Thirty-two pigs were allocated to one of four diets, FFRD0 and FFRD200, containing full-fat rapeseed (FFR), 150 g/kg [25-50 kg liveweight (LW)], and 250 g/kg (50-90 kg LW), or CD0 and CD200, containing equivalent quantities of rapeseed meal and 34 g/kg (25-50 kg LW) or 59.2 g/kg (50-90 kg LW) coconut oil and lard (0.5:0.5, w/w). Diets FFRD200 and CD200 were supplemented with 200 mg/kg α-tocopherol acetate (ATA). ATA supplementation significantly (P < 0.001) reduced muscle drip loss. The melting point (°C) of subcutaneous fat was significantly lowered by FFR (P < 0.001) but increased by ATA supplementation (P < 0.05). Tissue α-tocopherol (AT) concentrations were significantly increased by ATA supplementation. Longissimus dorsi AT concentration was positively correlated with AT concentration in subcutaneous fat (r = 0.86) and in plasma at 35 (r = 0.65) and 77 (r = 0.85) days of feeding (P < 0.001). In both L. dorsi and subcutaneous adipose tissue lipids, FFRD caused a significant (P < 0.001) decrease in the ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids and a significant (P < 0.001) increase in the ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids. AT supplementation significantly reduced the susceptibility of L. dorsi and subcutaneous fat to lipid oxidation during storage at 4°C for up to 16 d. For all dietary treatments and storage times, lipid oxidation [mg malondialdehyde (MDA)/kg muscle] was greater in the surface layer (0-2.5 mm) of L. dorsi than below the surface (2.5-5 mm). Oxidative stability of L. dorsi lipids to iron-induced lipid peroxidation was significantly improved (P < 0.001) by AT supplementation. Meat from pigs fed FFRD diets was significantly less stable to iron-induced oxidation (nmoles MDA/mg protein) at the longer incubation periods (100 and 200 min). The susceptibility of L. dorsi to iron-induced lipid oxidation decreased as the ratio of the tissue concentration of AT to unsaturated fatty acid increased. JAOCS 75, 189-198 (1998). a SF = surface (0-2.5 mm deep); SS = subsurface (2.5-5 mm deep); MDA, malondialdehyde; * = P < 0.05 ; ** = P < 0.01; *** = P < 0.001. See Tables 1 and 3 for other abbreviations.

The nutritive potential of rumen liquor fermented cassava peels (RLFCP) was assessed in rabbit nutrition in an 8 weeks trial. The freshly collected droppings from layers were sundried, ground and mixed at 100 g/kg with ground cassava peels, sprayed with rumen filtrate and fermented for 144 hours. Thereafter, one basal diet was formulated to meet the nutrient requirement of a growing rabbit. The maize content (43 g/100 g) of the basal diet was replaced at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 % with RLFCP and named as diets 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. One hundred and fifty mixed sexes healthy 5-weeks old crossbred weaner rabbits were randomly distributed among the five dietary treatments at a rate of 30 rabbits per treatment. The response criteria were growth indices, cost benefit, carcass and organ weight, blood and serum indices. While the average daily feed intake increased (49.27-58.00 g/rabbit/day) with an increased RLFCP inclusion, the average daily weight gain only increased (12.38-17.75 g/rabbit per day) when the increased RLFCP inclusion reached up to a 50 %. The feed conversion ratio of rabbits fed on the control and those fed on 25 % and 50 % RLFCP was similar (3.03-3.20) (p>0.05). Only the slaughtered weight (1116.50-1416.16 g), dressed weight (477.65-695.85 g), dressing % (42.77-50.14), relative weight (% slaughter weight) of the liver (2.18-2.57) and heart (0.20-0.23) were significantly (p

Background: This study evaluates the effects of storage periods (1, 4, 7, 10, and 13 days), egg size (small 60-64 g, medium 65-69 g, and large ≥ 70 g), and egg positioning with air cell facing either down or up during storage on hatchability percentages and day-old chick's weight. One thousand and five hundred (1500) fertile eggs from Arbor acre broiler breed were purchased and arranged each according to egg sizes into five (5) different storage periods of 100 eggs per storage period. Each storage period was subdivided into 2 groups of 50 eggs each based on positioning during storage. A completely randomized design in 3 × 5 × 2 factorial arrangement was adopted. Stored eggs were incubated for hatch with recording of weights of the hatched chicks, and the hatchability rate was calculated. Results: The results indicated eggs stored for a day and 4 days had maximum hatchability, but declined slightly as the storage period increased (92 to 78%). The eggs positioned down generally had better hatchability. However, mediumsized eggs had the highest hatchability percentage. On the other hand, large-sized eggs stored for longer period attained higher chick weight compared to medium-and small-sized eggs, but large-sized eggs positioned down gave a better chick weight. Generally, eggs stored with air cell down present superior chick weight. Conclusion: Storage period and egg positioning during storage affect the subsequent egg hatchability and weight of the hatched chicks from different egg sizes. However, egg storage must not exceed 4 days for optimum hatchability and weight of the hatched chicks. In addition, storing of eggs with air cell down might also enhance the hatchability and weight of hatched chicks irrespective of the weight of the eggs.

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