Large Intestine Weight Research Articles

EFFECT OF AGE ON VISCERAL ORGANS OF NORMAL FEATHERED MALE INDIGENOUS NIGERIA CHICKENS

Male indigenous chickens are more genetically diverse than their female counter parts and age affects the growth, development, anatomy and physiology of animals’ internal organs which could as well affect the performance of the farm animals. Evaluating effect of age on visceral organs of normal feathered Nigeria indigenous male chickens could help in selecting those males that can be used or maintained in breeding programmes to assist in achieving sustainable meat and egg production in Nigeria. Thus, this research was aimed to determine the relative weights and sizes of the visceral organs of the normal feathered spurred and non-spurred male Nigeria indigenous chickens. A total number of 40 (20 spurred/ between 1 and 2 years and 20 non-spurred/ below 1 year) normal feathered male indigenous Nigeria chickens were used for the experiment. The results showed a significant (P<0.05) difference in the relative weight of large intestine, whole gizzard and stratified squamous epithelial layer of gizzard between the treatments (spurred and non-spurred) with non spurred having the highest relative weight of large intestine, whole gizzard and stratified squamous epithelial layer of gizzard.

GROWTH PERFORMANCE, NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY AND GUT MORPHOLOGY OF COCKERELS FED DIETS CONTAINING VARYING LEVELS OF COWPEA (Vigna Unguiculata) MILLING WASTE MEAL

Three hundred (300) one-week old Bovan Nera cockerel chicks were used to investigate the effect of feeding diets containing varying levels of cowpea milling waste meal (CMWM) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and gut morphology of cockerels. The birds were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments, with three replicates per treatment made up of twenty birds per replicate, in a completely randomized design experiment. The treatments were 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% dietary inclusion levels of CMWM and were tagged CMWM0, CMWM10, CMWM20, CMWM30 and CMWM40 respectively. The experiment lasted for eight weeks and data on growth performance were taken. At the end of the 7th week of the experiment, a nutrient digestibility trial was carried out. Two birds per replicate were selected and placed in specially constructed metabolism cages for seven days; three days to acclimatize them and four days for faecal collection. Gut morphology data were taken at the termination of the feeding trial at the 8th week of the experiment. One bird was selected per replicate and slaughtered by cervical dislocation and the internal organs weighed. Results show that birds on CMWM30 had the highest feed intake (1531.67) and the ones on CMWM, had the lowest (1120.46); birds on CMWM30 had the highest final bodyweight (428.47) and the ones on CMWM, had the lowest (354.57). FCR results indicated that birds on CMWM10 (3.28) and CMWM (3.55) were better than those on CMWM30 (4.07). The dietary treatments had effect (P<0.05) on dressing % and weight of GIT, small intestine, large intestine and lungs. Result of digestibility trial show that dietary treatments had no effect on the digestibility of the nutrients by the birds. Therefore, it is recommended that up to 40 % of CMWM can be included in the diets of cockerels with no detrimental effects on their growth performance and nutrient digestibility but better gut morphology was obtained with CMWM20.

Dietary incorporation of brown seaweed spent oyster mushroom substrate alters growth performance, physiological responses and meat quality parameters in Boschveld roosters

Use of brown seaweed (Ecklonia maxima) as a nutraceutical source in indigenous chicken diets is limited by high dietary fibre levels. Inoculating seaweeds with oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) spawn (OMS) could enhance the utility of the spent mushroom substrate (SMS). This study investigated the effect of feeding incremental levels of brown seaweed SMS on growth performance, physiological responses, and meat quality parameters in Boschveld roosters. A total of 324, 4-week-old Boschveld roosters were weighed and randomly allotted to 36 pens (9 birds per pen) to produce six replicates per dietary treatment. The diets were formulated as follows: a standard grower diet (CON); and CON containing 150 g/kg of brown seaweed inoculated with OMS at 0 (SMS0), 20 (SMS20), 30 (SMS30), 40 (SMS40) and 50% (SMS50). Birds fed diet CON had the least feed intake (p < 0.05) than all the other SMS treatment levels in weeks 7, 8, 12, 14 and 15. Diet SMS40 promoted higher (p < 0.05) body weight gain (BWG) than CON in weeks 6, 7, 9 and 14. Gain-to-feed ratio linearly increased in weeks 7 [R2 = 0.288; p = 0.010], 11 [R2 = 0.581, p = 0.0001] and 14 [R2 = 0.389, p = 0.004], respectively. Quadratic responses (p < 0.05) were observed for BWG in week 5, white blood cells, heterophils, platelets, lymphocytes, monocytes, and relative spleen and large intestine weights as OMS levels increased. Linear increases were recorded for slaughter [R2 = 0.197, p = 0.017] and breast weights [R2 = 0.197, p = 0.020] as OMS levels increased. Diet SMS0 promoted higher (p < 0.05) relative caeca weights than the CON and SMS treatment groups. Neither quadratic nor linear responses (p > 0.05) were observed for breast meat quality parameters. In conclusion, feeding brown seaweed SMS improved growth performance and slaughter weight, altered some blood parameters and internal organs, without affecting breast meat quality of Boschveld roosters. Based on the quadratic response for BWG, the optimum OMS level was deduced at 20% in a brown seaweed-based Boschveld rooster diet.

