Effects of graded levels of cottonseed cake on performance, haematological and carcass characteristics of broilers fed from day old to 8 weeks of age

Cottonseed cake (CSC) has been used as a cheaper alternative to soyabean cake (SBC) in livestock feeding and a source of dietary protein. There is, however, paucity of information on its nutritive valuein chickens. This study evaluated the performance, haematological and carcass characteristics of chickens in which CSC replaced SBC in a nutritional experiment. One hundred and eighty day old chicks (DOC) were fed with 5 different diets, such that 0% (control), 25, 50, 75 and 100% of CSC replaced SBC from day old to 8 weeks of age. Average weekly gains (AWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and dressed weight (DWT) were monitored. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for differential white blood cell count (lymphocyte) and haemoglobin (Hb). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance. Values of AWG and DWT ranged from 0.1 to 0.4 kg and 1.1 to 1.8 kg, respectively, with 100% CSC and control having the least and the highest values among the treatments. FCR ranged from 1.6 to 4.9. Values of lymphocyte and Hb ranged from 35.2 to 54.0% and 8.5 to 11.1 g/dl, respectively. Birds on 75% CSC based diets had blood profile comparable to the control than those of other diets. CSC can replace up to 75% SBC without adverse effects on performance, haematological values and carcass quality of the birds. This reveals CSC as a potent source of protein for meeting the crude protein requirements of chickens

Interoception in anxiety and depression

We review the literature on interoception as it relates to depression and anxiety, with a focus on belief, and alliesthesia. The connection between increased but noisy afferent interoceptive input, self-referential and belief-based states, and top-down modulation of poorly predictive signals is integrated into a neuroanatomical and processing model for depression and anxiety. The advantage of this conceptualization is the ability to specifically examine the interface between basic interoception, self-referential belief-based states, and enhanced top-down modulation to attenuate poor predictability. We conclude that depression and anxiety are not simply interoceptive disorders but are altered interoceptive states as a consequence of noisily amplified self-referential interoceptive predictive belief states

Effect of replacing Palm Kernel Cake with Sheabutter Cake on egg quality characteristics, haematology and serum chemistry of laying hens

The study examined the effects of replacing palm kernel cake (PPKM) with sheabutter cake (SBC) in the diets of layers and the effects of such on egg quality characteristics, haematology and serum chemistry of the birds. Shea Butter Cake was included in the diets at 0, 10 and 20% levels. Shea butter cake at 20% dietary level significantly (P 0.05) decreased shell thickness, shell weight, egg mass and shell surface area. Haugh unit and yolk index were not affected by the treatments. Shell weight and shell thickness were positively correlated. Yolk cholesterol and hen day egg production decreased as dietary level shea butter cake increased from 0 to 20%. Birds fed 0 and 10% of SBC dietary levels had similar values for packed cell volume, haemoglobin and white blood cell count whereas, birds fed 20% SBC had the lowest values for these haematological parameters except red blood cell count which was the highest at 100% level of replacement of PKC in the diets. Generally, serum indices increased as SBC dietary levels increased from 0 to 20% except glucose and glutamate pyruvate transaminase. There was a negative correlation between serum cholesterol and egg yolk cholesterol.Keywords: Laying hens, sheabutter cake, Egg quality characteristics, Haematology and serum chemistry

Effect Of Dietary Protein Levels On The Performance And Carcass Characteristics Of Cockerel Finishers

A study was carried out to investigate the effect of dietary crude protein (CP) levels in diets of 2600kcal/kg metabolisable energy content on the performance and carcass characteristics of cockerel finishers. The experimental diets A, B, C, D and E contained CP levels of 140, 160, 180, : 200 and 220g/kg and they were produced by modified diet dilution technique. Response criteria such as weight gain and feed conversion ratio, among others, and carcass characteristics were measured. Results on performance and carcass characteristics, with the exception of the neck, intestinal weights and other visceral offals, revealed that these response criteria were optimized in the birds fed on 180g/kg dietary CP level. Beyond this level, it was not beneficial to feed higher CP levels. Itis therefore, concluded that the CP requirement of finisher cockerels is 18% on the bases of their performance and carcass characteristics.Keywords: Cockerel finishers, Dietary crude protein levels, performance, carcass characteristic

Comparative utilisation of alkali-treated and untreated cocoa bean in diets of egg-type chickens

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Replacing maize and wheat offal in dient of cockerels with sun-dried cassava peel meal effect on the digestibility of cell wall constituents

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Cocoa Husk/Cassava Leaf Inclusions in Layers Mash Produced Quality Cheap Feeds

A 10-week trial was conducted to investigate the effects of cocoa husk meal (CHM)/cassava leaf meal (CLM) mixtures in layers mash on laying hen production performance and egg quality. Results were compared with those obtained using two locally popular standard commercial feeds (CFDs). CHM/CLM mixtures were included in the two test diets in the following order : Diet 1 (7.3 CHM/2.7 % CLM) and Diet 2 (14.6 CHM/5.4 CLM). Forty 6-month-in-lay individually caged Black Nera hens were randomly allocated to the four diets. Feeding was ad libitum Feed intake, egg weight and percentage egg production were reduced (P <0.05) on Diet 2 relative to the CFDs. The reduction in egg weight was however marginal while the values were in line with the 56-58 g in the literature. Similarly, the value of 65 % percent egg production was considered not poor. Feed efficiency, yolk colour index, shell thickness and yolk percentage were not influenced by diet. On average, feed cost of the CHM/CLM diets were 60 % of those of the CFDs while the feed cost/kg egg was roughly doubled on the latter. It was concluded that the inclusion of CHM/CLM in layers mash promises to be a very economically rewarding venture where the two farm by-products are available