Performance, nutrient digestibility and feed cost benefit of finisher broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with Crina poultry plus®

A study was carried out to determine the effect of Crina Poultry Plus®, a natural blend of essential oils and benzoic acid. on the growth performance, carcass yield and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens. Six treatment diets were formulated by the addition of Crina Poultry Plus (CPP®) at 0, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6g/kg of feed. Two hundred and forty day-old chicks were allocated to the six dietary treatments with each treatment having four replicates. Each replicate had 10 broilers. The parameters measured were live weight, live weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, protein efficiency ratio, carcass and organ characteristics, nutrient utilization and feed cost benefit. Results of growth performance showed that there were no significant differences (P>0.05) across the treatment groups, but birds fed diets supplemented with CPP® had significantly heavier body weight (BW), higher average daily weigh gain live weight gain and similar feed conversion ratio when compared with the control group. The dressing percentage, thigh, drum stick, breast cut and back cut were not significantly (P>0.05) different across the treatment groups but those fed diet supplemented with CPP® had higher values when compared with the control diet. The supplementation of CPP® improved nutrient digestibility in broiler chickens. Birds fed diet containing 0.6g of CPP® had numerically lower cost per kg of weight gained compared to other treatment groups. It can be concluded that the addition of 0.6 g CPP® in broiler diets improved performance, carcass, organ characteristics and nutrient utilization of broilers. Keywords: Benzoic acid, essential oils, growth performance, carcass, nutrient digestibility and broiler chicke

Evaluation of flaxseed, sesame and pumpkin seeds as an alternative source of functional feed ingredients

This research work presents the proximate, minerals and anti-nutritional factors of edible oil seeds; flaxseed, sesame and pumpkin seeds. The seeds were procured from an open market in Umuahia, Abia State and analyzed following standard procedure. Results from the proximate analysis showed that the seeds had appreciable amount of dry matter (93.13%; 95.78% and 93.92%), crude protein (19.84%; 26.23%; 29.83%), also with a high value for ether extract which are 43.87%; 52.88% and 48.77% respectively. The seeds also had lower value of crude fibre (9.66%; 5.17%, 6.16%). The mineral analysis showed that the seeds had sodium (0.03%; 0.60%; 0.43%), potassium (0.75%; 1.27%; 0.90%), calcium (0.24%; 1.18%; 0.68%) while the micro minerals showed that flaxseed, sesame and pumpkin seeds had appreciable concentration of zinc (43.90mg/kg; 35.41mg/kg; 31.97mgkg), copper (14.71mg/kg; 6.13mg/kg; 5.68mg/kg) and iron (55.78mg/kg; 94.58mg/kg; 78.58mg/kg). The antinutritional factor constituents of flaxseed, sesame and pumpkin seeds showed that phytate concentrations were 0.88%; 0.12% and 0.21% for flaxseed, sesame and pumpkin seeds respectively. The oxalate recorded a value of 0.39%; 0.09%and 0.11% for flaxseed, sesame and pumpkin seeds, while saponin concentration was 0.36% for flaxseed, 0.20%for sesame seed and 0.23% for pumpkin seed. Tannin had concentration of 0.01% for flaxseed, sesame and pumpkin seeds respectively while trypsin inhibitors were 26.77mg/g, 28.67mg/g and 31.05mg/g for flaxseed, sesame and pumpkin seeds respectively. This study showed that the seeds of flaxseed, sesame and pumpkin can be good sources of protein, ether extract, carbohydrate and minerals. Therefore, these seeds can be exploited as commercial source to supplement livestock feedstuffs

Microbial population and blood profile of finisher broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with Crina poultry plus®.

A study was carried out to determine the effect of Crina Poultry Plus® (a natural blend of essential oils and benzoic acid) on microbial population and blood profile of finisher broiler chickens. Six treatment diets were formulated by the addition of Crina Poultry Plus® (CPP®) at 0, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6g/kg of feed. Two hundred and forty day-old chicks were allocated with each treatment having 4 replicates and 10 broilers each in a completely randomized design (CRD). Data were collected on the microbial population (crop and ceca) and serum lipid profile. The result of microbial population showed that lactic acid bacteria counts were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the crop and ceca of birds fed diet containing CPP® compared to the control group. The coliform count was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the crop and ceca of broilers fed control diets compared to diets supplemented with CPP®. The PCV, RBC, Hb and WBC were significantly (P<0.05) higher in broilers fed CPP® compared to the control group, while the cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein were significantly (P<0.05) lower compared to birds fed control diet. High density lipoprotein was significantly (P<0.05) higher in birds fed diets containing CPP® than those fed control diet. It was concluded that the addition of 0.6 g CPP® in broiler diets maintained the haematological indices, microbial balance and improved the level of high density lipoprotein.Keywords: benzoic acid, essential oils, microbial population, blood profile and broiler chickens

