Animal Production Research Advances

Selenium and tocopherol effects on parasitaemia, organ weights and histopathology of T. brucei infected and diminazene treated rats

2013-04-04T09:21:35+00:00

The efficiency of diminazene aceturate alone and in separate combinations with selenium and tocopherol in T. brucei infected rats was investigated. Parasitemia, the relative weights and histological changes in the liver, spleen and brain were determined 7 days after T. brucei inoculation (untreated rats) and also 7, 14 and 21 days after 7 mg/kg diminazene aceturate single intramuscular injection alone or separately with daily tocopherol (150, 300 and 450 mg/kg) and selenium (100, 200 and 400 mcg/kg) supplementation in drinking water. The liver and spleen were
significantly (p<0.05) enlarged by T. brucei infection. Histo-pathological lesions were also discernible in the liver, spleen and brain. Diminazene and in separate combinations with tocopherol and selenium did not significantly (p<0.05) reverse the increased liver weight caused by infection. Higher doses of tocopherol resulted in higher liver weights. The increased spleen weight was significantly (p<0.001) and consistently reversed by all treatment protocol. Diminazene alone did not heal the histo-pathological lesions observed in the liver, spleen and brain but the lesions were absent by 21 days post treatment (PT) when diminazene was combined separately with tocopherol and selenium. There was a parasitaemia in all groups by day 7 PT but parasites re-emerged by day
21 PT only in the diminazene group. These results showed that combination of diminazene with selenium or tocopherol led to better remission of the disease as assessed by the delay in relapse of
infection, repair of histo-pathological lesions and accelerated return of spleen towards normal size.

Keywords: Tocopherol, selenium, trypanosoma brucei , diminazene aceturate, rats

Genetic estimation of hot carcass weight in indigenous Matebele goats of Zimbabwe

2013-04-04T09:21:35+00:00

Genetic parameter estimation for simple carcass traits has been confined to the improved goat breeds worldwide unlike in the unimproved breeds in developing countries where goats are numerous. Variance components for additive direct, additive maternal, permanent environmental maternal effects, the covariance between additive direct and maternal effects were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood, fitting five animal models from 2341 (1359 males; 982 females) hot carcass weight pedigree records collected over a period of 13 years (1984- 1997) in indigenous Matebele goat of Zimbabwe. All investigated models included a random direct genetic effect, but different combinations of random maternal genetic and permanent environmental maternal effects as well as direct-maternal genetic covariance. The analytical models included fixed effects of sex,
age at slaughter and year of slaughter. The direct heritability (h2
a) ranged from 0.15 to 0.31 when the maternal genetic effects were included in the model, whereas h2 a estimate were 0.15 and 0.26
when maternal effects were excluded. The maternal heritability (h2
m) was 0.20 when only maternal genetic effects were included in the model and was 0.15, wherever the permanent environmental effect of the dam was added. The permanent environmental effect of the dam was negligible. Positive covariance between direct and maternal genetic effects (A2am) was observed when maternal genetic effects and permanent environmental maternal effects were accounted for in the model. A simple animal model with direct additive genetic effect as the only random effect other than the residuals was the best model for genetic evaluation of hot carcass weight in indigenous Matebele goat.

Key words: Variance components, animal model, hot carcass weight, Matebele goat

Evaluation of sun-dried cassava fufu meal as a source of dietary energy for starter broilers

2013-04-04T09:21:35+00:00

Sun-drying of cassava fufu was investigated as a method of processing cassava to eliminate its cyanide content and dusty nature so as to enhance its nutritive value as a source of energy in starter broiler diets. Cassava tubers were prepared in the traditional way into fufu and dried in the sun by flattening in bits on polyethylene sheets. The dried cakes were milled using a 2 mm sieve to produce sun-dried cassava fufu meal (DCFM). The raw cassava tubers and the DCFM produced were analyzed for proximate and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) contents. Two broiler starter diets were made such that diet 1 (control) contained maize as the main source of energy, while in diet 2, the maize was completely replaced with DCFM. The diets were balanced for crude protein. Ninety-six (96) starter broilers were divided into 2 groups of 48 birds each and each group randomly assigned to one of the diets, using completely randomized design. Each group was further sub-divided into 3 replicates of 16 birds and fed the experimental diets for 4 weeks. No trace of HCN was detected in the DCFM, whereas the raw fresh cassava tubers contained about 800 ppm HCN. DCFM resembled milled polished rice in appearance, but did not differ much in proximate composition from the fresh cassava tubers on dry matter basis. The birds on DCFM diet consumed significantly (p<0.05) less
feed than the control (82.73 g/d vs 94.93 g/d) and gained significantly (p<0.05) more body weight. Feed conversion ratio was significantly (p<0.05) enhanced by DCFM (2.39 vs 1.89).

