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A 5-week feeding study was conducted to evaluate the suitability of soybean chaff (SC) as a replacement for wheat offal in the diets of broiler chickens. A total of three hundred and sixty (360), 21-d-old mixed sexes, broiler chickens were weighed individually and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments with 8 replicate pens and 15 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments consisted of maize-soybean based diets containing 0, 50, 100% SC as replacement for wheat offal. Data generated on growth performance, blood indices, carcass yield and sensory properties of finishing broiler chickens were analyzed by ANOVA using PROC GLM of SAS (2007). Results showed that higher (P 0.05) affected. Birds fed 100% SC had higher (P

This study aimed at investigating the effect of by-products of palm kernel extraction; palm kernel extraction residue (PKER) and palm kernel sludge (PKS) based diets as replacement for maize in broiler diets. A total of 198 one-day old Marshal Broiler chickens were randomly assigned to six dietary treatments. Each dietary treatment had 33 birds with 11 birds per replicate. Maize in the diets was partly replaced by PKER and PKS each at three levels (0, 10 and 20%). The experiment was conducted in both starter and finisher phases. Growth responses, carcass evaluation and nutrient utilization were estimated. Data obtained were subjected to 2x3 factorial arrangement within the completely randomized design (CRD). Feed: Gain was influenced by the level of the palm kernel by-products during 1-28days of study. The weight gained during the 56 days period were not significantly higher (P>0.05) across the treatments All the carcass parameters measured were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by either PKER or PKS. However birds on PKER diets showed superior (P

This trial was carried out to determine the responses of two broiler strains of chicken to different post-hatch access to feed. 180-day old chicks (Arbor acre and Marshal strains) with initial weight range of 39.36-42.24 g were used for this study. Each strain was divided on weight equalization into three treatment groups consisting of three time-periods with access to feeds (4 h, 24 h, 48 h) post hatch in a 2 × 3 factorial experiment after which they were fed

This trial was carried out to determine the responses of two broiler strains of chicken to different post-hatch access to feed. 180-day old chicks (Arbor acre and Marshal strains) with initial weight range of 39.36–42.24 g were used for this study. Each strain was divided on weight equalization into three treatment groups consisting of three time-periods with access to feeds (4 h, 24 h, 48 h) post hatch in a 2 × 3 factorial experiment after which they were fed ad-libitum. Thirty (30) birds were assigned to each treatment which comprised of three replicates of ten birds. Data collected on serum biochemical constituents and gut morphology were measured and subjected to analysis of variance in a randomized design. The Marshal strain recorded a higher (p < 0.05) final live weight (2420.00 g/bird) than the Arbor acre strain (2218.30 g/bird). Birds fed at 4 h and 24 h post-hatch recorded higher (p < 0.05) final live weights (2402.00 and 2391.00 g/bird) than those fed at 48 h post-hatch (2133.00 g/bird). Interaction effects showed that the Marshal strain fed at 4 h post-hatch had the highest (p < 0.05) final live weight (2594.00 g/bird). Highest (p < 0.05) serum total protein and albumin (37.3 and 22.8 g/l) were recorded in birds fed at 4 h post-hatch when assessed at 4 weeks of age. Furthermore, birds fed at 4 h and 24 h post-hatch recorded higher (p < 0.05) serum total protein and albumin than those fed at 48 h post-hatch. Birds fed at 4 h post-hatch recorded the highest (p < 0.05) duodenal villus height at 4th and 8th week of age and highest (P < 0.05) jejunal villus height when assessed in the 2nd week of age. It was concluded that Marshal strain fed at 4 h post-hatch elicited the highest growth performance and the most developed gut morphological features. Keywords: Post-hatch feeding, Growth performance, Broiler chickens, Serum bio-chemistry, Gut morphology

