Comparison of growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of Benin indigenous chickens and Label Rouge (T55×SA51)

A study on growth performance, carcass traits and meat quality was carried out on Savannah and Forest  ecotype chicken of Benin, using Label Rouge (T55 X SA51) as a control genotype. All the animals were fed ad  libitum with three diets (starter, grower and layer feed). They were individually weighed at hatching and during the growing stage, and the daily feed intake was recorded. A sample of 12 males of each genetic type was  slaughtered for carcass characteristics. Sensory analysis was done on each genetic type after boiling or  roasting. The Label Rouge chickens were heavier than the local chickens at hatch (P<0.001). At the end of 40  weeks, the weight of the Label Rouge was double that of the Savannah ecotype and 2.8 times that of the Forest ecotype. The feed efficiency of the Label Rouge was higher than that of the local chickens (P<0.001). The  genetic type influenced tenderness and juiciness, with the local Savannah chicken being the most tender and  juiciest (P<0.001). However, the cooking method and the carcass cut influenced tenderness only. The overall assessment of the meat of the Label Rouge chickens was similar to that of the local chickens, whereas the  assessment of the meat was significantly lower for local chickens of Forest ecotype compared to the Savannah ecotype (P<0.001). The local chickens would therefore be suitable for improving traditional poultry production, whereas controlled crossbreeding programmes using Label Rouge could be recommended to improve local chicken weight.Key words: Growth, carcass, sensory characters, indigenous chicken, Label Rouge

Paramètres démographiques des cheptels de bovins Borgou et N’Dama à la Ferme d’Elevage de l’Okpara au nord-est du Bénin

Les paramètres démographiques des cheptels de bovins de race Borgou et N’Dama de la Ferme d’Elevage de l’Okpara ont été étudiés de 1994 à 2008. Le cheptel Borgou a comporté une proportion élevée (

Croissance des agneaux Djallonkes Nourris avec du lait de soja

Growth of Djallonke Lambs fed with Soy Milk. Soy milk was administered to Djallonke Lambs in pre weaning. Three groups of 20 animals, all from a traditional extensive farming, were performed. Group 1 (control) was deprived of soy milk. In the 2nd and 3rd group lambs received 50 and 100 ml soy milk respectively per head. Food supplementation with soy milk began a week after the lambs' birth. Soy milk was administered daily at the same time in one meal using a bottle before leaving to the pasture. The results showed a significant delay of growth of the control group compared to the other groups. At the end of the 2nd week, the body weight difference was in average 0.32 and 0.42 kg respectively for the control and the two other groups. At the end of the 12th week this difference became 2.55 and 3.22 kg respectively for the control and the two other groups. No significant differences were observed between the live weights' mean in the 2nd and 3rd group

Productivite des systemes d’elevage bovin de la commune de gogounou au Nord-Est Du Benin

Une étude concernant 30 troupeaux bovins ayant un effectif total de 3022 têtes a été réalisée dans la commune de Gogounou pour comparer la productivité de trois types d’élevage bovin : le petit élevage Peulh (type 1), le grand élevage transhumant (type 2) et l’élevage associé à l’agriculture (type 3). Le type d’élevage a eu un effet significatif (p < 0,05) sur les poids a la naissance (18,2 vs. 18,7 vs. 19,4 kg), à trois mois d’âge (39,3 vs. 32,6 vs. 44,7 kg) et à six mois d’âge (55,3 vs.64,2 vs.71,0 kg) pour les veaux des types 1, 2 et 3 respectifs. Le type d’élevage a aussi eu un effet significatif (p < 0,05) sur la quantité de lait prélevée à la 4e semaine de lactation (1,27 vs. 1,44 vs. 1,29 kg) et sur la quantité de lait consommée par les veaux en trois mois (156,8 vs. 105,1 vs. 186,2 kg) pour les types 1, 2 et 3 respectifs. Les paramètres démographiques des troupeaux enquêtés ont été significativement (p < 0,05) influencés par le type d’élevage. Ainsi, Le taux de mortalité avant sevrage a été plusfaible (p < 0,05) dans les élevages du type 3 (6,5 vs. 15,0 et 16,4 % pour les types 1 et 2 respectifs). Le taux de fécondité a été plus élevé (p < 0,05) dans les troupeaux du type 3 (74,3 vs. 69,1 et 64,5 % pour les types 1 et 2 respectifs). La productivité numérique au sevrage a été plus élevée (p < 0,05) au niveau des élevages du type 3 (69,4 vs. 58,4 et 54 % pour les types 1 et 2 respectifs). La proportion de femelles a été plus faible (p < 0,05) dans les élevages du type 3 (67,8 vs. 76,5 et 75,4 % pour les types 1 et 2 respectifs). Le rendement numérique des troupeaux du type 3 a été supérieur (p < 0,05) à ceux des types 1 et 2 (7,1 vs.3,5 et 3,1 %). Cette étude a montré que l’élevage associé à l’agriculture a une meilleure productivité par rapport au petit élevage peulh et au grand élevage transhumant et leur servir de modèle. A study involving 30 cattle herds with a total of 3022 heads was carried out in the common of Gogounou to compare the productivity of three types of cattle breeding systems: small Fulani livestock (type 1), the great nomadic herding (type 2) and associated with livestock farming (type 3).The type of breeding system had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on weight at birth (18.2 vs. 18.7 vs. 19.4 kg) in three months of age (39.3 vs. 32.6 vs. 44.7 kg) and six months of age (55.3 vs. 64.2 vs.71.0 kg) of calves in types 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The type of breeding system had also a significant effect (p < 0.05) on the quantity of milk taken at the 4th weekof lactation (1.27 vs. 1.44 vs. 1.29 kg) and the amount milk consumed by calves in the three months (156.8 vs. 105.1 vs. 186.2 kg) for types 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The demographic parameters of herds surveyed were significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by the type of breeding system. Thus, the mortality rate before weaning was lower (p < 0.05) in herds in type 3 (6.5 vs.15, 0 and 16.4 % for types 1 and 2 respectively). The fertility ratewas higher (p < 0.05) in type 3 herds (74.3 vs. 69.1 and 64.5 % for types 1 and 2 respectively). The numerical productivity at weaning was higher (

Performances zootechniques des dindonneaux nourris à base de farine d'asticots

Zootechnic Performances of Turkey Poults Fed with Maggot Flour -based Rations. Fish meal was partially substituted by maggot flour in the rations of 96 young turkeys aged between 0 and2 days. Chicks with their mothers were randomly divided into three batches and fed during the starting phase that lasted four weeks with rations R1, R2 and R3 containing respectively 0%, 5% and 10% flour maggots. During the growth phase which also lasted 4 weeks, the proportion of flour maggots in the ration was halved. After the starting phase, the young turkeys of batches R3 and R2 showed an Average Daily Gain (ADG) slightly above the control, despite a significantly lower food consumption (p<0.05). Mortality rates were 15.6%, 25% and 31.3% respectively for lots R3, R2 and R1 with a significant difference (p <0.05) between batches R3 on one side and batches R2 and R1, on the other side. The growth phase showed that the ADG is directly proportional to the level of maggot's flour in the rations. The amount of food consumed during this phase did not vary significantly (p>0.05) between the different batches of animals. The mortality rate of 16.7%, 14.5% and 14.8% respectively for lots 1, 2 and 3 showed no significant differences (p>0.05)