scholarly journals Development of captive Juvenile male Grasscutters (Thryonomys swinderianus. Temminck 1827) fed with two common forage grass species in Nigeria

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 89-98
Author(s):  
JA Ogunjobi ◽  
BW Adu ◽  
SA Onadeko ◽  
OB Jayeola

Context: Sustainable utilization of abundant forage grass species in Nigeria is very crucial in grasscutter domestication programme. Objective: This study evaluates comparative effects of Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus) parts on growth performance of captive-bred juvenile male grasscutters. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted inside Grasscutter Domestication Unit of Federal College of Wildlife Management, New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria. The experimental animal comprised of twenty-four juvenile males (JM) with mean live-weight of 410±2.11g fed four basal dietary treatment combinations: Elephant grass stem (EGS), Elephant Grass Leaf (EGL), Gamba Grass Stem (GGS) and Gamba Grass Leaf (GGL) in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement for 120 days to obtain data which includes feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), weight gain (WG), nutrient digestibilities of dry matter (DM) and crude fibre (CF). Results: Average daily feed intake (FI) in JM was significantly (p<0.05) higher in experimental animals fed with GGS (107.23g/d) and EGS (106.21g/d) relative to GGL (105.89g/d) and EGL (105.14g/d). EGL exhibited higher (4.45g/d) WG and lowest (23.69) FCR. JM fed EGL recorded highest digestibility of DM (85.64%) and CF (83.84%), respectively. Grass species and parts interaction showed significant variation (p<0.05) on FI, DM and CF of the animals when fed EGL. Conclusion: It was evident that EGL was maximally utilized by captive-bred juvenile male grasscutters for growth performance hence, feeding of captive male grass cutters with EGL as basal food for table meat production is recommended. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbs.v21i0.22523 J. bio-sci. 21: 89-98, 2013

Author(s):  
Peter Gboshe ◽  
Ebiloma Osarenakhue

The study was designed to determine the effect of concentrated feed regimes on nutrients digestibility of grasscutters (Thryonomys swinderianus) fed Pennisetum purpureum as basal feed. A total of fifty grower Grasscutters were randomly assigned to 5 treatment groups of 10 Grasscutters each with 5 replicates, two animals serving as a replicate. Treatment was 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 for 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9%, respectively, of concentrated feed served at their weekly live weight. Parameters measured included apparent coefficient of digestibility and percentage digestible nutrients. The results obtained showed that the coefficient of digestibility showed a significant difference in all the nutrients evaluated. Percentage digestible nutrients and total digestible nutrients were also significantly affected. The high coefficient of digestibility of the various nutrients and total digestible nutrients are indications that adequate nutrients were available for growth and maintenance of the grasscutters. The findings of this study suggested that supplementation of forage with formulated concentrate can be an aid in the digestion of nutrients by grasscutters for their growth performance while in captivity. The digestibility of nutrients when concentrate supplement and elephant grass were combined, particularly 5% concentrate supplement was not affected. Based on the results, it was, therefore, recommended that it should be used in improving the growth performance of grasscutters.


2002 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. I. M. ALMEIDA ◽  
E. G. OLIVEIRA ◽  
P. R. RAMOS ◽  
N. VEIGA ◽  
K. DIAS

Com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito de duas linhagens (italiana e japonesa) e de dois níveis de proteína bruta (20 e 26% PB) sobre o desempenho para corte foram utilizados 144 machos de codorna, criados em gaiola de 1 a 49 dias. Foram alojadas nove aves por gaiola, sorteadas de acordo com um esquema fatorial 2 x 2 em delineamento inteiramente aleatorizado com quatro repetições. O desempenho foi avaliado semanalmente. A linhagem italiana apresentou maiores peso médio, ganho de peso médio e consumo médio do que a japonesa. O consumo médio relativo e a conversão alimentar da linhagem italiana foram menores, indicando melhor capacidade de utilização do alimento. Abstract Male quails (144) were reared from 1 to 49 days in cages, to evaluate the effect of line (Italian and Japanese), and crude protein level (20 and 26% CP) upon growth performance for meat production. Nine birds were housed per cage, sorted out according to a 2 x 2 factorial scheme in an entirely randomized design with 4 repetitions. Growth performance was evaluated weekly. The Italian line had higher mean body weight, mean gain weight and mean feed intake than the Japanese line. The Italian line showed lower or equal means of feed intake adjusted for body weight, indicating that it had better feed utilization. Mean feed conversion of the italian line was better than that of the Japanese line.