Storage of feed plays an important role in the economic and health aspect of livestock production. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of varying storage conditions (lit and dark room) on physical changes, occurrence of insects in stored feed, storage loss and nutrient composition of owner selected broiler finisher feeds. Bags of 25kg each of broiler finisher diets from four feed companies (A, B, C and D) were obtained on the day of production and were stored under two storage media (lit and dark room) for a period of 8 weeks. The experiment was arranged in a 4 x 2 factorial layout to form eight treatments with 5 replications. Feed colour, storage loss, occurrence of insects, and proximate analysis were carried out at 2 week intervals. Data generated were statistically analyzed by ANOVA technique in a 4 x 2 factorial design using PROC GLM procedure of SAS (2007). Storage temperature (27.27 oC and 26.65 oC for lit and dark room, respectively) and relative humidity (79.83% and 80.64% for lit and dark room, respectively) monitored were not significantly (p>0.05) different. Colour changes were observed in the feed from the 29th day of storage. By the 42nd day, presence of lesser grain borer (Rhyzopertha dominica F.) was observed in all the feeds. Appearance of frass, dusty particles and webbing were observed in feeds stored in lit room on 42nd day and those in dark room on 56th day. Storage loss (%) was reduced (p

A 8-wk feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with Arg on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, metabolizable energy, and intestinal morphology of growing turkeys. A total of one hundred and eighty 56-d-old male grower turkeys were weighed individually and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments with 6 replicate pens and 10 turkeys per pen in a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments consisted of basal diets supplemented with 0, 0.5, and 1.0 g Arg/kg. Growth response was measured during the grower (d 56–84) and finisher (d 84–112) phases, while nutrient digestibility, metabolizable energy, and intestinal morphology were measured at d 84 and 112. Arginine supplementation had no effect on growth response during the grower phase. During the finisher phase, feed conversion ratio decreased initially as Arg supplementation increased from 0 to 0.5 g/kg, but it increased with the 1.0 g Arg/kg (quadratic, P=0.028). At d 84, grower turkeys fed diets supplemented with 1.0 g Arg/kg had greater (linear, P

A 8-wk feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with Arg on haematological indices, serum chemistry, carcass yield, gut microflora, and lymphoid organ weights of growing turkeys. A total of one hundred and eighty 56-d-old male grower turkeys were weighed individually and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments with 6 replicate pens, and 10 turkeys per pen in a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments consisted of basal diets supplemented with 0, 0.5, and 1.0 g Arg/kg. Haematological indices and serum chemistry were measured at 84 and 112 d of study. Carcass yield, relative weights of retail cuts, organ weights, and gut microflora were measured at d 112. Except eosinophil, no effect of Arg supplementation was obtained on haematological indices at d 84. At d 112, finisher turkeys fed the diet supplemented with 0.5 g Arg/kg had the greatest red blood cell (quadratic, P

This study examined the chicken embryogenesis process vis-a-vis the eggs quality traits and morphological changes of developing embryo. 446 fertile eggs obtained from broiler breeder flock were incubated. From 1st to 21st embryonated day (ED), five eggs were randomly selected on weight equalization, weighed, broken and emptied to assess air cell depth and width, shell thickness, egg surface area, egg shape index, shell volume, moisture loss, embryo length, yolk-free wet embryo weight, internal organs, yolk sac weight, albumen and yolk pH, as well as hatchability and piping rate. Diameter of blastoderm formed in fertile eggs at 1st ED was 24.26 mm. The blood ring observed at 2nd ED increased by approximately 75%, from 19.74 mm to 34.48 mm at the 3rd ED. A well-developed cardiovascular system and heart beat was observed on 3rd ED. From 4th ED, there were progressive increase in the embryo length and YFWEBW with concomitant increase in weight of breast muscle and internal organs. Maximum intestine development (98% increase) occurred from 19th to 21st ED. The hatching curve shows progressive increase in hatched chicks until 509 h of incubation. Positive correlations (P

