Anthelmintic usage on the performance of the Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) reared intensively in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies

Anthelmintic drugs have been used strategically in livestock reared in the tropics. These drugs have been used in the treatment of endoparasitism which have resulted in an increase in the animals’ performance. The agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) is a neo-tropical rodent with the potential for domestication and has been farmed intensively in Trinidad. However, the objective of this research was to investigate the effect of anthelmintic use of the growth performance of the agouti. In searching the literature, it was found that this type of study on the agouti has not been done. In this experiment fourteen weaned agoutis weighing 1kg were divided into two groups randomly. The first group (T1) was not given any anthelmintic treatment but the second group (T2) was treated with Endovet Ces® subcutaneously every three months. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the two groups in the carcass weight, weight gain, dressing percentage (hot and cold), heart, lungs, skin, head and feet. However, a significant difference (p < 0.05) was seen between groups in the weight of liver and pluck. To the authors knowledge this is the first time that carcass parameters has been presented in literature. The live weight of the animals at the end of the experiment ranged from 2.4 kg to 2.6 kg and animals had a dressing percentage of 57% to 55%. The results are suggestive that the use of anthelmintic drugs in agoutis reared intensively had no significant effect on weight gain and dressing percentage.

Slaughter Results, Meat Chemical Composition and pH of Aberdinangus, Hereford and Limousin bulls

Beef production must combine the interests of both producers and consumers, taking into account the sustainable use of environmental resources. The aim of the study was to analyze and compare the slaughter results, meet chemical composition and pH value of three beef breeds – Aberdinangus (AA), Hereford (HF) and Limousin (LI) bulls. The bulls were fattened on Latvian and Lithuanian farms, mainly using grass forage. The breed and age of bulls before slaughter significantly affected all slaughter results, except for fat class. From the meat chemical composition traits, the bull breed and age before slaughter had a significant effect only on the protein content. LI bulls showed the highest carcass weight 301.1±6.8 kg (p<0.05), dressing percentage 58.2±1.1% (p<0.05) and conformation score 3.56±0.18 points. The best fattened carcasses were obtained from AA bulls - 2.43±0.20 points. Muscle samples of musculus longissimus (M. longissimus) bulls of LI breed showed higher content of moisture (72.0±1.0%), protein (23.0±0.2%), ash (1.1±0.0%) and cholesterol (56.7±6.6 mg 100 g−1). AA breed bulls showed higher total fat (6.6±1.2%) and iron content (13.1±0.6 mg). The highest pH was observed in the meat obtained from AA bulls – 6.0±0.1, LI and HF breed bulls showed pH 5.8±0.0 and 5.8±0.1 respectively. Correlation analysis showed a significant, strong positive correlation between cold carcass weight and dressing percentage for AA and LI bulls, r=0.90 and r=0.88, respectively. For LI breed bulls, a strong positive correlation was also found between the cold carcass weight and the conformation score (r=0.98, p<0.01).

Growth and Chevon Characteristics of Indigenous Breeds of Goat (Buck) in Nigeria

A trial was conducted at the Sheep and Goat Unit of Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan to evaluate the effect of breeds on growth, carcass characteristics and meat yield of indigenous goats (bucks) in Nigeria. Fifteen growing bucks: five each of Sahel bucks-SB, West African Dwarf bucks (WADB) and Red Sokoto bucks(RSB) weighing 9.8±0.2, 10.0±0.4 and 9.9±0.3, respectively were fed isocaloric diet for 90 days. The experiment was laid out in a complete randomized design. Final Body Weight (FBW), Average Daily Weight Gain (ADWG) and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) were measured using standard procedures. Three bucks per breed were thereafter sacrificed and Dressing Percentage (DP), Meat yield, Rib eye area (REA) and Water holding capacity (WHC) were determined. The Final Body Weight of 16.1kg in Sahel bucks and 17.5kg Red Sokoto bucks were similar but significantly lower than 20.3kg of West African Dwarf bucks. Also, the Feed Conversion Ratio of 10.4 for the Sahel bucks and 9.8 of Red Sokoto bucks were significantly higher than 7.3 of West African Dwarf bucks. The Dressing Percentage was highest in West African Dwarf bucks (46.6%) and least in Sahel bucks (33.5%). West African Dwarf bucks yielded more meat lean (67.4%) and were comparatively higher than Sahel bucks (60.1%) and Red Sokoto bucks (61.5%). The Rib eye area (cm2) was also higher in West African Dwarf bucks (1.4) compared to Sahel bucks (1.1) and Red Sokoto bucks (1.1).