1983 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 709-716 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. B. Moran

SUMMARYIndonesian Ongole and swamp buffalo bulls were fed ad libitum a diet of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) with five levels of rice bran (0, 1·2, 2·4, 3·6 and 4·8 kg/head/ day) in a study lasting 161 days. Measurements were made of the digestibility of the diet, the balances of nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium and water and the metabolizability of the gross energy. Using multiple regressions, the daily intakes of metabolizable energy were partitioned between maintenance and growth.Feeding rice bran stimulated appetite, initially improved feed conversion efficiency and increased growth rates. Each additional kilogram of rice bran fed depressed grass dry-matter intake by 0·8 kg in the buffaloes and 0·6 kg in Ongoles. Rice bran had little effect on digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and energy. Metabolizable energy contents of rice bran and elephant grass were calculated to be, respectively, 9·5 and 8·2 MJ/kg dry matter. Nitrogen and phosphorus status was improved in the supplemented animals but the balance of calcium was adversely affected. Voluntary feed intake was always higher in the buffaloes but the differences were reduced with increasing rice-bran supplementation.Metabolizable energy requirements for maintenance and growth did not differ significantly between Ongole and buffaloes and were similar to values calculated for British animals.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maggy Palesa Mabena ◽  
Moses Ratsaka ◽  
Thobela Nkukwana ◽  
Ingrid Malebana ◽  
Douglas Nkosi

Abstract This experiment evaluated varying levels of Amarula (Sclerocarya birrea A. Rich) nut cake (ANC) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics in pigs. Thirty Large White × Landrace (LW × LR) pigs were stratified by weight (average live weight of 20 ± 5 kg) and randomly allocated to the five experimental diets that contained 0 (control), 50, 100, 150 and 200 g ANC/kg DM. Each pig served as a replicate unit, housed individually. Bodyweight, feed intake, average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded weekly throughout the trial period. On completion of the growth trial, following a 3-day adaptation, a nutrient digestibility study was conducted over 5 days. Thereafter, pigs were fasted for twelve hours, weighed, slaughtered, and carcass samples were collected for analysis. Feed intake was not affected by dietary treatment, but ADGs were reduced at ANC levels > 15%, resulting in poor FCR. Protein digestibility was reduced at ANC levels > 15%, while ether extract and fibre levels increased. Warm and cold carcass weights were lower at ANC levels > 15, with improved meat redness and lightness. It was concluded that ANC could replace SBM in the diet of growing pigs at less than 15% inclusion level.


2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. U. Amaefule ◽  
C. O. Okereke

A total of 324 local pullet chicks (1- 8 weeks) were used for the research project to evaluate the feeding value of raw and boiled pigeon pea seed meal (PSM) on their growth performance. Nine iso-caloric and isonitrogenous diets were formulated, with raw and boiled pigeon pea seed meal at inclusion levels of 0%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30%, respectively. There were 36 chicks per treatment replicated into 3 at 12 chicks per replicate. There were significant interactions between form and PSM levels on the final live weight, daily feed intake and daily protein intake. Final live weight of pullets fed both raw and boiled PSM followed the same trend, pullets fed control (0%) and 15% raw PSM 128.10 and 132.33g respectively performed better than the rest of the treatment levels but statistically similar at all levels. Daily feed intake and daily protein intake showed significant interaction among the treatments. Pullets fed control (8.95g) and raw diets (8.79g) consumed more feed than pullets fed boiled PSM II (105.05g), III (117.77g) IV (91.27g) and V (112.80g) diets. Daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio had no significant (P>0.05) interaction between form and treatment groups for the pullets. 30% PSM raw or boiled can be fed to local pullet chicks without any deleterious effect on the growth performance.


2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (55) ◽  
pp. 6976-6986
Author(s):  
OA Makinde ◽  

The study investigated different feed restriction programs during an 8-week broiler chicken growing cycle as a management strategy for reducing cost of production. Initially, 90 Hubbard day-old chicks fed ad libitum a commercial starter feed supplying 24% crude protein and 3000 kcal of ME/kg for 4 weeks. Thereafter, they were randomly allotted to five different feed restriction programs (R0, R5, R56, R67 and R57) utilizing finisher diets supplying 19% crude protein and 2850 kcal of ME/kg from 5-8 weeks. Each program had three replicates and six birds per replicate. Unrestricted (R0) was the control where birds fed ad libitum. In R5, birds were restricted the 5th week; R56, 5th and 6th weeks; R67, 6th and 7th weeks, and R57, 5th and 7th weeks. However, all the feed-restricted birds fed ad libitum in the 8th week. Feed restriction involved feeding one-third feed intake of R0 birds starting from 14.00 to 18.00 h daily and performance parameters recorded. Feed restriction negatively affected growth performance as the severity of restriction increased. Final body weight, carcass weight, average daily gain and average daily feed intake were similar (P>0.05) for R0 and R5 but higher than R56, R67 and R57. However, feed restriction did not significantly affect (P>0.05) carcass and breast yields or feed conversion ratio except for R67, the least (P<0.05) feed efficient. Feed cost, cost of production and revenue declined as the period of restriction increased. However, profit or profit/kg live weight, economic efficiency (EE) of feed and relative EE of feed were highest for R0 followed by R5, R56, R57 and R67 in that order. Generally, birds restricted for 1 week performed better than those restricted for 2 weeks and birds restricted continuously for 2 weeks before the last week of re-alimentation and slaughter were inferior to others. These results suggest that the duration and timing of feed restriction can reduce cost in broiler meat production without seriously affecting performance or economics of production depending on the restriction program applied.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (21) ◽  
pp. 7725
Author(s):  
Seung Hak Yang ◽  
Won Ho Kim ◽  
Suk-Nam Kang ◽  
Ki Choon Choi ◽  
Dahye Kim

