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The effects of feeding graded levels (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%) of Neem leaf meals (NM) to broiler chicks on live weights, carcass and organ weights and blood constituents was investigated. Two hundred and forty (240) 7 days-old unsex broiler chicks (Arbor acres) were randomly allocated to five treatments of 48 birds each, replicated four times with 12 birds each in a completely randomized design. Feed and water were given ad-libitum till 56 days. The results of the live weights and carcass and organ weights decreased with increased NM inclusion in the diets. Haematological constituents were not affected (P>0.05) except the packed cell volume while the serum biochemical indices of birds fed 20 % NM diets were decreased (P<0.05) compared with those fed control, 5 %, 10% and 15% NM diets. Inclusion of 15% NM in broiler chicks' diet had no adverse effects on live, carcass and organ weights and immunity responses. NM needs further treatment to improve inclusion levels beyond 15 % in broilers' diets.

ABSTRACT.A 42-day study was conducted to investigate probiotic supplementation on shea butter cake (SBC) based diets of broilers on the carcass traits and haematological indices. A total of 280, 1-day old Arbor acres strain broiler chicks were divided into 7 dietary treatments with 4 replicates of 10 birds each in a completely randomized design. Diet 1 (control diet) has no SBC and probiotic supplementation while remaining 6 diets contained 5, 10, and 15% levels of SBC each with (+) or without (-) probiotic supplementation. The results showed that carcass parameters and prime cuts weights increased (p < 0.05) in birds fed probiotic-SBC diets compared to control diets. Abdominal fat content was lower (p < 0.05) in birds fed probiotic-SBC diets than those on control and non-probiotic SBC diets. Differences in relative organ weights among all treatments were non-significant (p > 0.05) except for liver and bursa weight. Packed cell volume and hemoglobin contents were higher (p < 0.05) in birds fed probiotic-SBC diets than the group without probiotic supplementation compared to those on control diet. In conclusion, supplementation of multi-strain probiotic improved carcass traits, prime cut-parts and relative organ weights without any adverse effect on the blood parameters up to 15% inclusion level.Keywords: agro by-product, feed additive, carcass characteristics, blood, chicken.Efeito da suplementação dietética de probiótico sobre as características de carcaça e respostas hematológicas de frangos de corte alimentados com dietas à base de bolo de manteiga de carité RESUMO. Este estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar a suplementação de probiótico em dietas à base de bolo de manteiga de carité -sheabuttercake (SBC) sobre as características de carcaça e índices hematológicos de frangos de corte. Foram utilizados 280 frangos de corte da linhagem Arbor acres, distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com sete tratamentos, quatro repetições e dez aves por repetição. Foi formulada uma dieta sem SBC nem probiótico e utilizada como dieta controle. As demais dietas experimentais continham 5, 10 e 15% de SBC e com (+) ou sem (-) a suplementação de probiótico. Os parâmetros de carcaça e o peso dos cortes nobres aumentaram (p < 0.05) nas aves que receberam as dietas com (+) SBC probiótico quando comparadas com o controle. O teor de gordura abdominal foi menor (p < 0.05) nas aves que receberam as dietas com (+) SBC-probiótico do que nas aves alimentas com a dieta controle ou com (-) SBC sem probiótico. Não foram observadas diferenças (p < 0.05) para o peso relativo dos órgãos, exceto para o peso do fígado e da bolsa cloacal. A quantidade de eritrócitos e hemoglobina foram maiores (p < 0.05) nas aves que receberam as dietas com (+) SBCprobiótico quando comparadas com o tratamento controle. A suplementação com probiótico em até 15% melhorou as características de carcaça e o peso relativo dos cortes nobres e órgãos sem nenhum efeito adverso nos parâmetros sanguíneos.Palavras-chave: aditivo alimentar, caracterís...

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A four-week experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of Maxigrain® enzyme supplementation on performance, nutrient digestibility and economic indices of broiler finishers fed soaked and sun-dried cassava peel meal (CPM) based diet. CPM was included in the diets replacing maize at 0%, 25%, 50% and 75% respectively on a weight for weight basis. Diets with 25%, 50% and 75% CPM were supplemented with Maxigrain® at 100mg/kg. Two hundred (200) Anak, day old broiler chicks were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD) with five replicates containing ten birds each after balancing for live weight. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum throughout the 4 weeks period of the experiment. Data on the body weight and feed intake were collected on a weekly basis and that of weight gain and feed conversion ratio(FCR) were calculated fortnightly while data on apparent nutrient digestibility was collected towards the end of the experiments in a metabolic trial. Data on feed costanalysis were calculated using the prevailing current market price of feed ingredients. The result shows that average weight gain and feed intake were significantly affected (P<0.05) by dietary treatments. Birds on 50% CPM enzyme diet had a significant (P<0.05) higher weight gain and feed intake followed by those on 75% CPM diet as compared to control group. Enzyme supplementation of the CPM diets produced a slight improvement in feed conversion ratio than the control diet. Feed cost/kg weight gain significantly (P<0.05) decreased with increasing levels of enzyme supplemented CPM. Profit margin generated were higher (P<0.05) in bird fed enzyme treated CPM diet group. Apparent nutrient digestibility of the birds revealed a significant (P<0.05) variation in all parameters with the exception of dry matter. Digestibility values of the birds were observed to increase as the inclusion level of enzyme supplemented CPM increased across the diet. Therefore, it is concluded that enzyme supplemented CPM could replace 75% of maize in broiler finisher diet without any deleterious effect however, supplementing CPM with enzyme Maxigrain® at 50% replacement level for maize resulted in a more profitable performance as well as improved nutrient digestibility and is hereby recommended for poultry farmers.

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An experiment was conducted to investigate and compare the impact of treatment, which is the source of snail (wild and captive reared) on the proximate and mineral composition (Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, Fe and Mn) of the meat and haemolymph of African land snails (Archachatina marginata). Ninety (90) adult snails (250.00 + 0.5g) were randomly distributed into two (2) treatments, each of three replicates, (15 snails per replicate), in a Complete Randomized Design. Samples of meat and haemolymph collected using standard procedures were subsequently analyzed for their nutritional qualities, using standard chemical analytical procedures. All data collected were statistically analyzed using ANOVA, while significant variation were separated with Duncan Multiple Range Test of the same package. The proximate composition of the meat revealed higher (P>0.05) DM (26.00%), Ether extract (2.17%) and NFE (3.57%) in SC, while there was a non-significant variation (P<0.05) in most proximate factors for haemolymph, except NFE (4.27%), which was higher (P>0.05) in SW. The mineral profiling of the meat revealed  elevated (PP>0.05) levels of Fee (22.30mg/kg) and Mn (4.79mg/kg) of SC, the haemolymph recorded improved levels (P>0.05) for all mineral elements in SC. In conclusion, the captive rearing of snail had improved impact on thenutritional qualities of SC.