Growth performance, carcass composition, leg bones, and digestive system characteristics in Pekin duck broilers fed a diet diluted with whole wheat grain

2019 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 781-791
Author(s):  
Dariusz Kokoszyński ◽  
Mohamed Saleh ◽  
Zenon Bernacki ◽  
Tomasz Topoliński ◽  
Marek Andryszczyk ◽  
...  

A total of 270 Pekin ducks were reared for 49 d to determine the effect of feeding a diluted complete commercial wheat grain diet on live weight, feed intake and conversion, carcass, leg bone, and digestive system traits. Different feeding regimes had a significant effect on the body weight of the ducks aged 35 d and the feed conversion ratio in the period between days 22 and 35 of rearing. Dilution of a complete commercial diet with whole wheat grain had no significant influence on the final live weight (day 49), feed intake, and feed conversion ratio during the entire rearing period. Ducks fed a diet with whole wheat grain had a significantly higher dressing percentage after higher percentage of pectoral muscles, skin with subcutaneous fat, abdominal fat, as well as a significantly lower percentage of carcass remainders at the age of 49 d. Dilution of a complete commercial diet with whole wheat grain had no impact on the length of the respective intestinal sections nor on the weight and percentage share of gizzard, liver, heart, and spleen. However, it significantly lowered the fracture strength of the tibiotarsus, and decreased some dimensions of the femur and tibiotarsus.

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-62
Author(s):  
Mubarak Haladu ◽  
Ahmed Abubakar

The experiment was carried out to determine the overall performance and economic analysis of broiler chickens fed different commercial diets marketed in Kano metropolis. A total of 112 day-old Zertek strain of broiler chicks were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments coded as A, B, C and Din a completely randomized design. Each group was replicated 4 times with seven birds per replicate. Birds were weighed at the onset of the experiment and weekly thereafter. Feed intake and live weight gain were measured, recorded and used to determine the feed conversion ratio. The chicks were managed on a deep litter system and the experiment lasted for six weeks. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum throughout the feeding trial. Results revealed that feed intake of birds ranged from 78.5-87.3 (g/b/d), live weight gain ranged from 49.3 – 53.9 (g/b/d) while feed conversion ratio ranged between 1.59 and 1.64. There were no significant (P > 0.05) differences in feed intake and feed conversion ratio. However, significant (P < 0.05) difference was observed in live weight gain where birds on treatments B, C, and D were superior to birds on treatment A. The market costs of the feeds at the time of the experiment were used to calculate the feed cost (₦ / kg), total feed cost (₦), feed cost (₦ /kg gain). Feed cost ₦/kg gain was best in treatment A. Keywords: Appraisal, Performance, Broiler birds, Commercial feed, Kano state.


2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-185
Author(s):  
B. A. Ukorebi ◽  
P. N. Gboshe ◽  
V. N. Meremikwu

A ten-week trial was conducted to examine the effect of feeding four wild forages (Daniella oliveri, Sarcopcephalus latifolia, Vitex doniana and Ficus thoningii) on the performance characteristics of rabbits; the four forages constituted treatments 1 – 4, respectively. Twenty four unsexed rabbits of mixed breeds aged, between four and five weeks with average weight of 514g were used for the study. The animals were randomly allotted to the four treatments, each with three replicates of two rabbits per replicates. The parameters measured were, feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass parts and organs weights. The results o the proximate composition especially crude protein (CP) and crude fibre (CF) were within the ranges of 15-30% CP and 20-45% CF respectively as recommended for optimum performance of rabbits. The results of the performance generally showed positive growth response as all the forages had potentials for supporting rabbit growth. The live weight gain and feed intake of experimental rabbits were significantly different (P<0.05). However, feed conversion ratio was not significantly (p>0.05) affected by the treatments. No health hazards of any nature were encountered throughout the experiment which may imply that these forages apart from supporting growth may also be medicinal. From the results, the best of the forages, viewed from the performance perspective, appears to be Ficus thoningi, which suggests that it may have supplied adequate nutrients that may be lacking in grassland pastures in the dry season, it is therefore recommended for feeding of growing rabbits.


