Effects of skip a day (SAD) feeding regime during rearing on the subsequent laying performance of Black Harco hens

One hundred and fifty (150) black harco pullets were used in a study designed to investigate the effects of Skip A Day (SAD) feeding regimen during rearing on their laying performance. Pullets from a healthy stock were randomly allocated into five experimental groups at 12 weeks of age. Birds in group 1 were fed ad libitum daily, while those in groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 were subjected to SAD feeding regimen for 2 ,4 ,6 and 8 weeks, respectively. Hens in all groups were thereafter fed ad libitum during a 30-week laying period. Birds in all treatment groups had unrestricted access to water before, during and after the period of feed restriction. Results at the end of the experiment showed that total number of eggs laid as well as Hen Day Production (HDP%) were significantly highest in hens previously subjected to SAD feeding for 6 weeks during rearing (p < 0.05). Although feed intakes of pullets were significantly reduced by subjecting pullets to periods ranging from 2 – 8 weeks of SAD feeding during rearing (p < 0.05), feed intakes during laying period were not significantly affected (p> 0.05). However, feed per dozen egg as well as cost per dozen egg were significantly reduced among hens previously subjected to either 6 or 8 weeks of SAD feeding during rearing (p < 0.05). Egg weight as well as egg diameter were similar among hens in all dietary treatments (p > 0.05). SAD feeding programme did not significantly affect hens livability (p > 0.05). It was concluded that, subjecting black harco hens to SAD feeding for 6 weeks during rearing period in place of ad libitum feeding, could improve laying efficiency.Keywords: Harco pullets, Skip a Day, ad libitum, Hen Day Production, Cost/ dozen egg, Feed/ dozen eg

Post-weaning body morphology to sexual maturity and carcass characteristics of rabbits in the humid rainforest zone of Nigeria

Data on some linear measurements of rabbits at weaning and post weaning ages to sexual maturity were recorded on weekly interval to quantify rabbit conformation and determine their interrelationships and how well they can predict body weight of rabbits. The rabbits were of mixed breeds raised at the University of Benin Farm Project between May and November 2003. Data obtained were on body weight (BWT), shoulder-to-tail-drop (STD), heart girth (HGT), hind limb length (HLL), thigh girth (TGT) and half hind limb length (HHL). Analyses of different carcass cuts (hind limb, fore limb, waist region, back bone area, skin offal and viscera organs) were also done. Body measurements increased in mean value from 396.43g, 23.57cm, 20.93cm, 18.29cm and 10.00cm to 1621.43g, 31.11cm, 27.39cm, 23.67cm, 12.75cm and 13.79cm for BWT, STD, HGT, HLL, TGT and HHL at weaning to 15 weeks post weaning ages respectively. High and positive relationship exited among linear measurements and body weight with values ranging from –0.49 to 0.89. Results of principal component indicated that body size was influenced most by the TGT at Principal component 1 (PC1) but at Principal component 2 (PC2) HLL had the highest weight (eigenvector) thus suggesting that in rabbits hind limb measurement seems to better predict body weight by accounting for more than 98% of the total variation in body weight. Rabbit had a dressing percentage of 50.67 with the hind limbs accounting for over 42% of the carcass weight. International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development Vol. 7(2) 2006: 40-4

The effects of Blood Rumen Content Mixture (BRCM) meal supplemented with yeast on the performance and gut microbial populations of broiler chickens

One hundred and twenty (120) arbor acre strain day old broiler chicks were used to investigate the effects of blood rumen content mixture (BRCM) meal supplemented with Levucel SB yeast on the performance and gut microbial populations of broiler chickens. Four diets were formulated both at the starter and finisher stages of the experiment. Diet 1 had neither blood rumen content mixture (BRCM) nor yeast supplementation. However diets 2, 3 and 4 contained 3.5, 7.0 and 10.5% BRCM respectively all supplemented with 2.5g/kg diet Levucel SB yeast. Dietary treatments were replicated three times using a completely randomized design. Each replicate treatment had 10 chicks. The experiment lasted for eight weeks. Results showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in feed intake. The highest feed intake (2.80 kg per bird) was recorded among broiler chickens fed on diets containing 3.5 and 10.5% BRCM (p< 0.05). Body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were similar for birds in all dietary treatments (p>0.05). Ileal and caecal microbial populations were significantly increased both at 10-2 and 10-3 serial dilutions (P<0.05). All dietary treatments had Bacillus species of bacteria in their isolates. Only dietary treatments containing BRCM supplemented with Levucel SB yeast had Streptococcus and Staphylococcus species of bacteria in the isolates from the ileum and ceacum portions of the small intestine. It was concluded that when supplemented with yeast, BRCM meal up to 10.5% in broiler feed had no detrimental effect on broiler performance. It also enhanced the development of beneficial gut microbes.Keywords: Broilers, Blood Rumen Content, Performance, gut microbes, Levucel SB yeas