Growth performance and carcass quality are not different between pigs fed diets containing cold-fermented low-oil distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and pigs fed conventional DDGS, but pelleting improves gain to feed ratio regardless of source of DDGS

The objective was to test the hypothesis that growth performance and carcass characteristics of pig fed diets containing cold-fermented, low oil distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) is not different from that of pigs fed diets containing conventional DDGS regardless of the physical form of the diets. A total of 160 barrows and gilts were used. There were 4 diets, 10 pens per diet, and 4 pigs per pen. Pigs were weaned at 21 d of age and fed a common phase 1 diet that did not contain DDGS during the initial 7 d post-weaning. Pigs were then allotted to the 4 diets that were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design with 2 sources of DDGS (cold-fermented and conventional DDGS) and 2 diet forms (meal and pellets). Pigs were fed phase 2 diets from d 7 to 21 and phase 3 diets from d 21 to 43 post-weaning. All diets were based on corn and soybean meal, but phase 2 diets also contained 15% DDGS and phase 3 diets contained 30% DDGS. From d 43, pigs were fed grower diets for 38 d, early finisher diets for 38 d, and late finisher diets for 18 d and these diets also contained 30% DDGS. Feed was provided on an ad libitum basis and daily feed allotments were recorded. Pigs were weighed at the beginning of each phase and at the conclusion of the experiment. On the last day of the experiment, the pig in each pen with a body weight that was closest to the pen average was slaughtered and carcass measurements were determined. Combined results for the 2 nursery phases indicated that feeding meal diets instead of pelleted diets increased (P < 0.001) average daily feed intake and decreased (P < 0.05) gain to feed ratio. However, no differences between the 2 sources of DDGS were observed for the overall growth performance of weanling pigs. For the entire growing-finishing period, the source of DDGS did not affect growth performance, but pigs fed meal diets had reduced (P < 0.001) gain to feed ratio compared with pigs fed the pelleted diets. There were no differences between the 2 sources of DDGS for carcass characteristics. Back fat was greater (P < 0.05) for pigs fed pelleted diets than for pigs fed meal diets. In conclusion, no differences in growth performance or carcass characteristics between pigs fed cold-fermented DDGS and pigs fed conventional DDGS were observed. However, pigs fed pelleted diets had greater gain to feed ratio and greater back fat than pigs fed meal diets.

The Effect of Replacing Genetically Modified Soybean Meal with 00-Rapeseed Meal, Faba Bean and Yellow Lupine in Grower-Finisher Diets on Nutrient Digestibility, Nitrogen Retention, Selected Blood Biochemical Parameters and Fattening Performance of Pigs

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of partial and total replacement of protein from genetically modified soybean meal (GM-SBM) with protein from 00-rapeseed meal (00-RSM), alone or in combination with protein from low-tannin faba bean (Vicia faba L.) seeds (FB) or low-alkaloid yellow lupine (Lupinus luteus L.) seeds (YL) in grower-finisher diets on nutrient digestibility, nitrogen retention and utilization, selected blood biochemical parameters, fattening performance of pigs and carcass quality traits. Two digestibility-balance trials and one feeding trial were performed during two-phase fattening on male hybrid Danbred growing-finishing pigs were divided into four groups. The pigs were fed grower diets where 50% of GM-SBM protein (diet S-c) was replaced with 00-RSM protein (diet R), 00-RSM and FB protein (diet R + FB) or 00-RSM and YL protein (diet R + YL), and finisher diets where 100% of GM-SBM protein (diet S-c) was totally replaced with 00-RSM protein (diet R), and with 00-RSM and FB protein (diet R + FB) or YL protein (diet R + YL) in 50%. It was found that partial (50% in grower diets) and total (100% in finisher diets) replacement of GM-SBM protein with 00-RSM protein combined with FB or YL protein had no adverse effect on nutrient and energy digestibility, N balance, serum of blood carbohydrate and protein metabolism or the biochemical parameters of liver and kidney function. Protein from 00-RSM (6%) and FB seeds (10%/12%) contributed to high daily gains and high feed conversion efficiency. Protein from 00-RSM (6%) and YL seeds (6%/7%) in grower-finisher diets led to a further improvement in fattening performance. The analyzed vegetable protein sources had no negative influence on carcass quality. The results of the present study indicate that 00-RSM protein combined with protein from low-tannin FB or low-alkaloid YL seeds can be valuable high-protein feed ingredients alternative to GM-SBM in pig nutrition.

