Growth performance, haematological and serum biochemistry of broiler chickens fed Taro Cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) peel meal as feed ingredient

Growth performance, haematology and serum biochemistry of broiler chickens fed taro cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) peel meal (CRM) as feed ingredient was investigated using 150 one week-old Ross strain broiler birds. The birds were randomly assigned to five (5) dietary treatment groups having three (3) replicates with 10 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). Diet I was maize based and served as control diet. The test material replaced maize at 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% in diets II, III, IV and V respectively. Water and each of the diet were offered ad-labium for a period of 56 days (8 weeks). That is the first seven days, the birds were fed commercial feed to stabilize them and thereafter place on their respective experimental diets. The result of the growth performance showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) in the mean final live weights, mean weight gain, mean daily weight gain, mean daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio. The mean final live weights, mean weight gain g/bird and mean daily weight gain (g) followed the same trend with birds fed diets I and II are the same but statistically similar to birds fed diets III and IV but differ from birds fed diet V. Birds fed Diets III and IV are statistically similar to birds fed diet V. Daily feed intake increased (P<0.05) with the level of cocoyam peels meal in the diet. Feed conversation ratio result for diet I was comparable to broilers on diet II. The parameters evaluated under biochemistry indices showed no significant effect for alkaline phosphate and creatinine, while results for diet III in total protein, albumin and urea were comparable to the control diet. Haematological indices like Hb, PVC and MCHC were not significantly affected by the diets but diet II was similar to control diet in all the parameters evaluated. Economic analysis showed that there were significant differences in all the parameters except in feed cost/bird and price/kg live weight. Cost/kg of feed was lowest for diet V followed by diets IV, III, II, I; due to the lower cost of Taro cocoyam when compared to maize in the control diet. Cost/kg weight gain favoured diet I followed by diets II and III, lastly diet IV and V. Finally, considering the growth performance, biochemical indices (especially albumin and urea), hematological indices and feed cost analysis (especially gross margin), diet II (5%) is recommended. Keywords: Cocoyam Peel Meal, Broiler Chickens, Serum Biochemistry, Haematolog

Potentials of replacing soybean meal with toasted African yam bean meal on growth performance of broiler finisher birds

Eighty-four (84) Anak finisher broilers were used to evaluate the potentials of replacing soybean meal with toasted african yam bean meal on growth performance of broiler finisher birds. There were twenty one (21) birds in each treatment and seven birds per replicated. Four treatment diets were formulated for the experiment. They were assigned as treatment I, II, III and IV respectively. Treatment I (0%) is the soybean based diet while Treatment II (25%), III (50%) and IV (75%) had quantitative replacement of soybean by toasted African yam beans Meal (TAYB). The parameters evaluated showed significant differences (P<0.05) apart from initial body weight. Final body weight and daily weight gain (g) followed almost the same pattern. Finisher broiler chicks fed the control diet (0%AYB) and diet containing 25% toasted African yam bean were statistically similar but birds fed diet II (25%) was significantly different from those fed diets III (50%) and IV (75%). The high final body weight (g) and daily weight gain (g) in diet containing 25% toasted African yam bean (TAYB) meal suggest a better feed utilization. The feed intake increased as quantity of toasted African yam beans (TAYB) meal (test ingredient) increase in the diets. The feed conversion ratio for diet II (25% AYB) and III (50% AYB) were significantly lower than diet I (0% AYB) and IV (75% AYB). Decreasing feed production cost (₦/kg) (70.62, 65.51, 60.41 and 53.32) was observed as inclusion level of toasted African yam beans (TAYB) meal increased from 0 to 75%. Broilers earlier fed 25% toasted African yam bean meal (TAYB) diet at starter stage of life, could continue with a 50% (TAYB) diet up to finisher stage without any adverse affect on growth performance.Keywords: Finisher Broiler, Growth Performance and Toasted African Yam Bean Mea

Uma revisão crítica sobre cidades e mudança climática: vinho velho em garrafa nova ou um novo paradigma de ação para a governança local?

A mudança climática e o aquecimento global passaram, em curto espaço de tempo, para o centro do debate público como o maior desafio do século XXI. Este artigo busca apresentar uma revisão crítica sobre a temática das cidades e a mudança climática baseando-se numa análise da literatura internacional e nacional disponível. Ressalta-se que os impactos da mudança climática são esperados em áreas urbanas afetando vários setores do cotidiano das cidades. A evidência empírica mostra que governos locais são fundamentais para implementar políticas públicas relativas à mudança climática. De forma geral, a resposta dada por esses governos concentra-se em ações de mitigação e adaptação. Buscou-se, neste sentido, compreender os processos de urbanização e industrialização como forma de entender a condição e as origens da vulnerabilidade socioambiental urbana no Brasil, bem como alertar para os enormes déficits socioeconômicos e ambientais das cidades brasileiras que tornam políticas públicas e respostas mais urgentes e complicadas. Assim, não se trata de vinho velho em garrafa nova, mas sim da oportunidade não só de corrigir erros do passado, como também transformar as cidades brasileiras para o futuro de forma mais sustentável e justa. Para isso torna-se necessário um maior envolvimento dos estudos em administração pública e gestão local nessa discussão