An eight week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the replacement value of indomie waste meal with maize on the performance, carcass traits, relative organ weight and cost and return of 90 day old Anak 2000 broiler chickens. Three experimental starter and finisher diets were formulated with diet 1 as control containing 0% Indomie Waste Meal, while diets 2 and 3 contains IWM at 50 and 100% inclusion levels for maize. The chicks were assigned to the treatment diets (1, 2 and 3) in Completely Randomized Design and each treatment group contained three replicates with ten chickens per replicate. Result on performance revealed that daily and weekly weight gain at finisher phase was significantly highest (P<0.05) in birds fed 50% IWM (63.20g/bird). Feed conversion ratio was significantly lowest (P<0.05) in birds fed 50% IWM (2.14). Carcass traits revealed that relative weight of back, head, neck and shank were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the treatment diets. Relative weight of gizzard was also significantly (P<0.05) influenced. Cost and return analysis at starter and finisher phases showed that cost of feed consumed (N137.16) and cost of feed per kilogram weight gain were (N15.96) lowest in birds fed 50% IWM. Income (N1579.50) and net profit (N881.17) were highest in birds on 50% IWM. From the overall results it could be concluded that the inclusion of indomie waste meal in the diet of broiler chickens up to 50% improved the growth performance, better carcass quality and economic returns.

A sixteen week trial was conducted to assess the effect of replacing cassava grit supplemented with Moringa leaf meal (MLM) for maize on the nutrient retention, haematology and serum biochemistry of 120 “day old” Harco cockerel chickens. Four experimental cockerel starter and finisher diets were formulated with diet 1 formulated to contain 0% cassava grit while diet 2, 3 and 4 were formulated to contain cassava grit at 33.3, 66.6 and 100% replacement for maize with 5% of moringa leaf meal inclusion in diets 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Chicks were randomly assigned to the four treatment diets in a completely randomized designed (CRD). Result on nutrient digestibility show that crude fibre was significantly (P<0.05) affected by the treatment diets with highest values of 68.21 recorded in birds fed diet 4. Ash and NFE were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the treatment diets with highest mean values (50.81 and 55.15) observed in birds placed on 100% CGM. Haematological indices revealed that Packed Cell Volume was significantly (P<0.05) highest 32.17% among birds fed the control diet. However, neutrophil was significantly (P<0.05) affected by the treatment diets with highest value 17.67% recorded in birds fed the control diet. Serological study revealed that Albumin value was significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the dietary treatments with highest value (1.60mg/dl) recorded among birds fed 33.3% CGM based diet. Therefore, Cassava grit can replace maize up to 66.6% inclusion level with 5% appropriate supplementation with moringa leaf meal in cockerel diet for optimum nutrient utilization and blood quality.

A ten-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the apparent nutrient digestibility of 120, one-day old broiler starter chicks fed varying levels of Parboiled sundried taro cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) meal (PSCM). Four treatments were formulated with diet one containing 100% maize as control, while in diet two, three and four parboiled sundried cocoyam meal (PSCM) replaced the percentage proportion of maize in diet one at 50, 75 and 100% inclusion levels respectively. Thirty (30) birds were randomly assigned to the four treatment diets in a complete randomized designed (CRD) and each treatment group contained three replicates with ten (10) birds each. Ground fed feed and voided faecal samples collected after a 4-day feeding in a metabolic cage were analyzed for their respective proximate constituent. Apparent nutrient digestibility revealed that crude fibre was significantly (P<0.05) higher in diet 4 while crude ash was significantly (P<0.05) higher in control. Digestible ether extract and NFE were significantly (P<0.05) higher among birds placed on 50% PSCM. It is therefore concluded that parboiled sundried taro cocoyam meal (PSCM) could replace 50% of maize in broiler starter diet without any deleterious effect. However, substituting maize with parboiled sundried taro cocoyam meal at 50% replacement level improved nutrient digestibility and is hereby recommended for poultry farmers.

An eight-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the growth performance characteristics of (120) broiler starter fed varying levels of parboiled sundried taro cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) meal (PSCM). Four treatments were formulated with diet one containing 100% maize as control, while in diet two, three and four parboiled sundried cocoyam meal (PSCM) replaced the percentage proportion of maize in diet one at 50, 75 and 100% inclusion level respectively. Thirty (30) birds were randomly assigned to the four treatment diets in a completely randomize designed (CRD) each treatment group comprising of three replicates with ten (10) birds each. Growth performance revealed a significant variation (P<0.05) in the values of final live weight, daily feed intake and weight gain with highest value (1.62kg, 480.00g and 62.00g/bird) among those fed 50% PSCM. Feed conversion ratio (13.02) was least and best among those on 50% PSCM and protein efficiency ratio was higher (0.06) among those fed the control. It is concluded therefore from this study that parboiled sundried taro cocoyam meal is a valuable replacement for maize up to 50% in broiler diets without adverse effects on the growth performance of starting broiler chickens.