Energy manipulation of isonitrogenous diets for broiler chickens

A total of 378 unsexed Anak broiler chicks were used to assess the effects of varying energy levels and manipulation on growth, haematology, and carcass traits. The experiment was conducted in two phases. First, one-day-old chicks were randomly assigned to one of three starter diets, which differed in their energy density (LSE: 2786.80 Kcal/kg; OSE: 3015.40 Kcal/kg; and HSE: 3252.20 Kcal/kg). The chicks were assigned to seven replicates per treatment with 18 chicks per replicate. When the chicks were 27 days old, they were randomly re-allocated to three finisher diets (LFE: 2770.66 Kcal/kg, OFE: 2961.74 Kcal/kg, and HFE: 3150.43 Kcal/kg). Thus, there were seven replicates of nine treatments with six chicks per replicate in the finishing phase. The starter and finisher diets were isonitrogenous. Birds fed the OSE and HSE starter diets gained more weight and were heavier at 27 days than birds fed LSE. Energy intake by birds fed HSE was greater than by birds fed OSE, and birds fed OSE had greater energy intake than birds fed LSE. Feed conversion ratio was improved for birds fed OSE and HSE. Birds fed LSE and then HFE consumed the least feed and gained as much or more weight during the finisher phase as any other group. Overall, FCR between days 27 and 50 tended to differ among the treatments (P =0.06). Total protein intake increased with decreasing dietary energy in both phases. Varying dietary energy levels did not affect the haematological parameters, carcass traits and internal organ weights.

The Effects Of Replacing Groundnut Cake With Cottonseed Cake On The Performance And Carcass Characteristics Of Broiler Chickens

The effects of replacing groundnut cake(GNC) with cottonseed cake (CSC) at 0, 50 and 100% levels in starter and finisher diets on broiler performance, carcass characteristics and gut morphology were evaluated in a 56 - day feeding trial. Average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain, and feed/gain ratio were significantly (P< 0.05) affected by dietary treatments at the starter and finisher phases. Eviscerated weight (E. W) dressing percentage, total edible meat and abdominal fat pad decreased with increasing level of CSC while weights and lenghts of small intestine, large intestine, caeca and gizzard weight increased significantly (P<0.05) from 0 to 100% CSC diets. It can be concluded that CSC inclusion at 50 and 100% level had adverse effect on the performance and carcass parameters assessed.

Effects of Cooked Pigeon Pea seed meal on the performance, dressed and organ weight characteristics of broilers

