Effect of defatted winged termite (Macrotermes natalensis) meal on growth performance, blood metabolites and bone morphology of broiler chickens during starter, grower and finisher phases.

This study evaluated the dietary impact of West African black pepper (WABP; Piper guineense) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) on the growth performance, carcass traits, haemato-biochemical profile, and oxidative stress markers of broiler chickens. A total of 200 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were allocated to 4 dietary treatment groups (T1, T2, T3, T4) of 5 replicates (10 birds per replicate) in a completely randomised design for a 49-day study. Broiler birds in T1 (control) were fed basal diet (BD), T2 (BD + 5 g turmeric/kg), T3 (BD + 5 g WABP/kg), and T4 (BD + 2.5 g turmeric and 2.5 g WABP/kg). This study found (p < 0.05) that feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly altered during the starter phase, while no significant effect was observed in body weight gain (BWG). BWG, FI, and FCR were not significantly affected (p > 0.05) during the finisher and overall phases. Except for haemoglobin and red blood cell count in the finisher phase, haematological measures were not affected (p > 0.05). During the starter phase, aspartate aminotransferase decreased (p < 0.05) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) increased (p < 0.05) across the treatment groups fed Piper guineense and Curcuma longa compared with those in the control group. In the finisher phase, all the serum biochemistry parameters, except for the serum protein content were significantly (p < 0.05) impacted. Piper guineense and Curcuma longa significantly (p < 0.05) increased superoxide dismutase and reduced (p < 0.05) malondialdehyde during the starter phase across the treatment groups, with no significant (p > 0.05) effect on catalase and glutathione. Superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione were significantly (p < 0.05) increased while malondialdehyde significantly decreased (p < 0.05) during the finisher phase when compared to the control group. Conclusively, these findings suggest the potential health benefits of these dietary additives in broiler chicken nutrition to enhance overall health and performance.

Foram realizados três ensaios para determinar os níveis nutricionais de fósforo disponível (Pd) para machos e fêmeas da linhagem ISA Label nas fases inicial (1 a 28 dias), crescimento (28 a 56 dias) e final (56 a 84 dias) criadas em semiconfinamento. Em cada ensaio, 480 aves com idade correspondente à fase de criação foram alojadas em 24 unidades experimentais contendo áreas de abrigo e de pastejo. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 4 × 2 (níveis de Pd e sexos) com três repetições de 20 aves. Os níveis de fósforo disponível avaliados foram: 0,25; 0,36; 0,47 e 0,58% na fase inicial; 0,18; 0,31; 0,44 e 0,57% na fase de crescimento; e 0,14; 0,27; 0,40 e 0,53% na fase final. Foram avaliados o ganho de peso, consumo de ração, consumo de Pd, conversão alimentar, teores de fósforo, cálcio e cinzas na tíbia e resistência à quebra óssea. De acordo com os resultados, o nível ótimo de Pd na ração na fase inicial, para machos e fêmeas são de 0,39 e 0,49%, que correspondem ao consumo de 3,94 e 3,96 g de Pd/ave, respectivamente. Para a fase de crescimento, recomenda-se 0,35% de Pd na ração para aves de ambos os sexos, que correspondem a consumo de 8,45 e 6,70 g de Pd/ave. Na fase final, recomendam-se os níveis de 0,32 e 0,30% de Pd, que correspondem a consumos de 12 e 9,5 g de Pd/ave para machos e fêmeas, respectivamente.

Impacts of particle size and multienzyme supplementation on growth, cost-benefit, carcass characteristics, and nutrient digestibility of broilers

Performance and blood biochemistry profile of broiler chickens fed dietary turmeric (Curcuma longa) powder and cayenne pepper (Capsicum frutescens) powders as antioxidants