2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 93-98
Author(s):  
A. M. Umar

Energy is an important component of diets without which animals will not grow. Thus, a study was conducted to investigate the effect of low dietary energy on growth performance of broiler chicken at finisher stage. Two hundred and twenty five Zartech strain day old chicks were raised intensively for four weeks in a completely randomized design. The birds were grouped into three treatments of 75 birds and sub-divided into three replications of 25 birds. Three experimental diets of three energy levels (2,400; 2,600 and 2,800 ME Kcal/Kg designated A, B and C, respectively) with 20% crude protein were formulated and fed to the broiler chickens to assess feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ration and feed cost gain ration. The data were subjected to one way analysis of variance and means were separated using least significant difference. Results showed that feed intake decreased as the energy value of the feed increased. There was significant (p<0.05) difference in total feed intake between the treatments. No significant (p>0.05) difference was recorded in terms of initial live weight, final live weight, feed conversion ratio, feed conversion efficiency, feed cost and cost/gain. Feed cost showed progressive increase as the energy level of the diet increased. Lowest cost/gain ratio was reported from diet C. It was concluded that feed intake decreased as the energy value of the feed increased. It is therefore, recommended that broiler chickens should be fed with diet containing 2 800 ME Kcal/Kg as it provides the least feed conversion ratio.


1963 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. G. Whitelaw ◽  
T. R. Preston ◽  
N. A. MacLeod

SUMMARY1. A 2×2×2 factorial experiment was carried out with 8 blocks of 8 early-weaned Friesian male calves on the 8 treatment combinations of the following factors: (A) groundnut meal versus white-fish meal as the major protein source; (B) presence versus absence of antibiotic and (C) restricted versus ad lib. feeding. The experiment was conducted over the live-weight range 55–90 kg.2. The inclusion of fish meal rather than groundnut meal in the diet resulted in highly significant increases in both rate of gain and feed conversion efficiency (P < 0·001). This effect was most apparent at the higher level of feed intake.3. The addition of antibiotic to the diet increased rate of gain (P < 0·001) and improved feed conversion ratio (P <0·01). Feed intake was increased slightly but non-significantly (P <0.1) on the ad lib. feeding level as a result of antibiotic supplementation.4. Feed conversion ratio was lower and feed intake and rate of gain were higher on ad lib. than on restricted feed (P < 0·001 in each instance).5. There was a significant (P < 0·05) level of feeding × antibiotic interaction, indicating that the difference between restricted and ad lib. feeding was greater in the presence than in the absence of antibiotic. No other significant interactions were observed.6. The use of fish meal in preference to groundnut meal is shown to be justified on economic grounds.


2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 91
Author(s):  
Edy Rianto ◽  
Anna Sofia Iswaldi ◽  
Sularno Dartosukarno

<p>An experiment was carried out to compare the performance of Grade Ongole (GO) and its crossing with Limousin (GL) bulls fed King Grass and brewery by-product. Four GO (weighed: 198.50 ± 38.04 kg) and four GL bulls (weighed: 248.84 ± 36,39 kg) were fed king grass and brewery by-product with ratio of 50:50. The amount of dry matter given was 3% of live weight. The parameters measured were feed intake, feed digestibility, liveweight gain (LWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). The Results the two breed were not significantly different (P&gt;0.05) in parameters measured. Dry matter intakes of GO and GL were 2,59 and 2.52% of body weight, respectively. The dry matter disgestibilities were 50.98 in GO and 45.74 in GL. Liveweight gains of GO and GL were 0.74 and 0.88 kg/day, respectively. Feed conversion ratios in GO and GL were 8.49, respectively. It was concluded that GO and GL bulls had similar production performance.</p>


2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 627 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. I. Velazco ◽  
R. M. Herd ◽  
D. J. Cottle ◽  
R. S. Hegarty