Seeds of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) grown in Enugu State in the South East Agricultural zone of Nigeria were studied to determine its effect on performance, dressed weight and organ weight characteristics of broilers. The dry, brown coat coloured pigeon pea seeds were cooked in boiling water for 60minutes, sun-dried, made into a meal and stored in feed bags. The cooked pigeon pea seed meal (CPSM) at 0, 20, 30, 40, and 50% dietary levels replaced 0, 40, 60, 80 and 100% of soybean meal and 0, 20, 30, 40 and 50% of maize, respectively in formulated broiler starter diets. CPSM also replaced 0, 50, 75 and 100% of soybean meal and 0, 18.18, 27.27, 36,36 and 54.54% of maize, respectively in formulated broiler finisher diets. The formulated broiler starter and finisher diets were fed to 7 - day old hubbard broilers in two successive regimes of 28 days each, for the starter and finisher phases respectively. At 63 days of age, 3 broilers of comparable live weights per replicate were selected, starved of feed for 12 hours, slaughtered and eviscerated to determine the dressed weights and internal organ weights. Broilers fed 0% CPSM diet recorded significantly (P<0.05) higher live weight gains than those on CPSM diets except broilers fed 20% CPSM. Feed intake was significantly (P<0.05) higher among broilers fed 50%CPSM diet and significantly (P<0.05) lower among birds on the control (0%CPSM) diet. Results obtained also indicated a significant (P<0.05) difference in dressed weight between birds fed CPSM diets and the control diet (0%CPSM). Birds fed 20% CPSM diet recorded the highest dressed weight. Liver weight decreased progressively with increasing dietary inclusion level of CPSM with birds fed 50% CPSM diet recording significantly (P<0.05) lower weights. Weight of gizzard was also significantly (P<0.05) lower for birds fed 50% CPSM diet. Heart and spleen weights followed a similar pattern with birds fed 20%CPSM diet recording significantly (P<0.05) higher weights for heart and lower weight for spleen respectively, It would appear that dietary CPSM tend to improve the dressed weight of broilers.

REPLACEMENT VALUE OF POULTRY VISCERAL OFFAL MEAL IN THE DIET OF BROILER CHICKENS

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the replacement value of poultry visceral offal meal (PVOM) substituting for fish meal (FM) on an equal protein basis in the diets of unsexed Ross-strain broiler chickens from day-old to 8 weeks of age. One hundred and fifty birds were allotted in groups of 10 into 15 equidimensional floor pens with floor space of 0.189m2 per bird. There were three replicates per treatment diet, with 10 birds per pen serving as a replicate. Five treatment diets, each for the starter and finisher phases of 5 and 3-week duration respectively were fed ad libitum. Diet A (control) contained 8% FM which was gradually replaced with PVOM at 2,3,4,6,6,90 and 9.20% in diets B, C, D and E respectively for both phases. All the diets were isocaloric (ca 12MJ ME/kg) for both phases and isonitrogenous with 23 and 20% dietary crude protein contents for the starter and finisher diets respectively. Feed intake and feed conversion rations (FCR) were similar (P >0.05) on all diets in support of complete substitution. However , weight gain for 8 weeks on the control diet was better (P <0.05) than those on FM/PVOM- and PVOM-diets whose weight gains were similar (P < 0.05). The mean feed intake values of 4.031, 3.936, 3.760, 3.870 and 3.715 kg/bird were obtained for birds receiving diets A,B,C,D and E respectively while the equivalent FCRs were 2.326, 2.352, 2.233, 2.326 and 2.340. The mean weight gains for birds on diets A,B,C,D and E for 8weeks were 1.824, 1.688, 1.689, 1.676 and 1.590 kg/bird respectively. The dressed weight and weight of back, drumsticks, things and wings were similar (P >0.05) for all diets in favour of complete substitution of FM with PVOM. Mean dressing percentages were 58.24 to 69.07% . It is concluded that PVOM could replace FM completely in broiler diets.

The Effects of Replacing Groundnut Cake with Urea- Treated and Fermented Brewer’s Dried Grains on Nutrient’s Digestibility, Retention and Carcass Characteristics on Broiler Finishers