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of fenugreek seeds (FS) as a potential alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in broiler chickens. In the first experiment, one-day-old Ross (n = 160) straight-run broilers were fed FS at 0 g, 2.5 g, 5 g, and 10 g/kg of diet during the starter (from 1 to 21 days) and finisher phase (from 22 to 35 days) with four replicates of ten birds each. In the second experiment, one-day-old Ross (n = 144) male broilers were fed 0 g, 5 g, and 10 g FS per kilogram of diet during the starter (from 1 to 21 days) and finisher phase (from 22 to 42 days) with six replicates of eight birds each. In addition to growth performance, hematological parameters and intestinal histomorphology were measured in the second experiment. FS linearly reduced the body weight gain (BWG) (p < 0.001), feed intake (FI) (p < 0.05), and increased feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p < 0.05) during the starter phase in both experiments. However, no significant effects on BWG, FI, and FCR were observed during the finisher phase. Moreover, the overall BWG and FI were linearly reduced (p < 0.05) with the increasing levels of FS, but BWG and FI were similar in the 5 g/kg FS group and control group. The inclusion of FS had a linear increase in white blood cell (WBC), heterophil, and lymphocyte count (p < 0.005) and the decrease in hematocrit % (p = 0.004) and total bilirubin (p = 0.001). The villus height and villus height: crypt depth ratio of jejunum and ileum were significantly lower in 5 g FS and 10 g FS treatments (p < 0.001) compared to the control. The result indicates that the dietary inclusion of FS reduces the early growth performance, increases the WBC counts, and negatively affects the intestinal morphology of broiler chickens.

An experiment was conducted to discern the comparative effects of dietary supplementation of herbal methionine and synthetic DL-methionine on growth performance and nutrient utilization in broiler chicks during summer season. A total of 180, day-old commercial broiler chicks were divided into 6 treatments with 3 replicates each and 10 broiler chicks per replicate. There were 6 dietary treatments viz., treatments T1 to T6. The treatment T1 served as control, basal diet (maize-soyabean meal based) without methionine supplementation, whereas in treatments T2 to T6, the basal diet contained herbal methionine at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% levels by replacing synthetic DL-methionine, respectively. The total supplemental level of methionine in the diets was 0.20%. The feeding trial lasted for 42 days viz., 0–21 days (starter phase) and 21–42 days (finisher phase). During starter phase (0–21 days), the body weight gains were 576.20, 611.33, 598.13, 606.93, 596.10 and 636.09 g, respectively, in treatments T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 and there was higher (P<0.05) weight gain in broiler chicks of treatment T6 fed basal diet supplemented with 0.20% herbal methionine than broiler chicks of treatment T1 fed basal control diet only, whereas during finisher phase (21–42 days), there was no significant difference in body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, performance index, protein efficiency ratio and production efficiency factor amongst the various treatment groups of broiler chicks. During the entire feeding trial of 0–42 days, the cumulative average growth performance was similar in different treatments, however, the feed intake in broiler chicks was maximum in treatment T3 (3253.93 g) and minimum in treatment group T1 (3056.69 g). The cumulative average body weight gain was recorded lowest (1717.36 g) in control group T1 and highest (1857.24 g) in treatment T6. The nutrient was better in broiler chicks fed diets supplemented with either source of methionine than those fed control basal diet, however, the values of utilization of nutrients were comparable in broiler chicks fed basal finisher diets supplemented with herbal methionine as well as synthetic DL-methionine. It was inferred that the supplementation of herbal methionine could replace synthetic DL-methionine in the diet of broiler chicks as both the sources of methionine showed similar growth performance and nutrient utilization.

A biological trial was carried out to study the antibiotic efficacy of turmeric oil (TO) in commercial broiler chicken. One hundred and forty four day old broiler chicks were randomly grouped into six dietary treatments having four replicates in each. The experimental diets were basal diet (CON), basal diet plus antibiotic (500 ppm oxytetracycline-OTC), basal diet plus 0.025% TO (TO-1), 0.050% TO (TO-2), 0.075% TO (TO-3) and 0.100% TO (TO-4), respectively. Antibiotic supplementation had no significant effect on body weight gain (BWG) during different growth phases. In prestarter phase, TO at 0.075 and 0.100% levels led to significant reduction in BWG compared to antibiotic supplemented group. However, during starter, finisher and overall growth phases, the BWG of turmeric oil fed groups were comparable to antibiotic supplemented group. TO at 0.025 and 0.050% levels resulted in comparable feed intake during prestarter and starter phase, however, in finisher phase, the feed intake was markedly higher (P<0.01) than antibiotic fed group. No significant difference was observed in feed efficiency between antibiotic and turmeric oil supplemented groups during prestarter and starter phase. However, in the finisher phase, the feed efficiency markedly improved (P<0.01) in 0.025 and 0.100% TO groups. TO had no significant effect on dressing percentage, relative weights of liver, heart, gizzard, giblets and abdominal fat. But, 0.025% TO resulted in significantly higher weight (P<0.01) of spleen, whereas at higher levels, the relative weight of spleen was comparable to antibiotic group. It could be concluded that, supplementation of TO at 0.025% level instead of antibiotic feed additive would produce similar effect on production performance and carcass characteristics in broiler chicken.

