Evaluation of Soybean Hulls in Grower Turkey Diets

A 42 day study was carried out to evaluate the effect of soybean hulls (SBH) in diets of grower turkeys. Four experimental turkey grower diets were formulated such that soybean hulls made up of 0.0 (control diet), 10.0, 20.0 and 30.0% of the diets respectively replacing maize and soybean meal. These diets were offered randomly to ninety six (96), six week old black coloured local turkeys divided into four groups of 24 birds each replicated 3 times with 8 birds per replicate in a completelyrandomized design experiment. Results indicated that grower turkeys on the diet (0.0% SBH) produced significantly (p0.05) feed conversion ratio (FCR) than those fed 10.0, 20.0 and 30.0% SBH diets. Feed intake increased significantly (p0.05) feed cost per kg weight gain

Acute Toxicity of Castor Oil Bean Extract and Tolerance Level of Raw Castor Oil Bean (Ricinus communis L) By Broilers

The experiment was carried out to determine the acute toxicity of raw castor oil bean (Ricinus communis) extract and the tolerance level of raw castor oil bean by broilers. The seeds were ground, defatted with petroleum ether and the residue was subjected to extraction with phosphate-buffered saline. The extract volume equivalents of six doses (0 g/kg, 4 g/kg, 9 g/kg, 14 g/kg, 19 g/kg, and 24 g/kg) were determined and then given by oral drenching to thirty 6-week-old broilers, with liveweight of 500-600 g. The doses were designated treatments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, respectively. There were 5 birds per treatment. The drenched birds were left in their respective pens with full access to feed and water and observed for 48 hours. Few minutes after the administration of the extracts, dizziness was observed, followed by diarrhoea. The intensity increased with increase in the doses. At the end of 48 hours, the total percent mortality was 60% for treatment 2, and 100% for treatments 3, 4, 5 and 6. In conclusion, Ricinus communis is acutely toxic, especially when defatted; and the tolerance level of broiler birds for raw Ricinus communis is about 4000 parts per million or 4 g of seed per kg body weight

Effect of Different Levels of Molasses Fed Through Drinking Water on Growth and Economic Performance of Broiler Chickens

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of molasses fed through drinking water on growth and economic performance of broiler chickens. One hundred and sixty unsexed day old chicks of Anak strain were used. They were divided into four treatment groups with each group having four replicates of ten birds per replicate. Each group had forty birds, replicated into four with ten birds per replicate. The experiment was arranged in completely randomized design (CRD). Treatment 1(without molasses) served as the control. Treatment 2, 3 and 4 were fed 30, 50 and 70 g of molasses per litre of water, respectively. The birds were fed and watered ad libitun.The experiment lasted for 28 days each for starter and finisher phases. At the starter phase, 50 and 70 g/litre significantly improved live weight, protein efficiency ratio (PER) and water intake. During the finisher phase, live weight, daily gain, PER and water intake were significantly (P<0.05) higher in 50 and 70g/litre groups which also had better feed: gain ratio as compared to control. Revenue and gross margin were higher (P<0.05) in 50 and 70 g/litre group than the control and 30 g/litre

The Value of Synthetic Diaminomonocarboxylic Acid (lysine) in Chicken Nutrition

This review highlights the current information on the bio-utilization, economic importance and environmental issues of synthetic diaminomonocarboxylic acid (DMA) otherwise called lysine in chicken nutrition. Synthetic DMA is bio-available more than the natural form, which occurs both in animal and plant products used to formulate diets for chicken. Utilization of the natural lysine could be hampered by anti-nutritional factors such as trypsin inhibitors, saponins, hemaglutinins and fibers present in the products. Heat processing of protein feedstuffs such as soybean meal is also implicated in poor utilization of natural DMA by chickens. High heat of processing or prolonged exposure to heat reduces availability of lysine in soybean meal. Total removal of synthetic DMA in a feed formula could lead to inadequate nitrogen utilization, high cost of the diet and increased contamination of the environment by nitrogen compounds such as nitrites and nitrates. Nitrogen compound contaminants emanate from high fecal nitrogen associated with increased level of dietary animal and plant proteins such as soybean meal and fishmeal in the absence of synthetic DMA. Thus, inclusion of synthetic DMA in chicken feed is good practice in terms of its economic and environmental benefits.Keywords: Diaminomonocarboxylic acid, lysine, chicken, protein feedstuff, nitrogen compound

