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This study evaluated the health effects of feeding diets of different feed particle sizes supplemented with multienzyme to broiler chickens. Cobb500 (n = 450) broiler chicks (as hatched) were randomly distributed to nine treatments, with each treatment consisting of five replicates of ten birds. The experiment was arranged in a 3 × 3 factorial (three feed particle sizes [3, 4, and 5 mm] and three multienzyme supplementations [0, 1, and 2 g/kg]). The blood indices of the chickens were evaluated. The data were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and means were compared using the Tukey Test at a 5 % probability level. The correlation between the growth performance and blood indices was also calculated. Birds fed the 3 mm particle sizes had decreased (p < 0.05) red blood cell (RBC) and lymphocyte counts with increased multienzyme at the starter phase, while the other haematological indicators increased as the multienzyme supplementation increased. Feeding the 4 mm particle size yielded similar (p < 0.05) total protein, triglyceride, and uric acid for all multienzyme inclusions. An increase in the multienzyme inclusion increased (p < 0.05) the RBC of birds fed the 5 mm particles with a decreased (p < 0.05) white blood cell (WBC) and eosinophil counts. At the finisher phase, serum albumin increased (p < 0.05) while alkaline phosphatase (ALP) decreased (p < 0.05), with increased multienzyme inclusion in birds fed the diet of 3 mm particles. Birds fed 4 mm particles had increased (p < 0.05) ALP and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) with increased multienzyme, while those fed the 5 mm particle size had increased (p < 0.05) albumin, aspartate transaminase (AST) as multienzyme supplementation increased. The correlation between growth performance and blood indices showed that feed intake (FI) has a significant (p < 0.05) impact on the blood profile of broiler chickens. The study concluded that other growth performance indicators, except the feed intake, have no impact on the blood profile of broilers. Feed particle sizes impact feed intake in broiler chickens which consequently impacts their blood composition. Therefore, the size of broiler feed particles has an impact on the health and well-being of the birds.

Fish meal (FM) is a major source of animal protein in the diet of turkeys but its high cost has been a major challenge to poultry practitioners in developing countries. Growth performance and blood indices of growing turkeys fed diets containing shrimp waste meal (SWM) as substitute for FM were investigated in a 56-day feeding trial using eighty (80) 4-weeks-old male British United Turkeys (BUT). The turkeys were allotted on weight equalisation into four treatments with four replicates of five turkeys each. Four diets were formulated such that FM in the control diet (diet 1) was substituted by SWM at 150, 300 and 450 g/kg (protein for protein) in diets 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomised design and data collected were analysed using ANOVA. Cost of feed consumed was highest (p < 0.05) for turkeys fed the control diet and lowest for group fed diet 4. Weight gain decreased (p < 0.05) with increasing SWM level in the diet at the grower phase (day 57–84). Turkeys fed the 450 g/kg SWM diets had the lowest (p < 0.05) feed intake. At the grower phase, best feed:gain, cost of feed consumed, feed cost per weight gain and protein efficiency ratio were recorded in turkeys fed control and 150 g/kg SWM diets. Uric acid, creatinine, cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), haematocrit, and white blood count differed significantly (p < 0.05) among the treatments at the starter phase. In conclusion, the present study showed that SWM can serve as a potential replacement for FM when substituted at 150 g/kg in the diets of turkeys without any deleterious effect on their performance and haematocrit.

A study was conducted to determine the effects of ensiling on the proximate and mineral composition, anti-nutritional factors and microbial properties of ensiled cassava root-leaf blends at 50:50, 60:40, 70:30 and 80:20 ratios in an air tight sealed bottles and to also determine the blend that could replace maize in swine diet. The data was subjected to oneway analysis of variance in a completely randomized design. Results of the study indicated that blend 50:50 had highest value of crude protein 12.96%, while blend 60:40 had highest gross energy value of 4617.17 kcal/kg. Blend 70:30 had gross energy of 4180.95 kcal/kg and crude protein of 10.12%. Results of the mineral composition revealed that blend 50:50 had highest values of calcium 5.96 g/kg and phosphorus 1.98 g/kg. Anti-nutritional factors of the blends were drastically reduced after ensiling. Microbial load of ensiled blends revealed that only blend 70:30 recorded the presence of Lactobacillus spp., while Salmonella spp. was not detected in all the blends. It was concluded that ensiling was effective for removal of anti-nutritional factor, improving chemical composition and hygienic quality of ensiled product. Blend 70:30 was recommended as a replacement for maize in swine nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]