Animal production and health

Performance characteristics and carcass yield obtained from barrows (castrated male pigs) fed a diet in which dried poultry waste (DPW) totally replaced palm kernel cake (PKC) was investi-gated. The DPW diet was inferior in terms of total weight gained (30.8 kg as opposed to 34.2 kg for the PKC diet). The daily weight gain and efficiency of feed utilization were also better in the PKC diet (610.70 g versus 550 g and 0.318 versus 0.288, respectively). The carcass yield is 43.57 and 41.39 kg in the PKC and DPW diets, respectively. However, the DPW diet showed a lower feed cost per kilogram of the diet and gave higher monetary returns per kilogram of meat produced. Also this study revealed that using DPW to fatten pigs up to 60 kg resulted in a net saving of N196.00 per pig. The inclusion of DPW at this level in the growers' ration for pigs could therefore be beneficial in terms of reduction of feed cost and higher returns per kilogram of meat produced.

This paper seeks to review the nutritional values of Chromolaena odorata (C.O.), an erstwhile obnoxious plant. The food and medicinal values of this plant, aside from its agronomic importance were mentioned as part of the introductory pieces of information on its use in livestock production. The plant has assumed an enigmatic status of sort, to the herbalists, the agronomists and the livestock nutritionists alike, but recent research efforts as reviewed in this article, such as its use in the formulation of layers diets, its influence on performance, nutrient digestibility, mineral utilization, blood and biochemical indices of monogastrics as well as its acceptance and high preference score recorded on the West African dwarf goats are quickly changing the perception of the plant as a noxious weed to one of immense medicinal and nutritional potentials only waiting for mankind to continue to tap and benefit from.

A review of the extent of fermentation of cassava and its by-products was made in order to highlight the role played by fermentation on the bio-conversion of cassava and cassava by-products for improved nutrient quality. The reasons for cassava products fermentation mentioned were synonymous with the reasons canvassed generally for embarking on fermentation which include among others: biological enrichment of the substrate in terms of protein, vitamins, essential amino acids and essential fatty acids; impartation of good aroma, flavour and texture; preservation of the fermented products and decrease in cooking time and fuel requirement. The choice of the fermentation methods that have been employed was the next topic of this article with a dividing line drawn between the two most popular fermentation methods -submerged/liquid substrate fermentation and solid substrate fermentation in which the balance is greatly tilted in favour of the latter, especially in the developing countries because of its relatively low cost, ease of adaptability of local conditions and technologies, little or no effluent generation and a much reduced rate of environmental pollution. The array of some cassava products that have been fermented with their varied rate of success in terms of nutrient enhancement from diverse cultures and background together with animal trials conducted to validate the in vitro nutrient enhancement of these products was also highlighted.

Background This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of time of feeding on the performance of WAD goats during pregnancy, and to assess how the time of feeding of the dam affect the growth of their kids’ postpartum. Twelve (12) pregnant does were used in the pre-partum and in the postpartum, the same 12 lactating does and their 12 kids (1 kid per doe) were used. The dams were randomly distributed into three treatments and were fed once daily either in the morning, noon, or evening at 0600 h, 12:00 h and 18:00 h respectively under the natural light–dark cycle. Result Serum creatinine in noon-fed does was higher (P = 0.005) than in morning and evening-fed does. In addition, low density lipoprotein in morning-fed gravid does was the high (P = 0.007) compared to noon-fed does while the evening-fed does had the lowest. During postpartum, morning and noon-fed dams consumed more feed (forage, concentrate, and total daily feed intake) than evening-fed dams (P ≤ 0.006). Kid weight of m...

A 49 day feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of biologically upgraded cocoa pod husk meal (BCPHM) on the growth performance, haemato-biochemical indices and antioxidant status of broiler chickens. Three experimental diets were formulated at both starter and finisher phases in which BCPHM was added as an active feed ingredient at 0, 10, 20% and designated as diets 1, 2 and 3 respectively. One hundred and fifty day old Marshal broiler chicks weighing 39±2.5g/bird were allotted to 3 dietary treatments (10birds/replicate, 50birds/treatment) in a completely randomized design. The Average daily weight gain (ADWG), total weight gain (TWG) and final body weight (FBW) of broiler chicks fed diets containing 10% BCPHM was significantly (p˂0.05) higher than that of control and diet containing 20% BCPHM at starter phase. At finisher phase, the values of ADWG, TWG  and FBW were at par with that of control. Feed Intake was seen to increase as BCPHM increased in the diet at finisher...

