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The growing concerns over antibiotic resistance and the need for safer alternatives in broiler production make exploring natural additives like plant extracts imperative to enhance broiler health and performance. This study evaluated the effect of aqueous bamboo leaf extract (BLE) in drinking water on broiler chickens’ performance, haematological indices, and blood oxidative status. Ninety-six Ross 308 one-day-old broilers were randomly assigned to four treatments: T1 (Control, ordinary water), T2 (antibiotics (Tetranor 5% at 5 g per litre of water)), T3 (50 ml BLE per litre of water) and T4 (100 ml BLE per litre of water), each with four replicates of six birds. Performance data were recorded weekly over 8 weeks, and blood samples were collected on day 56 for haematological and oxidative status analysis. Data were analysed using SAS (2000) with means separation via Tukey’s test. Results showed that broilers that consumed water containing 100ml/L BLE had the highest (p < 0.05) live weight (LW) of 1078.20 g and weight gain (WG) of 1029.19 g at the starter phase. At the finisher phase, broilers in the 100ml BLE group had the highest (p < 0.05) LW (2695.42 g) and zero mortality, whereas the control group recorded the lowest LW (1672.95 g). The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was improved (p < 0.05) in broilers that had access to water containing 100 ml/L BLE at both phases. Haematological analysis revealed increased (p < 0.05) packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentrations in the 100 ml/L BLE group. Oxidative stress markers showed lower (p < 0.05) malondialdehyde levels for broilers in the 100 ml/L BLE group than those in the control group. Superoxide dismutase was reduced (p < 0.05) for broilers given ordinary water and those given antibiotics but increased for broilers with 100 ml/L BLE. In conclusion, including BLE at 100 ml/L in drinking water enhanced weight gain, FCR, and survival rate while reducing oxidative stress, indicating a promising natural alternative for improving broiler health and performance.

Soybean meal (SBM), one of the main protein sources in turkey production is becoming expensive. Shrimp waste meal (SWM), a by-product of the shrimp industry is a good prospect as a cheaper alternative. It was hypothesised that Nigerian indigenous turkeys (NIT) should be able to digest and utilise SWM better than British United Turkeys (BUT) because of their hardy nature. A 56-day study was carried out to determine metabolisable energy and apparent nutrient digestibility of growing turkeys fed diets containing SWM. Four diets were formulated such that SBM 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. Eighty (80) four-weeks-old male sex BUT and 80 NIT were allotted on weight equalisation into four dietary treatments replicated four times with five turkeys per replicate in a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement. The total faecal collection method was used for determining apparent and true nutrient digestibility and metabolisable energy values. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomised design and data collected were analysed using ANOVA with SAS package. At the starter phase, NIT recorded (p < 0.05) higher values for dry matter (DM), Ether extract (EE), nitrogen-free extract (NFE), Apparent metabolisable energy corrected for nitrogen (AMEn) but lower true metabolisable energy corrected for nitrogen (TMEn). Turkeys fed SWM recorded higher (p < 0.05) AMEn. At the grower phase, turkeys fed 300 g/kg SWM recorded higher (p < 0.05) values for CF and ash. Ash and CP digestibility values were higher (p < 0.05) in BUT ditto for TMEn. It was concluded that NIT could handle SWM better than BUT, however, only at the starter phase at 300 g/kg substitution for SBM.

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.

This study was to investigate the effect of soyabean isoflavones (SIF) on onset of puberty, serum hormone concentration, and gene expression in hypothalamus, pituitary and ovary of female Bama miniature pigs. Fifty five, 35-days old pigs were randomly assigned into 5 treatment groups consisting of 11 pigs per treatment. Results showed that dietary supplementation of varying dosage (0, 250, 500, and 1,250 mg/kg) of SIF induced puberty delay of the pigs with the age of puberty of pigs fed basal diet supplemented with 1,250 mg/kg SIF was significantly higher (p

 Productive response of rabbits fed with diets containing graded levels of sun dried breadfruit (SBFM) meal were studied using 80 unsexed weaner rabbits. Four dietary treatments were formulated such that SBFM replaced maize weight for weight at 0%, 22.2%, 44.4% and 66.6% levels respectively. Rabbits were randomly allotted to the dietary treatments such that there were 20 rabbits per treatment. Growth response, nutrient utilization, haematological indices, serum biochemistry, carcass yield and meat composition were evaluated. Rabbits fed with 22.2% maize replaced with SBFM recorded the highest (P