As daily methane production (DMP; g CH4/day) is strongly correlated with dry matter intake (DMI), the breeding of cattle that require less feed to achieve a desired rate of average daily gain (ADG) by selection for a low residual feed intake (RFI) can be expected to reduce DMP and also emission intensity (EI; g CH4/kg ADG). An experiment was conducted to compare DMP and EI of Angus cattle genetically divergent for RFI and 400-day weight (400dWT). In a 6-week grazing study, 64 yearling-age cattle (30 steers, 34 heifers) were grazed on temperate pastures, with heifers and steers grazing separate paddocks. Liveweight (LW) was monitored weekly and DMP of individual cattle was measured by a GreenFeed emission monitoring unit in each paddock. Thirty-nine of the possible 64 animals had emission data recorded for 15 or more days, and only data for these animals were analysed. For these cattle, regression against their mid-parent estimated breeding value (EBV) for post-weaning RFI (RFI-EBV) showed that a lower RFI-EBV was associated with higher LW at the start of experiment. Predicted dry matter intake (pDMI), predicted DMP (pDMP) and measured DMP (mDMP) were all negatively correlated with RFI-EBV (P < 0.05), whereas ADG, EI, predicted CH4 yield (pMY; g CH4/kg DMI) were not correlated with RFI-EBV (P > 0.1). Daily CH4 production was positively correlated with animal LW and ADG (P < 0.05). The associations between ADG and its dependent traits EI and pMY and predicted feed conversion ratio (kg pDMI/kg ADG) were strongly negative (r = –0.82, –0.57 and –0.85, P < 0.001) implying that faster daily growth by cattle was accompanied by lower EI, MY and feed conversion ratio. These results show that cattle genetically divergent for RFI do not necessarily differ in ADG, EI or pMY on pasture and that, if heavier, cattle with lower RFI-EBV can actually have higher DMP while grazing moderate quality pastures.


1964 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henning E. Nielsen

Sixteen blocks of eight littermate pigs were weaned at 3 weeks of age and each divided into four groups. Various levels of nutrition were applied to the pigs so that the four groups reached 20 kg. at 59, 68, 80 and 91 days of age, respectively.Only small differences were observed between groups in feed conversion ratio to 20 kg.; however, Group 4 required more feed per kg. gain than the three other groups.During the second period (20–90 kg.) the pigs in each group were divided into two sub-groups, which were on a high and a low plane of nutrition respectively. In both sub-groups the type of feeding before 20 kg. influenced the average daily gain and feed conversion ratio. The older the pigs were at 20 kg. the higher the daily gain and the lower the feed conversion ratio in the following period. There was an increase in daily feed intake with increased age at 20 kg. for pigs fed ad lib. during the second period.An increase in age at 20 kg. caused a significant decrease in thickness of backfat, a greater area of eye muscle and a smaller area of fat overlying muscle. For pigs fed ad lib. the area of eye muscle was significantly increased by a higher age at 20 kg. live-weight.


2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Sultana ◽  
KS Huque ◽  
MZ Rahman ◽  
NG Das

