Search

Poultry farmers in the tropics suffer great losses in broiler production especially during the post brooding phase as a result of heat stress occasioned by high ambient temperature. This study therefore, investigated the ameliorative effects of synthetic lycopene dietary supplement on growth performance, slaughter traits and serum corticosterone (CORT) levels of COBB500 broiler chickens reared during heat period. A total of 120 birds were selected at 4th week of rearing and allotted into a control group (C) and three experimental groups designated as T1, T2 and T3. Each group had 3 replicates. The four groups were fed the same starter diet for 4 weeks and then differently on finisher diet supplemented with lycopene at 0mg/kg feed (control), 5mg/kg (T1), 10mg/kg (T2), and 15mg/kg (T3) for 3 weeks. Data obtained were analyzed for statistical differences using ANOVA. The results showed that lycopene supplementation increased feed intake significantly (p<0.05) in the birds under groups T1 and T3. Final body weights and weight gain were statistically similar across the groups but numerically improved in the lycopene-supplemented broilers. While the thigh muscle weight increased significantly (p<0.05) across the groups with increasing supplementation, feed conversion ratio (FCR) decreased optimally (2.03) at 15mg/kg supplementation level leading to improved general performance. The supplement also decreased serum CORT concentration significantly (p<0.05) at 5mg/kg level. Therefore, lycopene can be supplemented in diets at 5mg/kg feed as an anti-stress and performance enhancer in COBB500 broiler chickens reared under hot climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loss of homeostasis and poor egg production are common in laying hens during hot season. These negative effects of extreme ambient temperature have resulted in great economic losses to poultry farmers in the tropical regions. This study investigate d benefits of supplementing watermelon juice (WJ) and ascorbic acid (AA) to ISA Brown (IB) hens managed under hot climate on productive performance and some hormonal responses. Ninety-six IB pullets aged 34 weeks were randomly allotted to four groups (C, T1, T2, and T3), each containing 24 in triplicates. The control group (C) was given water with neither WJ nor AA. Water given to groups T1, T2 was supplemented with 20% and 40% WJ, respectively, while T3 was supplemented with 200mg AA/litre of water. The results show a significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in water intake in T3 compared to other groups. Total egg production, daily egg production and hen-day egg production were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) improved by the supplements, as total egg weights improved in T1:(272.2 ± 35.16g) and T2:(272.1 ± 35.06g) compared to C:(212.2 ± 25.06g) and T3:(238.5 ± 19.23g). The supplements caused 24.46%, 22.70% and 9.43% rise in percentage egg production in groups T1, T2, and T3 respectively. Serum corticosterone (C:10.88 ± 1.12; T1:10.20 ± 1.06; T2:9.61 ± 0.792; T3:7.23 ± 2.36ng/mL) and thyroxine levels (C:1.45 ± 0.562; T1:0.41 ± 0.109; T2:0.39 ± 0.367; T3:0.60 ± 0.489μg/dL) decreased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) in supplemented layers, while serum prolactin and triiodothyronine differed non-statistically. In conclusion, WJ and AA supplementation ameliorated heat stress in IB layers managed under hot climate as it significantly lowered corticosterone and improved egg production. Therefore, supplementing 20%, 40%WJ or 200mg AA/litre in water is recommended for managing heat stress in IB layer chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed the effect of replacing groundnut cake (GNC) with palm kernel cake (PKC) or cotton seed cake (CSC) on the meat and carcass characteristics of rabbits. Sixty mixed breed weaner rabbits of both sexes with an age range of eight to nine weeks old were randomly divided into three treatments 1, 2, and 3 of 20 rabbits per group. Rabbits in the group one (T1) served as the positive control and were fed GNC-based diet, while those in treatments two (T2) and three (T3) were fed PKC-, and CSCbased diets respectively. The results differed non-significantly (p>0.05) in the final body weight and carcass quality of the rabbits in each group. Carcass evaluation varied non-significantly (p>0.05) in terms of visceral (liver, lungs, hearts, and kidneys) and weights of primal cuts (neck, forelimbs, hindlimbs, chest, and back). Also, some of the meat's physicochemical