Performance of West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks fed differently processed poultry droppings

Abstract

A 56 day trial was carried out to evaluate the response of West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks fed processed poultry dropping. Nine (9) West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks were assigned to three treatment groups in a completely randomized design (CRD) experiment with 3 bucks per treatment. The diets contained poultry dropping at 0% (T1), 10% sun dried poultry dropping (SDPD, T2) and 10% toasted poultry dropping (TPD, T3). The parameters evaluated included: dry matter intake (DMI), changes in body weight, feed conversion ratio (FCR), heart girth (HGC), body length (BLC) and height at withers, hematological and biochemical indices, and carcass characteristics of the bucks. Proximate analyses of the sun-dried poultry dropping, toasted poultry dropping, the treatment diets and the forages (Panicum maximum and Centrocema spp.) were also carried out. Concentrate dry matter intakes were 184.65g, 150.05g and 183.62g while forage dry matter intakes were 494.04g, 569.70g and 555.66g for T1, T2, and T3 respectively. Concentrate dry matter intake was similar (P>0.05) in T1 and T3 groups, but significantly (P<0.05) higher than the T2 group. The T2 group consumed significantly higher (P<0.05) forage than the T1 and T3 groups. HGC and HWC were 5.67cm, 2.33cm and 4.67cm, and 5.00cm 4.67cm and 4.00cm respectively. T1 and T3 had higher HGC than T2 group, while the T2 group recorded higher HWC than the T1 and T3 groups. The hemoglobin (Hb) values varied significantly (p<0.05) among the treatment means, and they were, 12.30, 11.30 and 12.00g/dl respectively. PCV (%) and WBC(x103/mm3 varied significantly (p<0.05) and the values were 37.00, 34.00 and 36.00 (%), and 39.00, 56.07 and 42.50(x103/mm3 respectively. Neutrophil and lymphocyte were also influenced significantly, the values were, 15.00, 10, and 31.00%, and 83.00, 86.00, and 66.00% respectively. Only serum urea was affected among the biochemical components, and the values were 0.87, 0.90 and 0.97 mg/dl respectively. Dressing percentage were 34.62%, 37.75% and 42.60% for T1, T2 and T3 respectively; the T2 and T3 groups were similar (P>0.05) but T3 was higher than T1. The values for shoulder were 10.67%, 10, 74% and 8.05%; the full gut values were 47.20% 38.56% and 28.68% for T1, T2 and T3 respectively. Liver, kidney and heart were 2.90%, 2.22% and 1.93%; 0.55, 0.47% and 0.42%, and 0.72%, 0.57% and 0.58% for T1, T2 and T3 respectively. T1 showed significantly (P<0.05) higher relative weight values for liver and heart than the T3 group. Inclusion of processed poultry dropping up to 10% in the diets of WAD bucks did not affect their performance negatively. However simple sun drying is recommended based on the results of this study and it is also a cheaper and straight forward processing method for poultry dropping.