Dual-purpose production of genetically different chicken crossbreeds in Ethiopia. 2. Egg and meat production of the final-crossbreed females and males

Growth performance and carcass characteristics of Koekoek chickens exposed to temperature variation with supplementary Coriander seed powder

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of ambient temperature and coriander seeds supplementation on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Koekoek chickens. In the experiment, chickens were exposed to two temperature rooms with a heated room of 32 ± 1.2 °C from 11:00 to16:00 h and a normal room temperature with an average maximum and minimum of 23.8 ± 3 °C and 16.6 ± 1.6 °C, respectively, and a relative humidity between 34.5 ± 4 and 44.8 ± 3%. The chickens were supplemented with 0, 5, and 10 g/kg of coriander seed powder. The results showed that the group of Koekoek chickens placed in a heated room had significantly lower (P < 0.05) feed intake and weight gain and significantly higher (P < 0.05) feed conversion ratio than the groups placed at normal room temperature. Water intake was 1.8% higher in the groups placed in a heated room than those placed at normal room temperature. Supplementation with coriander seed powder enhanced growth performance and carcass traits. The carcass weight and breast percentage were higher (P < 0.05) in the groups that received 10 g/kg coriander seed powder. The growth performance of the Koekoek groups supplemented with 10 g/kg coriander seed powder in a heated room also improved significantly compared to groups in a heated room without supplementation. This suggests that the supplementation of coriander seed improves performance, and has a positive potential effect in alleviating the negative effects of heat stress on growth performance of chickens.

Feed gap analysis of dual-purpose chicken production in Tanzania: feed quantity and quality limited production

The demand for chicken meat and eggs exceeds what can be produced in Tanzania, largely due to low productivity of the sector. Feed quantity and quality are the major factors determining the potential production and productivity of chickens. The present study explored the yield gap in chicken production in Tanzania and analyses the potential of increased chicken production as a result of closing the feed gaps. The study focused on feed aspects limiting dual-purpose chicken production in semi-intensive and intensive systems. A total of 101 farmers were interviewed using a semistructured questionnaire and the amount of feed provided to chickens per day was quantified. Feed was sampled for laboratory analysis and physical assessments were made of weights of chicken bodies and eggs. The results were compared with the recommendations for improved dual-purpose crossbred chickens, exotic layers, and broilers. The results show that the feeds were offered in insufficient quantity compared with the recommendations for laying hens (125 g/chicken unit/d). Indigenous chickens were fed 111 and 67 while the improved crossbred chickens were fed 118 and 119 g/chicken unit/d under semi-intensive and intensive systems, respectively. Most feeds fed to dual-purpose chickens were of low nutritional quality, particularly lacking in crude protein and essential amino acids in both rearing systems and breeds. Maize bran, sunflower seedcake, and fishmeal were the main sources of energy and protein in the study area. The study findings show that the important feed ingredients: protein sources, essential amino acids, and premixes were expensive, and were not included in formulating compound feeds by most chicken farmers. Of all 101 respondents interviewed, only one was aware of aflatoxin contamination and its effects on animal and human health. All feed samples contained a detectable concentration of aflatoxins and 16% of them exceeded the allowed toxicity thresholds (>20 µg/kg). We highlight the need for a stronger focus on feeding strategies and ensuring the availability of suitable and safe feed formulations.

Effects of selenium supplementation on the growth performance, slaughter characteristics, and blood biochemistry of naked neck chicken

This study examined how selenium-supplemented diets affected the performance of naked neck chickens. The birds were fed both organic and inorganic selenium at 0.30 ppm, while the control diet did not include any additional selenium. A total of 225 one-day-old naked neck chicks were randomly divided into 3 experimental groups, each of which was replicated 5 times (replicates) and contained 15 birds. This was done using a completely randomized design. The data was collected after growth, meat quality, and blood profile parameters were assessed. The findings showed that the birds fed inorganic selenium in the diet displayed increased (P < 0.05) feed intake followed by those administered organic selenium and the control diet. On the other hand, birds fed organic selenium in the diet showed enhanced body weight gain and better feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05). Similarly, organic selenium supplementation increased (P < 0.05) breast and thigh weight compared to inorganic selenium, but no other metrics, such as dressing percentage, drumstick weight, liver weight, gizzard weight, heart weight, or wing weight, significantly differed between treatments (P > 0.05). When compared to birds fed inorganic Se and control diet, the birds fed organic Se had greater (P < 0.05) blood levels of total protein and globulin. Additionally, it was discovered that organic Se-fed birds had greater (P < 0.05) blood Se concentrations than control and inorganic Se-fed birds. However, no differences between treatments were found in albumin, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, or uric acid (P > 0.05). In conclusion, adding Se-enriched yeast, as an organic selenium source, to diets may enhance the poor growth and slaughter characteristics of naked neck chicks without negatively affecting blood chemistry.

Male Layer Chicken’s Response to Dietary Moringa oleifera Meal in a Tropical Climate

Simple Summary

In the egg industry, most slow-growing chicks are usually euthanized at 1-day-old even though it has been demonstrated that they are well-suited to production systems with outdoor access. However, the rearing of these birds, as an option to address the ethical concerns related to their disposal at such an early age, is impaired by high feeding costs. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate non-conventional feeding materials that could be incorporated into their diets. Moringa is a non-traditional feed for poultry; nevertheless, studies investigating slow-growing breeds’ performance when fed Moringa while given access to outdoors in the tropics are limited. Thus, the current study evaluated slow-growing chickens’ response to dietary Moringa in terms of production performance, carcass yield, and blood parameters. The results revealed that all cumulative traits were not negatively affected by the treatments (except for feed conversion). Additionally, both breast weight and yield and gizzard weight and yield significantly increased with dietary Moringa, while blood parameters remained unaltered. It is concluded that Moringa, as a feed ingredient, could be added to the diets of slow-growing male chickens grown with outdoor access in the tropics to improve productive and carcass traits, but feed conversion could be increased.

