Maize In Diets Research Articles

Development and Reproductive Performance of <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> (J E Smith) on Different Host Plants

The development, reproductive performance, and population dynamics of fall army worm Spodoptera frugiperda (J E Smith) on different host plants were evaluated under laboratory conditions. The egg masses were collected from maize fields and kept in laboratory for incubation. The first instar larvae were shifted on to maize, soybean, cotton leaves, and artificial diet. The duration of larval period, pupal period, adult longevity and the total life cycle was recorded. The results revealed that larvae reared on artificial diet exhibited shorter larval and pupal periods with less adult longevity compared to those reared on maize, soybean, and cotton. Additionally, fecundity was highest among individuals reared on artificial diet, followed by maize, soybean, and cotton.

Stimbiotic and wheat bran inclusion in maize or wheat-based diets for broiler chickens; effects on jejunal histomorphology, digesta oligosaccharides and caecal short-chain fatty-acids profiles

ABSTRACT 1. A stimbiotic (STB) is any feed additive that stimulates caeca fibre fermentation, although the additive itself contributes little to the caeca short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. A 42 d experiment investigated the interactive effects of STB and wheat bran (WB) in broiler chickens receiving maize or wheat-based diets. 2. The treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial (eight replicates each), the dietary factors being diet (maize-SBM or wheat-SBM), STB (with or without) and WB (0 or 50 g/kg). Jejunal tissue, gizzard, jejunal and ileal digesta and caecal contents were collected on d 18 and 42. 3. Gizzard pH tended to decrease with STB (p = 0.06) supplementation and was lower in birds fed wheat- compared to maize-based diets on d 18 (p < 0.05). Birds receiving diets with WB had higher jejunum pH on d 18 (p < 0.05). 4. Total short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in the caeca on d 18 and isobutyrate on d 42 were higher (p < 0.05) for maize compared with wheat-based diets. However, on d 42, acetate, butyrate and total SCFA were higher (p < 0.05) for wheat-based compared with maize-based diets. 5. On d 18, STB and WB inclusion increased villi height (VH; p < 0.05) and VH to crypt depth ratio (VH/CD), respectively (p < 0.05). On d 42, VH (p < 0.05) and VH/CD were higher in wheat-based diets (p < 0.05). The VH/CD ratio was lower with STB supplementation (p < 0.05). Marker-corrected pentose oligosaccharides (Pent)4 and (Pent)5 concentrations in the ileal digesta were reduced (p < 0.05) with STB supplementation. In addition, STB decreased (Pent)3 concentration in maize-, but not wheat-based diets (p < 0.05). 6. In conclusion, both WB and STB influenced gastrointestinal pH and jejunum histomorphology of broilers without increasing oligosaccharide concentration in the ileum and SCFA in the caeca.

Effects of Maize, Millet, and Sorghum as Energy Sources of Diet on Growth Performance of Guinea Fowl

Guinea fowls are more valuable in the market in Niger than chickens; however, their ability to meet consumer demands is limited by low productivity. Therefore, suitable nutrition is an important factor for this productivity. The current study aimed to evaluate the growth performance of guinea fowl using maize, millet, and sorghum as energy sources in the diet. A total of 108 one-day-old unsexed local keets, with an average live weight of 25.5 ± 0.83 g were randomly distributed among three dietary treatments with four replicates per treatment. The keets were reared on the ground with litter at CERRA Maradi, Niger, for an 8-week experimental period, involving 36 keets per treatment and 9 keets per replication. The parameters monitored were feed intake (FI), live weight (LW), average daily gain (ADG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). After 8 weeks of experimentation, the results indicated that the cereal used in the diet had no statistically significant effect on the keets’ FI. Those fed millet-based diets had higher LW, compared to those fed maize and sorghum diets, respectively, however, this difference was not statistically significant. Millet also facilitated a higher ADG, compared to maize and sorghum, although the differences were statistically insignificant. The keets fed sorghum-based had higher FCR, compared to the FCR of the guinea fowls fed maize and millet diet. based on the growth performance assessed in this study, the recommended order for cereals in guinea fowl feed to ensure better growth is millet, followed by maize, and then sorghum. Keywords: Cereals, Energy source, Growth performance, Keets

