Asian Journal of Research in Animal and Veterinary Sciences
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Production and Valorization of Maggot Meal: Sustainable Source of Proteins for Indigenous Chicks
No full textAims: The feed industry needs new sources of highly digestible protein to substitute other valuable limited protein sources of animal origin such as fishmeal in animal feed. The aim of this study was to exploit the potential of the housefly larvae (maggots) in production of a low-cost, high-quality protein source to supplement feeds for poultry farmers.
Methodology: A trial on production of maggot meal was conducted at the farm of the University of Dschang, using substrates such as: cow dung, chicken manure and pig manure. These substrates were supplemented with fish waste which was used as a seed. A completely randomized design with three treatments (substrates) and four replicates was used. After harvest, the maggots were dried and ground to get maggot meal which was used in the diets of 45 on-day-old, non-sexed indigenous chicks. For growth experiments, a random design of three treatments and three replicates was used. Fishmeal was partly and totally substituted by maggot meal in two experimental diets, which were used to feed two groups of 15 chicks. A third group of 15 chicks was fed with a control diet, without maggot meal. Each chick was considered as an experimental unit and was fed for a period of eight weeks.
Results: Maggots were harvested four days after oviposition regardless of the substrate. Supplement with fish waste, maggots production of differences substrates doesn’t show significant difference (P > 0.05). The productivity of pig manure was slightly higher (260.32±73.18 g), followed by chicken manure (254.12±50.59 g) and cow dung (249.97±72.44 g). The chicks subjected to the experimental diet in which the fishmeal has been totally substituted by maggot meal recorded significantly higher average weight gain (886.60±158.50 g) as compared to those subjected to the partially substituted and control diets, which recorded 650.59±103.50 g and 611.20±136.90 g, respectively at the end of the experiment.
Conclusion: The results indicated that maggot meal can be used as an alternative to fishmeal in poultry feed.  
Comparison of Two Mathematical Models to Describe the Rumen Fermentation Parameters of Some Sources of Plant and Animal Protein Using in Vitro Gas Method
No full textAims: To compare, on an experimental basis, the respective relevance of two mathematical models estimating the rumen fermentation parameters of some plant and animal protein sources: the “exponential” model by Ørskov & McDonald (EXP) and the” sigmoid” model by France et al. (FRC).
Study Design: The study was conducted at the University of Ardebil (Iran) between 2014 and 2016. In order to conduct the experimental part of the study, sources of plant protein (soybean meal, rapeseed meal and cottonseed meal) and sources of animal protein (poultry offal meal, fish meal and blood meal) were obtained from the agricultural sector and the local slaughterhouse.
Methodology: Gas production was measured for 6 feeding contents in 3 repeats at 3 separate periods. The volume of gas produced after 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 24, 36, 48 and 72 hours incubation was measured and checked against two models estimating gas production parameters and ruminal fermentation kinetics.
Results: The amounts of gas production potential and the rate constant gas production according to both models, EXP and FRC, was not significantly different. However, the two models differ significantly regarding the length of the lag phase (T lag) which is significantly longer in the model EXP, than in the model FRC; due to model EXP substantially overestimating the actual time-lags.
