Effect of replacing maize with plantain peels on the performance traits and haematological characteristics of African giant land snail

The study was carried out at the Niger Delta University, Faculty of Agriculture Teaching and Research Farm, Bayelsa State. A total of Ninety six (96) growing snails (Archachatina marginata). Using Plantain peel as an additive, four diets were formulated at the levels of 0%, 3%, 6%, and 9% to form the treatment diets. The experiment lasted for eight (8) weeks during which the weight gain, feed intake, shell width, shell length, shell thickness and hematological parameters were obtained. The weight gain, shell width, shell length and shell thickness are not significantly different (p<0.05) whereas, the feed intake differed significantly (p<0.05) for all the treatment diets in the experiment. From the results, it was concluded that concentrate with 0% inclusion of Plantain peel meal was suitable for snail diets as it gave the best performance. The hematological parameters measured in the African giant land snails are White blood cell, Neutrophile and Lymphocyte differed significantly (p<0.05). Plantain peel can serve as source of potassium for other animals, as the highest percentage of potassium was found in the hemolymph of snails fed with 9% inclusion of plantain peel. It is recommended that; there should be no inclusion of plantain peels in the diet of the African giant land snails in order to achieve higher weight gain and feed intake.

Allium-Based Phytobiotic for Laying Hens’ Supplementation: Effects on Productivity, Egg Quality, and Fecal Microbiota

The poultry industry is constantly demanding novel strategies to improve the productivity and health status of hens, prioritizing those based on the holistic use of natural resources. This study aimed to assess the effects of an Allium-based phytobiotic on productivity, egg quality, and fecal microbiota of laying hens. One hundred and ninety-two 14-week-old Lohmann Lite LSL hens were allocated into an experimental farm, fed with a commercial concentrate with and without the Allium-based phytobiotic, and challenged against Salmonella. Productivity, egg quality, and fecal microbiota were monitored for 20 weeks. Results showed that the phytobiotic caused an increase on the number of eggs laid (p < 0.05) and in the feed conversion rate (p < 0.05); meanwhile, egg quality, expressed as egg weight, albumin height, haugh units, egg shell strength, and egg shell thickness remained unchanged (p > 0.05), although yolk color was decreased. Fecal microbiota structure was also modified, indicating a modulation of the gut microbiota by increasing the presence of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes but reducing Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria phyla. Predicted changes in the functional profiles of fecal microbiota suggest alterations in metabolic activities that could be responsible for the improvement and maintenance of productivity and egg quality when the phytobiotic was supplemented; thus, Allium-based phytobiotic has a major impact on the performance of laying hens associated with a possible gut microbiota modulation.

REMINDER: CrystEngComm - Invitation to submit an article Enhancement of the Microwave Absorption Properties by Adjusting the Sintering Conditions and Canbon Shell Thickness of Ni@C Submicrospheres

The combination of traditional magnetic metal materials and dielectric carbon materials to improve microwave absorption properties has aroused great interest. In this article, the Ni@C submicrospheres have been successfully synthesized...

Egg quality and fatty acid profile of yolk in eggs from Athulya, native and IWN x native crossbred layers under backyard system

Backyard poultry production forms the basis for transforming the rural poultry sector from subsistence to a more economically productive base. The current study was conducted to evaluate the egg quality of eggs produced by Athulya, native and IWN x Native crossbred layers under backyard system. At 36 weeks of age, one egg from each group of birds was collected for fatty acid estimation of egg yolk and 20 eggs from each group was collected at 40 weeks of age for assessing the haugh unit score, yolk colour, shell thickness and shell colour. The beneficial polyunsaturated fatty acid content was higher in native bird eggs. The eggs from Athulya and native chicken had better internal quality in terms of haugh unit and yolk colour score. The shell thickness of eggs was similar among three groups. The egg shell colour was white in Athulya, tinted to brown in native and tinted in IWN x Native crossbreds and the shell colour in native and crossbreds exhibits more consumer preference.