Leaves and leaf protein concentrates (LPCs) from leaves of Glyricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala were analysed for chemical constituents. The protein quality of the LPC, with or without dl-methionine supplementation, was estimated by using sixty weanling albino rats. Glyricidia leaves contained higher crude protein and lower crude fibre than L. leucocephala leaves, while the ash values were identical. In the LPCs, crude protein showed a good balance of amino acids and nutritionally important minerals. The gross energy (GE) was only enhanced in the LPC of Glyricidia and, although tannin content was reduced in the LPCs, the phytate concentration increased. The rat bioassay did not suggest that, even when supplemented with dl-methionine, Glyricidia or Leucaena LPC would support rat growth when used as the sole sources of dietary protein. Based on the analytical and bioassay data, the nutritional potentials and limitations of these underutilized protein resources are discussed.

Background: Following the ban on the importation of import-dependent fed ingredients in most developing countries, the need to look inward for local content is now compelling. Thus, leaf meals that have phytogenic additive potentials are envisaged will be a viable feed ingredient in rabbit diets. Methods: The effect of dietary inclusion of gliricidia leaf meal (GLM) with or without multi-enzyme (E) supplementation in rabbits was investigated using ninety-six 35-day old rabbits of crossbreed (Newzealand and Chinchilla). One basal diet that met the requirements of growing rabbit was formulated (Diet 1). Thereafter, another two diets were formulated to contain 15% GLM and 15% GLM plus multi-enzyme at 1 g/kg and designated as diets 2 and 3 respectively. The rabbits were randomly distributed into the 3 diets (32 rabbits/treatment; 4 rabbits/ replicate) and fed their respective experimental diets for 8 weeks. Results: The body weight and daily weight gain of the rabbits fed on GLM free diet and those on GLM-based diets (diets 1 and 2) were similar at finishing period of 63-91 day but have lower (P < 0.01) values than those rabbits fed GLM + E based diet (diet 3) at finishing period (63-91 days) and whole fattening period (35-91 days). The apparent dry matter and crude protein digestibility of rabbits fed control diet and those fed 15% GLM based diet were lower (P < 0.05) than those fed 15% GLM + E-based diet. Triglycerides concentration of rabbits fed 15% GLM-based diet without enzyme addition were lower (P < 0.05) than those observed for rabbits on the rest test diets. Cholesterol and Low-Density Lipoprotein levels of rabbits fed 15% GLM and 15% GLM + E-based diets were lower (P < 0.05) than those fed the GLM free diet. The superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase of rabbits fed the GLM free diet (diet 1) were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those fed the 15%GLM and 15% GLM + E-based diets. Conclusion: Dietary inclusion of GLM at 15% of the diet did not have a negative effect on the rabbits postweaning period (35-63 days) but will require multi-enzyme supplementation to enhance growth indices at finishing period (63-91 day) without precipitating negative effect on the rabbits' health status.

Background: This study evaluates the effects of storage periods (1, 4, 7, 10, and 13 days), egg size (small 60-64 g, medium 65-69 g, and large ≥ 70 g), and egg positioning with air cell facing either down or up during storage on hatchability percentages and day-old chick's weight. One thousand and five hundred (1500) fertile eggs from Arbor acre broiler breed were purchased and arranged each according to egg sizes into five (5) different storage periods of 100 eggs per storage period. Each storage period was subdivided into 2 groups of 50 eggs each based on positioning during storage. A completely randomized design in 3 × 5 × 2 factorial arrangement was adopted. Stored eggs were incubated for hatch with recording of weights of the hatched chicks, and the hatchability rate was calculated. Results: The results indicated eggs stored for a day and 4 days had maximum hatchability, but declined slightly as the storage period increased (92 to 78%). The eggs positioned down generally had better hatchability. However, mediumsized eggs had the highest hatchability percentage. On the other hand, large-sized eggs stored for longer period attained higher chick weight compared to medium-and small-sized eggs, but large-sized eggs positioned down gave a better chick weight. Generally, eggs stored with air cell down present superior chick weight. Conclusion: Storage period and egg positioning during storage affect the subsequent egg hatchability and weight of the hatched chicks from different egg sizes. However, egg storage must not exceed 4 days for optimum hatchability and weight of the hatched chicks. In addition, storing of eggs with air cell down might also enhance the hatchability and weight of hatched chicks irrespective of the weight of the eggs.