Conclusion: The sigmoid model FRC, proposed by France et al., appears providing more relevant estimates than does the exponential model EXP by Ørskov & McDonald, at least regarding the duration of the lag phase before starting of the fermentation process. Accordingly, it seems that the sigmoid FRC model should be preferred over the exponential EPXP model
Carcass Characteristics of West African Dwarf (Bucks) Fed Yeast and Lactic Acid Bacteria Fortified Diets
No full textThis study was conducted to determine the carcass characteristics and meat quality of bucks fed diets fortified with yeast and lactic acid bacteria. 30 West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks (8.50±1.59 kg) were allotted to six dietary treatments with five (5) animals per group in a complete randomized design. The treatments were: diet without antibiotics or probiotics (control D1), control + antibiotics (D2), control + 2.50 g yeast (D3), control + 5.00 g yeast (D4), control + 2.50 g yeast + lactobacillus acidophilus (D5) and control + 5.00 g yeast + lactobacillus acidophilus (D6), where D5 and D6 were fortified with Lactobacillus acidophilus at 1.00 x 1012 cfu/g each. At the end of the feeding trial, three animals per treatment were slaughtered after being starved for 18 hours. There was no significant difference in final body weight and average daily gain which ranged from 10.60 kg to 11.75 kg and 20.79 g/day to 28.29 g/day respectively. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in physical characteristics except for the rib eye area (REA) which was higher (P≤0.05) in D6 than D1, D4 and D5 (12.33 cm2 vs 7.67, 9.33 and 9.33 cm2) respectively. Brisket was influenced (P>0.05) with D3 (8.33%) lower than D5 (11.35%). Colour, marbling, temperature, water holding capacity (WHC) and pH at O and 1 hr were significantly different (P≤0.05) as a result of treatment effect. The meat cholesterol decreased (P<0.05) with increase in probiotics inclusion. These results showed that inclusion of yeast and Lactobacillus acidophilus even up to 5.00 g in the diet of WAD bucks impacted positively on the carcass characteristics and meat quality of bucks without any deleterious effect
Human and Animal Trypanosomiasis in Lambwe Valley Foci, Kenya– Current Situation and Latent Trypanotolerance
No full textHuman and animal trypanosomiasis are threats to both animal and human health in Sub-Saharan Africa. Numerous integrated vector control programs in Lambwe Valley foci have not been in tandem with insights aimed at investigating the prevalence trends besides assessing possible trypanotolerance in cattle. The cross-sectional survey enlisted human and cattle subjects for examination. Prevalence of trypanosomiasis in animal subjects was 9.2%. Blood parameters; white blood cells, lymphocytes and granulocytes were significantly lower among the parasitaemic as compared to the aparasitaemic animals except for monocyte proportions whereas, Red blood cells indices were depressed in trypanosomiasis. Viewed together, the presented findings point to animal trypanosomiasis cases in Lambwe Valley with chronic anemia and depressed white blood cell levels persisting as the most common features of the disease. High throughput molecular-based techniques currently not accessible should be incorporated into national and regional governance control programs as well as monitoring and evaluation strategies and this should be applied at both veterinary and clinical settings. Such efforts will go a long way in operationalization of modern advanced practices while mitigating likely clinical and veterinary challenge around accurate cases profiling and management based on the current widely available and applied prognosis/diagnostic strategies
Effect of Mucuna pruriens (Velvet Bean) Seed Meal Diet at Varying Levels on Blood Profile and Reproductive Performance of Rabbit Bucks
No full textThis study was conducted (August to October, 2018) to investigate the effect of varying levels of Mucuna pruriens seed meal diet on reproductive performance and blood profile of rabbit bucks. A total of 30 rabbit bucks weighing 1083 g to 1100 g were randomly allocated to five experimental diets replicated into six containing 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% of Mucuna pruriens seed meal diet in a 2 month (8 week) trial. The phytochemical screening results shows no cardiac glycosides and alkaloids, in Mucuna pruriens seed screened, but a weak presence of resins, saponins, glycosides, steroids and terpens and antitraques, and moderate presence of flavonoids and tannins in Mucuna pruriens seed. The results revealed that the inclusion of Mucuna pruriens seed meal in the diet of rabbit bucks had significant (P < 0.05) effect on average daily feed intake with the highest value occurring at 0% (T1) MSM level of inclusion and lowest at 10% (T3), average final weight and average weight gain with the highest values at 20% (5) MSM level of inclusion and lowest at 0% (T1) for AFW and AWG respectively. The feed conversion ratio was significantly (P < 0.05) different between the treatment groups, and the values were generally similar in numerical comparison to those in the control group. A significant (P < 0.05) difference occurred in the relative weight of vital internal organs of the rabbit bucks between the treatment groups with respect to liver with highest relative weight at 0% (T1) and lowest value in 