Comparative proteome analysis of Spodoptera litura-infested Zea mays reveals a robust defense strategy targeting insect peritrophic membrane

Herbivorous insects such as Spodoptera litura, pose a constant threat to agricultural crops. The incompetence of contemporary pest management tools and techniques stipulates unravelling of molecular dogma, that drives pest-plant interaction. From our previous observations, we inferred that despite being a voracious polyphagous herbivore, S. litura growth and adaptability is severely hampered on maize foliage diet. In this investigation we explored further and demonstrated the impact of maize diet on the insect gut peritrophic membrane (PM, a crucial membrane involved in compartmentalizing digestive events and absorption of nutrients), its structural analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed damaged and perforated PM. Further, this study delves into the intricate resistance mechanism adapted by Z. mays against S. litura by conducting a comparative proteome analysis. We have detected 345 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) at p < 0.05 and fold change ≥1. The DAPs were categorized as plant defense, secondary metabolite synthesis, redox homeostasis, cytoskeleton/cell wall biosynthesis, primary metabolism, transport and molecular processes. We remarkably report differential expression of proteolysis- and defense-related proteins that have potential to target insect gut, digestion and absorption of nutrients. Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the molecular dynamics governing maize resistance against S. litura. Understanding of such intricate molecular dialogues at these interfaces could provide valuable information on the arms race between plants and herbivores, it may pave the way for innovative pest management strategies.

Dietary effects of Sclerocarya birrea caffra seed cake replacing soyabean meal on physiology, meat and bone quality of indigenous chickens

This study investigated marula seed cake (MSC) as alternative protein source (APS) replacing soyabean meal (SBM) in indigenous chicken diets. Four hundred, 3-week-old Boschveld chicks were randomly allocated to 5 iso-energetic-nitrogenous maize and SBM-based grower diets with 0, 10, 15, 20, and 25 % MSC, each with 5 replicate pens of 16 birds, in a completely randomised design (CRD), for 9 weeks. Results showed that dietary MSC quadratically decreased bird overall feed intake (FI) (P < 0.001) and body weight gain (BWG) (P < 0.01) as it linearly decreased the weights of hot carcass (HCW; P < 0.05), spleen (P < 0.05), jejunum (P < 0.05), ileum (P < 0.001), and caecum (P < 0.001). In contrast, MSC increased chicken serum glucose (P < 0.05), cholesterol (P = 0.001) and phosphate (P < 0.05) as it decreased its amylase activity (P < 0.01). Also, it decreased bird meat lightness at 45 min (P < 0.05) and its yellowness at 45 min (P < 0.001) and 24 h (P < 0.001) whilst it increased its redness at 45 min (P < 0.01) and 24 h (P < 0.05) post-slaughter. In addition, MSC decreased chicken bone medial diaphysis (P < 0.05) as it induced no effects (P > 0.05) on overall feed conversion efficiency (FCE) and all other parameters. In conclusion, feeding of ≤ 15 % dietary MSC is nutritionally safe for indigenous chickens whilst detrimental on bird appetite, growth and meat yield, however without significantly affecting their physiology, at higher inclusion levels.

Effect of residual feed intake on meat quality in fattening Charolais bulls fed two contrasting diets

The selection of more efficient animals for breeding is of both economic and environmental interest to the industry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the animals' residual feed intake (RFI) ranking in interaction with the type of diet on the meat quality of Charolais beef cattle. Indeed, several biological mechanisms are associated with RFI, especially when animals are fed high starch-diets. It is therefore possible that quality parameters may show greater changes due to RFI in the context of high starch diets compared to high forage diets.An 84-day feed efficiency trial followed immediately by a second 112-day feed efficiency trial was conducted with a total of 100 animals fed either maize- or grass-diets for 196-days. At the end of the 84-day period, the 32 most divergent RFI animals (16 extreme RFI animals per diet, 8 RFI+ and 8 RFI-) were identified. They were slaughtered after 112-days of finishing. The Longissimus thoracis was characterised in terms of nutritional and sensory quality.RFI had no effect on lab colour, muscle shear force, total fat, fatty acid ratios and most of the total fatty acid content (especially n-3) irrespective of the diet. However, more efficient animals (RFI-) showed higher CLA contents compared to less efficient animals (RFI+) regardless of the diet and also a lower n6/n3 ratio only in animals fed the maize diets. Diet also had a significant effect on lipid and FA content as well as on FA composition.