A feeding trial was conducted to investigate the performance, haematology, nutrient digestibility and economics of production of growing pigs fed diets containing differently fermented cassava starch residue (CSR) and cassava peels (CP) altogether referred to as cassava tuber wastes (CTW). The CSR and CP were each divided into three parts and processed as dry unfermented (UFCRS Diet 2; UFCP Diet 5), naturally fermented (NFCSR Diet 3; NFCP Diet 6) and microbial fermentation by inoculation (MFCSR Diet 4; MFCP Diet 7). Each part was included in a control diet (Diet 1) to replace maize at 20% dietary level to make a total of seven treatments. The final live weight (FLW), total live weight gain (TLG) and total feed consumption (TFC) of pigs fed the control diet were not significantly (p&gt;0.05) different from those fed the test diets. However, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of pigs fed the control was consistently lower (3.93) than those fed CSR (3.68-3.30) and CP (3.75-3.36)-based die...

Leaf meal (LM), leaf proteins concentrate (LPC) and LPC residues from Telfairia occidentalis were produced, chemically characterized and the protein quality of the LPC evaluated using rats. Five infant weaning foods were formulated using varying combinations of T. occidentalis LPC and soybean meal. These foods were compared with three coded commercial infant weaning foods (CFF, CFN and CFC) currently in trade in a 28-day performance study. Though fractionation increased crude protein in LPC by 34.8%, the amino acid values were in most cases lower than the FAO/WHO/UNU recommendation. Fractionation led to increase in the gross energy by 22.0% and decrease in the phytate and tannin contents by 60 and 81.3%, respectively in LPC. The LPC, when fed as sole protein source, led to weight loss in rats. The highest final weight was observed in rats fed 100% LPC + 0% soybean meal-based food (105.4 ± 16.4 g) and least in CFN (50.0 ± 4.2 g), a commercial food. The formulated foods had significan...

Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License A 25-weeks trial was carried out to determine the efficacy of feeding Rhizopus stolonifer fermented cocoa pod husk meal (FCPH) supplemented with Ronozyme multigrain enzyme (RME) at various stages of age of pullets. Two hundred and forty day old Isa Brown chickens were randomly assigned to six dietary treatments. Each treatment was replicated four times comprising of ten chickens per replicate and arranged in a 3 × 2 factorial in Completely Randomized Design. Rhizopus stolonifer FCPH meal was incorporated into the diet as test ingredient at varying inclusion level of 0%, 10% and 20% based on 100% diet. Each diet was then divided into two, one part void of enzyme and designated as diets I, III and V and the other parts supplemented with RME at 200 mg kg-1 of the diet and designated as diets II, IV and VI respectively. Weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were significantly (p <0.05) influenced by the dietary treatments with birds fed diet containing 10% FCPH meal without RME supplementation having highest weight gain across different stages of growth. The effect of enzyme and the interaction between diet and enzyme were not significant (p >0.05). Hematological and serum biochemical indices were also not significantly (p >0.05) influenced by the dietary treatments. Age at first lay and egg weight at first lay were also significantly (p <0.05) influenced by the dietary treatment. The use of Rhizopus stolonifer FCPH meal supplemented with RME in grower diets markedly increased age at sexual maturity and weight of first egg laid, with birds fed diets containing 10% FCPH meal fast coming to lay and birds fed 20% FCPH meal having higher weight of egg at first lay. Egg weight, egg width, shell surface area, shell thickness, yolk length and albumen length were also significantly (p <0.05) influenced by the diet treatment. Rhizopus stolonifer FCPH meal up to 10% without RME supplementation can effectively be used in pullet grower's diets without adversely affecting production performance or sexual maturity into lay.

Leaf meal, protein and residues were produced from fresh leaves of Amaranthus spinosus, Amaranthus viridis, Telfairia occidentalis, Vernonia amygdalina, Bidens pilosa, Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, Manihot spp and Basella alba L and characterized for their proximate composition and some bio-active components. The leaf protein concentrate (LPC) in addition were characterized for their functional properties while three LPC with the highest crude protein (CP) content were analyzed for their amino acid profile and compared with FAO recommended pattern. Leaf meals (LM) contained on the average 16.25% ash (8.47–23.97%; CV%: 32.30), 24.96% crude protein (11.85 – 33.87%; CV%: 30.40), 9.94% crude fat (CF) (6.34 – 17.41%; CV%: 33.95) and 12.22% crude fibre (CFi) (5.73–18.45%; CV%: 32.33). In LPC products, the CP increased by 17.49-41.98%, CF by 11.82-35.73% while Cfi decreased by 24.38 – 83.71%. About 45 g of LPC from Manihot spp, 69g from T. occidentalis and 52 g of C. aconitifolius could be co...