A Study on Changes of Carcass, Bones and Muscles of Ningxiang Pigs

Background: Ningxiang pigs are known for tasty meat and high intramuscular fat content. Currently, the slow growth rate and low lean meat rate of Ningxiang pigs have greatly restricted the development of its market. Therefore, the objective of this study is to explore the changes in carcass traits, meat quality, visceral organ weight indices, bones and muscles development with slaughter ages of Ningxiang pigs. Methods: The experiment used 0, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300 and 360 days old Ningxiang pigs as the research objects, and 6 castrated male pigs in each group were randomly selected. The carcass traits, meat quality, visceral organs weights and skeletal muscle weights were measured. The correlation between carcass traits and meat quality were analyzed by bivariate analysis, and the regression equations between slaughter ages and these indicators were established. Result: The results showed that pre-slaughter weight and weights of carcass, head, feet, skeleton and muscle, loin eye area, cooking yield, marbling and the large intestine weight index at 0 d, backfat thickness at 60 d, fat percentages at 60 and 120 d, and the lean meat percentage at 240 d, redness at 120 d of Ningxiang pigs were lowest, the heart, lung, kidney and small intestine weight percentages were highest at 0 d (P less than 0.05). Carcass traits and meat quality had different significant correlation at different slaughter ages. So the indices of carcass, meat quality, bones and muscles of Ningxiang pigs changed with slaughter ages. In general, the overall performance of 300 d Ningxiang pigs is better.

The effect of varying levels of corticated marama bean (Tylosema esculentum) meal on growth performance, apparent retention of feed components, and physiological and meat quality parameters in Jumbo quail

This study evaluated the effect of varying levels of corticated marama bean (Tylosema esculentum) meal (CMBM) on growth performance, apparent retention (AR) of feed components, and physiological and meat quality responses in Jumbo quail. Five isocaloric and isoproteic diets were formulated to contain 0 (T1), 51.25 (T2), 67.49 (T3), 83.74 (T4), and 99.98 g/kg (T5) of CMBM. A total of 385, one-week-old quail chicks (26.7 ± 2.16 g live-weight) were placed in cages (11 birds/cage) based on body weight. The diets were allocated to cages in a completely randomised design to give 7 replicate cages per diet. Feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG), gain-to-feed ratio (G:F), as well as AR of feed components were measured. The birds were slaughtered at day 35 for measurements of blood indices, organs weight, carcass and meat quality attributes. Feeding increasing levels of CMBM reduced FI (P = 0.005) linearly in week 2 but had no effect on FI in weeks 3–5. Similarly, linear reductions (P < 0.0001) were observed for average weekly BWG and G:F in weeks 2 and 3. A positive linear effect (P = 0.033) and a negative cubic effect (P = 0.048) for AR of neutral detergent fibre and organic matter were recorded as CMBM levels increased, respectively. However, varying responses (P < 0.05) were observed for AR of essential amino acids (methionine, lysine, threonine, etc.). Serum lipase, neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, and basophils linearly increased (P < 0.05) with dietary CMBM levels. Significant cubic or quartic effects (P < 0.05) were recorded for serum glucose, albumin, white blood cells, neutrophils, monocytes, basophils, and platelets. There were negative linear effects (P < 0.05) for final body weight, carcass yield, and breast meat drip loss. However, linear increases were recorded for gizzard, proventriculus, small intestine, and large intestine weights as dietary CMBM levels increased. In conclusion, the inclusion of CMBM up to 99.98 g/kg in Jumbo quail diets compromised growth performance, physiological responses, slaughter weights and carcass yield of Jumbo quail.

