Entrepreneurial Characteristics And Constraints Of Poultry Enterprises In Imo State, Nigeria

The, entrepreneurial characteristics marketing strategies, poultry drugs distribution methods and constraints were studied among 110 poultry enterprises in Imo State, Nigeria. Ten types of poultry businesses were identified with commercial feeds retailing, egg and broiler productions being the most frequently practiced (18.1, 15.3 and 15.2% respectively). Guinea and Top feed brands were the most popular commercial poultry feeds, with each rating 28.1 and 23.4% respectively. Thirty-five(55.6%) of poultry farmers use commercial poultry feeds in feeding their flocks. Small-scale commercial poultry farms (40.4%) were more as against middle and large scale units that averaged 30.8 and 28.9% respectively. 82.9% of the poultry farmers sell their products unprocessed either by retails and wholesales (41.9%), or by retail only (20.9%). Twenty-three (79.3%) of poultry drugs sellers in the state are not qualified to sell such drugs, while a higher percentage of the farmers consult veterinary doctors before administering drugs. Antibiotics (23.9%), coccidiostats (23.1%), vitamins (17.4%) and vaccines (14.1%) were the most frequently sold poultry medicinal products. Practitioners identified high cost of livestock inputs (31.3%) lack of adequate finance (26.6%) and disease (17.2%) as major constraints to their business. Researching for cheaper sources of raw materials (30.8%), visiting farms for advice (23.1%) and producing animals with higher feed efficiency by animal production scientists and financial support in forms of soft loans, credits and subsidies from government (58.33%), were listed as the highest expectations of the practitioners. Key words: Nigeria, poultry business, veterinary drugs, poultry feeds, Poultry farmers Journal Of Agriculture And Social Research Vol. 5 (1) 2005: 25-3

A comparative evaluation of leaf meals of pawpaw (C. papaya), swordbean (C. gladiate), jackbean (C. ensiformis) and pigeonpea (C. cajan) as feed ingredients and yolk colouring agents in layers' diets

Leaf meals of the above-named tropical plants at 0.2,3 ,4 and 5% dietary levels were investigated for their values as feed ingredients and egg yolk pigmenters in white maize based layer diets. Each diet was fed as 5 replicates of 15 hyaline layers for 14 weeks. Pawpaw leaf meal (P<M) at 4% and 5% dietary levels significantly (P<0.05) depressed feed intake without affecting egg production and body weights. It, however, had no colouring affecting on egg yolk. Sword bean leaf meal (SBIM), jack bean leaf meal (JB<M) and pigeonpea leaf meal (PPLM) compared favourably with the control group in terms of feed intake, egg production and body weights. SBLM exceptionally improved egg yolk colour, scoring 4, 5, 8 and 12 on the Roche egg yolk colour fan at 2, 3, 4 and 5% dietary levels respectively. JBLM and PPLM only gave a score of 4 and 5% dietuy level. SBLM appears to be very high in biological available xanthophylls and should be considered for development as commercial egg yolk pigmenter.Key words: Pawpaw leaf meal, Swordbean leaf meal, Jackbean leaf meal, Pigeon pea leaf meal

Nutritional And Health Implications Of Dietary Inclusion Of Dried Poultry Waste (DPW) For Broilers

Studies were carried out to determine the growth performance of and histopathological changes in broilers fed diets containing dried poultry waste (DPW). DPW was included in broiler starter diets at 0,10,15,20 and 25% levels and each diet fed to a group of 32 broiler chicks for 3 weeks. Thereafter the diets were adjusted to finisher level and fed for another 4 weeks. Feed intake of the birds was significantly affected only at 25% DPW dietary level (

Maize/Sorghum - Based Dried Brewers' Grains In Broiler Finisher Diets

A 40 - day feeding trial was conducted to determine the optimal substitution level of maize/sorghum-based dried brewers' grains (MSDBG) for maize in broiler finisher diets. Six experimental broiler finisher diets were formulated such that 25%, 50% and 75% of the maize in diet 1 (the control) were replaced with MSDBG in diets 2, 3, and 4, respectively while diets 5 and 6 were like 3 and 4, respectively but fortified with 4% palm oil. Each diet was fed to a group of 48 broiler chicks for 40 days (week 4 to week 10 of age). There were no significant (P > 0.05) differences among the groups in growth rate (43.95, 45.52, 45.11, 43.01, 45.80 and 43.92 g/day, respectively). At replacement levels or 50% and 75% with or without palm oil, the birds consumed significantly (P< 0.05) more feed than the group on the control diet (140.0, 151.4, 177.3, 174.6, 174.2 and 167.1 g/day, respectively). Feed conversion ratio of the MSDBG groups was consequently significantly(P < 0.05) inferior to the control. Addition of palm oil did not produce any noticeable effect on the performance of the birds. Feed cost for production of a kilogram or brioler was markedly reduced at the 75% replacement level.Keywords: Maize/sorghum-based dried brewers' grains (MSDBG), maize, broiler diet

The effect of replacing maize with cassava peel meal on the performance of weaned rabbits