properties showed no difference. The meat ratios bone of groups fed PKC- and CSC-based diets were insignificant (p>0.05) above the control. CSC significantly (p<0.05) increased the moisture, while PKC significantly decrease the nitrogen and crude protein contents of the meat of experimental rabbits. This study suggests that rabbits could be raised on a diet formulated using CSC as a replacement for GNC, while a PKC-based diet tends to decrease the protein content of rabbit meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The negative impacts of a hot environment on the growth performance and egg production of layers have been managed using different substances containing antioxidant properties. In this study, the antioxidant potential of Faidherbia albida leaf meal (FALM) at ameliorating heat stress in layer chickens was investigated. A total of one hundred and eighty (180) eighteen-week-old brown layers from the Institut de Sélection Animale (ISA) were randomly divided into four treatment groups. Four different FALM inclusion levels were incorporated: 0 (control), 5, 10, and 15% as T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively. Forty-five 18-week-old Point of Lay (POL) chickens were allotted to each of the treatments in three replicates (15 birds per replication). The antioxidant effects of FALM on growth performance, egg production, and hen-day egg production of the chickens were tested. The results showed that birds decreased in body weight and feed intake with increasing levels of FALM. However, birds fed 5% FALM had significant (P<0.05) body weight (1.51 kg), decreased feed intake (0.75 kg/bird/week), and better feed conversion efficiency (2.9). Significantly (P<0.05) improved egg production and hen-day egg production were recorded in all FALM-treated groups. As a result, Faidherbia albida leaf meal at a 5% inclusion level demonstrated antioxidant activities in ISA brown layer chickens under semi-arid conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth hormones (GH) alone does not explain the growth rate in the chicken as growth in an animal is multi-factorial. Normal morphology of the intestinal villus and crypt, with adequate regulation of intestinal nutrient transporters, is essential to a healthy gut. Nutrition plays a significant role in gut health management, but information on the effect of dietary chitin and chitosan on gut morphology, gene expression of nutrient transporter, and serum levels of GH in broiler chickens is scanty. Thus, this study aimed at evaluating the comparative effect of dietary chitin and chitosan from cricket and shrimp on the small intestinal morphology, relative gene expression of intestinal nutrient transporters and serum level of GH in the broiler. A total of 150 day-old male Cobb500 broiler chicks were randomly allotted to one of the five treatment groups (n = 30). Treatment 1 was fed basal diet only, treatments 2 to 5 were fed a basal diet with 0.5 g cricket chitin, cricket chitosan, shrimp chitin, and shrimp chitosan, respectively, per kg diet. At days 21 and 42, duodenal and jejunal samples were assessed for structural morphology and jejunum for the relative gene expression of PepT1, EAAT3, SGLT1, and SGLT5 using quantitative real-time PCR. Results bared that dietary cricket chitosan and shrimp chitosan significantly (P < 0.05) improved jejunal villus height and reduced crypt depth without improving the body weight (BW). The gut morphology of birds under cricket chitin was poor and significantly (P < 0.05) different from other treated groups. Both the dietary chitin and chitosan at day 21 and only dietary chitosan at day 42 significantly (P < 0.05) down-regulated the relative mRNA expression of PepT1, EAAT3, SGLT1, and SGLT5 of broiler chickens. Treated groups differ non-significantly at both phases, while cricket chitin numerically increased the relative expression of PepT1, EAAT3, and SGLT1. Therefore, the potential of cricket chitin to improve BW and to up-regulate nutrient transporters is worthy of further exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasitism in small ruminants remains a great threat to the advancement of the livestock industry in most tropical countries. This study is aimed at appending and updating current literature on prevalence of parasitic diseases of small ruminants (sheep and goat) prevalent in Osun state, southwest Nigeria. A ten-year data (2006-2015) involving 321 sheep and 1,210 goats was analysed. Helminthoses (78.8% in sheep; 52.9% in goats) and mange (18.4% in sheep; 49.6% in goats) were the most prevalent parasitic diseases affecting sheep and goats and they occurred all the year round. Other parasitic diseases diagnosed during this period were babesiosis, tick infestation, myiasis, lice infestation, flea infestation, anaplasmosis, coccidiosis and trypanosomiasis. It was observed that age and sex were associated with parasitic diseases in sheep, while it was age and seasons in goats. This study shows that parasitic diseases are common among small ruminants in the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work six metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Mn and Ni) were analyzed for, using atomic absorption spectrophotometry in three main feed brands commonly used in Sokoto (2 commercial feed and 1 locally compounded chicken feed). Initially, the samples were digested with concentrated nitric acid and perchloric acid at about 370°C to 450°C heat in a digestion block. The concentration in µg/ml of the six metals analyzed for in the feed samples ranged between 0.04 and 1.21 for Cu, 0.01 and 0.55 for Pb, 1.43 and 11.65 for Zn, 0.10 and 0.12 Cd, 0.94 and 3.12 for Mn and 0.004 and 0.25 for Ni. In most of the analyzed samples, the concentration of Cu, Zn, Mn and Ni was found to be lower than the nutritional requirement of broiler chicken at a level which could be harmful for the poultry. Also the study showed the presence of heavy metals (Pb and Cd) in all the feed samples analyzed, but none exceeded permissible levels as set by European Union and National Research Council. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to investigate the point prevalence of Cryptosporidium oocysts infection in calves grazing along the bank of Rima River Sokoto in October 2011. The river bank is a converging zone for domestic animals reared in different quarters of the town and the surrounding settlements. A total number of 2,959 cattle were enumerated out of which 147 (4.97%) were calves. Faecal samples were collected from 100 (68.02%) calves by convenient sampling technique. Formol-Ether sedimentation and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining techniques were used to identify the Cryptosporidium oocysts in the faecal samples. Faecal consistency was also used to identify diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic calves. Cryptosporidium oocysts were identified in 33 (33.0%) of the calves examined. The detection rate was higher among the male calves (38.46%) than females while the Rahaji breed had the highest prevalence of 62.5%. A total of 6 (18.18%) among the positive cases were diarrhoeic. The differences in prevalence based on sex, breeds and presence of diarrhoea were not statistically significant. Calves may become sources of Cryptosporidia infection to man and other animals in the study area through unrestricted movements and interactions with the environment.

This study was conducted to investigate in vivo antimicrobial potential of garlic against Clostridium perferinges and resultant promotant effects on performance of the broiler chickens. Garlic powder was used as an alternative to GPAs (Growth Promotant Antibiotics) to prevent subclinical Necrotic Enteritis (NE) due to C. perferinges. 120 day-old broiler chicks were randomly distributed to six treatment groups of 20 chicks each (2 replicates(-10) chicks). Six isonutrient diets supplemented with garlic at graded levels of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 g kg(-1) were fed to the birds for seven weeks. Data were collected weekly on performance parameters including feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Also, on the 21 35 and 49th days of the study, two birds per group were randomly selected, slaughtered and dissected. 1 g of caecal contents per each bird were sampled into labelled sterile sample bottles. The samples were subjected to culturing, bacterial identification and colony counting. All data were subjected to analysis of variance. Results showed that garlic significantly (p > 0.05) depressed feed intake (3310 g feed/bird at 1.0 g kg(-1) supplementation) but improved FCR. The supplement has no significant effect on weight gain but C. perfringens colony counts in the treated groups, were numerically reduced (lowest count, 0.93 x 10(5) cfu g(-1) at 1.0 g kg(-1) supplementation), as compared to the control. It is therefore concluded that diets could be supplemented with garlic at dose range of 1.0 to 1.5 g kg(-1) to prevent subclinical NE and achieve improved performance in birds.