Hepatic amyloidosis in a dog with sterile pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis

AbstractA 3‐year‐old, mixed breed dog was presented for chronic large intestine diarrhoea, hyporexia, weight loss, fever, generalised lymphadenopathy and progressive abdominal distention, caused by hepatomegaly and ascites. Cytology of peripheral lymph nodes and liver was suggestive of pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis and hepatic amyloidosis, respectively. As concurrent infectious and/or neoplastic diseases were ruled out, and the dog responded favourably to immunosuppressive therapy, a sterile idiopathic pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis triggering amyloid deposition in the liver was considered a likely diagnosis. The dog developed clinical signs and clinicopathological abnormalities suggestive of hepatic failure 11 months later and was euthanased at that stage. Unfortunately, hepatic amyloidosis is associated with a poor prognosis due to lack of an effective therapy and consequent progressive organ failure and/or organ rupture causing life‐threatening haemorrhage.

THE EFFECT OF USE OF CONCENTRATES BASED ON BROILER FARM WASTE IN RATIONS ON BODY WEIGHT LOSS AND DIGESTIVE ORGANS LANDRACE PIG

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; This research was conducted with the aim of knowing the effect of using protein concentrate based on broiler farm waste (KPLA) in rations on weight loss and digestive organ weight. The research used a completely randomi- zed design (CRD) with three treatments and four replications. The treatment is, A: with the use of 0% KPLA, B: with the use of 12% KPLA and C: with the use of 24% KPLA. The research used 12 pigs finisher phase with an average body weight of 66.6 ± 7.74 kg. The research parameters were body weight loss, small intestine weight and length, large intestine weight, and spleen weight. The results of the research were, after fasting for 12 hours, with the use of 0% and 12% KPLA there was a loss of body weight of 2.4% and 1.8% (P&gt;0.05). The use of 24% KPLA (C) can increase body weight loss by 6.2%, significantly higher compared to A. The use of 0% - 12% KPLA does not cause a significant difference in the weight and length of the small intestine (P&gt; 0.05), but with 24% KPLA (C) significan- tly reduced the weight of the small intestine by 11.9% and 11.3% in the length of the small intestine (P&lt;0.05). The use of 0% - 24% KPLA did not affect the weight of the large intestine and the weight of the spleen (P&gt;0.05). The conclusion of this research was the use of KPLA up to 12% did not cause significant changes in the parameters of slaughter weight, weight loss, weight and length of the small intestine. It is recommended to use KPLA in landrace pig rations up to 12%.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

298 Late Gestational Nutrient Restriction of Primiparous Beef Heifers Decreases Neonatal Calf Body Weight and Organ Mass

Abstract We hypothesized that late gestational nutrient restriction (NR) would decrease organ mass in neonatal calves. Fall-calving crossbred beef heifers (BW: 466 ± 30 [SD] kg; BCS: 5.4 ± 0.5) bred to a single sire were individually fed 100% (control; n = 10) or 70% (nutrient restricted; NR; n = 12) of NASEM metabolizable energy and metabolizable protein requirements for maintenance, pregnancy, and growth from d 160 of gestation to calving. Diets were based on chopped sorghum sudan hay and supplemented to meet targeted nutritional planes. Calves were removed immediately post-calving and fed colostrum and milk replacer relative to BW until euthanasia (48.7 ± 0.4 h of age) for organ mass determination. Nutritional plane was a fixed effect, and maternal sire, calf sex (when P &amp;lt; 0.25), and date of study initiation were covariates. Post-calving, NR dams were 62 kg BW and 2.1 BCS less (P &amp;lt; 0.001) than controls. Calf BW, liver, large intestine, omental/mesenteric fat, kidney, and heart weights were less (P ≤ 0.05) and carcass, rumen/reticulum/omasum, stomach complex, and total gastrointestinal tract weights tended to be less (P ≤ 0.09) in offspring from NR dams. Maternal nutrient restriction did not affect (P ≥ 0.11) weights of the small intestine, pancreas, abomasum, spleen, perirenal fat, adrenals, lungs, femur, and brain. Expressed per BW, lung weight was greater (P = 0.05), and brain and femur weight tended to be greater (P ≤ 0.10) in calves from NR dams, but other organ masses were unaffected (P ≥ 0.15). Expressed relative to brain weight, liver and large intestine weights were less (P ≤ 0.04) and carcass, total gastrointestinal tract, omental/mesenteric fat, and kidney weights tended to be less (P ≤ 0.08) in NR. In summary, late gestational NR decreased some organ masses in neonatal calves while sparing other tissues via asymmetric growth.

