Carcass and organ characteristics of finishing broilers fed diets containing probiotics (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)

A five-week study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding varying levels of S. cerevisiae on carcass and organ characteristics of finishing broilers. One hundred and twenty 4-weeks old broilers of cobb strain were randomly assigned to four treatments (T1 = 0.6 g Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) kg–1 diet; T2 = 0.8 g SC kg–1 diet; T3 = 1.0 g SC kg–1 diet and T4 = 0.0 g SC kg–1 diet) with 30 birds per treatment and replicated twice with 15 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. Feed and water were provided ad libitum to the birds in a deep litter system. In the end, data on growth, carcass and organ indices generated from the study were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) among the treatments in the birds’ growth performance indices. However, significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the birds’ values for liver weight, heart weight, shank length and thigh length with birds in T3 recording highest values of 61.30 g, 16.93 g and 12.00 cm for liver weight, heart weight and thigh length, respectively. It was thus concluded that finishing broilers fed 1.0 g of S. cerevisiae had superior carcass and organ characteristics than birds on the control and lower levels of inclusion

Growth performance and haematology of Isa-brown pullets fed diets containing graded levels of Centrosema pubescens leaf meal

This study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary levels of Centrosema pubescens leaf meal (CLM) on the growth performance and haematological parameters of pullets. Twenty-four, five weeks old Isa-Brown pullets were weighed and randomly allotted into three dietary treatment groups and was replicated twice with eight pullets per treatment and four pullets per replica in a completely randomized design (CRD). Each treatment was replicated two times giving four birds per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). Pullets were fed dietary levels of CLM at 0, 2.5 and 5% in T1, T2 and T3 respectively from the 5th week of age. Results on growth performance showed significant (P<0.05) difference in average daily feed intake. T3 had the highest average daily feed intake of 209.5±0.00 g. Results on haematology showed significant (P<0.05) differences in packed cell volume, red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration, white blood cell count and lymphocyte. T3 had the highest packed cell volume, red blood cell count and haemoglobin concentration (29.00±0.58%, 29.00, 10.62±0.23x106/mm3 and 8.55±0.15g/100ml, respectively). T1 recorded the highest white blood cell count (11650±95.74x103/mm3). T1 and T2 had the highest lymphocyte levels (79.00±0.58). In conclusion, CLM should be incorporated in the diets of pullets up to 5% inclusion level to improve their average daily feed intake and some haematological parameters. Keywords: Pullets; Isa-Brown; Centrosema pubescens; Growth performance; Haematology; Die