Whole-plant silage maize to improve fiber digestive characteristics and intestinal microbiota of Hezuo pigs.

Utilizing roughage resources is an effective approach to alleviate the shortage of corn-soybean feed and reducing the costs in the swine industry. Hezuo pig is one group of plateau type local Tibetan pig with strong tolerance to crude feeding. Nevertheless, current research on the roughage tolerance in Hezuo pigs and the microbiological mechanisms behind it is still minimally.This study explored the impact of various ratios of whole-plant silage (WPS) maize on the pH, cellulase activity, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and intestinal microbiota in Hezuo pigs. Thirty-two Hezuo pigs were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8). The control group received a basal diet, while experimental groups I, II, and III were given diets with incremental additions of 5%, 10%, and 15% air-dried WPS maize, respectively, for 120 days. The findings revealed that compared with the control group, in Group II, the pH of cecum and colon were notably decreased (p < 0.05), while acid detergent fiberdigestibility, the concentration of propionic and isobutyric acid in the cecum, and the concentration of isobutyric acid in the colon were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Also, carboxymethyl cellulase activity in the cecum in group II of Hezuo pigs was significantly higher than that in the other three groups (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the cecum microbiota showed a higher diversity in the group II of Hezuo pigs than that in the control group, as shown by the Simpson and Shannon indices. Specifically, 15 and 24 bacterial species showed a significant difference in relative abundance at the family and genus levels, respectively. Correlation analyses revealed significant associations between bacterial genera and SCFAs concentrations in the cecum. The abundance of Bacteroides and NK4A214_group was positively correlated with amounts of valeric and isovaleric acid but negatively with propionic acid (p < 0.05). The abundance of UCG-010 was positively linked with acetic acid and negatively correlated with butyric acid (p < 0.05). Actinobacillus abundance was positively associated with butyric acid levels (p < 0.05). In conclusion, a 10% WPS maize diet improved crude fiber digestibility by lowering cecal and colonic chyme pH, enhancing intestinal cellulase activity, improving SCFA production, and increasing intestinal microbiota diversity.

The proteomic landscape of fall armyworm oral secretion reveals its role in plant adaptation.

The fall armyworm (FAW, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith)) is a polyphagous agricultural pest with rapidly evolving adaptations to host plants. We found the oral secretion (OS) of FAW from different plants influences plant defense response differentially, suggesting its role in adapting to host plants. However, the protein expression profile of FAW OS respond to different plants is largely unknown. Here, from the mass spectrometry assay, we identified a total of 256 proteins in the OS of FAW fed on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana Domin), maize (Zea mays L.) and artificial diet. The FAW OS primarily comprise of 60 proteases, 32 esterases and 92 non-enzymatic proteins. It displays high plasticity across different diets. We found that more than half of the esterases are lipases which have been reported as insect elicitors to enhance plant defense response. The lipase accumulation in cotton-fed larvae was the highest, followed by maize-fed larvae. In the presence of lipase inhibitors, the enhanced induction on defense genes in wounded leaves by OS was attenuated. However, the putative effectors were most highly accumulated in the OS from FAW larvae fed on maize compared to those fed on other diets. We identified that one of them (VRLP4) reduces the OS-mediated induction on defense genes in wounded leaves. Together, our investigation presents the proteomic landscape of the OS of FAW influenced by different diets and reveals diet-mediated plasticity of OS is involved in FAW adaptation to host plants. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF BROILER CHICKENS FED GRADED LEVELS OF RICE MILLING WASTE AS REPLACEMENT FOR WHEAT OFFAL

The experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, Department of Animal Production, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi to evaluate the utilization and economic benefits of broiler chicken production using graded levels of rice milling waste (RMW) as replacement for wheat offal in white maize and full fat soya beans-based diets. Five isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets were formulated in which rice milling waste replaced wheat offal at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% in diets 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively at both starter (23% CP) and finisher (20% CP) phases. Three hundred (300) day old chicks were randomly allotted to the five dietary treatments, with four replicates of fifteen birds each in a Completely Randomized Design. Feed and water were given ad libitum throughout the eight weeks period (four weeks of starter and finisher each). Proximate composition of the Rice Milling Waste indicated that it contains 94.12 Dry Matter, 5.21 Crude Protein, 31.40 Crude Fibre, 3.42 Ether Extract, 20.13 Ash and 39.84 Nitrogen Free Extract. Results of the performance parameters showed no statistical significance (P&gt;0.05) in most of the productive performance parameters except feed conversion ratio in finisher (2.81 – 3.72) and overall phases (2.29 – 2.75) which significantly differ at P&lt;0.05. The values of initial weights of birds ranged from 82.07 – 85.65g while that of body weight changes at week four were from 116.60 – 1209. 27g and 1272.70 – 1620.31g for total weight gain. At starter phase, daily feed intake ranged from 68.20 – 70.89g , daily weight gain from 38.64 – 40.15g and feed conversion ratio from 1.72 – 1.83g. In finisher and the overall phases, the values of daily feed intake of 158.71 – 164.11g and 113.45 – 117.50g were obtained while 45.45 – 57.23g and 42.47 – 49.00g for daily weight gain respectively. The total feed cost was lowest in diet 5 (N105.70) and higher in diet 1 (control, N110.46) and the feed cost/kg gain (N) was higher in diet 3 (N555.12) and lower in diet 5 (N 426.72). It was concluded that rice milling waste can completely replace wheat offal in broiler chickens’ diets using white maize and full fat soya bean-based diets without affecting the overall productive performance of the birds with concomitant cost reduction in feed cost and feed cost per kg gain. It is therefore recommended for use in place of the costly wheat offal using white maize and full fat soya bean as sources of energy and protein respectively.

CARCASS YIELD AND ORGANS CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER CHICKENS FED DIETS CONTAINING GRADED LEVELS OF RICE MILLING WASTE AS REPLACEMENT FOR WHEAT OFFAL

This experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, Department of Animal Production, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi to investigate the carcass yield and organs characteristics of broiler chickens fed white maize and full fat soya beans-based diets containing graded levels of rice milling waste (RMW) as replacement for wheat offal. Five isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets were formulated in which rice milling waste replaced wheat offal at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% in diets 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively in both starter (23% CP) and finisher (20% CP). Three hundred (300) day old chicks were randomly allotted to the five diets in four replicates of fifteen birds each in a completely randomized design. Feed and water were given ad libitum and the experiment lasted for eight weeks. Proximate composition of the test material (RMW) indicated that it contains 94.12 Dry Matter, 5.21 Crude Protein, 31.40 Crude Fibre,3.42 Ether Extract, 20.13 Ash and 39.84 Nitrogen Free Extract. Most of the carcass parameters observed were not statistically influenced by the dietary levels of RMW, except on head (2.95 – 5.50g), legs (4.51 – 5.53g), large intestine length (3.20 – 5.37g) and gizzards (2.26 – 2.73g) which were significantly (P&lt;0.05) affected. However, values of live, plucked and carcass weights ranged between 1256.33-1380.51g, 1087.88-1231.47g and 863.12-1064.19g, respectively, while that of dressing percentages were between 65.35-78.77%. It was concluded that rice milling waste can replace 100 % of wheat offal as fibre source in the diets of broiler chickens without adverse effects on the carcass yield and organs characteristics. It was therefore recommended for use in broiler chickens’ diets to reduce cost of production and over dependance on the conventional wheat offal.

Cereal type and conditioning temperature altered protein and carbohydrate molecular structure, nutrient retention and performance in broilers fed pellet diets during starter and grower period