The performance of Ross broiler chickens fed on Sweet Potato Meal (SPM) as a dietary source of energy was studied. The study was carried out at both starter (0-4 wks) and finisher (5- 9 wks) phases. In both phases, SPM was incorporated at graded levels of 0. 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 percent and dietary proteins were adjusted to make the diets iso-nitrogenous. In the starter phase, three replicates of I5 birds each were randomly allocated to each of the 6 treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD) experiment while the number of birds per replicate was reduced to 14 for the finisher phase using the same experimental design. Parameters measured or calculated include feed intake, body weight gain, feed efficiency, feed costs, feed cost/kg weight gain, mortality and carcass characteristics. The results showed similar trends in both phases. Differences in the feed intake were not significant (P&gt;0.05) while weight gain, feed cost/kg weight gain and total cost of rearing the birds decreased significantly (P&lt;0.05). The Control, 10% 20% and 30% SPM diets gave similar weight gain and feed gain ratio. The Control gave the best performance in both starter and finisher phases, although its performance was not significantly different (P&gt;0.05) from that of the 30%SPM diet Sweet Potato Meal level had no adverse effects on mortality and carcass characteristics. It is therefore concluded from this study that SPM should not be included beyond 30% level in a maize-based diet when protein requirement of birds is satisfied.

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth performance of broiler chickens fed graded levels of sweet potato peel meal (SPPM) as replacement for maize. The treatment consists of five diets (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) formulated using SPPM as replacement for maize and coded as diets 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively, in both starter (23% crude protein) and finisher (20% crude protein) phases. Two hundred and twenty five broiler chicks were allotted to the diets in four replicates of fifteen chicks each in a completely randomized design (CRD). The feeding trial lasted for six weeks and feed and water were given ad libtum. Data were collected on initial weight, feed intakes and body weight changes. The result obtained at starter phase indicated significant (P&lt;0.001) differences on all the productive performance parameters which include 218.25-364.45g final weight, 141.58-277.45g total weight gain, 6.74-13.21g daily weight gain, 2.19-3.98 feed conversion ratio and 0.25-0.46 feed efficiency) except on initial weight (76.67-87.00) and daily feed intake (24.76-28.90) were no significant difference was observed. The result at finisher phase further showed that, except on daily feed intake (82.54-110.66g) where no significant (P&gt;0.05) difference was observed, a significant (P&lt;0.001) difference was observed at fourth week (218.25-364.45g) and final (608.801278.10g) weights. Significant differences were found on total and daily weight gains, feed conversion ratio and feed efficiency with their values ranging between 390.55-913.65, 18.6043.51, 2.54-4.44 and 0.23-0.39 respectively. Overall phase followed similar trend as in starter phase where all the productive performance parameters were highly (P&lt;0.001) significant with values ranging from 608.80-1278.10 (final weight), 532.13-1191.10 (total weight gain), 12.6728.36g (daily weight gain), 2.19-3.98 (feed conversion ratio) and 0.23-0.41 (feed efficiency) except on initial weight (76.67-87.00) and daily feed intake (53.66-69.78). However, the best value of feed conversion ratio was recorded on diet T1 (2.46), followed by diet T2 (3.01) while diet T3, T4 and T5 were statistically similar. It was concluded that SPPM can replace maize at 25% level in the diets of broiler chickens at both starter and finisher phase without affecting growth performance and is recommended for broiler chickens production in the study area.