The effects of replacing groundnut cake(GNC) with urea-treated and fermented brewer's dried grains (BDG) in broiler finisher diets were investigated. urea-treated and fermented BDG was used to replace GDC at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% levels in broiler finisher diets. Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric to provide 20% crude protein and 3000 kcal/kg metabolizable energy. One hundred and ninety five thirty day old broiler chicks of Anak breed (Anak 2000 strain) were randomly allocated to five equal dietart treatments of 13 chicks per replicate and 39 chicks per treatmentand fed ad libitum in rearing cages. At the end of the 8th week, 9 broilers per treatment (3 birds per replicate) were randomly selected from the five treatment groups for metabolic study. At 8 weeks, two birds per replicate were weighed and slaughtered for carcass measurement. Nutrient digestibililty and retention were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by urea-treated and fermented BDG incorporation in the diets. Nitrogen retention values of 63.80±0.32 and 62.15±0.39% for the control and 25% replacement for the levels of 50, 75 and 100%. Fat retention values of 97.71±0.39 and 92.49±0.66% for 75 and 100% replacement levels (P<0.05) were significantly higher than values of 53.37±2.72, 52.74±1.72, 42.54±2.37 and 42.75±2.67% for 25, 50, 75 and 100% replacement levels. Carcass quality parameters and organ weights were not significantly (P>0.05) different in all treatment groups. Mortality level (5-7%) was normal and evenly spread across all treatment groups. Results indicate that ureat-treated and fermented BDG can completely replace GNC as a plant protein source in broiler finisher diets.

Growth and carcass yield of finishing broiler chickens fed lablab leaf meal

The inclusion of lablab (Lablab purpureus) leaf meal (LLM) at 0, 50 and 100g/kg in finisher diets on broiler performance and carcass yields were evaluated in a 28-day feeding trial. Results showed that LLM in broiler finisher diets resulted in significant (P<0.05) increase in feed intake relative to the control diet. The control diet and 50LLM kg diet supported similar (P>0.05) final body weight and weight gain, but these parameters were significantly (P<0.05) depressed in broilers fed 100gLLM/kg diet. Feed conversion ratio became poorer with increase in level of LLM. Carcass yield was not significantly influenced (P>0.05) by dietary treatments. Cut-up parts as a percentage of dressed weight showed that thigh and drumstick had a non-significant decrease in weight while back and wing had a non-significant increase in level of dietary LLM. Breast, neck and abdominal fat pad were significantly (P<0.05) decreased with increased LLM. Broilers fed 100gLLM/kg diet exhibited a significantly lower weight for liver, spleen, lung and heart in comparison with the control diet. Only the gizzard is significantly higher (P<0.05) in broilers fed LLM compared to the control diet (without LLM). It can be concluded that LLM inclusion at 100g/kg diet had a negative effect on performance but not on carcass parameters whereas LLM at 50g/kg diet gave comparable response with the control diet in all parameters measured.

Effect of feeding different levels of fermented and unfermented cassava tuber meals on performance of broilers

Studies were conducted to determine the relative effects of fermented and unfermented sun-dried cassava tuber meals as source of energy in broiler diets. A batch of fresh bitter cassava tubers (TMS 30572 variety) was cut into pieces, dried in the sun and milled (UFC). Another batch was cut into pieces, fermented in water for 4 days, dried in the sun and milled (FC). Both fresh cassava tubers and processed meals were analyzed for proximate composition and cyanide contents. In the first experiment, the meals were used to make 7 iso-nitrogenous broiler starter diets such that diet I (the control) contained maize as source of energy while in diets 2, 3 and 4, 50%, 75% and 100% of the maize in the control diet was replaced with UFC and in diets 5, 6 and 7, the maize was similarly replaced with FC. Each diet was fed to a group of 24 broiler chicks replicated into 2 from / week old to 5 weeks old. In the second experiment, the meals were used to make 7 iso-nitrogenous broiler finisher diets, using replacement levels as in the starter trial, and each diet fed to a group of 22 broiler chicks replicated into 2 from 5 weeks old to 9 weeks old. Fresh cassava tuber contained 0.44mg HCN/gm while unfermented and fermented meals contained 0.15mg HCN/gm and 0.08mg HCN gm, respectively. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in proximate composition of the three samples. In the starter trial, the group that received the diet in which 50% of maize was replaced with UFC or FC compared favourably with the control in performance (P>0.05). Although at 100% replacement level, both UFC and FC significantly depressed performance of the chicks, UFC resulted in severe stunted growth and ruffled feathers of the chicks. In the broiler finisher trial, replacement of maize up to 75% with FC produced no adverse effect (P>0.05) whereas at that level, UFC significantly depressed performance (P>0.05).