This study investigated the effect of dietary inclusion of cassava peel-leaf blend (CPLB) processed in different ways on the performance and blood parameters of growing pigs. CPLB (cassava peel: cassava leaf; 5:1) was included in the diet of pigs in an 8-week feeding trial. The processed CPLB (unfermented (UCPLB), water-fermented (WCPLB) and microbial fermented (MCPLB)) replaced maize at 50%. Twenty-four male crossbred (Large White x Landrace) pigs with a weight range of 21±1 kg) were assigned to four weight-matched dietary treatments with six pigs in each. A standard maize and soya-based diet (control) was formulated, as well as diets with unfermented CPLB (diet UF), water-fermented CPLB (WF) and microbial fermented CPLB (MF), using Aspergillus tamarii as the inoculum. The growth response was measured weekly, and haematological and biochemical analyses were carried out after 8 weeks. The diets had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on growth performance or haematological parameters at the end of 8 weeks. Serum creatinine and thiocyanate were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by dietary inclusion of processed CPLB at 8 weeks. Pigs fed diet UF had reduced (P < 0.05) serum creatinine (0.58 mg/dl). Serum thiocyanate was reduced (P < 0.05) in pigs fed diet WF (1.16 µg/ml) and diet MF (1.10 µg/ml). In conclusion, a CPLB-based diet, irrespective of the processing method, did not significantly affect growth performance or haematological parameters and had no negative effect on biochemical parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of diet containing herbal blend (HB) of turmeric (Curcuma longa), scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum), and moringa leaf (Morinda lucida) supplemented with or without L-arginine (L-Arg) on growth performance, intestinal morphology, and caecal microflora of guinea fowls. Three hundred and sixty 28-day-old male guinea fowls were randomly allotted in a completely randomized design to six treatment groups of sixty birds; each treatment group consisted of six replicates of ten birds each. Dietary treatments were laid out in a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement of the basal diet (control), diet containing enrofloxacin (1 g/kg), HB (1 g/kg diet), and each supplemented with or without L-Arg at 1 g/kg. Notwithstanding dietary supplementation with L-Arg, guinea fowls fed the diets with HB, and their counterparts fed the diets with antibiotics had similar weight gain during the growing period. Dietary L-Arg supplementation with HB increased (p<0.05) feed intake. Feed conversion ratio (p<0.05) was improved in guinea fowls fed the diets with HB and their counterparts fed with antibiotic supplemented or not with L-Arg. L-Arg supplementation of the diet with HB resulted in the longest (p<0.05) duodenal villi height and the shortest (p<0.05) duodenal apical width in young turkeys. The caeca content of growing guinea fowls fed the diet with HB supplemented with L-Arg had the least (p<0.05) Clostridium count and the highest (p<0.05) Lactobaccillus count. In conclusion, guinea fowls fed the diet with HB supplemented or not with L-Arg had similar growth performance with those fed with an antibiotic. L-Arg supplementation of the diet with HB resulted in increased caecal Lactobacillus counts of growing birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of including Zymomonas mobilis-treated sawdust (ZTSD) as unconventional feed in broiler chicken diets for 56 days by observing the haematology, serum metabolites, carcass characteristics and sensory evaluation. A total of 375, 1-day old broiler chicks were randomly assigned into 5 groups, each with 5 replicates of 15 birds each in a Completely Randomized Design for the study. Five diets containing untreated and treated sawdust were formulated to replace wheat offal at 0, 50 and 100 % at starter and finisher phases. At the starting phase, the broiler chickens, fed 100 % untreated sawdust-based diet (UTSD), had highest (p < 0.05) values for packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC) and lymphocytes. Whereas the birds, fed 100 % Zymomonas mobilis-treated based diet (ZTSD), had the highest value for white blood cell (WBC). The finishing broiler chickens, fed 50 % UTSD, had the highest values for total protein (TP), albumin, globulin and uric acid, while the birds on 50 % ZTSD had the least values for TP and albumin. The birds, fed 50 % ZTSD, had highest (p < 0.05) value for liver, while the highest value of the whole gastrointestinal tract was observed at the group with 100 % ZTSD. The control group had the highest value for the overall acceptability of the meat. In conclusion, the inclusion of ZTSD improved PCV, Hb, RBC, TP and blood glucose. ZTSD, given at 50 %, increased the breast, thigh, drumstick and back of the broiler chickens. The application 100 % UTSD and 100 % ZTSD increased the sensory attributes of the meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cassava root is rich in energy but low in protein. New varieties developed exhibit better nutritional profile. An 8-week experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of 2 varieties of cassava root meal (CRM) with various additives on nutrient digestibility energy, metabolizable and carcass traits of broilers. Two hundred and forty unsexed day-old broilers were allotted to 8 dietary treatments in a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement of white (TME 419) and yellow (ITA/IBD/1368) CRM supplemented with no additive, amino acids (methionine and lysine), enzyme and amino acids + enzyme (A.A + Enz). The experiment lasted for the starter (0 - 4 weeks) and finisher (5-8weeks) phases. Variety effect showed higher (p<0.05) nutrient digestibilities in finisher broilers fed with white cassava than yellow. White cassava + amino acids showed higher EED and ASHD while yellow cassava with amino acids + enzyme yielded improved nutrient digestibilities. White cassava variety revealed higher (p<0.05) metabolizable energy values than