Two hundred and fifty-five day-old Ross White strain broiler chicks were used to evaluate the Response and economic efficiency of broiler chickens fed graded levels of baker's yeast (saccharomyces cerevisiae) supplement during the harmattan season in the northern guinea savannah zone of Nigeria. There were five treatment groups for both starter and finisher phases. The experiment lasted for eight weeks. Each treatment group had three replicates with 17 birds per replicate and fifty-five birds per group in a completely randomized design (CRD). Treatments 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 contained 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% SC respectively. Results of the starter phase showed significant (P&lt;0.05) differences in terms of final weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Treatment groups fed the control diet (0.0%), 0.5% and 1% SC had the best final body weight and body weight gain during the starter phase. The FCR was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in the treatment group fed 0.5% SC during the starter phase. Mortality was higher (11.76%) in the control group compared to other treatment groups in the starter phase. During the finisher phase, treatment group fed 1.0% SC had significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher final body weight, body weight gain and FCR. Apparent digestibility of crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, ash, dry matter and nitrogen free extract were better in treatment groups containing SC. The economic efficiency results of this study indicated that the birds fed 1.0% SC were more profitable compared to those fed the control diet. The net profit of the treatment group fed 1.0% SC was N 650.01 compared to the control (N554.35). This study concluded that the optimum inclusion level of Baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in the diet of broilers starter was 0.5% and 1.0% for finisher diet for improved performance in terms of weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR). It is suggested that broiler chicken farmers should be encouraged to include Baker's yeast in the diet of broiler chickens for improved weight productivity and better feed utilization.

Two hundred and fifty-five day-old Ross White strain broiler chicks were used to evaluate the Response and economic efficiency of broiler chickens fed graded levels of baker's yeast (saccharomyces cerevisiae) supplement during the harmattan season in the northern guinea savannah zone of Nigeria. There were five treatment groups for both starter and finisher phases. The experiment lasted for eight weeks. Each treatment group had three replicates with 17 birds per replicate and fifty-five birds per group in a completely randomized design (CRD). Treatments 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 contained 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% SC respectively. Results of the starter phase showed significant (P&lt;0.05) differences in terms of final weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Treatment groups fed the control diet (0.0%), 0.5% and 1% SC had the best final body weight and body weight gain during the starter phase. The FCR was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in the treatment group fed 0.5%SC during the starter phase. Mortality was higher (11.76%) in the control group compared to other treatment groups in the starter phase. During the finisher phase, treatment group fed 1.0% SC had significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher final body weight, body weight gain and FCR. Apparent digestibility of crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, ash, dry matter and nitrogen free extract were better in treatment groups containing SC. The economic efficiency results of this study indicated that the birds fed 1.0% SC were more profitable compared to those fed the control diet. The net profit of the treatment group fed 1.0% SC was N 650.01 compared to the control (N554.35). This study concluded that the optimum inclusion level of Baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in the diet of broilers starter was 0.5% and 1.0% for finisher diet for improved performance in terms of weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR). It is suggested that broiler chicken farmers should be encouraged to include Baker's yeast in the diet of broiler chickens for improved weight productivity and better feed utilization.