Addition of Azolla Microphylla oo Feed on The Digestive Tract of Magelang Ducks

This study aims to determine the effect of additional feeding Azolla microphylla on the digestive tract of Magelang ducks. This research was conducted for 7 weeks in the experimental cage of Tidar University. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design with 4 treatments P0 (0% Azolla microphylla), P1 (10% Azolla microphylla), P2 (15% Azolla microphylla) P3 (20% Azolla microphylla) with 5 replications. The livestock used were 40 male Magelang ducks. The parameters observed were the length and weight of the digestive tract of Magelang Ducks. Data were analyzed using a completely randomized design (CRD) then continued with Duncan's test. Analysis of variance showed that supplementary feeding Azolla microphylla had no significant effect (on the percentage of crop length, jejunum, caecum, large intestine, cloaca, liver and esophageal weight, crop, proventiculus, gizzard, duodenum, jejunum, caecum, cloaca, and liver, but had a significant effect on the percentage of length of the esophagus, proventriculus, gizzard, duodenum, ileum, and percentage of weight of the ileum, and colon.&#x0D; &#x0D;

The effect of natural feed additive on productive performance of broiler chickens

The effect of natural feed additive on productive performance of broiler chickens

Growth performance, visceral organ weights, and gut health of weaned pigs fed diets with different dietary fiber solubility and lipid sources.

The objective of this study was to determine the interactive effects of dietary fiber solubility and lipid source on growth performance, visceral organ weights, gut histology, and gut microbiota composition of weaned pigs. A total of 280 nursery pigs [initial body weight (BW) = 6.84 kg] weaned at 21 d were housed in 40 pens (7 pigs/pen). The pigs were fed four diets (10 pens/diet) in a randomized complete block design in two phases: Phase 1 from 0 to 2 wk and Phase 2 from 2 to 5 wk. The diets were corn-soybean meal-based with either sugar beet pulp (SBP) or soybean hulls (SBH) as a fiber source and either soybean oil (SBO) or choice white grease (CWG) as a lipid source in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. The BW and feed intake were determined by phase, whereas visceral organ weights, intestinal histology, and gut microbial composition were determined at the end of the trial. Dietary fiber solubility and lipid source did not interact (P > 0.05) on average daily feed intake and average daily gain across all phases. However, the gain to feed ratio (G:F) for CWG-containing diets was lower (P < 0.05) than that for SBO-containing diets for Phase 1. Also, G:F for SBP-containing diets was lower (P < 0.05) than that for SBH-containing diets for Phase 1 and for the entire study period. Pigs fed SBP-containing diets had greater (P < 0.05) stomach weight, and tended to have greater (P < 0.10) small and large intestine weights relative to BW than those fed SBH-containing diets. Duodenal villous height to crypt depth ratio for CWG-based diets tended to be greater (P = 0.09) than that for SBO-based diets. Fiber solubility and lipid source interacted (P < 0.05) on relative abundance of Bacteroides in the colon such that the relative abundance of the Bacteroides for CWG was greater (P < 0.05) than that for the SBO in SBP-based diet, but not in SBH-based diet. Relative abundance of Butyricicoccus in the colon for SBH-based diet was greater (P < 0.05) than that for SBP-based diet. In conclusion, inclusion of SBH instead of SBP in corn-soybean meal-based diets for weaned pigs can result in increased feed efficiency and relative abundance of Butyricicoccus in the colon, which is associated with improved gut health. Also, inclusion of SBO instead of CWG in the diets for weaned pigs can result in improved feed efficiency during Phase 1 feeding; however, the pigs may recover from the low feed efficiency induced by dietary inclusion of CWG instead of SBO after Phase 1 feeding.