Milk Yield and Composition of West African Dwarf (WAD) Does fed Bambara nut meal-based diets

Twelve individually housed West African Dwarf (WAD) does in their mid-lactation were used to study the effect of Bambara nut meal on milk yield, composition and mineral content of goat milk. Four experimental diets designated A, B, C and D were formulated to contain 0, 10, 20 and 30% Bambara nut meal (BM), respectively. The 12 WAD does were divided into four (4) groups of three animals each. Each group was assigned to one of the four experimental diets in a completely randomized design (CRD). Each animal in a group represented a replicate. The experiment lasted 28 days. Data on voluntary feed intake and milk yield were collected daily. Results showed that daily milk yield was similar (P>0.05) among the treatment groups. The values were 188.53, 174.86, 298.66 and 272.49 g for diets A, B, C and D, respectively. Similarly values for SF, BF, CP, Lactose, TS, ASH and milk energy did not differ (P>0.05) among treatment groups. However, dietary inclusion of BM significantly (P<0.05) affected Calcium, Phosphorus and Sodium contents of WAD goat milk but Magnesium and Potassium were not significantly influenced (P>0.05) by  the diets. It was concluded that the dietary inclusion of Bambara nut meal at 20% level promoted higher milk content of Calcium, Phosphorus and Sodium.Keywords: Bambara groundnut, goats, milk yield, composition and mineral content

Effects of Administration of Molasses through Drinking Water on Growth and Conformation Parameters of Meat–Type Chicken

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of feeding molasses to broiler chickens as a supplement through drinking water rather than mixing it with the feed. One hundred (100) unsexed day old broiler chicks of Anak strain were used. They were divided into two treatment groups of fifty birds. Each group was replicated five times with 10 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). Both groups were fed the same starter and finisher diets. In addition, treated groups was fed 30 g of molasses per liter of water from 0–2 weeks of age, 50 g/litre  2–4 weeks and 75 g/litre 4–8 weeks. The experiment lasted for 28 days each for starter (0–4 weeks) and finisher (4–8 weeks) phases. The molasses supplemented group had significantly (p<0.05) heavier body weight, conformation parameters (breast width, keel length) at both phases and consumed lesser feed at the finisher phase. There was no mortality. Molasses could therefore be fed as a supplement to broilers through drinking water

Chemical composition and nutritional value of boiled Christmas bush fruit (Alchornea cordifolia) meal fed to starter broiler chickens

A study was conducted to determine the chemical composition and the nutritive value of boiled Christmas bush (Alchornea cordifolia) for starter broiler chickens. Dried Christmas bush fruits (Capsules + seed) were boiled for 30 minutes, sundried and ground into meal. The meal was analyzed for proximate composition and anti-nutritional factors and incorporated into broiler starter diet at 0%, 15%, 20% and 25% respectively. A total of 120 day old Marshall Strain broiler chicks were divided into 12 pens each containing 10 birds. Three pens were randomly assigned to each experimental diet. The boiled dried and ground Christmas bush (Alchornea cordifolia) fruit contained 19.9% crude protein and 4.7 mg/100 phytic acids which is an improvement when compared with raw Christmas bush fruits. Increase in inclusion level of boiled Christmas bush fruit in the diet caused a progressive reduction (p < 0.05) in final weight gain and feed intake of the birds. Birds on 15 and 20% BCBF had similar (p> 0.05) feed conversion ration ratio with birds on control diet. The cost of feed per Kg weight gain and mortality were not significantly (p> 0.05) different for all the treatments. Apart from Haemoglobin and serum phosphate, all other serum biochemical indices checked were not statistically (p> 0.05) different among the treatment groups. It was concluded that boiling of Christmas bush fruits decreased the anti-nutritional factors and improved the nutritive value of the fruit but could not improve the performance of broiler starter chickens.Keywords: Broiler starter, christmas bush, chemical composition, anti-nutritional facto