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Carcass yield characteristics and economic advantage of skip-a-day feed restriction method at different growth stages of Rhode Island Red chicken was evaluated. Two-hundred forty day-old chicks with average body weight of 48.92±1.5 g were randomly distributed into 12 pens each with 20 chicks, representing four feeding regimen of T 1 (Unrestricted, Control), T 2 (Restricted at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of age), T 3 (Restricted at 35, 42, 49 and 56 days of age) and T 4 (Restricted at 63, 70, 77 and 84 days of age). Feed restriction was based on skipping a-day once in a week and the next day's feed offer was based on the previous day's feed intake. The experiment lasted for 22 weeks, during which feed intake and body weight changes were monitored. At the end of the experimental period, six pullets from each treatment were randomly selected and slaughtered to evaluate carcass yield, abdominal fat and weights and lengths of different parts of gastrointestinal tract. The daily DM, CP and ME intake as well as body weight changes at different ages were non-significant (P>0.05) for birds in different treatment groups. The DM efficiency ratio also did not significantly varied (P>0.05). In contrast, the total DM intake (g) was significantly different (P<0.05) between treatments and birds under T 4 consume less. Dressed weight (g) (1335.45±21, 1273.62±23.8, 1335.78±22.8 and 1279.72±23.4); abdominal fat free carcass (g) (939.08±9.67, 891.37±19.7, 933.32±15 and 899.07±14.5); carcass with abdominal fat (g) (960.6±11.3, 924.58±19, 955.20±13 and 926.10±14.4) and breast meat weights (g) (282.72±13.7, 246.75±19.8, 290.70±13.4 and 272.92±14.2) were significantly (P<0.05) different among the treatment groups. Abdominal fat weight was also highly significant (P<0.01) between the treatments. The weight and percentage of GIT and total giblet and parts of giblets were not (P>0.05) affected except liver weight which was higher (P<0.05) for T 3. Cost of feed consumed per kg live weight gain was lower for the feed restricted birds compared to the control and it was the least for T 4. Besides, the labor cost was lower for the feed restricted groups than the unrestricted group. It is concluded that feed restriction at later days of age (T 4) is economically beneficial compared to the other early age restricted groups based on partial budget analysis. The results of this study suggested that the feed restriction at T 3 might be considered as beneficial in terms of carcass cut characteristics and T 4 on economic return.

The purpose of this study was designed to investigate the amino acid and fatty acid composition of taro leaf and corm samples. An UHPLC and GC-FID method was used for the determination of amino acids and fatty acid composition, respectively. Taro leaf was processed as a powder and pre-curd concentrates while the corm was pre-gelatinized with and without peel prior to the analysis. The amino acid and fatty acid composition (%) of the analyzed samples were quantified with their relative area comparing with respective standards. In the present study, the leaf and corm of taro contained the three essential amino acids leucine, lysine and methionine. For the study, the calculated amino acid values were low in corm samples, but amino acid composition was higher in the leaf samples. Concerning fatty acids, the dominant fatty acid in the leaf and corm was oleic acid (C18:1, n-9) which ranged from 140.697 ± 0.054 to 216.775 ± 0.043 and 101.932 ± 0.023 to 101.950 ± 0. 04 mg/100 g, respectively. In the study, the fatty acid compositions in leaf were higher than the corm. This means that taro leaf would be considered as a good source of essential amino acid and fatty acid than the corm. Finally, from the proportion (mg/100 g) of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, the unsaturated fatty acids were the predominant fatty acids observed. The presence of high levels of unsaturated fatty acids in the entire investigation of our study taro is nutritionally rich.

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An investigation was undertaken to study the effects of feeding boiled mango seed kernel (BMSK) on the growth performance and feed utilization parameters of Hubbard broiler chicks with the objective of recommending the optimum level of mango seed kernel inclusion in broiler feed. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with four treatments, each replicated three times with 13 birds each. One-hundred fifty-six-day-old chicks with uniform body weight (BW) were used and were distributed randomly to the four diets. The four treatment diets were control (T1) (100% maize + 0% BMSK), T2 (95% maize + 5% BMSK), T3 (90% maize + 10% BMSK) and T4 (85% maize + 15% BMSK). All the experimental chickens were weighted initially (initial BW) and lasted for 49 days during which growth performance traits were recorded. After 49 days, two birds from each replication were randomly selected and slaughtered to evaluate the effect of BMSK on the final body weight of the chicks. The results on average daily feed intake per bird for T1 and T2 were not significantly different, i.e., 71.4 and 70.8 g (P>0.05) but it was significantly higher than that of T3 and T4 which was 68.13 and 68.23 g. At the end of 7 weeks, the final BW of chicks fed on T1 and T2 were 2657 and 2644, not significantly different, but were significantly higher than that of T3 and T4 which were 2610 and 2603 g per bird, respectively. The Average daily BW gain (ADG) for the respective T1 and T2 was 53.4, 53.2 g and was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of T3 and T4 which were 52.44 and 52.31 g per bird. The feed conversion ratio (g feed/g gain) for T1 and T2 was 1.36, 1.36 and was significantly higher than that of T3 and T4 which were 1.33 and 1.33 g per bird, respectively. Inclusion of mango seed kernel up to 15% in broiler nutrition has no detrimental effect, profitable and can be best alternative feed sources in broiler feed if treated well by using the best technical methods of anti-nutritional factors like boiling.

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