PSIX-19 Effect of substituting groundnut cake with wheat bran mixed with cattle blood meal at ratio 1:1 on performance of broilers

This study investigated substituting groundnut cake with wheat bran mixed with cattle blood at ratio1:1 in broilers and it lasted for eight weeks. Seventy-five broiler chicks were allotted randomly to five treatment replicated thrice. Control had 15% GNC, 0% blood meal wheat bran (BMWB) in diets II -V GNC was replaced with BMWB at graded levels of 25,50,75 and 100%. Results revealed that body weight gain and feed intake of diets II and III were similar and (P = 0.05) higher than other diets at both phases. Feed efficiency of diet II was better than others at the starter phase while diet III was better at finisher phase. Haematology and serum chemistry at the finisher phase showed that heamoglobin, white blood cell lymphocyte heterophil and plasma of the birds fed diets II, III, IV and V were (P < 0.05) higher than those on control. The kidney liver and spleen histopathology revealed hepatic and renal degeneration, necrosis and inflammatory responses in diets IV and V. Carcass characteristics showed the wings shanks drumstick leg heart and spleen of birds on BMWB were higher than control. Conclusively it seems BMWB could replace GNC without adverse effect on the broilers at 25% inclusion level

Deciphering the Amendment-Induced Secretion of Ligninolytic Enzymes by Pleurotus pulmonarius

Pleurotus pulmonarius belonging to the white-rot fungal basidiomycetes group secretes extracellular ligninolytic enzymes for the degradation of agroresidues. The present study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of different agro-residues for the enhanced production of ligninolytic enzymes and to authenticate their ability by protein analysis. The morphological and molecular sequences of white-rot fungi were characterised. Besides, the efficacy of organic and inorganic amendments in the secretion of ligninolytic enzymes by P. pulmonarius was characterised using SDS-PAGE and native PAGE analysis. The characterised strain of P. pulmonarius secreted enhanced laccase enzyme levels in the liquid medium through supplementation with organic and inorganic amendments. Wheat bran and groundnut cake each @5% enhanced secretions of Laccase, LiP and MnP. Copper sulphate at 150 μM enhanced the laccase enzyme and at 100 μM enhanced the LiP enzyme level by P. pulmonarius. Similarly, supplementation with manganese sulphate at 150 μM enhanced laccase, LiP and MnP enzyme levels compared to control. SDS-PAGE results showed protein banding patterns in the range of 50–85 kDa for the Lac enzyme in samples drawn from wheat bran and groundnut cake-supplemented substrates. Native PAGE results of laccase enzymes also showed that wheat bran (5%) + groundnut cake (5%) + CuSO4 (150 M) + MnSO4 (150 M) induced four laccase isozymes. Supplementing organic and inorganic amendments to the substrates would enhance the secretion of laccase enzyme that would aid in better breakdown of lignin.

​Effect of Inclusion of Moringa oliefera Leaf Meal on the Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility and Carcass Characteristics of Deccani Lambs

Background: Moringa (Moringa oleifera) is a highly valued plant grown in tropical and subtropical countries. Moringa has a high amount of crude protein, a well-balanced amino acid profile, vitamins and minerals and fewer quantities of antinutritive factors. Methods: Eighteen growing Deccani lambs of uniform body weight (14.22±1.5 kg) and age were randomly allotted to three treatment groups viz., 100 per cent groundnut cake (T1), 75% groundnut cake+ 25% Moringa oliefera leaf meal (T2) and 50% groundnut cake+ 50% M. oliefera leaf meal (T3) as a protein source in the concentrate mixture. The experiment was conducted for 90 days. Result: No significant difference was found in the fortnightly body weights of the lambs from 1st to 6th fortnights among three dietary groups. Total weight gain and Average Daily gain (ADG) were significant (P less than 0.01) among the treatment groups whereas DMI (kg/day), per 100 kg and FCR was non-significant. The digestibility coefficients (%) of all nutrients were non-significant (P greater than 0.05) except the NFE. Pre-slaughter weight, empty body weight, hot carcass weights and dressing percent on pre-slaughter weight and empty body weight were comparable among the three groups. Results of the present study indicated that inclusion of 25% Moringa oleifera leaf meal in concentrate mixture proved to be superior and improved the growth performance, digestibility of nutrients and carcass traits without any adverse effects on experimental lambs.