yellow. Broilers fed white cassava + enzyme had the highest (p<0.05) metabolizable energy values. In conclusion, supplementing yellow CRM with A.A + Enz improved nutrient digestibility only at the starter phase. Supplementation of white cassava diet with enzyme and amino acid at the starter and finisher phases respectively, improved energy metabolizablility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Objective: This experiment was designed to determine the effects of coated cysteamine hydrochloride (CC) on muscle fiber characteristics, amino acid composition and transporters gene expression in the longissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) of finishing pigs. Methods: Two hundred and sixteen Duroc/Landrace/Yorkshire crossbred male finishing pigs were fed with a cornsoybean basal diet supplemented with 0, 70, and 140 mg/kg cysteamine. Each group contained eight replicates of nine pigs per replicate. After 29 days, one pig was randomly selected from each replicate and slaughtered. Blood and LDM samples were collected and analyzed. Results: The results showed that supplemental dietary CC increased (p<0.05) the muscle fiber density. And CC supplementation also upregulated (p<0.05) the expression of myosin heavy chain 1 (MyHC1) and MyHC2x mRNA levels, and downregulated (p<0.05) MyHC2b expression in the LDM. Additionally, supplemental dietary CC reduced (p<0.05) the concentration of total cholesterol in the plasma and enhanced (p<0.05) the concentrations of essential amino acid and total amino acid in the LDM. The relative expression levels of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase 2, b0,+ amino acid transporter, and y+Ltype amino acid transporter 1 were upregulated (p<0.05) in the LDM when pigs were fed with the dietary CC of 70 mg/kg. Conclusion: Cysteamine supplementation could increase fiber density and distribution of fiber types. It also improved the deposition of protein in the LDM by upregulated the expression of amino acid transporters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to investigate the influence of dietary high or recommended nicotinic acid (niacin) supplementation on growth performance, total tract nutrient digestibility, hematology, serum chemistry, and lipoprotein concentrations in the serum and meat of growing turkeys. Turkeys were assigned to three treatments on weight equalisation basis with five replicates of eight turkeys in each group. Experimental diets were: no supplemental niacin (Control), a diet supplemented with 60 mg/kg niacin termed as recommended niacin supplementation and a diet supplemented with 180 mg/kg niacin termed as high niacin supplementation (HNS). The experiment lasted for the grower (Day 56–84) and finisher phases (Day 84–112) of the birds. Dietary inclusion of HNS increased (P < 0.01) bodyweight gain, metabolisable energy (Days 84 and 112), dressing percentage and retail cut parts of turkeys (Day 112) in relation to the Control-fed turkeys. Furthermore, least white blood cell count and higher concentrations of packed cell volume, red blood cells and hemoglobin (P < 0.01) were found in turkeys fed HNS on Days 84 and 112. Similarly, turkeys in the HNS group had improved serum constituents including serum protein, uric acid, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphate. The blood and meat lipid profile analysis showed that low density lipoprotein and total cholesterol were least (P < 0.05) in turkeys fed HNS. Collectively, dietary high supplementation of niacin (180 mg/kg) improves production performances, reduces serum and meat fat content and improve indicators of stress resistance ability in growing turkeys. Poultry meat is probably the healthiest and nutritional strategies to improve this quality and increase poultry production is crucial in animal studies. This study examines the effect of high dietary niacin supplementation on health and performance of turkeys. High niacin supplementation increased bodyweight gain, resistant to stress ability, and decreased cholesterol deposition in meat tissue of the turkeys. The result has implications for producing animals with improved bodyweight, health, and reduced meat fat accumulation. Furthermore, these results could suggest that increased niacin supplementation might be required for modern strains of turkeys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 56-day feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of dried ginger meal (DGM) on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum parameters, gut morphology, and microflora of growing helmeted guinea fowl ( Numidia meleagris). One hundred sixty 28-day-old male keets were assigned to four dietary treatments. There were 40 birds per treatment replicated four times with 10 keets each. The experimental diets consisted of the basal diet (control), ginger-supplemented diets containing 20, 40, and 60 g/kg DGM, respectively. Guinea fowls fed diet supplemented with DGM had higher ( P <0.05) final body weight, body weight gain and lower ( P <0.05) feed intake. Optimum weight gain was obtained with supplementation level of 36.15-g DGM ( R2 = 0.923). Guinea fowls fed diet supplemented with 40 g/kg DGM recorded the highest ( P <0.05) coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility of dry matter, ether extract and longest ( P <0.05) duodenal and ileal villus heights. The crypt depth of the duodenum and ileum reduced ( P <0.05) with increasing level of dietary supplementation of DGM. Dietary supplementation of DGM resulted in increased ( P <0.05) total serum protein, serum albumin and low ( P <0.05) serum cholesterol concentration. Ileum content of birds fed diet supplemented with 40 g/kg DGM recorded the highest ( P <0.05) lactobacillus count. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of 40-g DGM per kilogram diet is hereby recommended for improved growth, apparent nutrient digestibility, gut morphology, serum chemistry, and stimulation of balanced intestinal microflora in growing guinea fowl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]