Studies on the Biotin Requirement of Broilers Fed Sunflower Seed Meal Based Diets

A total of 560 day-old commercial broiler chicks were used in two experiments conducted to 'investigate the biotin requirement of broilers fed sunflower seed meal (SSM) based diets. Two basal biotin-deficient diets based on dehulled (Experiment 1) and non-dehulled (Experiment 2) SSM were each supplemented with graded levels of biotin so that the rations had 40, 80, 120, 160, 200, 240 and 280 mcg/kg feed. Therefore a total of 14 treatments were tested. Each treatment was given to duplicate floor pens with 20 chicks eaoh for a period of 28 days. Estimation of the live weights, live weight gain, feed intake, blood glucose and free fatty acid concentrations, lipid contents and weights of liver and leidney, and liver pyruvate carboxylase activity and the records of incidence of dermal lesions, fatty liver and kidney syndrome (FLKS) mortality and leg deformities indicated that in the case of dehulled SSM, dietary biotin of of 160 mcg/kg feed waS'" marginal while at least 200 mcglkg appeared to be needed for optimum performance of the birds. When non-dehulled SSM was incorporated in the diet, 200 mcg biotin1k:g feed was found to be the lowest dietary level needed. However, as it seems that better "results could be obtained with higher levels, 240 mcg biotin1k:g with non-dehulled SSM is being recommended

Niacin requirement of broilers fed on a diet based on maize-palm kernel meal

Seven duplicate floor pens with 25 day-old commercial chicks were fed a practical type of broiler diet based on maize-palm kernel meal supplemented with varying levels of niacin so that the rations had 15.0, 22.5, 30.0, 37.5, 45.0, 52.5 and 60.0mg of niacin per kg of feed. The treatments were maintained for a period of 42 days. The results based on live weight gain, feed intake, apparent utilisation of nitrogen, metabolizable energy, calcium and phosphorus and carcass characteristics, and the incidence of dermatitis and leg deformities showed that dietary niacin level of 37.5 mg/kg feed was adequate for achieving good nutrient utilisation, optimising productive performance and for maintaining good health

Pyridoxine requirement of broilers on fed guinea com-palm kernel meal based diet

A trial was conducted to establish pyridoxine requirement of broilers fed on practical ration, in which 8 duplicate groups of25 commercial broiler chicks were fed guinea corn-palm kernel meal based diet supplemented with graded levels of pyridoxine (4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 7.0, 7.5 and 8.0 mg/kg feed) from day-one to 42 days. Data on feed utilisation, nutrient retention and carcass characteristics showed that 6.0mg pyridoxine/kg feed is the minimum requirement whereas 5.5mg/kg feed was required for prevention of mortality and maintenance of normal haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume (PCV) and aspartate aminotransferase activities in serum and liver

Poultry Housing and Management

Majority of the people in the poorest regions of the tropics rely on poultry production as their major source of protein supply. However, poultry production is hindered by the harsh environmental conditions in this regions therefore, reducing the daily supply of protein. It is believed that understanding heat stress in birds by paying detail attention to the sources of heat generation in a poultry house can help manage the heat stress situation in this region. This text reviews the internal climatic conditions of the poultry houses, how the birds respond to them, and their implications for heat management in poultry production. Thus, it provides pertinent information for guidance on parameters for open poultry houses architectural design that ensures optimum climatic conditions that will alleviate heat stress problem in poultry production in hot and humid climate

Responses of Broilers Fed Guineacorn/Palm Kernel Meal Based Ration to Supplemental Biotin

Seven duplicate floor pens with 20 day-old commercial broiler chicks each were fed a practical type broiler diet formulated with guineacorn/palm kernel meal and supplemented vvith graded levels of biotin WOO, 0'04, 0·08, 0'12, 0·16, 0·20 and 0·24 mg kg-1 feed) for a period of 6 weeks. Significantly poorer feed utilisation and carcass characteristics, higher blood lipid, lower blood glucose, lower pyruvate carboxylase activity in the liver, higher liver and kidney weights (% live weight), more lipid deposition in these organs coupled with more frequent incidences of foot dermatitis, higher mortality due to fatty liver and kidney syndrome (FLKS) and abnormal development of leg bone in broilers maintained on the diet without biotin supplementation indicated that they suffered vitamin deficiency. However, the responses of experimental birds indicated that a dietary supplement of 0·20 mg biotin kg - 1 feed was adequate for the promotion of good performance and prevention of dermal lesions, FLKS mortality and leg deformities .

Physical Properties, Chemical Composition And Nutritional Quality Of Two Cultivars Of Pigeon Pea (Cajanus Cajan L.) .

