In order to evaluate the effect of phenotype and quail age on laying rate and egg characteristics, a study has been carried out in Ngaoundéré from February to August 2019. 216 quails were divided into 36 batches of 6 animals each (5 females and 1 male) according to age and phenotype. The experimental animals were white, spotted white, grey and brown phenotypes and were one, six and ten months old. Eggs were collected for three weeks between 8 pm -4 pm and 4 pm -8 pm, counted, weighed and measured. 15 eggs per phenotype were randomly selected, broken individually, which allowed the internal parameters to be evaluated. The main results show that the quails laid more eggs between 4 pm -8 pm, the highest laying rate was obtained in quails at one moth of laying and the spotted white phenotype had a high laying rate (74.03%) compared to other phenotypes. At one month of breeding age, quails with the spotted white phenotype showed a higher laying rate (93.34%), brown (78.75%) and grey (74%) at six months and finally white (71%) at ten months. Weight, height, diameter and egg shape index did not vary with the quail phenotype. The highest egg volume (12.60 ml) was found in white quails. The shells of white spotted quails were thicker than those of other phenotypes. Grey quails laid eggs with the highest Haugh's index and proportion of edible matter. Brown quail eggs were found to have a higher proportion of dry yolk matter. Dry matter and moisture content of albumen did not vary with the quail phenotype. Considering the results obtained, it has been concluded that spotted white phenotype quails are more suitable for reproduction as they presented the best egg-laying proportions of edible matter.

In order to evaluate the effect of diet supplementation with Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) on growth and laying performances of quail in soudano-guinean zone of Cameroon, a study has been conducted in Ngaoundéré from May to September 2018. For this purpose, a total of 168 seven weeks old quails were divided into 12 comparable batches of 10 females and 4 males. Each of the four experimental diets (T0, T1, T2 and T3), formulated on the basis of the level (0, 1, 2, and 3% respectively) of diet supplementation with MOLM was randomly assigned to 03 batches in a completely randomized. Data were collected during the 16 weeks of the study on feed intake (FI), body weight (BW), body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Weekly, after total laid eggs evaluation, 40 eggs per treatment was randomly chosen, weighed and measured. Main findings revealed that FI was not significantly affected by the diet supplementation with MOLM. Significantly higher BW and BW gain was recorded in T1 treatment compared to others treatments while they remains similar between them. The relatively heavier eggs were noted in T2 treatment while the highest (88.57 ± 2.85%) weekly laying rate was recorded with 1% supplementation. It has then been concluded that MOLM could be used as diet supplement during laying phase up to 3% for egg production and 1% of substitution seem to be the most appropriate to increase eggs laying rate while 2% is suitable to obtain heavy eggs in the soudano-guinean agro ecological zone of Cameroon.

Objective: Quail production is ranked as an important alternative animal protein source in Cameroon. One of the main constraints of this production is the quality of feed, which lacks pro¬tein that is regularly supplied by fish meal. To avoid disagreements due to the constant shortage of fish meal, alternative protein sources are needed, and among them are crickets (Acheta domes¬ticus). The goal of this study was to find out how well Japanese quails could be raised if fish meal was replaced with cricket meal. Materials and Methods: A total of 192, 4-week-old quails were divided into 12 similar sets of 8 females and 8 males. The Four experimental diets (T00, T15, T30, and T45) were all formulated based on the level (0%, 15%, 30%, and 45%, respectively) of fish meal substitution with cricket meal in the basal diet (crude protein: 20.18% and ME: 3,013.78 kcal/kg) and randomly assigned to three sets in a completely randomized design consisting of four treatments each repeated three times. Growth, carcass, and some reproduction parameters were collected. The data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and the Duncan test, with a significance level of 5%. Results: Cricket meal diets increased body weight in males (204.32 ± 5.69 gm for T45) and regard¬less of the sex (226.72 ± 29.45 gm for T30) compared to 184.17 ± 3.11 gm and 214.55 ± 32.77 gm for the control group, respectively. In females, substitution at 30% increased body weight (253.80 ± 6.48 gm), while 45% induced a reduction (216.67 ± 6.49 gm) when compared to the control group value (244.92 ± 6.07 gm). Carcass yield and the proportion of different parts were not significantly affected by the experimental diets. Liver proportions were significantly higher at 15% and 35% cricket meal incorporation compared to 45%. First songs and egg laying were recorded at 7 weeks with T15, which also led to improved egg laying performance compared to the other treatments. Ovaries were poorly developed in the T45 females compared to the other treatments. Conclusions: Cricket flour might be a good candidate as a locally available protein source to sub¬stitute fish meal in the Japanese quail’s diet at the finisher and reproductive stages, and the level of 30% seems to be more efficient.