Performance of broiler chickens fed graded levels of poultry meat meal

A 49 days experiment was carried out on the performance of broiler chickens fed poultry meat meal. 150 day old Arbor acre broiler chickens were divided into 5 dietary treatments of 3 replicates with 10 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. Diet 1 had 100% fishmeal as the control (T1) while the poultry meat meal was added to diets T2, T3, T4, T5 at 25%, 50%, 75%, 100% replacing fishmeal respectively. The result obtained showed that the weight gained and average daily weight gained of broiler chickens fed Diet T5 (100) % had the highest mean (1624.33g/bird and 33.22g/bird). The breast, drumstick, thigh and the back cut showed that birds fed diet T5 had higher values than birds on other diets. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the values of spleen, heart and lungs across the diets. There was progressive decrease in cost/kg of feed with increase in inclusion of poultry meat meal: T2 (₦182.20), T3(₦179.20), T4(₦176:20), T5(₦173:20). The cost of feed consumed and cost of production showed that it was costlier to produce birds on T1 than birds on other diets with T5 having the least cost and highest revenue (₦1756.67) and gross margin (₦906.86). It was concluded that the inclusion of poultry meat meal in broiler diet improved growth, higher carcass yield and enhanced economic values. Therefore, T5 (100%) total replacement of fishmeal with poultry meat meal is recommended.Keywords: poultry meat meal, broiler, fish mea

Performance of broiler chickens fed graded dietary levels of toasted jackfruit seed meal (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

Effect of toasted jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) seed meal (TJSM) on performance of 120 2 weeks old broiler chickens was investigated. The  birds were divided into four dietary treatments having 3 replicates and 10 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. Diet one (T1 ) was soybean based while toasted JFSM meal was added to diets 2 (T2 ), 3 (T 3) 1 and 4 (T4 ) at 5, 10 and 15% levels of inclusion, respectively. Growth  performance was 4 generally depressed with increased inclusion of toasted JFSM in the diets. Feed conversion ratio of birds fed T and T were the same and significantly better (P>0.05) than those of the 1 2 remaining treatment groups. Birds fed T had significantly higher values of live weight, 1 dressed weight and dressing percentage followed by birds fed T . The prime cut parts were 2 similar in all the treatment groups. Organ proportions showed no significant differences across the treatment groups except the spleen. Cost per kg feed decreased with increased inclusion of TJSM. The cost of feed consumed was higher (P>0.05) in T (531.29) but 1 decreased with increased inclusion of TJSM. The cost per kg weight gain, cost of  production and revenue were similar across the treatment groups with birds fed T significantly higher 1 (P>0.05) than the remaining treatment groups. The gross margin obtained for birds fed T 1 and T2 are comparable and higher than other treatment groups. From the foregoing TJFSM is  a potential feed resource and could be included in the diet of broiler chickens up to 5% inclusion level. Keywords: Utilization, Economics, Growth, Organ, Carcas

Haematology, serum and organ weight of broiler chickens fed boiled mucuna sloanei seed meal treated with enzyme

The haematology, serum and organ weight of broiler chickens fed boiled Mucunasloanei seed meal mixed with enzyme was investigated. The experiment was conducted with140 Anak broiler chickens divided into 3 treatments of 3 replicates and 10 birds per replicate. Birds fed diet 2 {7.5% boiled Mucuna mixed with enzyme (BME)} had higher final body weight of 2216.70g. The test diets gave lower total feed in-take value that was significantly (P< 0.05) lower than that of the control. Diet 2 (D2) gave the bestfeed-to-gain ratio (1.72) that was significantly (P<0.05) different from those of the control (2.09), diet 3 (D3)(2.08) and diet 4(2.27). For the carcass characteristics, D2 compared favourably with the control for percent dressed weight and back cut. The control had the lowest value for kidney and gizzard weights while D3 had the lowest weight of spleen. Serum albumin, urea, and creatinine were significantly (P<0.05) affected. Diet 2 and 3 had a higher (P<0.05) than that of the control diet (2.67g/dl. Diet 2 had urea content (19.66mg/dl that was lower (P<0.05) than those of diet3 (23.67mg/dl) and 4(25.67mg/dl) but compared with that of the control diet919.00mg/dl). For creatinine value D3and D4 compared with D1 but significantly (p<0.05) lower than D2.Urea concentration was increased as the percentage inclusion of MSS boiled and mixed with Maxi-grain enzyme increased from 0 to 12.5%. In conclusion, 7.5% of boiled Mucuna sloanei seed meal treated with enzyme (Maxi-grain) is recommended for inclusion in broiler ration since the birds placed on this ration were able to perform better than those fed with the conventional soya meal based ration.Keyword: mucuna haematology, serum, organ, broiler chicken, Maxi-grai