Performance of Rabbit Fed Hausa Potato Tuber (Solenostemon rotundifolium) Meal (HPTM) at Graded Levels as Substitute to Maize

Twenty-four (24) crossbred (New Zealand Red X Chinchilla) rabbit aged 4 – 6 weeks made up of mixed sexes with average initial body weight of (1.82kg and 1.83kg) were used to evaluate the effect of different levels of Hausa potato tuber meal (HPTM) inclusion on their feed intake and growth performance. The rabbits were randomly allotted to four groups of six rabbits per group. Each group was replicated three times in a completely randomized design with each replicate having two (2) rabbits. The groups were fed diets containing 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% HPTM respectively and designated treatment I, II, III and IV respectively. The chemical composition of the test ingredient was determined prior to its inclusion in  the diets. Data were collected on final body weight, average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio. All data were subjected to one way analysis of variance. There were no significant (P>0.05) difference in the above listed parameters. Rabbits fed diets III and IV is significantly (P<0.05) higher than rabbits fed diets II in average daily feed intake, while rabbits fed diets I were statistically similar to those fed diets III and IV. The results suggest that 30% replacement of maize with Hausa potato tuber meal (HPTM) did not have any deleterious effects on the growth performance of rabbits and that the general trend showed that there was increase in growth of the experimental animal with increase in the level of Hausa potato tubers meal (HPTM).Keywords: Solenostemon rotundifolium meal, growth performance, crossbred rabbit

Quantitative replacement of soybean meal with toasted African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) meal in broiler starter diets

Eighty-four Anak broilers were used to study the effect of quantitative replacement of toasted soybean meal (TSBM) with toasted African yam bean (TAYB) meal in broiler starter diet. The experimental design was completely randomized design (CRD). There were four treatments each replicated three times with seven broilers per replicate. The inclusion levels of toasted African yam bean meal in diets were 0, 25, 50 and 75% in treatments I, II, III, and IV respectively. The parameters measured were final live weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and cost/kg feed. Results showed that the starter broilers fed treatment IV diet had significantly (P<0.05) lower final live weight (592g) than those fed treatments III (631.66g), II (656g) and I (670g) diets. Daily weight gain followed the same trend as in final live weight. The feed intake of treatments IV (1241.66g) and III (1235.00g) diets were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those of treatments I (1222.66g) and II (1225.33g) diets. Starter broilers fed treatment IV diet had significantly (P<0.05) higher feed conversion ratio (2.10) than those fed treatment III having (1.95) which was also significantly (P<0.05) higher than those of treatments II (1.87) and I (1.28). Finally, parameters evaluated showed no significant different (P>0.05) between starter broilers fed treatment I and treatment II. From the result, one can conclude that 25% AYB (treatment II) compared favourably with the control diets 0% AYB in starter broiler diets and is hereby recommended as optimal for quantitative replacement of soybean in broiler starter diet.Key words: Broiler Starter diet, African Yam Bean, Soyabean replacemen

Effect of finisher diets treated with organic acids on carcass and internal organs of broiler chickens

An experiment was carried out to determine the effect of different organic acids (OAs) on carcass yield and internal organ characteristics of broiler chickens. The OAs were ethanoic acid (acetic acid - AA), butanoic acid (butyric acid - BA), citric acid (CA) and methanoic acid (formic acid - FA). One hundred and fifty (150) day old AborAcre-plus chicks were used. There were five dietary treatments. Diet 1 which served as control (CON) contained no OAs, while 0.25% of AA, BA, CA and FA replaced palm kernel cake in diets 2 – 5. Each treatment was replicated three times with 10 birds per replicate, arranged in completely randomized design (CRD). Diets were both isoenergetic and isonitrogenous. The experiment lasted for 4 weeks during the finisher phase. Feed and water were given ad libitum. At the end of 4 weeks, 3 birds from each replicate giving a total of 9 birds per treatment were slaughtered for carcass and internal organ evaluation. Result from the carcass evaluation showed that dressed carcass, breast, thigh, wing and drumstick of OA treated groups were not significantly (P>0.05) different from the control. The backcut was significantly (P<0.05) heavier in control than in AA and CA. Abdominal fat in birds fed OAs was statistically similar to the control. The liver weight was significantly (P<0.05) reduced by BA and FA while the weight of spleen was reduced (P<0.05) by all the OAs. The caecum and the large intestine were significantly (P<0.05) enlarged in the control. There was non effect (P>0.05) on other internal organs.Keywords: broiler chickens, carcass yield, organic acids, internal organ characteristics

Effect of Different Levels of Molasses Fed Through Drinking Water on Growth and Economic Performance of Broiler Chickens

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of molasses fed through drinking water on growth and economic performance of broiler chickens. One hundred and sixty unsexed day old chicks of Anak strain were used. They were divided into four treatment groups with each group having four replicates of ten birds per replicate. Each group had forty birds, replicated into four with ten birds per replicate. The experiment was arranged in completely randomized design (CRD). Treatment 1(without molasses) served as the control. Treatment 2, 3 and 4 were fed 30, 50 and 70 g of molasses per litre of water, respectively. The birds were fed and watered ad libitun.The experiment lasted for 28 days each for starter and finisher phases. At the starter phase, 50 and 70 g/litre significantly improved live weight, protein efficiency ratio (PER) and water intake. During the finisher phase, live weight, daily gain, PER and water intake were significantly (P<0.05) higher in 50 and 70g/litre groups which also had better feed: gain ratio as compared to control. Revenue and gross margin were higher (P<0.05) in 50 and 70 g/litre group than the control and 30 g/litre