Physical properties, chemical composition and nulritional quality potentials of the seeds of Iwo cultivars of Cajanus cajan were stlldied. D!fferences between the t,vo cultivars were less pronounced except in their conterJls oj calcium, phosphorus, pl1ytic acid, lIYjJqin in{1ibitolY activity and g(utelins. :/n addUion, botl1 cultivars c;ontained valuable nutrie~1t:~amj food elu;rgy comparable to those of the :comlllon~v cons)lmed seed legumes. Presence of ta/1l1ins, phytie aGie/, m'alate, phenolics and tl)'Psininhibilors in the seeds may not constitute any problem in the utilization of the nutrients once the seeds are subjected to processing involving either heat treatment, soaking, dehu/ling and ge;'mination or their combination before consumption

Processing Effects on the Chemical Composition and Nutritional Potential of the Pigeon Pea(cajanus Cajan L.)

The effects of processing on the chemical composition and nutritional potential of the seeds of Cajanus cajan have been estimated. Raw, soaked, cooked, and autoclaved seeds were analysed for proximate composition, calcium, magnesium •. ·phosphorus, manganese, iron, copper, structural carbohydrates, nutritive and non-nutritive matter and certain antinutritional factors (phytic acid, total oxalate, tannins, total phenolics and trypsin inhibitor activity). The results indicated that the caloric value of the seeds was improved by soaking, cooking and autoclaving, and that cooking and autoclaving ·significantly lowered the levels of antinutritional factors in the seed

The Use of Housing System in the Management of Heat Stress in Poultry Production in Hot and Humid Climate: a Review

There is a gap between the population growth and protein supply in many tropical countries where per capita income is low and the majority of people consume less protein than a daily standard for recommended protein intake. Poultry egg production remains the fastest route to bridging the protein demand-supply gap in these regions. However, poultry are faced with heat stress in the tropics which is deleterious to health and productive performance of laying and meat production. In addition, the problem limits dietary protein supply in the affected countries. The harmful effects of heat stress may be alleviated if attention is paid to sources of heat generation in the design and construction of the open poultry houses. This review discusses the internal climatic conditions of the poultry houses, how the birds respond to them, and their implications on heat management for poultry production. Hence, this paper provides pertinent information for guidance on parameters for open poultry houses architectural design that ensures optimum climatic conditions that will alleviate heat stress problem in poultry production in hot and humid climate

PERFORMANCE OF BROILERS FED VARYING LEVELS OF BIOTIN AND PALM KERNEL OIL

A total of four hundred and eighty day-old commercial b+oiler chicks were assigned t? 12 dietary treatments in a 2 x 6 factorial experiment to study the effects of biotin and palm kernel oil supplementation on their performance and carcass characteristics. Measurements of average daily weight gain, average daily feed intake, carcass weight,' dressing percentage, total edible meat weight and total bone weight showed that a minimum of 120 mcg biotin per kg of feed was needed by broiler chicks for optimum perfor~ance. All carcass characteristics examined except total bone expressed as percentage of carcass weight were positively correlated with di.et~ry biotin level, although none was significant , (P>0.'05). Supplementation of diet with 2% palm kernel oil significan.tly (P<0.05) reduced average daily feed intake and ' average weight gain but did not affect feed efficiency (gairi/feedintake) and carcaSB characteristics of broiler

Studies on the Production of Protein Hydrolysates from Palm Kernel Meal and Jatropha Curcas Seed Meal

Three trials were conducted to study the optimum conditions required for production of protein hydrolysates from palm I<ernel meal and Jatropha curcas seed meal. Hydrochloric (HCI) and sulphuric (H2S04) acids of varying concentrations (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 moles dm") were tested for hydrolysis of each of the two plant sources at different temperatures (65, 80, 95, 110, 125°C) and for different durations (6, 12, 18, 24,' 30 h). Results indicated that with both acids, protein hydrolysates yield and amino acid decomposition were positively and significantly correlated with acid concentration, temperature and duration of hydrolysis. However, HCI produced higher yield of hydrolysates with lower decompositiQn of amino acids from both p'rotein sources. High yield of hydrolysates coupled with higher degree of amino acid decomposition were observed in J. curcas seed meal tllan in palm I<ernel meal. Optimum yield of hydrolysates was obtained from J. curcas seed meai when hydrolysed with either 6 moles dm-" HCI or 8 moles dm" H2S04 at 95°C for 18 h. In case of palm I<ernelseed meal, optimum yield was achieved at 11O°Cwith either 8 moles dm-"HCI or 10 moles dm" H2S04, for 24 hand 18 h, respectivel