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different dietary amounts of Moringa oleifera meal (MOM), consisting of leaves and small edible green stems, on growth performance, carcass traits, and blood parameters of finisher male layer-type slow-growing chickens raised with outdoor access. A total of 198 Dominant Blue D 107, 72-day-old male chickens were randomly assigned to tree dietary treatments containing 0, 30, and 60 g/kg MOM that corresponded to T1 or control, T2, and T3, separately. Each treatment was divided into 6 replicates of 11 birds apiece, and all birds had access to the outdoors. After 7 weeks of experimental rearing, live weight was 2218.1, 2164.4, and 2176.6 g for birds raised in T1, T2 and T3, respectively, without statistical differences (p ≥ 0.05). Live weight gain and daily live weight gain increased (p ≤ 0.05) in favor of the control group during the first 4 weeks but decreased (p ≤ 0.05) in the last 3 weeks of the trial. Overall feed intake was not influenced by the treatments (p ≥ 0.05). Birds raised with MOM in their diets had higher feed conversion (p ≤ 0.05). T2 diet considerably increased (p ≤ 0.05) birds’ breast and gizzard weight and yield while decreasing feet weight and yield, in comparison to T1. Dietary MOM inclusion did not impair or improve (p ≥ 0.05) blood parameters. The results of this study suggest that up to 60 g/kg MOM could be included in the diets of slow-growing Dominant Blue D 107 male chickens grown with access to outdoors without compromising their productive performance (except for feed conversion), slaughter characteristics, and health status.

Assessing growth performance, morphometric traits, meat chemical composition and cholesterol content in four phenotypes of naked neck chicken

The present study was conducted to assess the growth performance, morphometric traits, muscle chemical composition and cholesterol content in four phenotypes of naked neck chicken (black, white-black, light brown and dark brown). A total of 320-day-old chicks, 80 from each phenotype, were randomly stratified into 20 replicates (16/replicate), according to a completely randomized design. The results showed higher final body weight, weight gain, and better FCR in both light brown and dark brown phenotypes whereas time of gains was found to be greater in dark brown phenotype. Keel length and shank circumference were greater in dark brown whereas wing spread was found to be higher in light brown phenotype. Drumstick circumference and body length did not show any significant differences (P > 0.05) across the phenotypes. Dry matter was found to be higher in white black, crude protein in black, white black and dark brown, moisture in light brown, and cholesterol content in black whereas ether extract and ash content were found to be greater in black and white black phenotypes. In conclusion, both light brown and dark brown phenotypes showed superior growth performance and morphometric traits. Similarly, from a health point of view, the dark brown and light brown phenotypes seem superior because their cholesterol content was low. Thus, it is strongly recommended that there should be a conscious effort to improve economically important traits of the light and dark brown birds to be used as dual-purpose slow growing chicken, especially in developing countries.

Genetics and breeding of a black-bone and blue eggshell chicken line. 2. Laying patterns and egg production in two consecutive generations

The BG line was originated from the cross between 2 Chinese indigenous breeds, Dongxiang blue eggshell, and Jiangshan black-bone, and has been bred to combine dark heavy black-bone body and high production of blue-shell eggs, into single dual-purpose line. Full-pedigree hens from 2 generations, G4 (n = 441) and G5 (n = 464), were reared in the same single-cage laying facility in 2019–2020 and 2020–2021, respectively. Starting from the first egg of each hen, its daily egg production was recorded until 300 days-of-age. Up to 7 "no-egg" days were considered normal laying breaks between clutches, whereas laying cessation of 8 or more days was considered Pause, and the laying pattern of each hen was assigned either with Pause or No-Pause. The other traits included PsDays: number of Pause days; AFE: age at first egg; EN300: eggs laid until 300 d; %L300: total laying rate (EN300/[300-AFE]); %Lnet: net laying rate (EN300/[300-AFE-PsDays]); ClLng: average clutch length; EW200 and EW300: average egg weight around 200 d and 300 d. Estimates of heritability (h²) of each trait, and phenotypic and genetic correlation between traits, were calculated in each generation using the animal model. Heritability estimates were calculated also by regressing the means of full-sib G5 hens on their G4 parents' means. Mean overall laying rate of all G4 hens was low (%L300 = 57%) because 53% of them had Pause in their laying pattern. In G5, incidence of Pause was higher (75%) due to a 3-wk cold stress, with mean %L300 = 54%. However, significant estimates of heritability and genetic correlations suggest that selection for low PsDays will reduce the incidence of Pause in BG hens and elevate the line's mean laying rate towards %L300 = 70%, as the No-Pause hens in G5. PsDays-free laying rate (%Lnet) was found to be highly correlated with the significantly heritable (h²≈0.4) clutch length (ClLng). Selection index combining the genetically independent low PsDays and high ClLng is expected to maximize egg production improvement in the BG line, and in similar populations derived from indigenous breeds.