Elucidating the energy-utilization patterns for five methods of groundnut cake (Kulikuli) production

Food industry remains an integral part of the energy-intensive industries. In order to minimise the operating and maintenance cost in the industry, the cost of energy consumption should be monitored. Therefore, energy requirements in groundnut cake production for five alternative methods were elucidated. Groundnut cake was produced using five different methods and energy used for each unit operation was calculated using standard equations. Major energy sources for the production of groundnut cake were fuel, human labour and electrical energy. Sensory attributes of the products were determined by panellists. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and analysis of variance at p≤0.05. Total energy consumed by the traditional and semi-mechanized processes 1-4 were 31,629.12 kJ, 8079.74 kJ, 7932.94 kJ, 8730.58 kJ, and 8519.8 kJ, respectively. Energy intensity for traditional and semi-mechanized processes 1-4 were 9210.93 kJ/kg, 2107.39 kJ/kg, 2069.10 kJ/kg, 2277.15 kJ/kg and 2222.17 kJ/kg, respectively. The frying process was the most energy intensive in both traditional and semi-mechanized process 3 with the energy of 13193.28 kJ and 2232.12 kJ, respectively. Peeling and slicing consumed the least amount of energy (60.4 kJ) in all processes. In semi-mechanized processes 1, 2 and 4, the dry-milling emerged the most energy consuming, with energy of 2240 kJ, 2240 kJ and 2145.6 kJ, respectively. Although, groundnut cake that was produced by traditional method was the most acceptable by the panellist, there was no outright rejection of any sample. Energy consumption pattern and quality attributes of kulikuli produced from traditional and semi-mechanisation of production methods were influenced by the type of unit operation, the technology involved and the size of the equipment used. Semi-mechanised methods required the low energy consumption in the production of acceptable kulikuli.

Carcass characteristics and organ proportions of broiler chickens fed different plant protein sources in an Acha grain-based diet

The stiff competition between man and livestock for maize as energy feedstuff has resulted in the high cost of poultry products. Therefore, a study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding acha-based diet varying dietary plant protein to broiler chickens on carcass characteristic and organ proportions. A total of 120, one day-old Abor acre broiler chicks were used for the study in a Complete Randomized Design. Four dietary plant proteins were included in the broiler chicken diet at 28% level with an acha grain as the main energy source. Diet 1 contains 28% groundnut cake, while diets 2, 3 and 4 contain 28% of full fat soyabean, soyabean cake and cashew nut meal, respectively. The birds were randomly allotted to the 4 treatment groups, with each group having 30 birds which was further subdivided into 3 replicates of 10 birds each. This study lasted for 56 days. At the end of the feeding trial, carcass evaluation was carried out. One bird per replicate was randomly selected, starved overnight and slaughtered by severing the jugular vein. The visceral were removed and weighed. The results showed that birds fed dietary soyabean cake (Diet 3) had the highest live weight gain (2155.00g), slaughtered weight (1855.00g), defeathered weight (1838.33g), dressed weight (1455.00g) and shank (112.00g). The organ proportions showed significant differences (p<0.05), though followed no definite trend. In conclusion, birds fed diet 3 gave the best carcass weight, and the organ proportions showed no negative effect as par the diets offered the birds. Thus, inclusion of 28%, soyabean meal in an acha-grain based diets proved to be superior over groundnut cake and cashew nut and it is therefore recommended. La vive concurrence entre l'homme et le bétail pour le maïs comme aliment énergétique a entraîné le coût élevé des produits de volaille. Par conséquent, une étude a été menée pour évaluer l'effet de l'alimentation à base d'acha avec des protéines végétales alimentaires variées sur les poulets de chair ainsi que les caractéristiques de la carcasse et les proportions des organes. Un total de 120 poussins de chair de 'Abor acre' âgés d'un jour a été utilisés pour l'étude dans un plan randomisé complet. Quatre protéines végétales diététiques ont été incluses dans le régime des poulets de chair à un taux de 28%, le grain d'acha étant la principale source d'énergie. Le régime 1 contient 28% de farine d'arachide, tandis que les régimes 2, 3 et 4 contiennent 28% de farine de soja, de gâteau de soja et de noix de cajou, respectivement. Les oiseaux ont été répartis au hasard dans les 4 groupes de traitement, chaque groupe comptant 30 oiseaux qui ont ensuite été subdivisés en 3 répétitions de 10 oiseaux chacun. Cette étude a duré 56 jours. À la fin de test d'alimentation, une évaluation de la carcasse a été effectuée. Un oiseau par réplique a été sélectionné au hasard, affamé pendant la nuit et abattu en sectionnant la veine jugulaire. Les viscéraux ont été prélevés et pesés. Les résultats ont montré que les oiseaux nourris avec du gâteau de soja diététique (régime 3) avaient le gain de poids vif (2155,00 g), le poids abattu (1855,00 g), le poids sans plumes (1838,33 g), le poids habillé (1455,00 g) et le jarret (112,00 g). Les proportions d'organes ont montré des différences significatives (p <0,05), mais n'ont suivi aucune tendance définie. En conclusion, les oiseaux nourris avec le régime 3 ont donné le meilleur poids de carcasse, et les proportions d'organes n'ont montré aucun effet négatif par rapport aux régimes offerts aux oiseaux. Ainsi, l'inclusion de 28% de gâteau de soja dans un régime à base de céréalesacha s'est avérée supérieure aux gâteau d'arachide et de noix de cajou et elle est donc recommandée.