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Dans le but de contribuer à une meilleure connaissance des effets des feuilles de goyavier sur la croissance en élevage porcin, une étude a été menée sur les effets de la supplémentation de l’aliment en poudre des feuilles de goyavier (Psiduim guajava) sur la croissance des porcelets hybrides (Large White x Landrace). A cet effet, 24 porcelets de 65 jours d’âge et de poids moyen de 10,83±0,26 kg ont été répartis en quatre lots de 6 porcelets (03 mâles et 03 femelles) chacun. A chaque lot choisi au hasard a été attribué par jour et pendant 30 jours consécutifs une ration supplémentée avec 0 ; 0,5 ; 1 et 1,5% de poudre des feuilles de goyavier. Les performances de croissance ont été étudiées. La consommation alimentaire et le poids vif ont été comparables entre tous les traitements. Le gain de poids, le gain moyen quotidien et l’efficacité alimentaire ont été significativement (P<0,05) plus élevés avec la ration contenant 1,5% de poudre de feuilles de goyavier comparé à la ration contenant seulement 1% de cette poudre. L’indice de consommation et le coût de production ont été relativement plus faibles chez les porcelets ayant reçu 1,5% de poudre des feuilles de goyavier comparés à ceux des autres traitements. Il a été conclu que la supplémentation de l’aliment au taux de 1,5% de la poudre des feuilles de goyavier améliore les performances de croissance des porcelets.Mots clés : Psidium guajava, enrichissement, porcelet, croissance, coût de production.   English Title: Effect of feed supplementation with dry powder of guava leaves (Psidium guajava) on growth performances of cross breed pigletsIn order to contribute to a better understanding of the effects of guava leaves on growth in pig farming, a study has been conducted on the effects of supplementation of guava leaves powder feed (Psiduim guajava) on the growth of hybrid piglets (Large White x Landrace). For this purpose, 24 piglets of 65 days of age and an average weight of 10.83±0.26 kg were distributed in four batches of 6 piglets each. To each group choosing randomly, diets supplemented with 0; 0,5; 1 and 1,5% of guava leaves powder was assigned daily for thirty  consecutive days. Growth performances characteristics were studied. Feed intake and live weight were comparable between all  treatments. The weight gain, daily average gain and feed efficiency were significantly higher with the diet containing 1,5% guava leaves powder as compared to the one with 1% of that powder. Feed efficiency and the cost of production were non-significantly lower in piglet haven received diet containing 1,5% of guava leaves powder compared to other treatments. It can there be concluded that food supplementation by 1,5% with guava leave powder improve growth performances of piglets.Keywords: Psidium guajava, supplementation, piglet, growth performances, production’s cost.

Physicochemical characteristics of eggs are still poorly controlled in poultry farming in the city of Ngaoundéré, Cameroon. The present study was thus conducted to characterize the rearing systems in modern poultry farming and to analyze the physicochemical characteristics of eggs from hens reared in deep litter, battery, and backyard systems from August to October 2020 in Ngaoundéré, Cameroon. To this end, 33 farms with approximately 61100 hens (Cobb500 broiler and layer) were surveyed. At the end of this survey, a sample of 180 eggs was collected, with 60 eggs per system for physicochemical analyses. Data included socio-economic and technical characteristics of modern farming systems as well as the physicochemical parameters of the eggs. The obtained results indicated that 90.9% of Cobb500 chicken owners were men. Of the total of the layer’s buildings, 73% were equipped with nests. The materials used for feeders were made of wood (54.4%), plastic (21.2%), or cement (6.1%). Moreover, 81.1% of the poultry farmers buy chicken feed on the market while the others prepare their own feed from various ingredients. Preventive and curative prophylactic measures were applied by all livestock farmers, yet 54. 5% were still victims of different diseases. The selling price of a 45-day-old broiler chicken was between 4 and 6 USD, while the price of a 30-egg tray varied between 3 and 4 USD, which contributed to 60-80% of family income for 54.5% of poultry farmers. The high feed cost as well as lack of finance, ingredients, and security were the main issues of poultry farming. Concerning the physicochemical characteristics of eggs, a significant increase in egg weight was noted among backyard (43.50 ± 3.15 g), battery (58.19 ± 4.02 g), and deep litter (63.51 ± 3.91 g) systems. The Haugh’s Unit of eggs in the backyard system (72.33 ± 4.42%) was significantly lower than deep litter (82.91 ± 6.76%) and battery systems (86.83 ± 11.42%). The proportions of eggshell and edible contents were similar in all production systems. Yolk lipid (17.63%) and yolk protein (7.11%) in dry matter contents of local breed eggs were higher than those of improved breed from both systems. The findings indicated that modern poultry farming in Ngaoundéré has been poorly developed and backyard eggs were richer in nutrients and consequently highly recommended to use.

From July to November 2019, a study has been carried out in the locality of Ngaoundéré in order to contribute to a better knowledge of exotic hens. For this purpose, 190 improved strain chicks of one day-old with an average weight of 35.49±3.78g were distributed according to the type of feather. They were fed an iso-energetic and iso-proteic feed. Data on phenotype characteristics, growth performance, biometric data and carcass were determined. The main results show that three types of feathering were recorded with 16.4% of hens with bare necks and with feathered pits, 78.1% of hens with feathered pits and 5.5% of hens with normal feathers. The majority of hens were recorded with a single comb (75.3%), round mumps (71.2%), white pits (76.4%), black beaks (47.9%) and brown eyes (75.3%). In terms of zootechnical performance, the highest live weight (1758.00±322.20g) was recorded with naked-necked hens and feathered pits. The highest weekly average weight gain was recorded with yellow eyed hens (111.77±16.63g) followed by bare-necked and feathered pits (107.83±20.06g). Hens expressing the Na and Pti genes showed the best growth performance although carcass yield was not significantly affected by feather type. It was concluded that there is a very high phenotypic diversity in the so-called improved hens. However, despite their great potential, responsible management of this genetic resource should be encouraged in order to avoid genetic erosion of local poultry resources.