Groundnut Cake Diets Research Articles

Feeding value of defatted cashew kernel as an alternative protein source in broiler diets

This study was carried out to determine chemical composition of defatted cashew kernel cake (CKC) and cashew kernel oil (CKO), assess performance characteristics and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens fed diets containing two grades of CKC. In the study, 210, one-day old Arbor acre broiler chicks which were stabilized on commercial diets (23% CP and 2900kcal/kgME) for 2 weeks before introduced to the seven experimental diets were used. The experiment was laid out in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement which consisted of a control treatment without CKC while treatments 2, 3, 4 and 5, 6, 7consisted of 33.33%, 66.67% and 100% replacement of groundnut cake (GNC) with grade I and grade II CKC respectively. Digestibility trial was carried out at the end of eighth week of the study. Data on performance attributes and coefficient of nutrient digestibility were collected and analysed using a general linear model of SAS. The results of proximate composition showed no substantial difference in dry matter, crude protein, soluble and insoluble carbohydrate except ether extract. Caloric content in CKC was slightly higher than GNC. Both physical and chemical properties of the defatted cashew oil were similar to that of groundnut. The performance traits measured in terms of body weight gained, total feed intake and feed conversion were significantly (P<0.05) different across the treatments with birds on CKC showing superior performance than birds on GNC diet with 17.72% and 13.35% higher BWG in grade I and II respectively. Fat deposition was notably (P<0.05) higher in birds on CKC diets. Digestibility of nutrients indicated that the dry matter, crude protein, ether extract and crude fibre digestibility were significantly (P<0.05) affected across the treatments by the inclusion of CKC in the diets, while the Ash and NFE digestibility were not significantly (P>0.05) influenced. Economically, the use of CKC reduced the heightened cost of production by 9.1%. It can be concluded that grade I CKC could completely and favourably replace GNC in diets of chicken to improve growth, feed efficiency and to reduce the cost of feed per unit egg.

The Effect of Dietary Protein (Groundnut Cake and Coconut Cake) on the Live Weight Gain, Spermiograms, Gonadal sperm Reserves and Fertility of Boars

The study investigated the effect of dietary protein (groundnut cake and coconut cake) on the live weight gain, spermiograms, gonadalsperm reserves and fertility of boars. The study was conducted at the Swine unit of the Teaching and Research Farm, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The university of Uyo was used in this study. It is located in the heart of Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria. A total of 18 grower pigs of large white consisting of 15 boars and 3 sows were used for the study. The boars were randomly selected into 3 groups (Ti, T2 and T3)5 of five based on average initial weights (20-25kg) and were tagged appropriately while the sows were randomly placed in 3 group(S1, S2 and S3) of 1 in each group. Three diets were made for the three treatment conditions. The boars in T1which is the control group were given normal maize fed, boars in T2 which is the first treatment condition were given groundnut cake diet while boars in T3 which is the second treatment condition were given coconut cake. These pigs were fed twice daily and water supplied adlibitium. Finally, the sow in S1 was artificially inseminated with the semen of the Boar in condtion group 1 (T1), S2 was artificially inseminated with the semen of treatment condition 2 (T2) while S3 was artificially inseminated with the semen of treatment condition 3 (T3). During the feeding trial, weekly feed consumption and weight changes were recorded, while weight gain, feed conversion. Result showed a significant difference on the live weight gain of boars between groups (P 0.05). It was concluded that dietary protein of groundnut cake and coconut cake could completely replace maize as they improve the live weight gain and sperms quality of boars. Implications and recommendations were made from the findings of the study.

Meat and Bone Characteristics of Broiler Chickens Fed Groundnut Cake-Based Diets as Affected by Graded Dietary Supplements of Crystalline L- Lysine and DL- Methionine

Effects of supplemental dietary lysine and methionine in a Groundnut Cake (GNC) based diets on meat and bone characteristics of broiler chickens were investigated. In a completely randomized design, a total of 168 one - day – old Arbor acre broiler chicks were randomly allocated to seven dietary treatments each in triplicate of eight birds per replicate. The Seven starter and finishers’ diets were: GNC based diets without any amino acid (lysine or methionine) supplementation (T1); GNC diet + 0.2% lysine (T2); GNC diet + 0.4% lysine (T3); GNC diet + 0.2% methionine (T4); GNC diet + 0.4% methionine (T5); GNC diet + 0.2 lysine and 0.2% methionine (T6) and GNC diet + 0.4% lysine and 0.4% methionine (T7). Experimental diets and water were offered to birds ad libitum in an experiment lasting six-week. At day 42, two birds per replicate were slaughtered, meat and bone characteristics determined. There were significant variations (P<0.05) in the crude protein (%) and ether extract (%), pH1 and pH2 of meat. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances composition of meat at days 0, 5, and 10 were similar (P<0.05) and were not affected by dietary amino acid supplementation. Tibiotarsal index (mg/mm) of bone (22.10, 27.25, 33.35, 31.40, 28.70, 31.45 and 29.75 for broilers on T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 and T7, respectively) were increased significantly (P<0.05) by amino acid supplementation. Significantly differences (P<0.05) were observed in the calcium, phosphorus and potassium (%) contents of broilers’ bone across treatments. Supplemental lysine and both lysine and methionine improved meat quality and bone development of broiler chickens in this study.

