Bio-Chemical Evaluation of Yam Peel Meal for Broiler Chickens

The nutritional properties and inclusion levels of yam peel meal (YPM) in broiler diets were investigated. Four diets in which YPM substituted maize at 0, 25, 50 and 75% were fed to 180 Anak broiler-type chickens over a 63-day period. Results indicated that YPM contained 89.74% dry matter (DM), 12.03% crude protein (CP), 9.31% crude fibre (CF), 1.03% ether extract (EE), 8.56% ash and 69.07% nitrogen-free extract (NFE). Similarly, mineral analysis revealed that YPM contained 0.12% calcium, 1.28% phosphorus, 0.16% magnesium, 0.31% potassium and 0.91% sulphur among others. The amino acid contents observed were: Alanine, 0.60%; arginine, 0.87%; leucine, 0.51%; lysine, 0.83%; methionine, 0.21%; phenylalanine, 0.38% and proline, 0.29% among others. Yam peel meal resulted in apparent metabolisable energy (AME) of 3,070.5 kcal/kg and AMEn of 3,027.4 kcal/kg. Results of the feeding trial indicated that body weight gain of broiler chickens was not significantly depressed (P>0.05) except at 75% replacement level. Feed intake per bird was not significantly affected (P>0.05) by diets. Feed-to-gain ratio appeared to increase with increase in the level of dietary YPM. There was a decrease in feed ost per bird as dietary YPM increased. Increased level of dietary YPM seemed to increase water intake by broiler chickens. From the results of the studies, it can be concluded that YPM can substitute up to 50% of dietary maize for broiler chickens without any adverse effect on performance and at reduced cost of feed production.Keywords: yam peel, amino acids, minerals, broiler starter, broiler finisher, fiber, dietsJournal of Agriculture and Social Research (JASR) Vol. 11, No. 1, 201

Nutritional evaluation of palm kernel meal types: 1. Proximate composition and metabolizable energy values

Studies were conducted to determine the proximate composition and metabolizable energy values of palm kernel meal (PKM) types. The PKM types studied were obtained from Okomu, Presco and EnvoyOil Mills and were either mechanically or solvent extracted using different varieties of palm kernels. Samples of PKM types were assayed for proximate composition and the results obtained indicated thatOkomu, Presco and Envoy PKM resulted in crude protein values of 14.50, 16.60 and 19.24%, respectively. Crude fibre values were in the order of 10.00, 12.29 and 17.96%, respectively for Okomu,Presco and Envoy PKM types. Envoy PKM resulted in the lowest fat content (1.30%) while Okomu and Presco PKM gave fat values of 9.48 and 7.59%, respectively. The values of ash ranged from 3.40 to4.34% and nitrogen free extract, 50.05 to 53.42%. Apparent metabolizable crude energy values were 2654, 2423 and 1817 for Okomu, Presco and Envoy PKM, respectively. It can be concluded that Okomu and Presco PKM which were mechanically extracted had close nutrient values and were particularly higher in fat but lower in protein as compared to Envoy PKM

Nutritional Evaluation of Yam Peel Meal for Pullet Chickens: 2. Effect of Feeding Varying Levels on Sexual Maturity and Laying Performance

A study was conducted to determine the effect of replacing maize with yam peel meal (YPM) on sexual maturity and laying performance of pullet chickens reared on yam peel meal (YPM) based diets from day-old to point-of-lay. A total of 150 gold-coloured Anak pullet-type chicks were used for this study. The birds were reared on their various diets up till point-of-lay (20 weeks). Thereafter, they were fed a common layer diet over a 35-day trial period. The results indicated that for Diets, 1 (0%), 2(25%), 3 (50%), 4(75%) and 5 (100%), days to first egg were in the range of 161, 147, 155, 155 and 169 respectively. Weight of first egg (g) resulted in values of 50.30, 50.83, 45.83, 45.83, 45.53 and 41.63. The birds fed Diets 2, 3 and 4 in which YPM substituted 25, 50 and 75% of dietary maize attained 5, 15, 25 and 50% hen day production (HDP) earlier compared to those fed control diet and Diet 5(100% replacement) which indicated almost similar values. Weekly HDP was depressed with increasing dietary level of YPM but only significantly so at weeks 23 and 24 with particular reference to Diets 4 and 5. This was about the same trend with average weekly egg weight. Conclusively, substituting maize with YPM in pullet diets hastened sexual maturity and improved laying performance.Keywords: Nutritional evaluation, yam peel meal, pullet, sexual maturity, layingperformance

Performance and Energy Metabolism by Broiler Chickens Fed Maize and Millet Offals at Different Dietary Levels

Studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing maize grain with different dietary levels of maize and millet offals on performance and energy metabolism in broiler chickens. Proximate composition and metabolizable energy (ME) values were determined. Feeding trial was also conducted to comparemaize and millet offals as replacements for maize at 50 and 75% levels. The results revealed that maize offal contained 12.80% crude protein (CP), 12.07% Crude fibre (CF), 11.72% ether extract (EE), 5.42% ash and 49.91% nitrogen-free extract (NFE). Millet offal contained 20.05% CP, 8.5% CF, 5.03% EE, 5.25% ash and 52.45% NFE. The recorded ME value of maize offal was 2,225 kcal/kg while, that of millet offal was 2,506 kcal/kg compared to the 3510 kcal/kg observed for maize grain. The feeding trial indicated that at the starter and finisher phases, the replacement of maize with either ingredient increased body weights of the birds with millet offal performing better than maize offal (p<0.05). Feed intake tended to increase but not significantly (p>0.05) on the test diets compared to the control. However, the birds fed the millet offal diets consumed less feed compared to those fed the maize offal diets. The feed cost decreased on the test diets with the millet offal diets saving more cost than the maize offal diets. However, the decrease was not significant (p>0.05) It can be concluded that millet offal performed better than maize offal in terms of body weight gain, feed intake and feed cost per bird. However, it has been found that either of the ingredients can replace up to 75% dietary maize without any visible adverse effect on performance.Keywords: Dietary, Maize offal, Millet offal performance broiler chickensJournal of Agriculture and Social Research (JASR) Vol. 11, No. 1, 201

Changes in practice patterns affecting in-hospital and post-discharge survival among ACS patients

BACKGROUND: Adherence to clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of specific illnesses may result in unexpected outcomes, given that multiple therapies must often be given to patients with diverse medical conditions. Yet, few studies have presented empirical evidence that quality improvement (QI) programs both change practice by improving adherence to guidelines and improve patient outcomes under the conditions of actual practice. Thus, we focus on patient survival, following hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome in three successive patient cohorts from the same community hospitals, with a quality improvement intervention occurring between cohorts two and three. METHODS: This study is a comparison of three historical cohorts of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) patients in the same five community hospitals in 1994–5, 1997, 2002–3. A quality improvement project, the Guidelines Applied to Practice (GAP), was implemented in these hospitals in 2001. Study participants were recruited from community hospitals located in two Michigan communities during three separate time periods. The cohorts comprise (1) patients enrolled between December 1993 and April 1995 (N = 814), (2) patients enrolled between February 1997 and September 1997 (N = 452), and (3) patients enrolled between January 14, 2002 and April 13, 2003 (N = 710). Mortality data were obtained from Michigan's Bureau of Vital Statistics for all three patient cohorts. Predictor variables, obtained from medical record reviews, included demographic information, indicators of disease severity (ejection fraction), co-morbid conditions, hospital treatment information concerning most invasive procedures and the use of ace-inhibitors, beta-blockers and aspirin in the hospital and as discharge recommendations. RESULTS: Adjusted in-hospital mortality showed a marked improvement with a HR = 0.16 (p < 0.001) comparing 2003 patients in the same hospitals to those 10 years earlier. Large gains in the in-hospital mortality were maintained based on 1-year mortality rates after hospital discharge. CONCLUSION: Changes in practice patterns that follow recommended guidelines can significantly improve care for ACS patients. In-hospital mortality gains were maintained in the year following discharge

Nutritional evaluation of palm kernel meal types: 2. Effects on live performance and nutrient retention in broiler chicken diets

Studies were conducted to determine the effect of palm kernel meal (PKM) types on productive performance and nutrient retention of broiler chickens. The three PKM types used in this study wereobtained from different sources and were processed using different methods or different types of kernel. The results obtained indicated that for the starter phase, Okomu and Presco PKM diets gavemean body weight gain values (g/bird) of 924.1 and 922.0 which were similar to that of control diet (955.1) but superior to that of Envoy PKM diet (823.4). Feed intake values were 1802.0, 2087.1, 2017.8and 1924.44 g/bird; feed cost per bird (N) was in the order of 94.82, 87.28, 84.38 and 77.02 for control diet, Okomu, Presco and Envoy PKM diets, respectively. For the finishing phase, Okomu and PrescoPKM diets which were comparable in all the parameters were superior to Envoy PKM in terms of final body weight and body weight gain. Feed intake values were 2869.5, 3280.9, 3106.4 and 2674.0 g/bird forcontrol diet, Okomu, Presco and Envoy PKM diets (Diets 1, 2, 3 and 4), respectively. Feed cost per bird (N) was 145.93 for Diet 1, compared with 127.45, 119.72 and 99.01 for Okomu, Presco and Envoy PKMdiets, respectively. Percentage nutrient retention was optimal for animal performance on the PKM based diets. It can be concluded that mechanically processed PKM can replace 50% of maize in the dietwithout any adverse effect on performance of broiler chickens

Nutritive value of locally prepared fishmeals for broiler chickens

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A comparative sstudy of the physical and chemical characteristics of guinea fowl and domestic chicken eggs

No Abstract