Venda Chickens Research Articles

Dietary Crude Fiber Levels for Optimal Productivity of Male Ross 308 Broiler and Venda Chickens Aged 1 to 42 Days.

Simple SummaryCrude fiber levels that are not controlled in chicken diets could have adverse effects on productivity. The use of alternative protein resources in commercial broiler and indigenous chicken production often has limitations in terms of dietary crude fiber. Evidence suggests that there might be differences in the way chicken breeds cope with dietary crude fiber, which ultimately affects the production potentials. The study determined the levels of dietary crude fiber that enhanced the productivity in Ross 308 broiler and indigenous Venda chickens. Results showed that both chicken breeds aged 1 to 42 days required dietary crude fiber for enhanced productivity. However, indigenous Venda chickens required higher dietary CF levels in order to improve the production performance than the Ross 308 broiler chickens. Thus, it was concluded that the indigenous chickens were able to cope when challenged with higher dietary crude fiber levels.The study determined the effects of dietary crude fiber (CF) levels on the production performance of male Ross 308 broiler and indigenous Venda chickens. There were 360 male Ross 308 broiler and male Venda chickens aged 1–21 for Phase 1 and 196 chickens aged 22–42 days for Phase 2. Chickens were allocated four diets with different levels of CF (3, 4, 5, and 7%) in a completely randomized design. Quadratic regression analyses were used to determine the dietary CF levels for the optimal production responses. In Phase 1, the feed intake, growth, live weight, nitrogen retention, and metabilizable energy (ME) intake of the Ross 308 broiler chickens were improved at dietary CF levels of 3.9, 4.5, 4.5, 3.2, and 3.7%, respectively. In the Venda chickens, feed intake, growth, live weight, nitrogen retention, and ME intake were optimized at 4.4, 4.8, 4.7, 4.1, and 3.3% CF, respectively. In Phase 2, the feed intake, nitrogen retention, and neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD) were enhanced at CF levels of 6.4, 4.4, and 3.7% in the Ross 308 broiler chickens, respectively. Dietary CF levels of 4.5, 5.8, 5.7, 5.1, 3.9, and 4.4% optimized the feed intake, growth rate, live weight, nitrogen retention, NDF, and ADFD, respectively, in Venda chickens. It was concluded that the indigenous Venda chickens coped better with higher dietary CF than the Ross 308 broiler chickens.

Effect of dietary threonine level on productivity and carcass characteristics of indigenous Venda chickens

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of dietary threonine level on productivity and carcass characteristics of indigenous Venda chickens. In each experiment the diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous but with different dietary threonine levels. A complete randomized design was used in both experiments, the grower (1-49 days old unsexed Venda chickens) and finisher (50-91 days old female chickens) phases. The grower diets contained 4 (CT4), 5 (CT5), 6 (CT6), 7 (CT7) and 8 (CT8) g of threonine/kg DM, while similar diets were used for the finisher phase but designated (FT4), (FT5), (FT6), (FT7) and (FT8), respectively. A quadratic equation was used to determine threonine levels for optimal productivity. Dietary threonine level had significant effect (P>0.05) on feed intake, growth rate, FCR, live weight, ME intake and N-retention of unsexed and female Venda chickens. Feed intake, growth rate, feed conversion ratio, live weight, metabolisable energy and N-retention of unsexed and female Venda chickens were optimized at different dietary threonine levels. Dietary threonine level had no effect (P>0.05) on pH of crop, proventriculus, gizzard, small intestine, large intestine and caecum contents of female Venda chickens. Dietary threonine requirements for optimal productivity decreased as Venda chickens grew older. Dietary threonine levels for optimal productivity will depend on the particular variable in question. These findings have a lot of implications on ration formulation for slow-growing Venda chickens

Effect of garlic meal on growth performance and carcass characteristics of indigenous Venda chickens

A study was conducted to determine the growth performance and carcass characteristics of indigenous Venda chickens fed a grower’s diet supplemented with varying levels of garlic meal. The study was based on four diets containing similar energy but different garlic meal supplementation levels of 0, 10, 15 and 25 g/kg DM. At 50 to 91 days, all the growth and carcass parameters measured were improved (P less than 0.05) by garlic meal supplementation. Feed intake, growth rate, feed conversion ratio, live weight, carcass weight, dressing percent, breast meat, thigh, drumstick, gizzard and fat pad weights of Venda chickens were optimized at different garlic meal supplementation levels of 14.7, 15.8, 8.0, 16.4, 14.2, 12.7, 11.2, 12.7, 8.2, 10.5 and 15.1, respectively. These findings have implications on ration formulation for indigenous Venda chickens. Thus, it was concluded that garlic meal supplementation improved feed intake, growth rate, live weight and carcass weight of Venda chickens.