15% (T3) MSM level of inclusion, and the relative weight of the organs were generally similar in numerical comparison to those in the control group. The inclusion of Mucuna pruriens seed meal in the diets of the rabbit bucks also had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on relative weights of the reproductive organs except the paired testes weight which was significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by the effect of the MSM diet meanwhile testis volume, length and width did not show a significant (P > 0.05) difference between the groups but the mean epididymal (left) length significantly (P < 0.05) affected by the influenced of the MSM diet. The haematological parameters evaluated showed no significant (P > 0.05) difference on PCV, RBC, MCV, MCH, WBC and LDC (leukocytes differential count (N.L.M.E.B)). There were significant (P < 0.05) difference among treatments in Hb and MCHC. Rabbits fed 0 and 20% for Hb and 15% for MCHC MSM diets had significantly (P < 0.05) higher value than those of rabbits fed 20% MSM diet. The effect of MSM diet did not influenced (P > 0.05) the rabbits on total protein, albumin and glucose levels, and their values were comparable to those in the control, thus MSM diet influenced (P < 0.05) rabbit bucks on globulin, urea, creatinine, cholesterol, AST, ALT and ALP among the treatment groups. Significant (P < 0.05) differences in the mean value of testis density were observed in the left and paired testis density between the treatment groups and this could be attributed to increase sperm production. The MSM had positive effect on the physiological status (RR and HR) of the rabbit bucks and improved significantly (P < 0.05) most of the growth and reproductive traits studied. The lowest (17.44°C) Temperature humidity index during the study was observed in August (first week of experiment) and the highest (21.16°C) Temperature humidity index also was observed in August (third week of experiment), 2018. The study revealed that the rabbit bucks did not experience heat stress throughout the experimental period since the weekly THI means observed (17.44 to 21.16°C) were below (27.8°C) heat stress condition. The histological parameters showed normal structure of the seminiferous tubules and germ cells in their various stages of maturation arranged in a layered order. However, the seminiferous tubules were better organized with complete spermatogenesis, and more clearly defined in groups 2 (5%), 3 (10%) and 4 (15%) respectively and their epithelia were structurally intact and show normal germ cells compared to those in group 1 (control) and 5 (20%). It is concluded that the inclusion of Mucuna pruriens seed meal diet up to 20% in rabbit bucks diet would guarantee a good health and growth performance without any deleterious effect on germ cell differentiation, reproductive organ weights and physiological responses. From the findings, it appears Mucuna pruriens seed meal diet is a potential enhancer of male reproductive performance that can be recommended to rabbit farmers for improving reproductive performance, hence a boon to reproduction and production in rabbit farming industry
Effect of Air-Dried Mucuna (Mucuna pruriens) Leaf Meal in the Diets of Grower Rabbit Bucks on the Performance, Nutrient Digestibility and Economic Cost of Production
No full textA twelve week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of air-dried mucuna (Mucuna pruriens) leaf meal (MLM) in the diets of grower rabbit bucks. Mucuna leaf meal was included at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. Thirty grower rabbits bucks were assigned to five experimental dietary treatments denoted T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively in a completely Randomized Design (CRD). Each treatment had six rabbits with each serving as a replicate. Results of performance showed that there were no significant differences in final body weight, daily weight gain, daily feed and protein intake. Protein efficiency ratio and feed conversion ratio were significantly higher at T1. Nutrient digestibility by rabbit indicates significant different (p<0.05) in ether extract (EE), crude fibre (CF), and crude protein (CP). EE and CF were significantly higher at T4, and CP was highest at T1. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in NFE across the treatments. There was also no significant difference (P>0.05) for cost per kg gain. Cost of feed consumed, total cost and percentage feed cost were significantly higher (P<0.05) at T1, T2, and T3. Percentage drug cost was significantly better (P<0.05) at T4 and T5, percentage cage cost and animal were statistically depressed (P<0.05) at T1, T2 and T3 and highest at T5. It was concluded that mucuna (Mucuna pruriens) leaf meal has potentials as a valuable unconventional leguminous feedstuff. The use of Mucuna pruriens leaf meal in the diets of rabbit bucks promoted growth best at 5% and thus carcass yield. Rabbit farmer can incorporate Mucuna pruriens leaf meal at 5% for growth performance
Effect of Tapioca Levels on Production of Swine
