Evaluation of palm kernel shell ash (PKSA) as organic mineral supplement on broiler chicks performance was conducted. Ninety six Arbor Acre day old chicks were randomly assigned in 3 replicates of eight birds per replicate to four experimental diets containing graded levels of PKSA at 0, 5,10 and 15kg/ton of feed labeled T 1 , T 2 , T 3 and T 4 respectively. At 1 st week of life, the chicks were assessed for growth performance, digestive tract development, histology and digesta pH. The growth performance of the chicks were affected (P<0.05) by the supplementation on treatment groups in all parameters except the FCR. The digestive tract development shown by percentage crop weight, proventriculus weight, liver weight and large intestinal weights were significantly affected. The histological analysis of the villi shows that birds consuming T 1 and T 3 diets were more developed (p<0.05) than those consuming T 2 and T 4 diets. The pH of the digesta contents in the GIT of the various segments showed that PKSA supplementation affected (P<0.05) them except those in the proventriculus and large intestine.The quadratic function showed that only pH of digesta in crop and small intestine were positively influenced (P<0.05) among the significant parameters by optimum inclusion levels of 25% and 17.5% PKSA respectively. Therefore, PKSA could be used favorably in broiler chicks production at levels of up to 10%.

The aim of this experiment is to determine the response of finisher broiler birds to graded  levels of yam peel meal as an energy source to place of maize. One hundred and twenty four weeks old Marshal broiler birds were used in a 28 day feeding trial to evaluate the growth performance of the broilers. The birds were assigned into four treatment groups of 30 birds each, which were further replicated in triplicate of 10 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). Four experimental diets containing 0, 5, 10 and 15% inclusion of YPM were formulated and offered to birds during the study. At the end of the experiment, results obtained showed no treatment effect (p>0.05) in growth performance. Birds on YPM based diets recorded similar growth performance with the control suggesting that YPM had positive effect on the experimental birds.

Feed is the most critical factor in animal production and the availability of cheap and high-quality feeds are crucial to sustainable livestock production. With the persistent scarcity and high cost of core feed inputs, the use of additives to increase feed use and economic efficiency through improved animal health and performance has gained popularity over the years. In recent times, non-antibiotic feed supplements, such as prebiotics, probiotics, enzymes, herbal mixtures and clay minerals have been tested as effective feed additives in animal diets. Organic acids and probiotic products are dietary feed additives with growth-promoting abilities similar to antibiotics. However, palm sap, an alcoholic beverage from various palm species has shown promise as a potential source of organic acids and direct-fed microbial products. Thus, this review provides a brief discussion on the microbial and biochemical characteristics of palm wine and its potential benefits to the livestock industry to improve performance, increased digestive efficiency, reduce the proliferation of pathogenic organisms and disease incidence in animal production. From the kinds of literature reviewed, it can be concluded that the metabolic products of palm wine fermentation had bacteriostatic and bactericidal properties to inhibit pathogens while improving the growth performance of animals.