Performance of broiler chickens fed raw jackfruit seed meal (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

The effect of raw jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) seed meal (JFM) on performance, nutrient utilization and economics of production was investigated using 144 broiler chickens.The birds were divided into four dietary treatments of 3 replicates and 12 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. Diet one was soybean based (control) while raw JFM meal was added to diets 2 (T2), 3 (T3) and 4 (T4) at 10, 20 and 30% levels of inclusion of soybean meal in the control diet respectively. At 8 weeks, 2 birds per replicate were used to evaluate nutrient utilization. The growth performance was generally depressed with increased inclusion of raw JFM in the diets. The feed to gain ratio of birds placed on control diet (2.55) and T2 (2.56) were the same (P>0.05) and are significantly better (P < 0.05) than other treatments. Nitrogen, ether extract and ash retention were virtually the same for birds fed T1 T2 and T3 while energy retention was higher (P<0.05) in birds fed T1 (2,82MJ/Kg ME) than those fed T2 , T3 and T4. The cost per Kg feed was higher in T1 (₦131.59) and decreased with increase in inclusion of raw JFM; T2 (₦127.17), T3 (₦123.66) and T4 (₦123.24). Cost per  Kg weight gain, revenue and gross margin were the same for birds fed control and those fed with T2 . From the foregoing raw JFM is a potential feed resource and could be included in the  diet of broiler chicken up to 10% level of inclusion of soybean meal in a control diet.Keywords: Raw jackfruit; performance; broiler chicken; nutrient retention; economic

Effect of varying energy and protein levels on carcass characteristics of helmet Guinea fowls in the tropics

The effect of energy and protein and their interaction on carcass characteristics of helmet Guinea fowls in the tropics was investigated using one hundred and thirty-five Guinea fowls. The experiment which lasted for 5 weeks involved a 3*3 factorial in completely randomized design. The birds were randomly assigned to experimental diets containing three energy levels: 2500, 2600 and 2700 kcal/kg denoted as E1 , E2 and E3 respectively and  three protein levels: 15%, 16% and 17% CP denoted as P1 , P2 and P3 respectively. The factorial design involved nine treatment combinations. The birds were allocated to each diet and were replicated three times to contain five birds per replicate and 15 birds per treatment. The result revealed significant (P<0.05) differences in the main effects of protein on dressed weight, thigh weight and breast weight. The 17% CP recorded the most significant values for dressed weight (689.44 g) and breast weight (24.89g). The varying energy levels also affected significantly (P<0.05) the dressed weight, thigh weight, wing weight, breast weight, back weight and gizzard weight of the birds. The 2600 kcal/kg recorded the highest dressed weight (717.22 g) compared to the other energy levels. However, the 2700 kcal/kg recorded the most significant values in thigh, wing, breast, back and gizzard weights. The interaction effect of protein x energy levels revealed significant (P<0.05) effects on live weight, wing  weight, breast weight, back weight and gizzard weight of the Guinea fowls. The findings from this experiment conclude that diet of Helmeted Guinea fowl containing 15% CP and 2700kcal/kg ME gave the best carcass performance. Keywords: Energy, protein, carcass characteristics, helmet Guinea fowl

Growth performance and serum chemistry of earthworm (Hyperiodrilus euryaulos) cultured in different animal dung media

The experiment was conducted to determine the growth performance and serum biochemistry of earthworms cultured in different animal dung manures in a Completely Randomized Design experiment that lasted for 10weeks, using 315 earthworms. Five treatments, T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively containing garden soil alone (control) and four animals (poultry, rabbit, pig and goat) manure mixed with garden soil in the ratio of 1: 3 were put into rectangular plastic containers (30 x 42.5x27) cm. The containers were perforated at the base to enable excess water to drain out. 1kg of diet each was formulated with maize offal, wheat offal and PKC in a proportion of 0.35kg, 0.30kg and 0.35kg respectively and were mixed thoroughly with each medium. 63 fry earthworms of similar length were introduced into each treatment that was replicated thrice.1 litre of water was sprinkled to each treatment once every two days. At the end of the experiment, the control group (T1) was observed to have the least values for all the parameters evaluated. The results indicated that the absence of animal dung did not support growth of the earthworms. Poultry dung- cultured earthworms had the highest gain in weight (15.31g) followed by the goat dung-cultured earthworms (13.41g). The animal dungs improved the final average length with the highest value observed in the group cultured in the poultry dung. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in all the serum chemistry parameters evaluated. The control was observed to have 0.53g/dl total protein, 1.80mg/dl creatinine, 10.03mg/dl urea, 13.34mg/dl cholesterol and 6.12g/dl glucose. Group T3 (rabbit dung medium) earthworms had the highest (P<0.05) urea (58.30mg/dl) and cholesterol (106.15g/dl).Keywords: Earthworm, animal manure medi