EFFECT OF UROMAIZ ON SPERM CHARACTERISTICS IN WEST AFRICAN DWARF BUCKS

The effect of uromaiz, slow ammonia releasing urea product, produced by autoclaving and drying ofgerminated maize and urea on semen characteristics was investigated in twenty West African Dwarf(WAD) bucks in a completely randomized design experiment. The bucks were 11 and 13 months oldand they weighed 9.26+1.33kg. The bucks were assigned to five treatment groups and fed 0, 25, 50,75 and 100% uromaiz inclusion in the diet for eight weeks while data collection was carried out weeklyat the last four weeks. The results showed that important semen characteristics such as semen volume,sperm motility, sperm concentration and Sperm number per ejaculate increased (p<0.05) at 25and 50% levels of inclusion and reduced at higher levels of 75% and 100%. Primary abnormality locatedin the head, midpiece and tail increased (p<0.05) with increasing levels of uromaiz inclusion butvalues obtained were within the acceptable range for optimal fertility. The findings of this study indicatethat uromaiz at 25% or 50% could be included in the diet of WAD bucks to enhance sperm quality

MEAT QUALITY AND LIPID PROFILE OF BROILER CHICKENS FED DIETS CONTAINING TURMERIC (CURCUMA LONGA) POWDER AND CAYENNE PEPPER (CAPSICUM FRUTESCENS) POWDER AS ANTIOXIDANTS

This experiment was designed to determine the meat quality and lipid profile of broiler chickens fed diets containing turmeric (Curcuma longa) powder (Tur) and cayenne pepper (Capsicum frutescens) powder (Cay) as antioxidants. Two hundred and forty three (two-week old) Abor Acre broiler chicks were randomly allotted to nine treatment groups of 27 birds each, consisting of three replicates of nine birds each in a completely randomised design. Three levels of Tur (0, 2 and 4 g/kg) and three levels of Cay (0, 1 and 2 g/kg) were used to provide nine dietary treatments.  Meat quality indices such as cook and refrigerated losses, water absorptive power, etc were measured and determined at the 8th week. Broiler Chickens fed the basal diet had highest meat dry matter, protein content and least (p<0.05) meat pH, cook and refrigeration loss values. Meat triglyceride and meat malondialdehyde value was best (p<0.05) in treatments fed dietary 2 g/kg Cay, while chickens fed 2 g/kg Cay, 2 g/kg Tur + 1 g/kg Cay and 2 g/kg Tur + 2 g/kg Cay had better meat lipoprotein values. For meat sensory characteristic, meat flavour of broiler chickens fed diets containing 2 and 4 g/kg dietary Tur, were  moderately liked while overall flavour was best (p<0.05) in groups fed the basal diet with no dietary additive. It was evident in the study that the dietary inclusions of the test ingredients limited lipid oxidation, thus improved storage duration and meat flavor.   &nbsp

Antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and hepatomodulatory effects of aqueous extracts of Petiveria alliacea root and leaf on growing pullets

Aim of study: To evaluate antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and hepatomodulatory effects of aqueous extracts of Petiveria alliacea L. (Guinea hen weed) root and leaf on growing pullets.Area of study: Abeokuta, Nigeria.Material and methods: Two hundred and eighty eight eight-weeks-old Isa-brown pullets were divided into eight treatments which consisted in birds administered root extracts or leaf extracts at four different concentrations (0, 15, 30 and 45 ɡ/L). Each treatment was replicated three times with 12 pullets per replicate.Main results: Oocyst counts was lower (p<0.05) in pullets administered root extract (78.42 opɡ) compared with leaf extract (103.58 opɡ). Oocyst counts was lower (p<0.05) in pullets administered 30 and 45 ɡ/L root or leaf extract compared with other treatments. Bacteria counts reduced (p<0.05) in pullets administered root extract compared with leaf extract. Pullets administered 45 ɡ/L root extract recorded lowest (p<0.05) bacteria count. Bursa and thymus weights increased in pullets administered root or leaf extract compared with the control. Pullets administered 30 and 45 ɡ/L root or leaf extract had highest (p<0.05) antibody titre against Newcastle disease vaccine 8.80, 8.86, 8.74 and 8.80 (log2) respectively. There was fatty infiltration in liver of control birds, while hepatocytes appeared normal in liver of pullets administered P. alliacea extracts.Research highlights: P. alliacea root and leaf extracts at 45 ɡ/L performed best as antimicrobial, immune-stimulating and hepato-protective agent in pullets. This study highlights P. allicaea as a valuable antimicrobial and immunostimulating agent in poultry production