ABSTRACT 1. Effects of cereal type and conditioning temperature (CT) on protein and carbohydrate (CHO) molecular structures, nutrient retention, carcass and blood characteristics, caecal microbial population and growth criteria of broilers fed pellet diet were evaluated for a total period of 35 d. 2. In total, 336-day-old Cobb 500 broiler chicks were randomly allotted into a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with two different cereal types (maize or wheat) processed in two different temperatures (CT; 68°C or 90°C) with seven pen replicates containing 12 birds each. 3. Chicks fed the maize-based diets significantly gained higher body weight (BW) and lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) in comparison to the chicks fed wheat-based diets during the whole grow-out period (p < 0.01). Overall, the highest BW and feed intake (FI) were seen in birds fed wheat-based diets conditioned at 68°C, but the lowest FCR was observed in maize-based diet conditioned at 90°C at 7, 14 and 21 d of age (p < 0.01). However, BW was higher and FCR lower in chicks fed maize-based diets conditioned at 90°C in the grower period (28 and 35 d; p < 0.01). 4. The α-helix height was higher in wheat-based starter diets in comparison to the maize-based diet (p < 0.01). Ratio of amide I to II area and total CHO peak height were increased when diets were processed at 90°C in both maize and wheat-based starter diet (p < 0.05). Increasing the CT from 68°C to 90°C reduced CHO peak 1 and 2 height by 11.6% and 3.95%, respectively, in maize-based starter diets, while increasing the CT from 68°C to 90°C reduced CHO peak 1 and 2 height by 54.3% and 57.2%, respectively, in wheat-based starter diets. In the grower diets, increasing the CT from 68°C to 90°C increased CHO peak 1 by 23% in maize-based diets, but reduced CHO peak 1 by 24.5% in wheat-based diets. 5. Calcium and phosphorous retention were highest in chicks fed wheat-based diets conditioned at 90°C and lowest in chicks fed maize-based diets conditioned at 90°C (p < 0.01). Salmonella, E. coli and coliforms in the caeca reduced significantly (p < 0.05) in chicks fed wheat-based diets conditioned at 90°C on d 11 and increased with the same diet at 35 d of age compared to the chicks fed maize-based diets conditioned at both 68°C and 90°C or wheat-based diets conditioned at 68°C. 6. Conditioning the wheat-based diets at 68°C improved production responses without causing any adverse effects on protein and CHO molecular structures, however increasing the conditioning temperature to 90°C impaired performance due to alteration of protein and CHO molecular structures. In contrast, conditioning of the maize-based diets at 90°C had the opposite effect, and improved production performance compared to diets conditioned at 68°C.

Effects of supplementing &lt;i&gt;Masakwa&lt;/i&gt; creamy white sorghum with selected synthetic enzymes on the performance and cost benefit of broiler chickens

An experiment was conducted at the Poultry Unit of the Teaching and Research Farm, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi to investigate the growth performance and cost benefit of broiler chickens fed Masakwa creamy white sorghum supplemented with three selected synthetic enzymes: Natuzyme, Maxigrain and Phytase. Five experimental diets were formula ted for the broiler chickens at both the starter ( 23% CP ) and finisher ( 20% CP ) phases labeled as Diets 1: maize control, Diet 2: sorghum without enzyme, Diet 3: sorghum supplemented with Natuzyme, Diet 4: sorghum supplemented with Maxigrain and Diet 5: sorghum supplemented with Phytase. Three hundred (300) broiler unsexed “Marshal” chicks were randomly allotted to the dietary treatments with four replications each and 15 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum throughout the experimental period of eight weeks. Results showed that at the starter phase, daily feed intake (49.23-60.26g), daily weight gain (23.11-32.28g) and feed conversion ratio(1.87-2.13g); at the finisher (101.11-146.29g; 30.01-69.07g and 2.12-3.37), and the overall phases (75.17-103.22g; 26.57-50.68g and 2.00-2.75) were significantly (P&lt;0.05) different across the treatments. The best performance was obtained on maize diet closely followed by enzyme supplemented sorghum based diets, while the least was observed in unsupplemented sorghum diet. Based on the cost benefit analysis, Diet 1 (maize based diet) had the cheapest feed cost while the highest value was on Diet 2 (unsupplemented sorghum diet) for all the phases. It can therefore be concluded that Masakwa sorghum supplemented with different enzymes can be used in broiler chicken diets for better performance in comparism with the unsupplemented sorghum diet. It is economical to supplement Masakwa sorghum variety with any of the synthetic enzyme because the feed cost ₦/kg gain is lower than the values on unsupplemented sorghum diet.