APPRAISAL OF SOIL PROPERTIES OF SOLANUM MELONGENA L. TO DIFFERENT GROWTH CONDITIONS

The response of brinjal plants to organic fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers under pot experiment investigated. This invivo experiment did in the Genetics and Plant Breeding Division of the Department of Botany, University of Calicut. Brinjal plants treated with three sources of organic fertilizers (vermicompost, groundnut cake and bonemeal), three sources of inorganic fertilizers (NPK 16:16:16, NPK 10:5:20 and urea) compared with control. The experimental design followed was a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with twenty-ve replicates. Soil properties were analyzed by collecting the soil from nine representative samples from each treatment. The soil parameters such as the pH, electrical conductivity (mhos/cm), total organic carbon (%), total organic matter, total nitrogen, phosphorus (kg/ha), potassium (g/ha), manganese, sulphur, iron, zinc, copper and boron were analyzed. The results showed that the macro and micronutrient availability increased in organic fertilizer treatments. Vermicompost increased soil properties signicantly. The percentage of organic carbon increased in organic fertilizer treatments. The same result showed in the case of total organic matter. Groundnut cake treatment gave the highest organic matter (4.75). Total nitrogen was highest in bonemeal (0.95) and potassium was highest in vermicompost (330kg/ha). Phosphorous (48.33kg/ha) and sulphur (43.1mg kg-1) were recorded highest in bonemeal. The highest values of trace elements (25 mg kg-1for Fe in groundnut cake; 0.96mg kg-1Cu, 14mg kg-1 Mn, 5.1mg kg-1 Zn and 0.98 mg kg-1 B in vermicompost observed. Therefore, 38% of the increase in iron, 17.0% off copper,14.75% increase in manganese, 2.82% increase in zinc and 20.99% increase seen in boron.

Comparative evaluation of effects of different sources of groundnut meals on digestibility, growth performance and economics of production of growing rabbits

Three groundnut meals namely: groundnut cake (GNC), locally processed groundnut cake (kulikuli) and toasted groundnut seed(kernel) meal (TGSM) were incorporated in rabbit diets at two levels to generate six diets: 18% GNC, 22% GNC, 18% Kulikuli, 22% Kulikuli, 18% TGSM and 22% TGSM respectively, and 18% GNC also served as the control diet. Twenty four (24) six weeks-old growing rabbits of mixed breeds and sexes with mean initial weight of 568.75±l2.85g were randomly allocated to the six dietary treatment groups, such that each had four rabbits and each rabbit formed a replicate in a completely randomized design laid out in a 2X3 factorial arrangement and fed ad libitum, for 70 days. The main effects showed that while the treatment groups fed TGSM were significantly depressed (p<0.05). rabbits fed GNC and kulikuli were not significantly different (p>0.05) for average daily feed intake, daily body weight gain and final body weight. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was not significantly (p >0.05) affected among treatment groups. Rabbits fed TGSM had significantly (p<0.05) better apparent digestibility coefficient (78.04%) than those on kulikuli (75.81%6) and the group on kulikuli were better than animals fed GNC (72.09%) for fat digestibility. Fibre digestibility was also significantly different (p <0.05), with rabbits fed kulikuli having the poorest fibre digestion (15.63 %). Crude protein, dry matter and NFE apparent digestibility coefficients were not significantly (p >0.05) affected. Among all the parameters measured, only fat and fibre digestibility coefficients had significant (p <0.05) interactions and NFE digestibility was significantly affected (p <0.05) by level of inclusion, with groups fed 22% digesting it better. Feed cost kg gain did not differ significantly (p >0.05) among the treatment groups. Growth was still on the rise and there was a significantly (P<0.01) strong relationship (correlation and regression) between feed intake and weight gain for all the treatment groups. was concluded that both kulikuli and TGSM are potential feed resources for rabbits, more available to house hold farmers, equally economical as GNC and better still if groundnut farmers and or processors of kulikuli raise rabbits, though TGSM had less value for growth rate compared to GNC and Kulikuli at these levels of inclusion