No abstract

This study was carried out to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of melon (Citrallus lanatus) seed oil (WMO) on the growth performance and immune response of growing rabbits. Thirty-six (36), 5-6 weeks weaner rabbit of mixed breed and sex with an average weight of 435 g – 438 grams were randomly divided into four (4) treatments of nine rabbits per group and each rabbit served as a replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). The experiment lasted for 12 weeks and all other management practices were strictly observed. The basal diet was formulated according to the nutrient requirements of the rabbit according to NRC (1977). Treatment (T1) was fed basal diet with 0 % WMO, T2, T3, and T4 were fed basal diet supplemented with WMO at 0.2 %, 0.4 % and 0.6 % respectively. Results obtained were used to examine the average daily weight gain (ADWG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed: gain, mortality, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), reduced glutathione (GSH), and malonyl dialdehyde (MLA). ADWG, feed: gain, and mortality were significantly different (P˂0.05) among the treatments. ADFI increased as the level of WMO increases, though not at a significant level (P˃0.05). The highest mortality was recorded among animals in T1 (1.00 %), none was recorded in the other treatments (P˂0.05).  Activities of SOD, GST, GSH, and MLA were significantly (P˃0.05) influenced by WMO. It was concluded that dietary supplementation of WMO up to 0.6 % enhanced growth performance, improved feed: gain, and had no negative effect on the antioxidant parameters of rabbits, it is safe and could be used to bridge the gap between food safety and production.

This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of broiler chickens fed graded levels of ripe plantain peels meal (RPPM) as replacement for maize. One hundred and fifty day old Anak strain broiler chickens were allotted to five dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. Each treatment was replicated three times with 10 birds per replicate. The test ingredient (RPPM) was replaced at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% levels representing T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. The diets were Isonitrogenous (23 and 20% CP) for starter and finisher respectively. Feed and water were provided ad-libitum throughout the study period of 56 days and routine management practices were strictly adhered to. Parameters measured were feed intake and weight gain. Feed conversion ratio, feed cost/kg and feed cost/kg gain were calculated. Results showed that there were significant (P<0.05) differences in the final live weight, feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and feed cost/kg. Based on this study, RPPM could replace maize up to 75% which is the inclusion level that gave the best feed conversion ratio and cost efficiency.

This study was carried out to investigate the hepatic histopathology of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with Prosopis africana (African mesquite) essential oil (PRSO). 300, 1-day old broiler chicks were randomly distributed into six treatments with 5 replicates consisting of 10 birds each. Birds in diet 1 (D1) was fed basal diet supplemented with 0 % PRSO, D2: basal diet with 1.0 g/kg-1 oxytetracycline, D3, D4, D5 and D6 were fed basal diet supplemented with PRSO at 200 mg, 400 mg, 600 mg and 800 mg/kg-1 respectively. The experiment lasted for 56 days and a completely randomized design was adopted. Phyto-constituents of PRSO revealed the presence of tannins (201.21 mg/g-1), flavonoids (677.83 mg/g-1), alkaloids (405.90 mg/g-1), saponins (75.62 mg/g-1), phenols (508.28 mg/g-1), phytates (20.10 mg/g-1) and oxalates (5.26 mg/g-1). Hepatic histopathology showed that tissues from D1, D3, D4, D5 and D6 showed no signs of any damage; the central vein, blood portal vessels showed no congestion. Mild hepatocellular damage was recorded among liver of birds in D2. It can be concluded that Prosopis africana essential oil are among the key alternative solutions to antibiotics because they contain bioactive compounds that are safe, effective and performs multiple biological functions in the body of animals.

The objective of this present study was to investigate the haemato-biochemical indices and intestinal microbial population of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with Prosopis africana (African mesquite) essential oil (PAEO). A total of 540 one-day old broiler chicks of Ross 302 strain were allotted to six treatments with 6 replicates consisting of 15 birds each in a completely randomized design. Feed and water were given ad libitum, and all necessary management practices were strictly observed throughout the experiment, which lasted for 8 weeks. The birds in treatment 1 (T1) was fed a basal diet with no PAEO, T2 was fed basal diet plus 1.2 g kg-1 Oxytetracycline, T3, T4, T5 and T6 were fed basal diet plus PAEO at 200 mg, 400 mg, 600 mg and 800 mg kg-1 respectively. All haematological parameters and intestinal microbial population were influenced by the dietary treatments (p ˂ 0.05). Total protein, triglycerides, cholesterol and urea were significantly different (p < 0.05) across the dietary treatments and are within the physiological ranges reported for healthy chicken. However, serum tryglycerides, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein, magnesium and chloride ion values were not affected by PAEO (p ˃ 0.05). It was concluded PAEO possess several properties – antioxidant, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, immune-stimulatory, anti-inflammatory and physiological amongst others all of which are vital for the health enhancing effects in birds. Prosopis africana essential oil can be supplemented up to 800 mg kg-1 in the diets of broiler chickens without causing any deleterious effect on their blood profile.