GROWTH PERFORMANCE, NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY AND HAEMATOLOGICAL INDICES OF BROILER CHICKENS FED DIETS CONTAINING BIODEGRADED SWEET ORANGE (CITRUS SINENSIS) PEEL MEAL AS REPLACEMENT FOR MAIZE

A 56-days feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of using the biodegradation sweet orange peel meal (BSOPM) as a replacement of maize in diet on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and haematological parameters of broiler chicks. A total of 180, one-day old broilers were distributed equally into six dietary treatments with 3 replicate of 10 chicks in each in a completely randomized design. The biodegraded sweet orange peel meal (BSOPM) was used to replaced maize at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25% of the control diet (T0) and five test diets (T5) (T10) (T5) (T20) and (T25) in finishers broilers diets. Laboratory analyses were carried out on the BSOMP and experimental diets to determine its proximate composition and the result revealed that, BSOPM contained metabolizable energy content of 2854.24 kcal/kg and 89.60% dry matter (DM), 7.58% crude protein (CP), 11.11 % crude fibre (CF), 2.89% ether extract (EE), 11.58% total ash (TA), 66.84% nitrogen free extract (NFE). Results also showed that average final live body weight ranged from 798.68 – 1582.64g. Average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio were significantly (p˂0.05) affected across the dietary treatments while final weight gain, average daily weight gain and mortality were not significantly (p&gt;0.05) affected across the dietary treatments. The results of haematological and serum biochemical indices showed that, there were no significant differences (p&gt;0.05) except for mean corpuscular volume (MCV) indicating that no physiological abnormalities resulted from the feeding of BSOPM to broiler chicken.

Effect of replacing dietary maize with millet on production performance of laying birds

The study was conducted to determine the effect of replacing dietary maize with millet on production performance of laying birds. The study was conducted between May and August 2018 at the Poultry Production Unit of Sokoto State Veterinary Center, Aliyu Jodi Road, Sokoto. Two hundred and forty black Bovan Nera layers of 23 weeks of age (averaging 1.3 kg live weight) were used in a completely randomized designed to evaluate the performance of laying chickens fed diets containing different levels of protein. Eggs were collected in the evening (5.00 – 6.00 pm). Egg weight was monitored on weekly basis. Feed intake, number of eggs, minimum and maximum temperatures of the pen and mortality were recorded on daily basis. The data was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), using Statview Analytical Computer Package. There were no significant differences in feed intake between the treatments (p&gt;0.05) even though birds on the millet-based diets consumed slightly higher amount of feed (100 – 102 g/b/d) compared to those on the maize-based diet (99 g/b/d). Hen – day egg production was similar between the treatments (59 – 61%). Egg weight was also not significantly (p&gt;0.05) affected by the dietary treatments (46 – 48 g). The study concludes that egg mass decrease when maize is replaced with dietary millet.

DOUM PALM (Hyphaene thebaica) SEED MEAL AS A NOVEL FEEDSTUFF FOR BROILER CHICKENS: EFFECT ON GROWTH RESPONSE

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background. &lt;/strong&gt;High cost of feed ingredients and increased demand for broiler chicken in many African countries has necessitated the search for alternative feed sources. &lt;strong&gt;Objective.&lt;/strong&gt; To evaluate the effects of &lt;em&gt;H&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;yphaene thebaica&lt;/em&gt; seed meal (HTSM) as substitute for maize on growth and blood parameters of broiler chickens. &lt;strong&gt;Methodology&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;. &lt;/strong&gt;Five experimental diets were formulated for the trial. Diet 1 (0% HTSM) served as the control while diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 contained 5, 10, 15 and 20% HTSM respectively replacing dietary maize in the diets of birds. A total of 225 day-old broiler chicks were randomly allotted into five treatment groups with three replicates of fifteen birds each. Each group was assigned to the five experimental diets in completely randomized design (CRD). Feed and water were supplied &lt;em&gt;ad libitum &lt;/em&gt;for all treatment groups during the trial. &lt;strong&gt;Result.&lt;/strong&gt; Differences (P&amp;lt;0.05) were observed in the growth parameters measured except average daily feed intake (P&amp;gt;0.05). Feed conversion ratio and average daily weight gain of birds fed 0, 5 and 10% HTSM diets were better (P&amp;lt;0.05) compared to those fed 15 and 20 % HTSM diets. Differences (P&amp;lt;0.05) were also observed in the blood parameters measured except the packed cell volume (29.08- 31.89%) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (14.69-15.67pg). The white blood cell (11.45-18.14 x 10&lt;sup&gt;9&lt;/sup&gt;/l), red blood cell (4.71-6.99 x 10&lt;sup&gt;12&lt;/sup&gt;/l), haemoglobin (6.92-10.05g/dl) and aspartate transaminase (72.95-90.16 IU/l), alanine aminotransaminase (62.84-79.50 IUu/l) and alkaline phosphatase (100.26-108.77 IU/l) increased (P&amp;lt;0.05) as the dietary levels of HTSM increased across the treatments. Carcass and organ weights of birds fed 0, 5 and 10% HTSM diets were better (P&amp;lt;0.05) than those fed 15 and 20% HTSM diets. &lt;strong&gt;Implication. &lt;/strong&gt;Adequate processing of the HTSM is needed to reduce the anti-nutritional factors to a tolerable level before being used in broiler diet.&lt;strong&gt; C&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;onclusion.&lt;/strong&gt; Broiler chickens can tolerate up to 10% raw HTSM in their diets without adverse effect on growth performance. &lt;/p&gt;