Breed and Sex Differences in the Gross Anatomy, Digesta pH and Histomorphology of the Gastrointestinal Tract of Gallus Gallus Domesticus

ABSTRACT A study was conducted to investigate the influence of breed and sex in the gross anatomy, digesta and histology of Ross 308 broiler and Venda chickens. Chickens were slaughtered at 90 days of age and the pH of the digestive organs was measured immediately after slaughter. The digestive organ weights and lengths of Ross 308 broiler and Venda chickens were measured. Tissue samples of the duodenum, ileum and jejunal from each treatment group were collected and histologically examined. Higher (p<0.05) gizzard pH values were observed in male and female of Ross 308 broiler and Venda chickens. The jejunal and ileal pH values were lower (p<0.05) for Venda chickens than in Ross 308 broiler chickens. The absolute weights of the gastrointestinal tract, crop, proventriculus and gizzard were lighter (p<0.05) in Venda chickens than in Ross 308 broiler chickens. The relative organ weights of the GIT, proventriculus, gizzard and caeca were higher (p<0.05) in Venda chickens than in Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 90 days. Male chickens had higher (p<0.05) relative organ weights than female chickens. Interactions between breed and sex influenced (p<0.05) the absolute weights of the crop, proventriculus, caeca and large intestine. Ileum villus heights of female Venda chickens were higher (p<0.05) than those of female and male Ross 308 broiler and Venda chickens. The male and female Ross 308 broiler chickens had higher (p<0.05) ileum and duodenum crypt depths than male and female Venda chickens. The duodenum and ileum villus height/crypt depth ratios were higher (p<0.05) in male and female Venda chickens than Ross 308 broiler chickens. In overall, male broiler chicken performed better.

Effect of dietary crude fibre level on intake, digestibility and productivity of slow-growing indigenous Venda chickens aged one to 91 days

Histological studies were conducted on the palatine tonsil of six male crossbred goats of six months of age. The tonsils were lined by a stratified squamous non-keratinized surface epithelium which continued into the crypts forming the non-reticular epithelium. At some areas in the crypts, the non-reticular epithelium associated with lymphoid follicles showed a great reduction in height with only one to two intact cell layers and were called reticular epithelium or lymphoepithelium. Propria-submucosa of the palatine tonsil was characterized by dense irregular connective, lymphoid, glandular, adipose and muscular tissues. Lymphoid tissue constituted majority of the palatine tonsil and was organized into primary and secondary lymphoid nodules and dense diffuse lymphatic tissue. Average diameter of lymphoid nodules was 684.17±6.88µm while the lymphocyte count in the nodules was 28826.54±236.25. The average number of lymphatic nodules counted per field under low power magnification of microscope was 2.67±0.42 and the internodular distance was 34.67±1.41. Glandular tissue was present in the deeper areas of propria-submucosa. A well developed connective tissue capsule separated the lymphoid and glandular tissues of the palatine tonsil. In the immunohistochemical staining technique strong positive reaction for cytoplasmic IgG bearing B- lymphocytes was noticed within the germinal centre of lymphoid nodules, towards the base of the FAE and some cells even infiltrated the crypt epithelium. In the mantle zone and internodular area, reaction was very mild indicating that T- lymphocytes predominated in these areas. It was concluded that the palatine tonsils were histologically mature as a local defence mechanism against the harmful substances to be encountered from the environment after birth.