An eight week feeding trial was conducted to assess the effect of substituting maize with biscuit waste meal on the blood constituents of 144- day old Anak 2000 broiler chickens. Four experimental broiler starter and finisher diets were formulated with diet 1 serving as control to contain 0% Biscuit Waste Meal, while diets 2, 3 and 4 were formulated to contain BWM at 25, 50 and 75% inclusion levels for maize. The chicks were randomly assigned to the four treatment diets (1, 2, 3 and 4) in a completely randomized designed (CRD) and each treatment group contained three replicates with twelve chickens per replicate. Results on the blood constituents of broiler chickens fed treatment diets revealed that there is no significant (P>0.05) variation in the haematological indices assayed in this study. However, serum chemistry showed that total protein (3.13), albumin (1.30), and globulin (1.83x10mg/100ml) were significantly (P<0.05) higher in birds fed 75% BWM. Total bilirubin was highest (P<0.05) in birds fed diet 20.39x10mg/dl and least in control diet0.30x10mg/dl. Serum aspartate transaminase was higher (P<0.05) in birds that ate 25% BWM (76.67iu/g) though had values to 74.33 and 70.00iu/g in birds placed on diets 1 and 4, respectively. Serum alkaline phosphate 185.67 iu/g was also higher (P<0.05) in birds fed the control diet and least (182.33 iu/g) in birds placed on diet 4. From the overall results it is concluded that the inclusion of BWM in the diet of broiler chickens up to 50% improved the blood quality of broiler chickens.

Freshly harvested false yam (Icacina tricantha) tubers from the wild in Ekpoma located between the tropical rain forest and the derived savanna were differently processed into flour. Samples from oven dried, sun-dried as well as parboil and thereafter sun-dried were subjected to proximate and some mineral elements analysis. The sun dried sample registered the highest crude protein and energy value of 10.21% and 15.744 MJ/Kg which was significantly different (P

A twelve-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of Cassava Peel Meal(CPM) on the organoleptic properties of ham of (24) crossbred weaner pigs allocated to four dietary treatments replicated three times in a Completely Randomised Design(CRD) with each replicates having two pigs. Treatment I had 0% CPM while 2, 3 and 4 had (CPM) of 25%, 50% and 75% respectively. The pigs were allowed free assess to feed and clean drinking water ad-libitum and routine management and medication were administered. The samples of the processed ham was scored on the 9-point Hedonic scale ranging from like, extremely like, dislike to extremely in order to test for the following: Appearance, flavor, juiciness, tenderness, fattiness and overall acceptability of the processed ham. Before the testing exercise, the members of the panel ate a piece of cracker biscuit and then rinsed their mouth with cold water provided in order to minimize flavor carry over after which they commented freely on each of the samples provided using a score form. The result of the organoleptic quality of the processed ham revealed that only fattiness score was significantly (P<0.05) different among the treatment diets with Adomeh et el.; AFSJ, 2(1): 1-5, 2018; Article no.AFSJ.41040 2 the highest value in treatment 4 and lowest in control. It was concluded therefore that sundried (CPM) can substitute maize in the diet of weaner pigs at 50% level of inclusion for better meat quality. Original Research Article

An eight-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of substituting maize with indomie waste meal on the haematology and serum biochemical indices of 90-dayold Anak 2000 broiler chickens. Three experimental broiler starter and finisher diets were formulated with diet 1 serving as control containing 0% Indomie waste meal (IWM), while diets 2 and 3 contained IWM at 50 and 100% inclusion levels for maize. The chicks were randomly assigned to the three treatment diets (1, 2 and 3) in a completely randomized design and each treatment group contained three replicates with ten chickens per replicate. The result on the haematological indices revealed that MCV values were significantly influenced (p<0.05) by the treatment diets with highest value of (135.50±0.21fl) among birds fed 50% IWM. MCH also significantly varied(p<0.05) among birds fed the treatment diets with highest (42.77±0.31pg) recorded among birds maintained on the control diet. Serum biochemical indices revealed that phosphorus value were significantly higher (p<0.05) in birds fed the control diet with the mean value of 3.63±0.09mg/100ml. Total cholesterol was significantly higher (p<0.05) in birds fed 100% IWM. The overall results from this study conclusively suggest that the inclusion of indomie waste meal in the diet of broilers up to 100% did not have any detrimental effect on the blood profile of the birds. But precaution had to be taken in the incorporation of IWM at this level because of the increase effect on the cholesterol level of the blood.Mr. Omoikhoje, B. (Laboratory Technologist)