Assessing the Effects of Dietary Cadmium Exposure on the Gastrointestinal Tract of Beef Cattle via Microbiota and Transcriptome Profile.

Cadmium (Cd) is an environmental pollutant, widely existing in soil, and can be absorbed and accumulated by plants. Hunan Province exhibits the worst cadmium contamination of farmland in China. Ruminants possess an abundant microbial population in the rumen, which enables them to tolerate various poisonous plants. To investigate whether the rumen microbiota could respond to Cd and mitigate the toxicity of Cd-accumulated maize to ruminants, 6-month-old cattle were fed with 85.82% (fresh basis) normal whole-plant maize silage diet (CON, n = 10) or Cd-accumulated whole-plant maize silage diet (CAM, n = 10) for 107 days. When compared to the CON cattle, CAM cattle showed significantly higher gain-to-feed ratio and an increased total bacterial population in the rumen, but a decreased total bacterial population in the colon. CAM cattle had higher relative abundance of Prevotella and Lachnospiraceae ND3007 group in the rumen, and Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group and Clostridia vadinBB60 group in the colon. Notably, microbial correlations were enhanced in all segments of CAM cattle, especially Peptostreptococcaceae in the jejunum. Transcriptome analysis revealed down-regulation of several immune-related genes in the rumen of CAM cattle, and differentially expressed genes in the rumen were mostly involved in immune regulation. These findings indicated that feeding Cd-accumulated maize diet with a Cd concentration of 6.74 mg/kg dry matter (DM) could stimulate SCFA-related bacteria in the rumen, induce hormesis to promote weight gain, and improve energy utilization of cattle.

Multi-processed cassava root meal: A suitable replacement for maize in Japanese quail diet

The aptness of multi-processed cassava root meal in place of maize was examined using four hundred (400) day-old Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) chicks. The quails were randomized to five sets of four replicates each, of 20 quails per replicate. The experiment lasted for 5 weeks. Fresh cassava roots (Manihot esculenta) were rid of extraneous materials, ground to pasty form, and left in the sac for seven days to let out the water content and ferment. The cassava tuber cakes obtained were further sundried to reduce the moisture level. The resulting meal was used to formulate the experimental diet at 0.00%, 25.00%, 50.00%, 75.00%, and 100.00% replacement levels for maize in the diets C1, C2, C3, C4, and C5 respectively. The final weight, weight gain, feed intake, and all hematological parameters were significantly different (p < 0.05). However, Alanine aminotransferase, total protein, triglyceride, and cholesterol were not significantly different (p > 0.05) among the serum biochemistry parameters. Similarly, meat sensory properties were not significantly influenced (p > 0.05) but yolk color, smell, taste, and overall acceptability differ significantly (p < 0.05) for egg sensory properties. The liver, empty gizzard, abdominal fat, and testicle weights were significantly different (p < 0.05). The results obtained suggest that maize can totally (100%) be replaced with multi-processed cassava root meal in the diets of Japanese quails because the feed conversion ratio was not affected, the birds were not anemic, serum metabolites were not adversely influenced and meat sensory properties were not affected. In addition, egg organoleptic showed that yolk color, smell, and taste were improved.