The study was conducted with the objectives to understand the effect of age of native Pabna bulls on feed conversion ratio (FCR), digestibility and carcass yield characteristics. Fifteen Pabna bulls having five  in each age groups of 6 to12, 13 to 24 and 25 to 36 months  were fed   ad libitum mix silages of Splendida (Setaria splendida) and Andrpogan (Andropogon gyunus) grasses (1:1 fresh) and supplemented with a concentrate mixture at 1% of live weight (LW) for a period of 72 days. With the increase of age, and subsequently LW (initial LW: 98.2, 182.6 and 288 kg, respectively), there was significant decrease in dry matter (DM) intake as % LW (<0.05; 2.94, 2.61 and 2.36, respectively) and increased daily gain (<0.01; 294, 519 and 597 g/d, respectively). However, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) (>0.05; 10.88, 10.10 and 12.24, respectively) and DM digestibility (>0.05; 51.0, 48.1 and 49.1 %, respectively) of bulls were remained unchanged. In case of carcass yield characteristics, significantly lower yield grade (<0.01; 1.79, 1.27 and 0.20, respectively) of bulls of 25 to 36 years produced higher closely trimmed boneless retail cuts (CTBRC) (<0.01; 50.47, 51.64 and 54.14 %, respectively), retail cut (<0.01; 76.14, 78.55 and 83.48 %, respectively) and meat quality index (MQI) (<0.01; 67.28, 67.89 and 69.07, respectively) compared to younger bulls. It may, therefore, be recommended that beef cattle farming with native Pabna bulls of 24 to 36 months will give more daily LW gain and produce more CTBRC at a similar FCR compared to younger ones.Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2017. 46 (1): 17-23


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-54
Author(s):  
Nadezhda Palova ◽  
Jivko Nakev ◽  
Teodora Popova ◽  
Maya Ignatova

Abstract(An experiment with two groups of East Balkan pigs – castrated males (n=10) and females (n=10), was carried out to study the growth performance and fattening abilities of the animals from the weaning until slaughter. The pigs were included in the trial at 60 day age. The average live weight of the castrated males was 8. 65±1.08 kg and for the females, 8.5±0.62 kg.The pigs were reared using traditional technology, grazing on natural pastures in the Strandzha mountain, Bulgaria. In autumn, acorns were naturally present in their diet. According to the category, the animals additionally received ground organic feed (50% barley and 50% wheat). The trial lasted 304 days (from February to November, 2019). During this period the final live weight of the male castrated pigs reached 88.00 kg while that of the females was 84.4 kg. The difference, however, was not significant. Furthermore, no significant differences in the growth performance characteristics that could be attributed to the sex of the animals were observed. The average daily gain of both sexes tended to be lower in summer and higher in autumn. The feed conversion ratio was higher in summer. The animals showed high average daily weight gain at pasture when their live weight was over 50 kg.


Author(s):  
Tsukasa Yoshidomi ◽  
Kazuaki Tanaka ◽  
Tatsuya Takizawa ◽  
Satoshi Nikaido ◽  
Tetsuya Ito ◽  
...  

Copy number variation (CNV) of the AMY gene in humans has been enthusiastically studied for its association with starch digestibility and obesity. The alpha-amylase (AMY) is a major starch digestive enzyme in mammals. This study aimed to determine the association between CNV of the porcine pancreatic amylase (AMY2B) gene and feed efficiency. Improvement of feed efficiency in growing pigs is of great economic interest. We assayed the copy number of AMY2B by using real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) in a Large White pig population. We identified three genotypes for AMY2B CNVs, namely I/I (homozygotes of haplotype I; a chromosome with one copy of AMY2B), I/II (heterozygotes of haplotype I and II; a chromosome with two copies) and II/II (homozygotes of haplotype II). We tested the genotypes of the parental generation consisting of six males, 21 females and 265 offspring piglets to validate the AMY2B CNV genotyping. With very few mistyping exceptions, copy numbers of AMY2B were transmitted to piglets in segregation ratios following Mendelian inheritance. Finally, we performed an association analysis between the CNV of the AMY2B gene and feed efficiency traits in 207 uncastrated male pigs. The generalised linear model analysis showed the significant effects of AMY2B CNV genotype on average daily feed intake, total feed intake and feed conversion ratio during growth from 30 kg to 100 kg body weight. However, it was not associated with average daily gain, backfat thickness and loin eye muscle area. Individuals with the genotype I/I had about 76.6 ± 27.1 g lower average daily feed intake, 5.35 ± 1.90 kg lower total feed intake and 0.089 8 ± 0.026 5 lower feed conversion ratio than individuals with I/II and II/II genotypes. Thus, AMY2B CNV has the potential to be an effective genetic marker that could reduce feed costs for pig farming.  


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