A 12-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the optimal replacement level(s) of dried cassava  peel meal (DCPM) for maize in diets for weaner rabbits. Four experimentnl diets were formulated such that dried cassava peel meal replaced maize at 0, 50%, 75% and 100% levels, respectively. Each diet was fed to five replicates of 3 weaner rabbits of mongrel type (Newzealand White and Flemish Giant). Fecal collections were done as from the 10th dny of the feeding trial for determination of dry matter  digestibility. Dl"ied cassava peel meal significantly (P<0.05) depressed feed intake of the rabbits at 100% replacement level. At both 75% and 100% replacement levels, DCPM also significantly (P<0.05) depressed body weight gain of the rabbits. Feed  conversion ratio was not affected hy the trentments but dry matter digestibility wns significnntly (P<O.OS) depressed by DCPM at the three levels. Feed cost suvings in percent were 8.25, 18.65 and 32.72, l'especti\'ely for the three levels of replacement.Key words: cussava peel meal, maize replacement, rabbits

Growth performance of and microbial activities in broilers fed supplementary bitter kola (Garcinia kola)

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dietary bitter kola (Garcinia kola) on growth performance and hematological indices of broilers and as antibacterial agent in their diets. Bitter kola seeds were processed into meal (bitter kola seed meal) and analyzed for proximate and phytochemical composition. The meal was then used to make broiler diets at 0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5% inclusion levels respectively (23%cp for starter and 19%cp for f inisher phases), which were then used to raise groups of 30 broiler chicks for 8 weeks. At the end of the 8 weeks, 4 birds were selected from each group and used for determination of blood indices and internal organ weights. Fecal samples were analyzed for parasite and bacterial load. There were no significant differences in feed intake among the groups (p>0.05) but the group on 2.5% bitter kola diet had significantly (

Comparative evaluation of sun-dried and ensiled cassava peel meals as substitute for maize in broiler starter diets

A 28-day feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of dietary inclusion of Ensiled Cassava Peel Meal (ECPM) and Sun-dried Cassava Peel Meal (SCPM) on the performance of starter broiler chicks. Three treatment diets were formulated such that 50% of the maize in diet 1 (control) was replaced in diet 2 with ECPM and in diet 3 with SCPM. Each diet was fed to a group of 20 starter broiler chicks for 4 weeks. The birds fed on SCPM diet recorded significantly (P0.05) between the control birds and birds fed ECPM diet in terms of feed intake, body weight gain and growth rate. There was also no significant difference (P>0.05) between the control birds and birds fed ECPM but there was significant difference (

Effect Of Dietary Raw, Cooked And Toasted Mucuna Pruriens Seeds (Velvet Bean) On The Performance Of Finisher Broilers

A 5-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect or dietary raw, cooked and toasted Mucuna pruriens seeds (velvet bean) on the performance of finisher broilers. Raw Mucuna pruriens seeds contained 30.3% crude protein. At 10% dietary level, raw and toasted Mucuna pruriens seed meals significantly (P < 0.05) depressed growth rate of broilers. At 20% dietary level, cooked Mucuna pruriens seed meal also significantly (P < 0.05) depressed growth rate of the birds. Feed intake was also significantly (P < 0.05) reduced at 20% and 10% dietary levels of cooked and toasted meals, respectively. The feed intake of the group on 10% raw Mucuoa diet remained unexpectedly high.Keywords: Mucuna pruriens seeds, broilers, feed intake, growth rat

Performance Of Growing Pigs And Finisher Broilers Housed Together

Growth performance and cost of feeding young growing pigs and finisher broilers under integrated broiler/pig production system were investigated. Four young growing pigs (the control) were housed in pen A and fed 4% of their body weight as commercial growers feed. Another 4 were housed in pen B with broilers in cages placed above them and given 2% of their body weight as commercial growers feed and allowed to make up with droppings from the broilers above. Another 4 were housed without broilers in pen C and given 2% of their body weight as commercial growers feed and droppings collected from broilers housed without pigs in pen D. Each pig within a treatment was tagged and regarded as a replicate. The broilers were put in the cages at week 5 and given broilerfinisher feed ad libitum. They were removed at 9 weeks of age and replaced with another batch similarly raised, a process that was repeated 3 times in the I 2-week trial. The growth rate of the pigs of the control group was statistically similar to that of the group housed with broilers (P>0.05) but significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of the group housed without broilers. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in the feed intake, growth rate and feed conversion ratio of the broilers housed with pigs and those housed without pigs. Cost analysis of the production systems showed that N104.00 was spent on feed to produce 1.0kg liveweight of pigs in the control group and N65.00 for the other two groups.Keywords: Pigs, broilers, integrated productio

Preliminary observations on the use of dry urea treatment and toasting for improving the nutritive value of jackbean Canavalia ensiformis for young broiler chicks

Raw unprocessed jackbean contains 28 - 30% crude protein but also contains toxic elements that limit its use as feed ingredient for nionogastric animals. A 21 - day feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of dry urea treatment prior to toasting on its  nutritive value for young broiler chicks. One of two batches of raw jackbean was mixed with 2.5% of its weight of crushed urea and allowed to stand for 10 days and then toasted. The other batch was toasted without  urea application. The two treated jackbean meals were used to compound broiler starter diets at 10 and 20% dietary levels, respectively, and along with control diet fed to groups of 40 young broiler chicks for 21 days. Hydrolysis of urea by the urease of the jackbean was completed in six days. Urea treatment/ toasting slightly reduced crude protein content of jackbean, but diets containing it at both 10% and 20% compared favourably with the control. Raw toasted  jackbean significantly (P<0.05) depressed performance of the young broiler chicks at 20% dietary level.Keywords: Jackbean, dry urea treatment, broilers