&lt;p&gt;This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary levels of tryptophan on growth performance of broiler chickens reared under tropical environment. At the starter phase, a total of two hundred and eighty five day old mixed sex Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments with three replicates each having nineteen (19) chicks. At the finisher phase, two hundred and seventy broilers were also allotted to five dietary treatments with three replicates each having 18 broilers per replicate. The dietary tryptophan levels at the starter phase were 0.15, 0.19, 0.23, 0.27 and 0.31% respectively while the diets for the finisher phase contained 0.13, 0.17, 0.21, 0.25 and 0.29% dietary tryptophan respectively. All other nutrient levels were constant. The experiment was conducted at 0 to 28d (starter phase) and 33 to 56d (finisher phase). Growth performance traits including weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were recorded at the end of each week. The results for the starter phase showed that chicks fed diet containing 0.23%, 0.27% and 0.31% dietary tryptophan had similar results in term of the weight gain, average daily weight gain, feed intake and average daily feed intake. For the finisher phase, the birds fed 0.21%, 0.25% and 0.29% tryptophan diets also had similar results in terms of final weight, weight gain, feed intake and average daily feed intake. Our results suggest that supplemental tryptophan was sufficient to have significant (P&amp;lt;0.05) effect on broiler performance. However, polynomial regression analysis reveals that the optimum performances were reached at 0.24% and 0.21% dietary tryptophan for the starter and finisher phases respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that dietary tryptophan requirements during the hot season for the starter and finisher phases were 0.24% and 0.21%, respectively. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate different digestible isoleucine/lysine ratios on diets for broiler chickens in the starter (7 to 21 days) and finishing (30 to 43 days) phases. For the tests, the experimental design was of randomized blocks with seven treatments (six different digestible isoleucine/lysine ratios and a control treatment) and eight repetitions of 25 and 20 birds (COBB males) per experimental unit in the starter and finishing phases, respectively. The diets met the requirements, except for isoleucine and lysine. To avoid excess lysine in the experimental diets, the digestible lysine content was calculated to be 87% and 89% of the recommended for the starter and finishing phases, respectively. The control treatment was adequate in lysine and isoleucine. Feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion and carcass yield in the two phases were evaluated. There was quadratic effect of different ratios on feed intake in the finishing phase and on weight gain and feed conversion rate in both phases. There was quadratic effect on breast meat yield and breast fillets in the starter phase, but there was no significant effect on carcass yield in the finishing phase. The digestible isoleucine/lysine ratio recommended for broilers in the starter phase (7 to 21 days) is 66% and for the finishing phase (30 to 43 days), it is 68%.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Fusarium oxysporum degraded Brewer dried grain (BDG) on the performance and nutrient utilization ofbroiler chicken at starter and finisher phases. Undegraded and degraded (BDG) werewas used to compound rations for broiler birds for 8 weeks. The undegraded BDG was used at 7% inclusion level and the degraded BDG was used at 3, 5, and 7%. A total of 150 day old chicks were randomly selected and allocated for 5 treatments. Thirty 30 birds were allocated to each treatment with three replicates each. Fusarium oxysporum was inoculated into BDG through Solid State Fermentation for a period of 7 days. This was used as degraded sample. There was improvement in the crude protein, ash, and gross energy after biodegradation. Biodegradation led to reduction in crude fibre, cellulose, hemicellulose, and detergent fibre content. At starter phase, there were significant (P&lt;0.05) (P=0.05) differences in feed consumption and body weight gain and the highest feed consumption (FC) and body weight gain (BWG) were found in treatment 5, which contained 7% degraded BDG (DBDG) and the FC and BWG they were 88.93 and 41.07g/bird/day, respectively. At the finisher phase, there were significant (P=0.05) differences in both the average feed intake and the average body weight gain by the birds. The highest feed intake was found in treatment 5 (140 g/b/d) and the highest body weight gain was also observed in treatment 5 (78.21g/b/d). Significant differences (P=0.05) were also observed for the feed conversion ratio at the finisher phase. The best value (1.64) was recorded at the control treatment and this was followed by the value recorded for treatment 5 (1.79). The relative cost benefits revealed that it is profitable to feed broilers with F. oxysporum degraded BDG. The results showed that F. oxysporum was able to enhance the feeding value of BDG and this impacted positively on the feed consumption and body weight gain by the birds.

Determinaram-se os níveis nutricionais de cálcio (Ca) para aves, machos e fêmeas, da linhagem ISA Label, nas fases inicial (um a 28 dias), crescimento (28 a 56 dias) e final (56 a 84 dias). Foram realizados três ensaios, um para cada fase, e, em cada ensaio, 480 aves com idade correspondente à fase de criação foram alojadas em 24 unidades experimentais com áreas de abrigo e de pastejo. Foi utilizado delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 4x2 (Ca e sexo), totalizando oito tratamentos com três repetiç ões de 20 aves. Avaliaram-se: ganho de peso (GP); consumo de dieta (CD); conversão alimentar (CA); teores de fósforo (PT), de cálcio (CaT) e de cinzas na tíbia (CT) e resistência à quebra óssea (RQO). Na fase inicial, recomenda-se 1,16% de Ca na dieta, para aves de ambos os sexos, na fase de crescimento, 0,78 e 0,88% de Ca para machos e fêmeas, respectivamente, e, na fase final, 0,69% de Ca na dieta para ambos os sexos.