Proximate Analysis of Poultry-Mix Formed Feed Using Maize Bran as a Base

The purpose of this research was to demonstrate the proximate analysis of poultry-mix made using maize bran as a basis. Red beans, soya beans, and benny beans were the three samples utilised in this study. This work investigates the appropriate poultry mix for birds breed for meat and egg. Thirty grammes of proteinous feedstock were weighed and homogeneously combined with 70 grammes of maize bran. The following was revealed in a proximate analysis of the feeds: moisture ranged from 1.18% to 1.54%, unrefined lipids 0.99–3.08%, total carbohydrate 57% to 72%, ash content 38.48% to 38.92%, unrefined protein 18.38% to 22.53% and unrefined fiber 2.0% to 4.65% respectively for broilers and layers. In terms of nutritional concentrations, all feed samples showed a substantial variation. Based on the findings of the study, it can be stated that Soya bean-maize bran is an excellent poultry-mix formulation that has deep well-disposed benefits and meets nearly all nutritional needs for meat and egg-producing birds.

Effect of feeding buttermilk coated diets on growth, carcass characteristics and production cost of crossbred chicken

Growth performance, carcass characteristics and production costs associated with feeding crossbred indigenous chicken on traditional buttermilk coated diets were evaluated. Three batches of day-old Indigenous x Kuroiler crossbred chicks were raised on a commercial diet for one month. At one month, chicken in each of the three batches were weighed and randomly divided into 3 equal groups. Each group comprised of 20 birds. Chicken in each group were either fed coated (dry buttermilk coated maize-bran), combined (buttermilk coated maize bran + commercial diet) or a commercial (control) diet. Average final live weight and feed intake were similar across the three dietary treatments (P>0.05). Feed to gain ratio significantly varied (P<0.05) across dietary treatments with buttermilk coated diets having the highest feed to gain ratio (7.27) compared to combined (4.38) and commercial (3.88) diets. Coated and combined diets yielded similar dressing percentage of 60.2 and 62 compared to 65% obtained with commercial diets. Carcass and organ yield was similar (P>0.05) across dietary treatments. On a 5 point hedonic scale, chicken meat produced using coated diets was more acceptable (2.0), compared to combined (2.1) and commercial (3.1) diets (P<0.05). The highest gross margins accrued from feeding combined and commercial diets. Over-all, results provide evidence of the potential of the combined diet to attain similar growth performance, carcass yield and gross margins as the commercial diet at lower cost. Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2021. 50 (1):57-63

Animal Waste and Agro-by-Products: Valuable Resources for Producing Fish at Low Costs in Sub-Saharan Countries

Animal and crop production throughout the world generate high amounts of wastes or by-products annually that may possess added value compounds with high functionality. These wastes and by-products may cause negative environmental impacts and significant expenses if not well managed and or controlled. Much of these wastes and by-products is valuable and cheaper source of potentially functional compounds such as proteins, lipids, starch, micronutrients, bioactive compounds, and dietary fibbers. In aquaculture, feed is expensive, and the existing body of literature has shown that animal manure and its extracts can be successfully incorporated into fishpond to increase fish production at a low cost. In addition, crop residues such as rice bran, maize bran, and seed cakes are commonly used as pond inputs in small-scale aquaculture. Animal waste and crop residues are added in a fishpond that filter-feeding fish can use directly as feed, and these may form a major proportion of the detritus in the pond. These resources also stimulate the growth of phytoplankton that are rich in protein and are the basis of the food web that can support the growth of a range of herbivorous and omnivorous fish. Therefore, technically, wastes are used as direct feed, a source of minerals for autotrophic production and a source of organic matter for heterotrophic production. In this context, animal manure and crop residues have been used to provide great opportunities to improve food security. The purpose of this review is to project the potential of animal waste and agro-by-products as a sustainable alternative as aquaculture inputs to reduce poverty, malnutrition, and hunger in developing countries.