An experiment was conducted to assess the influence of GGO on carcass features and sensory assessment of broiler chickens. 120 1-day-old (Arbo acre) birds were separated into five treatments, each with three replicates of 8 birds. Throughout the 8-week trial, clean feed and water were available at all times. NRC's basal diet was designed to suit avian nutritional needs (1994). A 0% GGO meal was given to the birds in treatment 1, whereas GGO levels of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 percent were given to the birds in treatments 2, 3, 4, and 5. As well as studying the phytochemical content of (Zingiber officinale) and garlic (Allium sativum) oil, carcass and organ features of birds were also studied. Zingiber officinale contains phenols (8.21%), alkaloids (5.12%), flavonoids (7.49%), tannins (6.52%), saponins (3.18%), streiods (2.38%), glycosides (0.18%), oxalates (0.07%), and phytate (0.07%). (0.02 %). Sativum contains flavonoids (10.67%) alkaloids (7.02%) tannins (4.72%) steroids (3.65%) saponin (2) glycoside (0.33%) oxalates (0.26%) and phytate (0.26%). (0.05 %). Dressing %, carcass and relative organ weights differed across treatments (P0.05). The liver, kidney, spleen, and other internal organs showed no signs of inflammation. GGO altered meat sensory assessment (tenderness, juiciness, taste, and fragrance) except meat color which was not significantly (P0.05) different across treatments. GGO may be fed to broilers up to 0.4 percent without affecting their health or performance.
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 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.
BackgroundRabbits are also herbivores which efficiently convert fodder to food. They are prolific and converter of plant proteins of little or no use to people as food into high-value animal protein. Rabbit meat is high in protein, low in calories and low in fat and cholesterol contents, being considered as a delicacy and a healthy food product. Feeding rabbits with concentrates is expensive and therefore in order to reduce cost of production, hence the use of rumen content in this study as alternative feedstuff without competition.MethodsA total of thirty six (36) weaner rabbits (oryctalagus cuniculus) of different body weight and age where use in this experiment to determine the effects of replacing rumen content with or without enzyme supplementation for groundnut cake. This feeding trial which lasted for 8 weeks was carried out in order to determine the replacement value of groundnut cake with rumen content with or without enzyme in the diet of weaner rabbit. A 3x2 factorial experiment was adopted such that there where three (3) replacement level of rumen content (0, 25 and 50 %) for groundnut cake by two supplemental level (no enzyme and enzyme supplement).ResultsThe results showed that increased inclusion level of rumen content has significant effects (p < 0.05) on daily feed intake, rate of weight gain, feed to gain ratio, nitrogen retention, faecal nitrogen, total nitrogen output and nitrogen digestibility. The weight gained by rabbits fed on 0, 25 and 50 % were all comparable (p > 0.05) with weight gained value of 7.62,7.44 and 7.36 g respectively. Similarly there was a significant (p < 0.05) effect of supplement added on the body weight gain of the experimental animals. There was significant effect (p < 0.05) of the diet on the obtained feed to gain ratio. However, there was no significant effect (p > 0.05) of the treatment on urinary nitrogen. Significant (p < 0.05) effects of supplementation was observed on the feed intake, weight gain, feed to gain ratio, faecal nitrogen, nitrogen retention and nitrogen digestibility but there was no significant effects (p > 0.05) of the supplementation on the nitrogen intake. The interaction between the varying levels of rumen content supplementation had significant effects (p < 0.05) on the feacal nitrogen, feed intake and feed to gain ratio but no significant (p < 0.05) effects on interaction of nitrogen intake.ConclusionIn conclusion, since the results from this study showed no negative effects on the performance of the experimental animals, the test ingredient can be used as alternative feedstuff at a lower inclusion level so as to reduce production cost and expand rabbit production.
Sugarcane peels (SCP) is available in large quantities all year round especially in sugar industries where they are discarded as waste product. It contains high amount of carbohydrate and minerals which could be fed to animals especially when properly processed and supplemented with exogenous enzyme to aid the animal digest it. Fifty - four weaned 4-5 weeks old crosses of New Zealand white x Chinchilla male rabbits were utilized to evaluate the effect of feeding sugarcane peel meal-based diets supplemented with quantum blue® on the growth performance parameters (initial weight, final weight, weight gain, feed intake, FCR and feed cost per weight gain) and nutrient digestibility by weaner rabbits. Six diets were formulated to be iso-nitrogenous (18% crude protein) and isocaloric (2700kcal/kg, ME) with two levels of inclusion of sugarcane peel meal (SCPM) (low and high) and three levels of enzyme supplementation (0, 150 and 250 PPM) giving a 2x3 factorial arrangement fitted into Completely Randomized Design. The rabbits were weighed and allotted to the treatments at the rate of 3 rabbits per replicate and each treatment was replicated 3 times. Feeds were weighed and served to the animals individually and water was provided ad-libitum. Growth parameters and nutrient digestibility data were generated and evaluated. The results of the effect of enzyme on growth performance of weaner rabbits showed that average total weight gain significantly (P<0.05) improved as rabbits fed the 200PPM enzyme supplemented diets had the best value of 511.67g/rabbit. However, rabbits fed the 100PPM performed (410.83g/rabbit) the same as those fed the 200PPM. Similarly, rabbits fed the 200PPM enzyme supplemented diets gained more (P<0.05) daily weight of 10.40 g/rabbit/day followed by those fed the 100PPM (8.32 g/rabbit/day). The result of the effect of high SCPM showed that feed intake significantly (P<0.05) increased from 47.37 g/rabbit/day to 59.82 g/rabbit/day as the level of SCPM increased in the diets; rabbits fed the high SCPM had higher total weight gain of 484.44 g/rabbit as compared to those of low SCPM (362.78 g/rabbit). The interactive effects of SCPM and enzyme on growth performance of weaner rabbits showed that final live weight, feed intake and total weight gain were significantly (P<0.05) improved as the levels of SCPM and enzyme increased in the diets. In view of the findings, rabbit farmers can supplement 32% of SCPM in the diets of weaner rabbit with 200PPM of quantum blue® without negatively affecting the growth rate and suppressing the digestibility of nutrients by weaner rabbits.
The continuous increase in the cost of livestock products such as meat, milk, egg in developing countries has continued to make these products unaffordable to consumers especially the vulnerable groups in rural and semi-urban centers and even low-income earners in sub-Saharan Africa. The results of this development include malnutrition, hunger, sicknesses, poverty food insecurity and unsustainable economic growth among others. The main reason for the high cost of livestock products being the high cost of production mostly due to high cost of feeding especially in monogastric animal production. Africa and especially Nigeria is blessed with enormous agricultural and other resources, which are capable of solving the problems of hunger, food insecurity and other economic problems if these resources are properly, and efficiently utilized.Research and investigations on how to reduce the high cost of feed especially in monogastric animal production has been severally reported (Iyayi , 2005, Ezieshi , 2004,Ezieshi and Olomu, 2006, Akpodiete 1999,Oruseibio, 1985. However, majority of these studies were carried out on poultry. In recent years some poultry Nutritionists has explored the possibility of replacing maize partially or wholly with cassava root meal (
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