Canine disseminated peritoneal angiomatosis with arterial differentiation in a 10‐month‐old Rhodesian Ridgeback

AbstractA 10‐month‐old, male entire Rhodesian Ridgeback was presented with a 1‐week history of vomiting, small and large intestinal diarrhoea, hyporexia and weight loss. Physical examination revealed a palpable abdominal mass. Abdominal ultrasonography and contrast computed tomography demonstrated multiple cystic masses of varied size and wall thickness with no appreciable origin. An exploratory laparotomy revealed multiple mass lesions throughout the mesentery, located adjacent to blood vessels and varying in size from approximately 2 mm up to 13 cm in diameter. In histologic sections, the nodular structures resembled thick‐walled arteries. Immunohistochemistry confirmed positive cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for von Willebrand factor, CD31 and smooth muscle actin. This is, to the authors’ knowledge, the first case of disseminated peritoneal angiomatosis with arterial differentiation in the dog. The dog was euthanased due to the progressive nature of the mass lesions.

Complete replacement of maize grain with sorghum and pearl millet grains in Jumbo quail diets: Feed intake, physiological parameters, and meat quality traits.

In sub-Saharan Africa, the use of maize (Zea mays L.) grain as an energy source in poultry feeds has become unsustainable due to competing demands and suboptimal growing conditions for the maize crop. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Moench L.) and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) grains are potential sustainable alternatives, given their tolerance to local growing conditions. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of total replacement of maize grain with whole or crushed sorghum and pearl millet grains on feed intake, and physiological and meat quality parameters of Jumbo quail. Five experimental diets were formulated by completely replacing crushed maize grain in a commercial grower diet (CON) with whole sorghum (WSG), crushed sorghum (CSG), whole millet (WMG), or crushed millet (CMG). Three hundred and fifty, two-week-old Jumbo quail chicks (74.7 ± 8.81 g live-weight) were evenly distributed into 35 replicate pens to which the experimental diets were allotted. Statistically similar (P > 0.05) weight gain and FCE values were observed between birds reared on the control and pearl millet-based diets. However, birds fed with sorghum-based diets had the lowest FCE and weight gain. Blood parameters fell within the normal ranges reported for healthy quail. Birds fed the whole sorghum grain diet had the least (P < 0.05) serum calcium and higher monocytes, cholesterol, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentrations compared to those reared on the control diet. Compared to the control, the whole sorghum-containing diet reduced (P < 0.05) carcass, breast, wing, thigh, drumstick, liver, gizzard, and large intestine weights of the birds. Complete replacement of maize grain with pearl millet grain (whole or crushed) did not compromise feed intake, growth performance, and meat quality traits of the Jumbo quail birds. However, whole sorghum grain reduced growth performance of the birds.

Performance and biometry of the gastrointestinal tract in growing Japanese quails fed bee pollen

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of bee pollen in the diet of growing Japanese quails on productive performance, relative weight of the gastrointestinal organs and length of small and large intestines. A total of 650 one-day-old female Japanese quails were distributed in a completely randomized design with five treatments according to the dietary levels of bee pollen (0.0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, and 1.6%), five replicates, and 26 birds per experimental unit. At the end of the experimental period (35 days of age), the performance and relative weight of the gastrointestinal organs and length of small and large intestines were evaluated. The dietary inclusion of bee pollen did not influence (P &gt; 0.05) performance, relative weight of proventriculus, gizzard, pancreas, liver, and large intestine, as well as the length of small and large intestines. However, a linear reduction (P &lt; 0.05) was observed in the relative weight of small intestine as dietary bee pollen levels increased. The inclusion of bee pollen from 0.4 to 1.6% in the diet of growing Japanese quails did neither improve productive performance nor alter the biometry of digestive organs.

Effect of organic acids fed through drinking water on carcass and internal organs of broiler chickens

A Six week study was carried out to investigate effect of different organic acids (OAs) fed through drinking water on carcass yield and internal organs weight of broiler chickens. The OAs were acetic acid (AA) butyric acid (BA), citric acid (CA) and formic acid (FA). One hundred and fifty (150) day old AborAcre-plus chicks were used. There were five treatments. Treatment 1 which served as control (CON) consumed water with no organic acid, while treatments 2,3, 4 and5 respectively were offered drinking water treated with 0.25% acetic acid (AA), butyric acid (BA), citric acid (CA) and formic acid (FA). Each treatment was replicated three times each having 10 birds arranged in completely randomized design (CRD). Feed and water were offered ad libitum. Results showed that dressed carcass weight and breast weight were improved by all the organic acids. While only AA positively influenced the thigh weight, all the OAs drinking water fed resulted to smaller drumstick compared to the CON. Feeding of AA, BA and FA through drinking water increased (PSO.05) deposition of abdominal fat. Weight of pancreas, small intestine, caecum and large intestine was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in CON. The gall bladder was significantly (P&lt;0.05) bigger in all the OA groups. Conclusively, OAs could be fed through the drinking water for improved percentage carcass yield, breast meat and larger gall bladder and invariably bile volume