Six hundred and forty one-day-old layer chicks were used to investigate the effect of replacing soybean meal with undecorticated sunflower seed meal protein for protein at 0, 25, 50, and 75% levels. Diets were without enzyme supplementation or with enzyme supplementation with four replications of twenty birds. Growth performance and nutrient utilization were determined. Proximate composition of the undecorticated sunflower seed meal used revealed that undecorticated sunflower seed meal contained 925.9, 204.5, 336.2, 215.1, 52.0 and 192.2g/kg dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre, ash and soluble carbohydrates, respectively. Results showed that the final weight of 484.4 g/bird was obtained for birds on 75% undecorticated sunflower seed meal diet, while the lowest value of 472.2g/bird was obtained for birds on 25% undecorticated sunflower seed meal diet. Weight gain per bird per day was not significantly (P0.05) affected as the level of undecorticated sunflower seed meal increased in the diets. Feed intake per bird per day increased (P0.05) across the treatment as a result of increased undecorticated sunflower seed meal inclusion in the diet. However, enzyme supplementation of the diets showed marked (P0.05) improvements in feed intake, weight gain, and final weight as well as the feed to gain ratio. Survivability was not affected by the treatments imposed. Dry matter digestibility were significantly (P0.05) reduced due to high undecorticated sunflower seed meal inclusion in the diet while crude protein digestibility progressively reduced (P0.05) as the level of undecorticated sunflower seed meal increased in the diet. Ash digestibility values were, however, increased (P0.05) as the level of undecorticated sunflower seed meal increased in the diets. Birds on enzyme-supplemented diets consistently showed superior (P0.05) digestibility values than those on diets without enzyme supplementation. However ether extract digestibility was not affected by enzyme supplementation. The results indicated that higher inclusion levels of undecorticated sunflower seed meal in the diets of layer chicks showed a similar body weight gain/bird/day with the control. Undecorticated sunflower seed meal used in this study is a good source of crude protein, ether extract, and amino acids and had the potential to serve as feeding stuffs as replacement for soybeans. The nutritive value of undecorticated sunflower seed meal was improved for layer chicks with exogenous enzyme supplementation.

Two experiments were carried out to determine the effects of diets containing fermented and amino acid (AA)-supplemented malted sorghum sprout (MSP) on performance, nutrient utilisation and feed cost analysis of growing pigs. In experiment 1 (digestibility trial), 12 pigs were individually housed in metabolic crates, equipped with feeding and watering troughs which also allow for separate collection of faeces and urine. Data collection lasted for 7 days during which feed intake and faecal output were weighed, with daily storage of collected faeces at -4 °C. Four diets, a basal diet, basal plus malted sorghum sprout (B + MSP), basal plus fermented malted sorghum sprout (B + FMSP) and basal plus amino acids plus malted sorghum sprout (B + AA + MSP), were tested. Samples of test ingredients, feed and faeces were analysed for their gross energy and proximate compositions. In experiment 2, 18 weaner pigs were used in a completely randomised design for 63 days to determine the performance and cost analysis of feeding malted sorghum sprout at 0, 100 and 200 g/kg in pig's diet, six pigs per diet with each pig representing a replicate. Daily feed intake and weekly weight gain were determined. The prevailing cost of each feed ingredient was used to compute the feed cost and, subsequently, the feed cost analysis. Results of digestibility trial showed that there was no difference in the utilisation of the chemical constituents of B + MSP and B + AA + MSP diets, which were also similar to the basal diet, except the crude protein (CP) in amino acid-supplemented malted sorghum sprout diet, which was lower compared to the basal diet. B + FMSP was lower (P0.05) in the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and CP compared to the basal diet. The digestible energy (DE) and the fraction of gross energy utilised as DE of each diet also were not affected by fermentation and supplementation with AA. In experiment 2, the levels of MSP used did not affect (P0.05) the performance and feed cost indices measured. It was concluded that MSP can be used in growing pig's diet, without the need for fermentation and AA supplementation, at 200 g/kg level with no adverse effect on the nutritive value of the diet.