The effect of slaughter age and sex class to carcass characteristic of Red Brahman Crossbred Cattle

This research was conducted to examine the effect of slaughter age and sex class to carcass characteristic from Red Brahman Crossbred Cattle. The research materials were 126 heads (grouped by slaughter age (<1,5 years, 2-2,5 years, and 3 years) and sex class (bull and steer)) with taken from KASA Company, rested for 12-24 hours, and slaughtered in AM FARM abattoir with halal MUI slaughter methods. The research method was used field experiment. The data of research were analysis by using Complete Randomized Factorial Design (2X3) and Duncan Multiple Range Test if there were differences. Parameters of carcass characteristic were slaughter weight, hot carcass weight, dressing percentage, carcass components percentage (meat, bone, fat), MBR, MFR, rib eyes area, and 12th fat thickness of ribs. The results of this research showed that slaughter age and sex class has significantly (P<0,05) affect to slaughter weight and hot carcass weight. Interactions of slaughter age and sex class has significantly (P<0,05) affect dressing percentage, bone and meat percentage, MBR and MFR, and has not significant (P>0,05) rib eyes area and fat thickness. From these results, it can be concluded that slaughter age and sex class affect carcass characteristics of Red Brahman Crossbred Cattle.

Dressing percentage, giblet and abdominal fat of broiler chickens given Orthosiphon stamineus Benth leave juice in drinking water

This research was conducted to study the effects of cat whiskers leave juice (Orthosiphon stamineus Benth) (OLJ) on the dressing percentage, giblet, and abdominal fat of broiler chicken. The research used 100 chicks which were reared for five weeks. At the end of the fifth week, 40 chickens were slaughtered as samples. The diets consisted of a commercial ration with 2900 kcal.kg−1 metabolizable energy and 22% protein. The drinking water consisted of different levels of OLJ (0, 10, 20, 30 mL/L). A Completely Randomized Design was used in this research with 4 treatments and 5 replications. Dressing percentage, liver, heart, gizzard, and abdominal fat were observed. The data were analysed by Analysis of variance/ANOVA. The result showed that OLJ significantly (P<0.01) affected live bird’s weight, but not significantly different (P>0.05) for dressing percentage, giblet, and abdominal fat of broiler chicken. On broiler chicken, administration of 10 mL/L OLJ significantly (P<0.01) decreased the live bird’s weight compared to control (0 mL/L OLJ). However, drinking 20 mL/L and 30mL/L cat whiskers juice were not significantly different. The conclusion is that the broiler chicken could tolerate up to 30 mL/L cat whiskers leaves juice.

Dressing percentage and meat yield of Hybro G+ provenance broilers

The goal of this paper was to examine the slaughter characteristics of meat from Hybro G+ provenance broilers. Characteristics studied were dressing percentage, breast, leg (thigh and drumstick) and abdominal fat in chilled carcass, and percentage of meat, bones and skin in breast and leg. In this trial, one-day broilers of Hybro G+ provenance were raised under the same zoohygienic and ambient conditions that met the technological requirements for this provenance and were provided with feed and water ad libitum. After 42 days’ fattening, broilers were slaughtered and the resultant carcasses were air chilled. The average dressing percentage was 73.15%, and in carcasses, the average percentage of breast was 34.33%, leg was 27.91% and abdominal fat was 1.13%. The percentage in breast and leg of meat was 72.61% and 70.38%, of skin was 8.00% and 9.45% and of bones was 19.79% and 19.59%, respectively. The meat:bone ratio was 0.27 for breast and 0.28 for leg.

Effects of the Duration of Zilpaterol Hydrochloride Supplementation and Days on Feed on Performance, Carcass Traits and Saleable Meat Yield of Nellore Bulls

This study evaluated the effects of the duration of ZH supplementation and days on feed (DOF) on performance, carcass characteristics, and saleable meat yield of Nellore young bulls. The fixed effects included the duration (0, 20, 30, or 40 d before slaughter plus a 3 d ZH withdrawal period—8.33 mg of ZH/kg of DM) and DOF (90 and 117 d). Feed efficiency (G:F) linearly increased when the duration of ZH supplementation increased (p < 0.01). Nellore bulls fed ZH had greater HCW (p < 0.01), dressing percentage (p < 0.01) and Longissimus muscle area (LMA) (p < 0.01), but less 12th-rib fat (p = 0.04) than the control group. The hot carcass weight (HCW) (p < 0.01), and dressing percentage increased linearly (p < 0.01) with the increase of duration of ZH supplementation. The HCW, ossification, and 12th-rib fat increased with DOF (p < 0.01). The ZH supplemented group had most of the individual cuts of hindquarters and total saleable meat increased compared with the control. Zilpaterol hydrochloride was effective in improving hot carcass weight, hindquarter, and saleable meat yields of Nellore bulls when fed for at least 20 d before slaughter, independently of days on feed.