The Effects Of Replacing Groundnut Cake With Cottonseed Cake On The Performance And Carcass Characteristics Of Broiler Chickens

The effects of replacing groundnut cake(GNC) with cottonseed cake (CSC) at 0, 50 and 100% levels in starter and finisher diets on broiler performance, carcass characteristics and gut morphology were evaluated in a 56 - day feeding trial. Average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain, and feed/gain ratio were significantly (P&lt; 0.05) affected by dietary treatments at the starter and finisher phases. Eviscerated weight (E. W) dressing percentage, total edible meat and abdominal fat pad decreased with increasing level of CSC while weights and lenghts of small intestine, large intestine, caeca and gizzard weight increased significantly (P&lt;0.05) from 0 to 100% CSC diets. It can be concluded that CSC inclusion at 50 and 100% level had adverse effect on the performance and carcass parameters assessed.

FEEDING VALUE OF CASHEWNUT TESTA FOR BROILER CHICKENS

This study was conducted to investigate the response of broiler chickens to diets containing cashewnut testa (CNT). Two hundred and four (204) day-old unsexed Arboracre broiler chicks were randomly allotted to four dietary treatment consisting of three replicates of seventeen chicks each. The treatments consists of a control and three other diets with CNT included at 5, 10, and 15% as a substitute for wheat offal in the control diet. Cashewnut testa had 1.5, 20.0, 54.0, 17.0, 2.0, and 94.5% crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF), nitrogen free extract (NFE), ether extract (EE), ash and dry matter (DM), respectively. Weight gain was highest (P &lt; 0.05) in birds fed 5% CNT diet (35.24g) while the lowest and feed: gain ratio values. The CP retention and digestible EE, CF, NFE, ash, DM and total digestible nutrient were not significantly (P &lt;0.05) affected by CNT in the diets. The serum metabolites were significantly (P &lt; 0.05) affected by the levels of CNT in the diets. Total serum protein increased (P &lt; 0.05) with increasing level of CNT in the diets. Among the carcass parameters measured, breast, neck and back weight were highest (P &lt; 0.05) for 5%CNT diet while abdominal fat, small intestine and large intestine weight increased (P &lt; 0.05) with increasing levels of CNT in the diets. No significant effect (P &gt; 0.05) in juiciness, flavor intensity, tenderness and off flavor was recorded among the meat samples from the broiler fed the diets. Meat lipid and ash increased (P &lt; 0.05) in the CNT diets. Cost of feed per kg decreased while cost of feed per kg live weight gain increased (P &lt; 0.05) with increasing level of CNT in the diets. It was concluded that 5% CNT could replace wheat offal in broiler diets.

Response in digestibility, growth performance, and carcass quality of local Kandol pigs to incremental levels of fermented banana stems.

Fermentation of banana stems is a novel method for increasing the digestibility of fibrous porcine rations in the tropics; however, optimal feeding rates have not been determined. An experiment was carried out to determine the response of digestibility, growth performance, and carcass quality in local Kandol pigs to incremental levels of FBS in rations. A total of 20 castrated male pigs were randomly allocated to five diets, containing 0, 400, 500, 600, and 700g FBS of the ration. Daily feed on offer was provided as 4% of the body weight on a dry matter basis and offered three times per day. As result, the inclusion level of FBS was positively correlated with NR (p < 0.001, r = 0.68). The linear regression equation was y = 0.002x + 2.4276 (R2 = 0.63). Furthermore, it was also correlated with ADG (p < 0.05, r = 0.46) and with FCR (p < 0.05, r = - 0.45). The regression equation was y = 0.0634x + 174.2 (R2 = 0.43) and y = - 0.0009x + 4.6521 (R2 = 0.62) for ADG and FCR, respectively. The correlation between inclusion level of FBS and large intestine weight was also observed (p < 0.05, r = - 0.61). The R2 value was 63. However, there was no any correlation between the inclusion level of FBS and the percentages of hanging carcass, dressing carcass, pH, color score, marbling score of the meat, and WHC (p > 0.05). The economic benefit of using FBS to improve pig diets will depend on the availability of banana stems and the labor and processing costs.