Keywords: Cassava tubers, cassava fufu meal, dietary energy, starter broilers

Performance and some carcass measurements in starter broiler birds fed sweet potato meal (Ipomea batatas)

2013-04-04T09:21:35+00:00

A 28 day feeding trial was conducted to investigate the performance and some carcass measurements in starter broiler birds fed sweet potato meal. Three hundred and five (305) Anak broilers of one week old were randomly assigned to five treatment diets. Diets 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 contain 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0% levels of sweet potato meal. Each treatment made up of 60 birds was replicated five times with twelve birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. The results of the experiment showed significant differences (p<0.05) in feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and cost of diet per Kg weight gain. The wing length, body length, body height, heart girth and drum stick did not differ (p>0.05) significantly. However, treatment T3 and T4 were found to be the most effective rations.

Keywords: Sweet potato meal, Ipomea batatas, broiler starter, maize grain, poultry feed

The effect of replacing full-fat soybeans with urea fermented sorghum brewers’ grain in broiler starter diets

2013-04-04T09:21:35+00:00

A total of one hundred and fifty (150) 4-day-old unsexed broiler chickens averaging 55.68±3.41 grams were used to determine the effect of replacing (w/w) full-fat soybeans with urea fermented sorghum brewers’ grain (UFSBG). These were randomly allocated into 5 equal groups of 30 birds in each treatment replicated 3 times with each replicate having 10 birds. Five (5) diets designated I, II, III, IV and V were formulated such that the UFSBG was used to replace full-fat soybeans at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% respectively. The results showed that feed intake was not significantly (p>0.05) influenced when UFSBG replaced full-fat soybeans. Weight gain and efficiency of feed utilization significantly (p<0.05) depressed beyond 50% level of replacement. On the basis of the results obtained, it may be recommended that urea fermented sorghum brewers’ grain could replace 50% full-fat soybeans in the diets of broiler starter chickens without any adverse effect on performance characteristics.

Key words: Full-fat soybeans, urea, brewers’ spent grain, broiler, starter diets

Performance and carcass characteristics of starter broiler chicks fed high fiber rice milling waste diets

2013-04-04T09:21:35+00:00

One hundred and twenty (120) one week old unsexed Cobb starter broiler chicks were randomly allotted to five experimental treatment diets of 24 birds each in a completely randomize design. The birds were divided into three replicates of 8 birds each, and were offered experimental diets
contained 0.0, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0 and 20.0% rice milling waste substitutions of corresponding levels of maize grain for three weeks. Body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion and carcass characteristics were used as criteria of response. Rice milling waste at 10% inclusion level significantly (p<0.05) improved daily feed intake, body length and leg length. Higher levels of rice
milling waste intake had no significant (p>0.05) influence on the feed conversion ratio, daily weight gain, wing length and body height.

Keywords: Broiler starter, rice milling waste, maize grain, performance, carcass characteristics

Carcass and organ characteristics of broilers fed graded levels of processed castor oil bean (Ricinus communis L) meal and supplementary L-lysine

2013-04-04T09:21:35+00:00

The effect of graded levels of heat-treated castor oil bean meal and supplementary L-lysine on carcass and organ characteristics of broiler birds was investigated. In experiment 1, 180 seven-day old broiler chicks (Anak strain) were randomly divided into 12 groups of 15 birds each. In experiment 2, 144 six weeks old broiler finishers were randomly divided into 12 groups of 12 birds each in a 4 x 3 factorial arrangement involving four processed castor oil bean meal levels (0, 10, 15 and 20%) and three L-lysine levels (0, 0.25 and 0.5%). At the 6th and 10th weeks of experiments 1 and 2, respectively, 3 birds per treatment were randomly selected and weighed for carcass and organ evaluation. Results showed that live body weight and weights of liver, kidney, spleen and heart decreased significantly (p<0.05) at the 15 and 20% CBM inclusion levels, while the empty gizzard weight was decreased (p<0.05) at the 20% CBM inclusion level (experiment 1). In experiment 2, live body weight, dressed carcass weight, dressing percentage and weights of liver, kidney, spleen, heart, empty gizzard and relative heart weight declined (p<0.05) at the 20% CBM inclusion level. The abdominal fat weight, relative weights of liver, kidney heart, empty gizzard and abdominal fat were significantly (p<0.05) increased. There were significant (p<0.05) CBM x Llysine
interactions on body weight, liver weight, relative liver weight, kidney weight, relative kidney weight, spleen weight, relative heart weight, empty gizzard weight and relative empty gizzard weight. Supplementation of some diets with L-lysine significantly (p<0.05) increased body weight
of birds at all levels of CBM inclusion and increased (p<0.05) dressed carcass weight at the 15 and 20% CBM levels. Results show that up to 10 and 15% processed CBM can be included in broiler starter and finisher diets, respectively without adverse effects on carcass and organ weights of
broiler birds.

Keywords: Castor oil bean meal, L-lysine, carcass, organ weights, broiler chicks