Feeding different cultivars and quality levels of faba bean to broiler chickens

A concern of both pulse growers and poultry producers is how frost damage around harvest time affects the nutritional quality of faba bean for broiler chickens. To investigate, 2 zero-tannin cultivars (Snowbird, Snowdrop) and 1 low vicine and convicine cultivar (Fabelle) sourced from seed growers were spring planted 3 weeks later than recommended (mid-May) and harvested late October to purposely increase frost damage. Parent, certified seed (high quality) and harvested frost damaged beans (low quality) of the 3 cultivars were fed to 740 chickens housed in 64 floor pens in a 2 x 3 factorial plus control (9 pens of 11 or 12 birds per treatment). Starter (d 0 to 11), grower (d 12 to 24) and finisher (d 25 to 40) diets included 15, 30, and 45% faba bean in partial (starter, grower) or total replacement of soybean meal (SBM; control). Harvested Snowbird, Snowdrop, Fabelle averaged 52, 62, 17% blackened hull and 35, 43, 51% immature beans, respectively. There was a cultivar x quality interaction (P &lt; 0.05) on daily feed disappearance (ADFI) and gain-to-feed (G:F). Broilers fed low quality Snowdrop consumed 10 g/d more finisher and 6 g/d more feed overall than those fed low quality Snowbird or Fabelle; broilers fed parent seed were intermediate. Feeding low quality Fabelle resulted in best overall G:F (0.646) vs. high quality Snowbird (0.611), high quality Fabelle (0.624), or low quality Snowdrop (0.624). Average daily weight gain (ADG) and bird body weight (BW) at the end of each growth phase were not affected by cultivar or quality level. Controls fed SBM only grew 2.75 g/d faster overall and were 113.5 g heavier at the end of the trial than broilers fed faba bean (P &lt; 0.05). Controls fed SBM only had 0.024 g/g better overall G:F than broilers fed faba bean (P &lt; 0.05). Feeding low quality beans or high quality seed had no effect on antemortem BW, chilled carcass weight (WT), dressing percentage or yield of saleable cuts except that broilers fed Snowbird or Snowdrop had 0.8%-unit larger thighs than those fed Fabelle. Controls fed SBM only were 110 g heavier at slaughter, had 72 g heavier chilled carcass WT, and 0.5%-unit greater dressing percentage than broilers fed faba bean (P &lt; 0.05). These results indicate that feeding frost damaged and(or) immature faba bean, to the extent observed in this trial, did not negatively affect growth performance or carcass attributes of broiler chickens compared to feeding parent, certified, high quality seed of these cultivars.

Effect of Age and Breed on Carcass and Meat Quality Characteristics of Beni-Guil and Ouled-Djellal Sheep Breeds

Two hundred eight sheep, belonging to two main breeds of eastern Morocco, “Beni-Guil” and “Ouled-Djellal,” were investigated for carcass traits and meat quality. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of breed and age at slaughter on carcass traits and meat quality. The animals were slaughtered at three age classes: milk teeth, animals with two adult teeth, and adult animals. Dressing percentage, carcass measurements, compactness indices, carcass shrinkage parameter, conformation scores, fatness state, fat consistency, fat and meat colour, and pH were measured 24 hours postmortem. The results showed that the dressing percentage, carcass measurements, and compactness indices increased with slaughter age ( p < 0.001 ). Furthermore, the effect of breed was higher for Ouled-Djellal breed of carcass characteristics ( p < 0.01 ). However, no significant effect was observed for carcass shrinkage parameter. The longissimus lumborum muscle was used to determine the meat colour, which ranged from 23.89 to 21.96, while the ultimate pH ranged from 5.70 to 5.82. These results were influenced by age at slaughter ( p < 0.05 ) but not influenced by breed. Breed and age at slaughter had a significant influence on carcass traits ( p < 0.001 ). The present study provided a new insight into the effect of breed and age at slaughter on carcass and meat traits of both “Beni-Guil-PGI” and Ouled-Djellal sheep breeds.