). Higher (P<0.05) sperm concentration was observed in 100mg inclusion of Mucuna pruriens seed powder compared to other treatments. The results showed a decline (P<0.05) in the level of testosterone with increasing level of Mucuna pruriens seed powder administration. The findings showed that oral administration of Mucuna pruriens seed powder to the bucks for 30 days resulted in improved testicular measurements and sperm quality without any adverse effect on structure of reproductive physiology of the bucks