No full textThere is little definitive information available regarding tapioca’s effect on the swine performance and meat quality. Thus, this study was carried out. Thirty-six cross-bred [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] growing-finishing swine with their average initial BW of 26.5±2.1 kg was used in this study. The animals were fed with control (no addition of tapioca), treatment 1 (T1 – 10% tapioca) and treatment 2 (T2 – 20% tapioca) for different periods (tapioca as-fed basis). The experimental period lasted for 98d. Carcass characteristics, physicochemical properties, meat composition and sensory test were not significantly different among treatments except for the carcass weight which was increased (p<0.05) in the tapioca diet groups. Swine fed with tapioca-replaced diet has no detrimental effects on growth performance or meat quality. Instead, it significantly increased the carcass weight. Therefore, we conclude that tapioca replacement of 20% can aid as alternative feed ingredient of energy source in improving carcass weight for growing-finishing swine
Chemical and Minerals Composition of Dried Ruminal Fluid with Spray Drying Method with Various Hydrocolloids
No full textThis study was conducted to determine the chemical and minerals composition of dried ruminal fluid with spray drying method with various hydrocolloids. Rumen contents were taken from the slaughterhouse and powdered by spray drying with different hydrocolloids including sodium alginate (RA), guar gum (RG), chitosan (RC) and maltodextrin (RM) in two ratios (0.5 and 1% (w/v)). Samples were analyzed with a completely randomized design. The results of mean percentages showed the samples contained moisture (617 ± 0.60 to 7.29 ± 0.03%), crude protein (9.96 ± 0.06 to 13.02 ± 0.04%), ether extract (1.82 ± 0.11 to 3.43 ± 0.13%), Ash (16.25 ± 0.21 to 22.67 ± 0.15%), NDF (24.18 ± 0.12 to 27.90 ± 0.10%), and carbohydrates (36.84 ± 0.05 to 44.54 ± 0.56%). The minerals were sodium (1.98 ± 0.12 to 4.02 ± 0.17%), potassium (0.46 ± 0.07 to 0.76 ± 0.10%), magnesium (0.69 ± 0.05 to 1.02 ± 0.07%), calcium (0.33 ± 0.02 to 0.70±0.05%) and phosphorous (1.22 ± 0.07 to 1.87± 0.01%). The results indicated that dried ruminal fluid with spray drying method with various hydrocolloids has nutrition values that could provide nutrients and minerals for livestock. It is recommended in the diet of animals
Acute and Sub-acute Toxicity Evaluation of Methanolic Leaf Extract of Corchorus olitorius in Experimental Animal Models
No full textAim: In this study, the oral toxicity potential of Corchorus olitorius leaf extract was evaluated in rats.
Methods: Acute and sub-acute toxicity studies were carried out on different sets of rats treated with graded doses of the extract. In the acute toxicity study, forty five albino mice assigned to nine groups of five mice each were administered different doses of the extract ranging from 500 mg/kg body weight to 8000 mg/kg body weight and were observed for toxicity signs and mortalities. For the sub-acute toxicity study, four groups of rats were assigned treatments. While group 1 rats served as the control, groups 2, 3 and 4 were the test groups and were administered 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight of the extract respectively for 28 days.
Results: The results of acute toxicity evaluation indicated an LD50 value of 7100 mg/kg. In the sub-acute toxicity study, no significant difference was observed between relative organ weights for test groups at lower dose treatments (P>0.05). Basal Metabolic Index values were significantly lower in all test groups (P<0.05). RBC count, PCV values and haemoglobin concentrations were significantly increased following treatment except in the 1000 mg/kg treated group where a decline was observed with a concurrent increase in white blood cell count. Platelet count was also significantly lowered in the 1000 mg/kg body weight treatment group (P<0.05). Serum urea, creatinine, AST, ALT, ALP, total protein and serum electrolyte concentrations were all significantly elevated in the 1000 mg/kg extract treated group (P<0.05). Liver sections showed some degree of liver damage when compared with control, while kidney sections were intact in all test groups.
Conclusion: Hence, low to moderate consumption of Corchorus olitorius leaves extract may cause no toxic effects to the blood, liver or kidney. However, high dose administrations over a long period of time may pose threats of toxicity to the blood and liver
Effect Year of Calving and Parity on the Productive Performance of Holstein Friesian Cows in Vom Nigeria
No full textA total of one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine (1839) lactation records of cows calved from 2006 to 2017 were analyzed to estimate the effect of non-genetic factors on productive performance traits of Holstein-Friesian cows in Integrated Dairy Farm Vom. Data were analyzed using general linear models of SAS 2001 (version 8.0). Results revealed that the overall least square means of Lactation Milk Yield (LMY), Productive herd life (PHL), Herd life (HL), lifetime milk yield (LTMY) and lactation length (LL) were 4716.1 ±243 litres 1831.8±73.9 days, 2984.9±91.6 days, 15524±1544 litres and 268.00 ± 432 days respectively. Years of calving had significant (P<0.05) effect on LMY, PHL, HL, LL and LTMY of the dam, while Parity also significantly (P<0.05) influenced the lactation milk yield of the dam. The observed productive performance of Holstein Friesian cattle under Vom condition was generally commendable. This may be attributed to improved management practices (such as high quality feed), maternal gene effect and adaptation of Holstein Friesian breed to the climatic condition of Vom area