Effect of dietary crude fibre level on intake, digestibility and productivity of slow-growing indigenous Venda chickens aged one to 91 days

Two experiments were conducted to determine diet crude fibre (CF) levels for optimal productivity of slow-growing indigenous Venda chickens. In each experiment the diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous but with different CF levels of 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8%. A complete randomised design was used in both experiments, the starter (1-49 days) and finisher (50-91 days). A quadratic equation was used to determine CF levels for optimal productivity. Dietary CF levels of 3.4, 4.0 and 3.0 % optimised growth rate, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and live weight of unsexed Venda chickens (starter), respectively; and higher dietary CF levels resulted in lower (P less tha 0.05) intake and digestibility. Dietary CF levels of 6.5, 4.3, 3.2 and 4.4 % optimised feed intake, growth rate, nitrogen retention and live weight of male Venda chickens (finisher), respectively; while higher dietary CF levels resulted in poor (P less tha 0.05) FCR and nutrient digestibility. The results indicate that different CF levels optimised production parameters, and dietary CF levels for optimal productivity increased as chickens grew older.

Growth and haematological response of indigenous Venda chickens aged 8 to 13 weeks to varying dietary lysine to energy ratios.

The effect of feeding varying dietary lysine to energy levels on growth and haematological values of indigenous Venda chickens aged 8 - 13 weeks was evaluated. Four hundred and twenty Venda chickens (BW 362 ± 10 g) were allocated to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. Each treatment was replicated seven times, and each replicate had fifteen chickens. Four maize-soya beans-based diets were formulated. Each diet had similar CP (150 g/kg DM) and lysine (8 g lysine/kg DM) but varying energy levels (11, 12, 13 and 14 MJ ME/kg DM). The birds were reared in a deep litter house; feed and water were provided ad libitum. Data on growth and haematological values were collected and analysed using one-way analysis of variance. Duncan's test for multiple comparisons was used to test the significant difference between treatment means (p < 0.05). A quadratic equation was used to determine dietary lysine to energy ratios for optimum parameters which were significant difference. Results showed that dietary energy level influenced (p < 0.05) feed intake, feed conversion ratio, live weight, haemoglobin and pack cell volume values of chickens. Dry matter digestibility, metabolizable energy and nitrogen retention not influenced by dietary lysine to energy ratio. Also, white blood cell, red blood cell, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration in female Venda chickens aged 91 days were not influenced by dietary lysine to energy ratio. It is concluded that dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.672, 0.646, 0.639 and 0.649 optimized feed intake, growth rate, FCR and live weight in indigenous female Venda chickens fed diets containing 8 g of lysine/kg DM, 150 g of CP/kg DM and 11 MJ of ME/kg DM. This has implications in diet formulation for indigenous female Venda chickens.

Effects of egg weight on hatchability, chick hatch-weight and subsequent productivity of indigenous Venda chickens in Polokwane, South Africa

A study was conducted to determine the effect of egg weight on hatchability, chick hatch-weight, mortality and subsequent productivity of indigenous Venda chickens. Three hundred and sixty indigenous Venda chicken eggs were collected for a period of a week and selection was done based on the weight of the eggs. A complete randomized design was used, with four treatment weights, each with 90 eggs. The four treatment weights were as follows: below 49 g, between 50 and 59 g, between 60 and 69 g, and above 70 g. Egg weight was positively and strongly correlated with egg hatchability (r 2 = 0.727) and chick hatch-weight (r 2 = 0.953). Heavier-sized eggs hatched chicks had higher mortality rates. Growth rate and live weight of the chickens were optimized at different egg weights of 56 (r 2 = 0.657) and 60 (r 2 = 0.870) g, respectively, for chickens aged 1 to 7 weeks, and egg weights of 61 g (r 2 = 0.514) and 60 g (r 2 = 0.948), respectively, for chickens aged 8 to 13 weeks. It is concluded that indigenous Venda chicken egg weight affects hatchability, hatch-weight, mortality and subsequent productivity of the chickens. It is concluded that production variables were optimized at different egg weights. This means that the selection of eggs for incubation will depend on the parameter in question. Keywords : Venda chickens, egg weight for optimal productivity, growth, mortality

Dietary energy level for optimum productivity and carcass characteristics of indigenous Venda chickens raised in closed confinement