Impact of Diets on the Biology of &lt;i&gt;Corcyra cephalonica&lt;/i&gt; (Stainton)

The influence of various diets was evaluated on the biology of Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) under laboratory conditions. Results revealed that the lowest egg hatching (60.33%) was found on wheat diet 100% and highest (87.50 %) was on bajra (32.33%) + maize (32.33%) + wheat (32.33%) + sugar (3%) diet.The shortest and longest incubation period (3.83 and 6.67 days), larval period (31.83 and 40.67 days) and total developmental period (50.50 and 65.00 days) were recorded on bajra (100%) and wheat (100%) diet, respectively. Meanwhile shortest and longest pupal period (14.83 and 19.33 days) were recorded on bajra (100%) and maize (100%) diet, respectively. The maximum and minimum adult emergence (88.33 and 53.75 %), sex ratio (1.72:1 and 0.42:1), adult male lifespan (12.50 and 7.17 days), fecundity (239.16 and 180.67 eggs/ female) and growth index (2.66 and 1.39) were recorded on maize (48.5%) + sorghum (48.5%) + Groundnut (3%) diet and Wheat (100%) diet, respectively. Life span of adult female was longest (8.67 days) and shortest (4.67 days) on diet maize (48.5%) + sorghum (48.5%) + groundnut (3%) and bajra (100%) diet, respectively. It may be concluded that among the seven diets, the most preferred diet for rearing of C. cephalonica was maize (48.5%) + sorghum (48.5%) + groundnut (3%) and the least preferred diet was wheat (100%).

Effects of glucose release kinetics of extruded-maize diet on energy utilization of growing pigs

The precise energy requirement of swine should not only meet the static parameters of net energy but also consider the dynamic supply of glucose release. The effects of glucose release characteristics on nitrogen and energy utilization of growing pigs were conducted by the energy metabolism in vivo using open-circuit respiratory calorimetry and the hydrolysis in vitro of glucose release. Sixteen castrated boars were randomly divided into two groups (Raw maize group and Extruded maize group, RAW and EXT). Maize in the RAW diet was completely replaced by extruded-maize in the EXT diet. In vitro studies showed that extrusion treatment had a rapid and huge glucose release of maize (P < 0.05). The metabolizable energy (ME) in EXT was higher than that in RAW (P = 0.002), but no difference in net energy (NE) was observed (P = 0.864). EXT had higher crude protein (CP) apparent digestibility (P = 0.035) but lower nitrogen deposition (P < 0.001) due to higher urinary nitrogen (UN) excretion (P < 0.001). Extrusion treatment changed the proportion of heat production of carbohydrates, fat, and protein. EXT presented higher oxidation of protein (OXP, P < 0.001) and fat (OXF, P = 0.025) and lower oxidation of carbohydrates (OXCHO, P = 0.003). There was no difference in retained energy (RE) between the two groups (P = 0.803). Extrusion treatment can accelerate the glucose release of maize, and the extruded maize fully replacing raw maize in the diet can enhance ME of growing pigs, and the ratio of nutrient oxidation to energy supply was altered, resulting in lower protein deposition and energy utilization.

Enhancing meat quality of weaned piglets with the dietary incorporation of Ulva lactuca and carbohydrases supplementation

The impact of the dietary incorporation of 7% Ulva lactuca, a green seaweed, on the quality and nutritional value of piglet's meat was assessed. U. lactuca is rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds but its cell wall is composed of complex polysaccharides that reduce their bioavailability. Therefore, the effect of supplementing piglet diets with exogenous carbohydrases was also assessed here. A total of 40 male weaned piglets were divided into four dietary groups, each with 10 piglets: control (wheat, maize and soybean meal-based diet), UL (7% U. lactuca replacing the control diet), UL + R (UL and 0.005% Rovabio®), and UL + E (UL and 0.01% ulvan lyase). The piglets were fed the diets for 2 weeks. The results showed that incorporating U. lactuca in piglet diets did not influence most of the meat quality traits (P > 0.05). However, the incorporation of U. lactuca with the commercial carbohydrase (UL + R) increased the amount of the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) in their meat (P = 0.011) compared with the control, by 54%. In addition, meat from piglets fed seaweed diets showed a nearly two-fold increase in iodine contents (P < 0.001). Meat tenderness, juiciness and overall acceptability of piglets fed the control diet and the UL diet were lower than those fed the diets containing seaweed and carbohydrases (P < 0.001). Overall, the findings indicate that 7% U. lactuca in the diets of weaned piglets had no major detrimental effects on meat quality and their carbohydrase supplementation has the potential to improve meat sensory traits.