Nutritional evaluation of rumen epithelial tissue scrapings in goat nutrition

PurposeHigh cost of feed forms a major constraint to livestock production in Nigeria. The purpose of this paper is to show how improved nutritional strategies such as incorporation of unconventional feed resources, such as rumen epithelial tissue scrapings (RETS), which are cheap in cost and availability into the livestock diets, can reduce feed cost and hence achieve a greater profit with a optimal animal performance, become imperative.Design/methodology/approachFifteen lactating West African dwarf goats were randomly allotted into each of three dietary groups (A, B and C) of five animals in a completely randomized design. Each diet contained one of the three dietary protein sources, namely, urea (A), RETS (B) and groundnut cake (GNC) (C) representing non‐protein nitrogen, unconventional natural protein and conventional natural protein sources respectively. After 90 day feeding trial, the performances (dry matter intake, weight gain, milk yield/composition and the blood chemistry) of the goats fed with RETS diet (B) were assessed and compared with those of other two groups (A and C) fed with urea and GNC diets respectively.FindingsThe result show that goats fed with RETS and GNC diets had similar performances and performed better than those fed with urea diet.Practical implicationsRETS is inexpensive and portends no danger to animal health on account of toxicity, as compared to GNC and urea respectively. Its' inclusion in goat diet, however, gives a least cost wholesome ration formula.Original/valueNutrition accounts for a greater proportion of production cost expenses in livestock industry. The results indicate that the cost of production can be minimized with the utilization of unconventional feed resources in goat nutrition for farmers to achieve the maximum profit.

Utilization of Ensiled Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) Leaves as a Protein Supplement in Diets for Growing Pigs

Four diets were formulated with protein from fishmeal (FM), groundnut cake (GC), ensiled sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L. (Lam.)) leaves (SP) or ensiled sweet potato leaves with lysine (SPL). In experiment 1, 24 crossbred (Large White x Mong Cai) growing pigs were allocated randomly by sex into four groups of six pigs and given one of four diets. Experiment 2 was conducted using 16 crossbred pigs (Large White x Mong Cai) at four farms. On each farm, pigs were allocated to two experimental groups. One group was fed the FM diet and the other group the SPL diet. In experiment 1, the daily live weight gains (DLWG) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) for the FM and SPL treatments (542 and 536 g/day, respectively) than for the GC and SP treatments (464 and 482 g/day, respectively). Feed intake was highest (2.0 kg/day) for the SPL and lowest (1.7 kg/day) for the GC treatment (p < 0.05) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was highest (3.8 kg/kg gain) for SP and lowest (3.5 kg/kg gain) for FM (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences for carcase measurements among diets (p > 0.05). The feed cost per kg live weight gain was lowest for the SP and SPL diets compared to the FM and GC diets. The results of experiment 2 show that there were no significant differences in feed intake, DLWG and FCR between the two diets (p > 0.05). In conclusion, sweet potato leaves can replace fishmeal and groundnut cake in traditional Vietnamese diets for growing pigs.

Protein evaluation in ruminants. 2. Evaluation of agroindustrial by-product-based rations in metabolic and rumen studies of buffalo calves

Six growing male buffalo calves fitted with a rumen fistula were fed a 40% wheat straw and 60% concentrate mixture containing urea (basal diet), groundnut cake (GNC), mustard cake (MC), cottonseed cake (CSC), guar meal (GM) or sun-dried poultry excreta (PE) as a supplementary protein source in a 6 × 6 Latin square design. The dry matter intake was kept constant for all the diets. Six metabolic trials were conducted while allowing the switch over every 32nd day. After every trial, rumen liquor samples were collected for 3 consecutive days at 0, 1, 2, 4 and 6 h after feeding. There was no difference ( P < 0.05) in the crude protein digestibility of isonitrogenous diets based on different natural protein sources, i.e. GNC, MC, CSC and GM. The crude fibre digestibility was not affected by the different protein supplements ( P < 0.05) although it appeared to be less with the supplementation of CSC. The crude fat digestibility was found to be more ( P < 0.05) on oilseed cake diet compared with the GM, PE and basal diets. Urinary-N excretion was significantly higher with the GNC diet and less with the GM and PE diets compared with the MC and CSC diets. The mean pH of the strained rumen liquor (SRL) was almost the same on the test diets (7.28–7.33), but was significantly less ( P < 0.05) for the basal diet (7.20). An increase in the total-N (mg per 100 ml SRL) concentration observed at 1 h postfeeding was least for the GM diet and maximum for the GNC and CSC diets, whereas the mean level of total-N from GNC, MC and GM did not differ significantly ( P < 0.05) from one diet to another (110.2, 105.2 and 109.2 mg per 100 ml SRL). Also, in the case of GM, there was a slow decline in N concentration at 2 and 4 h postfeeding compared with GNC and MC. The protein-N concentration (measured as TCA-N) (trichloroacetic acid precipitate-N) ranged from 53.7 to 66.0 mg per 100 ml SRL and the differences between various protein sources were significant ( P < 0.05). The higher level of the non-protein-N fraction in the SRL for the GM and PE diets observed at 4 h postfeeding was attributed to the higher level of amino-N. The mean NH 3-N concentration ranged from 22.4 to 35.6 mg per 100 ml SRL and was significantly higher for the diet at all times. It appeared that the rate of release of NH 3 for GNC was more than its incorporation into microbial protein, thereby resulting into its net loss via the urine. The results also indicated that GM protein degradation was of a continuous nature which encouraged greater utilization of NH 3-N for the synthesis of microbial-N.