A study was conducted to determine dietary energy levels for optimum productivity and carcass characteristics of indigenous Venda chickens raised in closed confinement. Four dietary treatments were considered in the first phase (1 to 7 weeks) on two hundred day-old unsexed indigenous Venda chicks indicated as EVS1, EVS2, EVS3 and EVS4 (11, 12, 13 and 14 MJ ME/kg DM, respectively) and each treatment was replicated five times. In the second phase (8 - 13 weeks), 160 indigenous Venda female chickens, aged eight weeks, were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments and each treatment was replicated five times in a completely randomized design. The diets used in both trials were isonitrogenous but with different energy levels. A quadratic equation was used to determine dietary energy levels for optimum feed intake, growth rate, FCR and ME intake at both the starter and grower phases and the carcass characteristics of the birds at 91 days. Dietary energy levels of 12.91, 12.42, 12.34 and 12.62 MJ ME/kg DM feed supported optimum feed intake, growth rate, FCR and ME intake, respectively, for the starter phase. At the grower phase, dietary energy levels of 12.56, 12.66, 12.62 and 12.71 MJ ME/kg DM feed supported optimum feed intake, growth rate, FCR and ME intake, respectively. Carcass, drumstick, thigh and wing had optimum weights at dietary energy levels of 13.81, 13.23, 13.43 and 13.18 MJ ME/ kg DM, respectively. Thus, dietary energy level for optimization depended on the particular production parameter in question.

Comparison of Gastrointestinal Tracts and pH Values of Digestive Organs of Ross 308 Broiler and Indigenous Venda Chickens Fed the Same Diet

Comparison of Gastrointestinal Tracts and pH Values of Digestive Organs of Ross 308 Broiler and Indigenous Venda Chickens Fed the Same Diet

Effect of ascorbic acid supplementation level to diets of indigenous Venda hens on egg production, hatchability and subsequent productivity of chicks

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of ascorbic acid supplementation level to the diets of indigenous Venda hens on egg production, hatchability and subsequent productivity of the chicks. The first part of the study determined the effect of ascorbic acid supplementation level to the diets of Venda hens on feed intake, egg production, egg weight, egg content, hatchability and chick hatch-weight. Seventy five Venda hens were randomly assigned to five dietary ascorbic acid treatment levels with three replications, each having five hens. A complete randomized design was used. The treatments were A 0 (0 ascorbic acid/kg DM feed), A 200 (200 mg ascorbic acid/kg DM feed), A 500 (500 mg ascorbic acid/kg DM feed), A 1000 (1000 mg ascorbic acid/kg DM feed), A 1500 (1500 mg ascorbic acid/kg DM feed). Ascorbic acid supplementation to the diets of indigenous Venda hens improved (P 0.05) on diet digestibility, metabolisable energy, nitrogen retention and mortality of their chickens. These results have implications on ration formulation for indigenous Venda hens. Keywords: Indigenous Venda chickens, ascorbic acid supplementation, optimum feed intake, feed conversion ratio, growth rate, live weight, mortalit

Comparative Study of Three Indigenous Chicken Breeds of South Africa: Body Weight and Linear Body Measurements

The aim of this study was to undertake a comparative evaluation of the body weight and linear body measurements of three indigenous chicken breeds of South Africa, namely: Naked neck, Venda and Potchefstroom koekoek. A total of 222 records obtained from the three intensively reared breeds were used in the study. Data were collected at the experimental farm of the University of Limpopo, South Africa. Treatment means were separated using t-test and analysis of variance with the level of significance set at 5%. Body weight was correlated with the linear body measurements. The parameters evaluated were: Body Weight: BW, Body Length: BL, Body Girth: BG, Wing Length: WL, Shank Thickness: ST and Shank Length: SL. The measurements were taken at maturity (22 weeks of age). Results showed that males of the three breeds were statistically (p 0.05) differences were observed between the three breeds. No difference s (p>0.05) were observed between the Naked neck and Venda chickens for body weight, body girth and shank thickness. BW was best correlated with SL (Naked neck; r = 0.92), ST (Venda; r = 0.80) and ST (Potchefstroom koekoek; r = 0.80). BW was best predicted using SL (Naked neck; -0.5129+0.0825SL), ST (Venda; -0.1381+ 0.4515ST) and ST (Potchefstroom koekoek; -0.2004+0.4621ST). It was concluded that breed differences do exist between the three indigenous South African chicken breeds studied and these differences are in favour of the males and the Potchefstroom koekoek chickens.

