The effect of dietary inclusion of fermented pigeon pea meal (FPPM) on growth response, apparent nutrient digestibility, haematological indices and serum biochemistry of cockerel chicks was studied using 240-day-old cockerel chicks allotted to four dietary treatments consisting of 60 birds each. Four experimental diets were formulated to include FPPM at 0, 50, 100 and 150 g/kg inclusion levels, respectively. Each of the diets was fed to 60 birds replicated six times with ten birds per replicate. The feeding trial lasted for 56 days. Results indicated that final live weight (linear (L). quadratic (Q): P < 0.05), weight gain (L.Q: P < 0.01), feed intake (Q.: P < 0.05) and coefficient of total tract apparent crude protein digestibility (P < 0.05) were reduced with increasing dietary inclusion of FPPM. Similar improved feed-to-gain ratios were obtained for chicks fed the control and those fed a diet containing 50 g/kg FPPM. Coefficient of total tract apparent ether extract and ash digestibility were not affected (P > 0.05) by the inclusion of FPPM. Haemoglobin and serum uric acid concentrations were also reduced (P < 0.05) with increasing dietary inclusion of FPPM. Chicks fed with 150 g/kg FPPM had the least (P < 0.05) packed cell volume, red blood cell and neutrophil count. It was concluded that dietary inclusion of up to 50 g/kg FPPM could be used in the ration for cockerel chicks without imposing any threat on the growth response, nutrient digestibility and blood constituents.

Livestock contributes about 14.5% of human induced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally in terms of carbon dioxide equivalent (Gerber et al., 2013). The GHG emission from pig production is about 13% of global GHG from livestock and this is the second contributor to GHG in the livestock sector (FAO, 2011). Pork meat has been regarded as the most consumed meat out of all other livestock species constituting about 37% of world's consumption (McGlone, 2013). The future growth in the world's population is expected to increase the demand for pork meat, hence increased intensive pig production. Subsequently, the emission of gases such as methane (CH 4), ammonia (NH 3), carbon dioxide (CO 2), nitrous oxide (N 2 O), and hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) will increase with negative consequences on the environment as well as pose health risks (Bellarby et al., 2013). Carbon dioxide, CH 4 , and N 2 O are known to contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer resulting in global warming. These gases have varying potentials causing the depletion of the ozone layer (IPCC, 2007) while hydrogen sulfide has been reported to pose negative impact on health of humans (EEA, 2009). Pig diets are reported to often contain more protein than other animal, thereby leading to the release of unutilized protein in resultant manure (Montalvo, Morales, Pineiro, Godbout, & Bigeriego, 2013). Dietary constituents fed to livestock have been reported to influence the nutrient composition of the resultant manure produced (Lukehurst, Frost, & Al Seadi, 2010). Protein

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Context The cost of feedstuff such as maize and other conventional energy sources has increased due to high competitive demand, which necessitated the search into alternative feedstuff such as cassava by-products (peel and leaf). However, their nutrient availability is hampered by antinutritional factors and constituent fibre. Aims This study investigated the effect of dietary inclusion of differently processed cassava peel–leaf blend (CPLB) on performance, carcass yield, organ weights and ileal microflora of growing pigs. Methods Cassava peel:cassava leaf (CPLB; 5:1) was included in the pigs’ diet in a feeding trial for 16 weeks. The CPLB replaced maize at 100%. Twenty-four pigs of mean weight range (20–22 kg) were assigned on a weight-equalisation basis to four dietary treatments having six replicates, with one pig per replicate. A standard corn soya-based diet (control), unfermented CPLB (UCPLB), water-fermented CPLB (WCPLB) and microbial-fermented CPLB (MCPLB) using Aspergillus tamarii as the inoculum was formulated. Performance was measured weekly, while carcass yield, organ weights and ileal microbial count were measured at the end of the 16th week. Key results Dietary inclusion of WCPLB and MCPLB reduced (P < 0.05) carcass weight. Pigs fed control diet and those fed diet containing UCPLB had a similar dressing percentage, while those fed diet containing MCPLB had an intermediate dressing percentage to those fed control diet and those fed diet containing WCPLB. Reduced (P < 0.05) Escherichia coli count (3.30 and 3.36 log10) was obtained in the ileum content of pigs fed diet containing UCPLB and WCPLB respectively. Conclusion Dietary replacement of CPLB for maize did not affect performance of pigs significantly and inclusion of UCPLB in the diet of pigs resulted in a comparable dressing percentage that for pigs fed control diet. Implication This study will help researchers on the right combination of the by-product without detrimental effect on carcass yield, and also encourage the farmer on utilisation of the by-product in pig feeding.