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The increasing demand of wood shavings (WS) and sawdust (SD) by other industries and growing concerns of potential chemical contaminants from wood products have amplified research interest in alternative bedding materials for commercial poultry. Several alternative materials—corn cob (CC), straws (ST) and hays (HA), sand (SA), shredded papers (SP), rice hulls (RH), peanut hulls (PH), and gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O2)—can replace conventional ones in poultry houses, depending on availability, cost, and ability to absorb and adsorb moisture and provide the birds enough room to exhibit their natural behaviors. Alternative materials hold a brighter future as bedding materials, but more studies about their physicochemical properties and litter management practices for optimum poultry welfare are recommended.

The eight-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the nutrient digestibility and growth performance of broiler chickens fed raw or processed Senna obtusifolia seed meal (SOSM). Six experimental diets were compounded to contain 0% SOSM and 20% each of the raw, boiled, soaked, sprouted and fermented SOSM respectively. Two hundred and sixteen (216) broiler chicks were randomly allotted to six (6) dietary treatments in a randomised complete block design with three (3) replicates containing 12 chicks each. Data were collected on nutrient digestibility, feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and mortality. The result of productive performance indicated that feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio were significantly (P

The effects of increasing CM level in corn-animal protein-based diets and enzyme supplementation in broilers was investigated in a 30-day experiment. A total of 168, one-week old Cobb broilers were assigned to 8 diets consisting of 2 controls (with and without enzyme) and 6 other diets with 15, 30 and 45% CM levels with and without enzyme in a completely randomized design. Results showed significant interactions effects on growth parameters, fat digestibility, White Blood Cell (WBC) count, Saturated Fatty Acids (SFA) and Mono Unsaturated Fatty Acid (MUFA) (P < 0.05). Feed intake and WG were reduced on 30 and 45% diets (P < 0.05). Fat digestibility was improved on control and 30% CM diets with enzyme (P < 0.05). Higher WBC counts were recorded in control and 15% CM with enzyme (P < 0.05). Higher SFA and lower MUFA were on 15 and 45% diets (P < 0.05). In the main effects, feed intake and weight gain (WG) were reduced and feed conversion ratio (FCR) increased with increasing level of CM above 15% (P < 0.05). The diet with 45% CM showed lower SFA (P < 0.05) compared to 15% CM diet, MUFA and PUFA reduced with increasing CM levels (P < 0.05). Enzyme supplementation reduced SFA and MUFA content (P > 0.05) but improved crude fibre and fat digestibility of broilers (P < 0.05). In conclusion, 30% dietary CM inclusion is detrimental in terms of WG but has no effect on the fatty acid composition of broiler meat. More research into enzyme source and concentration above 30% CM is recommended.

Giant taro (Alocasia macrorrhiza var. Tonga) grows wild in Pacific Island countries and has become invasive in most countries. Proximate analysis of giant taro (GT) corm at USP Alafua Central Laboratory showed ~12 MJ ME/kg, 127 g crude protein/kg DM. Currently however, the crop has low food value in the region and its use in poultry feeding is still limited because of the acrid taste due to the presence of calcium (Ca) oxalate. Two preliminary studies (PS) were conducted to evaluate the feeding value of GT for poultry. Study 1 investigated the effect of coconut oil addition on the utilsation of GT corm meal by layers and broilers. Replacing dietary maize with whole GT corm meal at 200 g/kg adversely affected performance of broilers and layers (P < 0.05). Addition of coconut oil at 9:1 (corm meal: oil) improved utilisation of the meal by laying hens but not in broilers. Study 2 investigated the effect of peeling and inorganic calcium addition on the utilisation of GT corm meal by laying hens. Results showed that feeding whole GT corm meal at 200 g/kg diet had adverse effects on egg production and egg qualities (P < 0.05) but peeling or increasing dietary Ca carbonate level from 40 to 60 g/kg improved the utilisation of whole or peeled corm in terms of egg production and egg qualities. In view of the ready availability and low food value, more research is recommended into processing and diet formulation to improve the utilsation of GT corm meal by poultry.

Au Mali, les pertes en reproduction constituent des contraintes majeures à l’amélioration de la productivité de l’élevage des petits ruminants. Parmi les causes de ces pertes qui demeurent mal connues figurent, entre autres, l’infertilité, les avortements, l’orchite et la chétivité. L’objet de la présente étude a été d’évaluer la prévalence sérologique de la fièvre Q dans les élevages de petits ruminants où des cas de pertes en reproduction ont été observés, ainsi que la valeur financière des pertes liées aux avortements enregistrés. L’étude a été conduite entre 2006 et 2009 dans les zones agropastorales des localités de Bougouni (région de Sikasso), Nioro (région de Kayes), Kéniébougouwéré (région de Ségou) et Koro (région de Mopti). Sur les 718 sérums analysés par la méthode Elisa indirecte, 155 (21,5 ± 3 p. 100) se sont révélés positifs aux anticorps de Coxiella burnetii. Cette prévalence a varié en fonction des sites et du rang de portée. La prévalence la plus élevée a été observée à Kéniébougouwéré (35 ± 6 p. 100), suivi de Nioro (28,5 ± 7,5 p. 100), puis de Bougouni (10,8 ± 4,6 p. 100), et la plus faible à Koro (5,8 ± 3,7 p. 100). Des études complémentaires intégrant le diagnostic moléculaire (technique PCR) pourraient aider à élucider le rôle étiologique de cette pathologie dans les cas de pertes en reproduction couramment enregistrés chez les petits ruminants au Mali. L’analyse technico-économique a permis d’évaluer la valeur financière des pertes.