Effect of Egg Weight on Physical Egg Parameters and Hatchability of Indigenous Venda Chickens

Effect of Egg Weight on Physical Egg Parameters and Hatchability of Indigenous Venda Chickens

The Response of Male Indigenous Venda Chickens to Diet Energy to Protein Ratios Fed from Seven up to 13 Weeks of Age

An experiment was conducted with the objective of determining the response of male indigenous Venda chickens to varying energy to protein ratio fed from seven upto 13 weeks of age. The experimental design was completely randomized and a quadratic type equation was used to determine ratios for optimum production variables. The results indicate that a single dietary ener gy to protein ratio of 66 MJ ME/ kg protein supported optimum growth rate, live weight, carcass weight and fat pad weight. Dietary ener gy to protein ratios of 74, 65, 73, 71 and 62 MJ ME/ kg protein supported optimum feed intake, Feed feed conversion ratio, metabolisable ener gy intake, nitrogen retention and breast meat yield respectively., in indigenous male Venda. However, no single dietary energy to protein ratio optimized all the production variables under study. This may imply that the nutrient requirements of male indigenous Venda chickens are dependent on the particular production variable in question.

Effect of Dietary Lysine to Energy Ratio on Performance of Unsexed Indigenous Venda Chickens

Effect of Dietary Lysine to Energy Ratio on Performance of Unsexed Indigenous Venda Chickens

Effect of Varying Dietary Energy to Protein Ratio Level on Growth and Productivity of Indigenous Venda Chickens

Effect of Varying Dietary Energy to Protein Ratio Level on Growth and Productivity of Indigenous Venda Chickens

Effect of dietary ascorbic acid supplementation level on productivity, mortality, and carcass characteristics of Venda chickens

Two experiments were carried out to determine the effect of dietary ascorbic acid supplementation levels on productivity, carcass characteristics, and mortality of indigenous Venda chickens. The first experiment determined the effect of dietary ascorbic acid supplementation levels on productivity and mortality rate of 175 unsexed Venda chickens between 1 and 6 weeks old. The second experiment determined the effect of dietary ascorbic acid supplementation levels on productivity, carcass characteristics, and mortality rate of 140 female Venda chickens between 8 and 13 weeks old. A completely randomized design was used in both experiments. Supplementation of grower diets with ascorbic acid ranged from 0 to 2,000 mg per kg DM feed in both experiments. Levels of ascorbic acid supplementation for optimum feed intake, feed conversion ratio, growth rate, live weight, and breast meat yield were determined using a quadratic equation. The optimal dietary ascorbic acid supplementation levels for feed conversion ratio, growth rate, and live weight of Venda chickens during the starter phase were 1,050, 1,301, and 1,500 mg/kg DM feed, while, at the grower phase, the optimal supplementation levels for feed conversion ratio, growth rate, live weight, and breast meat yield were 1,000, 1,250, 1,482, and 769 mg/kg DM feed, respectively. Results indicate that different levels of ascorbic acid supplementation optimized feed conversion ratio, growth rate, and live weight of Venda chickens at each growth phase. However, levels of ascorbic acid supplementation for optimum feed conversion ratio, growth rate, and live weight were higher than that for breast meat yield. These findings have implications on ration formulation for Venda chickens.

Genetic parameter estimates for body weight in local Venda chickens

Genetic parameters were estimated for Venda chicken body weights at hatching, and at 4 weeks, 10 weeks and 21 weeks of age. A single-trait animal model with restricted maximum-likelihood procedures was used. Random effects were additive direct and maternal genetic, common environmental and error. The heritability estimates for direct effects were 0.36, 0.25, 0.41 and 0.22 for hatch, 4 weeks, 10 weeks and 21 weeks, respectively. The maternal effects were estimated at hatch and 4 weeks of age and were not present at later ages. Common environmental effects disappeared with increasing age. There was an antagonistic relationship between direct and maternal effects. The results show potential for genetic improvement of indigenous Venda chickens through selection. Maternal effects should be considered if selection is carried out at early ages.