This study aimed to analyze the effects of whole-crop barley silage (WCBS) and a high-concentrate diet combination to replace a rice straw/concentrate on growth performance, and meat quality of Hanwoo steers (HS). Twenty-four animals were allocated to two groups with a rice straw/concentrate control treatment (CON) and a WCBS/concentrate treatment group. The concentrate was offered to all animals based on live weight after a feeding trial of grass-based diets. Feed intake of WCBS was lower than the CON (p < 0.01) and intake of concentrate was lower in the WCBS group than the CON in all experimental phases (p < 0.01). WCBS increased backfat thickness (BFT) and slaughter weight (p > 0.05). The marbling score was slightly higher in the WCBS group (p > 0.05). WCBS-fed beef had higher crude fat, lower crude protein, and moisture contents. WCBS feeding increased the levels of alpha-linolenic acid (p < 0.01) and decreased arachidonic acid in meat (p < 0.02). Hanwoo steers fed WCBS/concentrate improved feed intake, carcass traits, meat price, palatability, and FA content compared to those fed rice straw/concentrate, suggesting that WCBS is a potential source for improving the growth performance and meat quality in Hanwoo steers with significant economic efficiency.


Author(s):  
B. E. Ditle ◽  
J. W. Ng’ambi ◽  
D. Norris ◽  
O. J. Alabi

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.


2008 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Diken ◽  
F. Ugur ◽  
C. Tolu ◽  
M. Dosay Akbulut

Abstract. This study was carried out with single-born Saanen kids raised at Uvecik Research and Training Centre of Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University. In the study, the kids were raised according to two suckling program. In the first program, the kids suckled full-udder of their dams for 30 min at 08.00 and 18.00. In the second program, the right lob of the udder of the kid’s dams was milked by hand, and then the kids were allowed to suckle their dams for 30 min at 08.00 and 18.00. The kids in the both groups were weaned at 5 weeks of the study. The live weights of the kids of the first and second program were 10963.0±274.4 and 10384.9±285.1 g (P>0.05) at 5 weeks of the study and 17932.9±676.3 and 17482.7±702.8 g (P>0.05) at 12 weeks of the study, respectively. The height at withers and heart girth of the kids of the first and second program were 51.7±0.9 and 51.1±0.9 cm (P>0.05), and 61.1±0.8 and 58.5±0.8 cm (P≤0.05) at 12 weeks of the study, respectively. The live weight increase between 1-5 and 1-12 weeks of the kids of the first and second program were determined as 192.0±9.5 and 178.6±9.9 g (P>0.05), and 160.2±8.4 and 157.0±8.7 g (P>0.05), respectively. No significant difference was found between the programs in terms of roughage intake (P>0.05), concentrate feed intake (P>0.05), water intake (P>0.05), rumination (P>0.05) behaviors. In conclusion, the growth performance and behaviors of kids which were raised according to two suckling program were found similar.


2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cándido Enrique Guerra Medina ◽  
Pablo López Gómez ◽  
José de Jesús Maldonado Méndez ◽  
Oziel Dante Montañez Valdez ◽  
José Andrés Reyes Gutiérrez ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT: Rumen development depends on the intake of solid food that is fermented into volatile fatty acids that stimulate the development of the rumen papillae in calves. The starter feeding can promote the growth of papillae in the rumen and as a consequence an earlier weaning. We evaluated the effects of calf starter on ruminal development, and productive response of lactating bull calves raised for meat in the tropics. Twelve male Brahman × Swiss American cross beef calves from a dual-purpose system were randomly assigned two treatments with six animals per treatment: milk-fed calves + Taiwan grass (Pennisetum purpureum, MT) and MT + calf starter, (MTS). Feed intake and growth were measured at 7-day intervals throughout until 210 d of age. At 90 days old, three calves from each treatment were harvested, and fluid and ruminal tissues were collected from the cranial, ventral, dorsal, and dorsal blind ruminal sacs for measurements of many papillaes per cm2 (NP), papillae length (LP) and papillae width (WP). Ruminal bacterial genotype identification was determined by amplicon generation with the Illumina platform. Calf starter-improved weight (Live weight, LW) and average weight gain (ADG) and NP, but, LP and WP was similar in both treatments (p < 0.05). In calves with starter feed treatment, we observed the bacteria Desulfonauticus autotrophicus sp. nov.that was not previously reported in ruminants. Use of calf starter showed benefit for calves with improved feed intake and rumen development because promoted a greater number of rumen papillae.


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