Feeding differently processed soya bean Part 1. Effect on performance, protein utilization, relative organ weights, carcass traits and economics of producing broiler‐chickens

The comparative utilization of differently processed (roasted, cooked and oil cake) soya bean base diets and groundnut cake diet were evaluated in a feeding trial using 100 day-old Anak broiler-chicks. The response criteria included performance, protein utilization, relative organ weights, carcass traits and economy of production. At the end of the feeding trial, the average weight gains of chicks fed processed soya bean diets were significantly (P less than 0.05) higher than those fed groundnut cake and raw soya bean diets. Both feed consumption and efficiency were significantly (P less than 0.05) enhanced by processing. For example, feed consumption was highest in the chicks fed soya bean oil cake and least in those fed raw bean. Feed efficiency was best in chicks fed roasted soya bean. The relative weights [g/100 g body wt.] of the liver, kidneys, lungs, heart, gizzard and bursa were not significantly affected by the differently processed soya bean while the raw bean (unprocessed) significantly (P less than 0.01) increased pancreas weight. The dressed weight [%], eviscerated weight [%] and the relative weight of the thigh, drumsticks, chest, back and head were not significantly influenced by the dietary treatments. However, the relative weights of the shank and belly fat were significantly (P less than 0.05) affected. Cost-benefit analysis showed that the processed soya bean gave higher profit than groundnut cake diet. Among the soya bean diets, profit was in the order: roasted greater than cooked greater than oil cake greater than raw bean.

Use of oyster shell as calcium supplement. Part 1. Effect on the utilization of gossypol‐containing cotton seed cake by the chicken

The comparative utilization of cottonseed cake (CSC) diet supplemented with varying levels of oyster shell (0.00, 1.50, 3.00 and 4.50%) as a source of calcium, and groundnut cake (GNC) based diet were evaluated in a feeding trial using 100 day-old HYPECO broiler-chicks. The response criteria included performance, carcass traits and economics of production. The weight gains at the end of the trial were not significantly different. However, feed consumption significantly (P less than 0.5) increased with increasing dietary calcium. Feed consumption was significantly (P less than 0.05) correlated with dietary calcium levels with r = 0.96. Feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio were significantly (P less than 0.05) better in the GNC diets than CSC based diets in spite of the oyster shell supplementation of the latter. Both nitrogen retention and apparent nitrogen digestibility were not significantly influenced. The percent dressed weight, percent eviscerated weight and the relative weights of the thigh, drumstick, chest, back, head and belly fat were not significantly influenced by the dietary treatment. Only the relative weight of the shank was significantly (P less than 0.05) influenced. The cost-benefit analysis showed that although it was chapter to formulate CSC diets, profits were identical with GNC diets when fed to the chicks. It was suggested that CSC could be a good substitute for GNC because of the ready availability of the former. Dietary calcium of up to 1.82% was beneficial in the utilization of the CSC.

Lysine requirement of weanling European pigs fed on yellow maize and groundnut cake diets in the humid lowland tropics

Two groups of Large White × Landrace pigs (each with 30 castrates and 30 gilts) were grown from approximately 10 kg to 16 or 23 kg liveweight. The 60 pigs per group were allocated on the basis of sex, initial liveweight and litter origin to ten treatments involving individual feeding with a basal diet supplemented with graded levels of L-lysine at a common digestible energy level of 15.2 MJ/kg dry matter. Total dietary lysine ranged from 0.52 to 1.42%. The pigs reared to 23 kg liveweight were slaughtered at the end of the experiment. Growth rate, N retention and efficiency of N retained of the pigs reared to 16 or 23 kg were significantly ( P < 0.01) influenced by dietary lysine levels. Optimum performance, N retention and carcass leanness was observed with a diet containing 1.02% total lysine. Estimated lysine requirements for optimum growth of 10–16 and 10–23-kg pigs were 1.03 and 0.98%, respectively. No sex difference in lysine requirement was observed, although regression analysis suggested non-significantly higher lysine requirements for gilts. With the exception of the liver, relative weights of other organs were not significantly influenced by dietary lysine levels. Plasma urea concentration was minimal when the basal diet was supplemented to contain about 0.92% lysine in 16 or 23-kg pigs, suggesting this to be the minimum lysine requirement of these classes of pigs.