Effects of aqueous moringa oleifera leaf extracts on gut morphology and pH of hubbard broiler chickens

This study was conducted to determine the effect of varying aqueous Moringa oleifera leaf extracts (AMOLE) on the gut morphology and pH of Hubbard broiler chickens. Atotal of 240 Hubbard broiler chickens were randomly allocated into six treatments with four replicates in a completely randomized design. The treatments were positive control (AMOLE ), negative + control (AMOLE), AMOLE60 (60mL of the extracts per litre), AMOLE90 (90mL of the extracts per litre), AMOLE120 (120mL of the extracts per litre) and AMOLE150 (150mL of the extracts per litre). Data on gut morphology weight and length and their pH were measured and analysed by one way analysis of variance. The results showed that dressed, crop, large intestine, kidney and lung weights of birds were influenced (P&lt;0.05) by the treatments. Birds in the control treatments (94.67 %, 94.93 %) had the higher (P&lt;0.05) dressing percentage. Birds on the AMOLE60 had the higher (P&lt;0.05) crop and large intestine weights (4.47 and0.23 %, respectively). The birds on the AMOLE90 treatment had the largest kidney weight of 0.33 %. Absolute crop and caecum length were influenced byaqueous Moringa oleifera leaf extracts while the relative caecum length was the only relative organ length that was influenced by aqueous Moringa oleifera leaf extracts treatment.The pH of the internal organs showed that the gizzards, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, caecum, kidney and lung were influenced (P&lt;0.05) by the treatments. Birds on positive control treatment had higher pH values in most of the parameters measured. Birds on the AMOLE120 had the lowest (P&lt;0.05) duodenum, jejunum and lung pH. This study revealed AMOLE had influence on the gut morphology and pH of broiler chickens. Therefore, it can be concluded that the substitution of antibiotics as a growth promoter with aqueous Moringa oleifera leaf extracts up to 120 ml improved the gut morphology and pH of the intestinal segmentsin broiler chickens. Thus, is recommended that farmers, poultry producers and nutritionists to administer between 60 and 120 mL/litre of AMOLE in the drinking water of broiler chickens to nourish them for good gut morphology and optimum pH of their internal organs.

Effect of feeding dried distillers' grains with solubles to broiler chickens from day 0 to 21

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of inclusion rates of corn dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) on broiler chicken diets from d 0 to 21, and its effects on growth performance, intestinal morphology, blood metabolites, carcass and cut yields, and meat quality. A total of 980 one-day-old male broiler chickens were assigned to 7 diets (0, 10, 40, 70, 100, 130, and 160 g DDGS/kg) with 7 pens per treatment and 20 broiler chickens per pen in a completely randomized design. Data were analyzed by orthogonal polynomials, and the regression analysis was performed when a linear or quadratic effect was statistically significant; significance was considered at a level of 5%. Experimental diets with DDGS were included from d 0 to 21, and in the periods from d 21 to 33 and 33 to 42, common diets without DDGS were provided. Inclusion of DDGS in the broiler chicken diets did not affect the weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass, and cut yields. Feed intake was not altered from d 0 to 21, however, it had a quadratic effect from d 0 to 42 (P = 0.013). There was a linear increase (P < 0.001) in the relative weight of large intestine at d 21. Jejunal villi height was quadratically affected (P < 0.001), and the lowest villus height was observed at 91.54 g DDGS/kg. There was a linear reduction in jejunal crypt depth (P < 0.001) and a quadratic effect on villus: crypt ratio (P < 0.001) where the lowest value was estimated at 46 g DDGS/kg and 6.89 for villus: crypt ratio. There was a quadratic effect for breast meat pH 15 min postmortem (P = 0.017) and the lowest value was estimated at the inclusion of 79.25 g DDGS/kg and the pH 6.47. The DDGS can be included in broiler chicken diets up to 160 g DDGS/kg from d 0 to 21 without affecting growth performance, carcass and cuts yield, and meat quality of broiler chickens up to d 42.