Growth performance and nutrient digestibility of growing rabbits fed diets containing pawpaw (Carica papaya L.) leaf protein concentrate

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of growing rabbits fed diets containing pawpaw (Carica papaya L.) leaf protein concentrate as partial replacement for soybean meal (SBM). Five dietary treatments were formulated such that SBM was replaced with pawpaw leaf protein concentrate (PLPC) at 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60% weight-for-weight. Twenty-five composite growing rabbits of mixed sex and approximately seven weeks of age (736±90 g) were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments of five replicates in a completely randomized design. The rabbits had access to water and the experimental feed ad libitum for 12 weeks of feeding trial after one week of adaptation. Results showed that the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of rabbits recorded in this experiment were not significantly affected (p>0.05) by the replacement of SBM with PLPC, indicating that PLPC can be used to replace soybean meal up to 60% weight-for-weight without causing any adverse effect on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of rabbits. The average water-to-feed ratio was 2.54, indicating that rabbit under this condition of experiment requires an average of 2.54 mL of water for every 1 g of feed consumed. The flesh-to-bone ratio of rabbits recorded in this study was between 3.06±0.36 and 3.22±0.22. Rabbits on diets in which 60% SBM was replaced with PLPC resulted in the highest savings in terms of cost differential (₦90.94/kg); therefore, it is cheaper for farmers to replace SBM with PLPC at 60% weight-for-weight in rabbit feeding in Nigeria.

Phytogenic feed additives mixture enhances the lactational performance, feed utilization and ruminal fermentation of Friesian cows

The assay aimed to evaluate the effect of feeding a recently developed phytogenic feed additives mixture in diets of lactating Friesian cows (n = 30; 514 ± 10.1 kg body weight) for 3 months. Cows were stratified into three groups of 10 cows each and fed a control diet alone or the control diet supplemented with the additives mixture at 3 g (PHY3) or 6 g (PHY6)/cow daily. Menthol, levomenthol, β-linaloolm, anethole, hexadecanoic acid and p-menthane were the principle compounds identified in the additives mixture. The PHY3 increased (p < 0.01) intake and nutrient digestibility. PHY3 and PHY6 increased (p < 0.01) ruminal pH, total volatile fatty acids, propionate and acetate. PHY3 and PHY6 improved serum total protein and antioxidant capacity and decreased the concentrations of serum urea-N, triglycerides, total lipids, cholesterol and malondialdehyde (p < 0.05). PHY3 increased milk production and milk content of total solids, protein, lactose and fat. Both PHY3 and PHY6 did not affect mineral concentrations in blood or milk. It is concluded that the inclusion of 3 g/cow/d of feed additives mixture in the lactating Friesian cows diet enhanced milk production and feed utilization, with negative effects observed with increasing the dose of additives mixture to 6 g/cow daily.

Effects of replacement of alfalfa by big-leaf mulberry on growth performance, digestion and meat quality in growing rabbits

<p>This study aimed to investigate the effect of sundried big-leaf mulberry (BLM) as a replacement for alfalfa on the growth performance, digestibility of nutrients, nitrogen (N) utilisation and meat quality in New Zealand White rabbits. One hundred and sixty weaned rabbits, aged 35±1 d and with a body weight of 755±26 g, were randomly assigned to the 4 treatments with 20 replicates of 2 rabbits (1 male and 1 female) each. Animal performance was evaluated between the 35th and 77th d of age in 40 animals per treatment. The coefficients of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of nutrients and N utilisation were measured between 77 to 83 d of age in 30 animals per treatment. The control rabbits were fed a corn-soybean meal-alfalfa meal based diet. The three experimental groups were fed a similar diet in which the alfalfa meal was replaced by 10% (BLM10), 20% (BLM20), or 30% (BLM30) BLM. The final body weights and average daily gain were higher (<em>P</em>&lt;0.05) in BLM20 rabbits compared to control and BLM30 rabbits. Although BLM inclusion had no effects on the CTTAD of dry matter, organic matter and crude protein (<em>P</em>&gt;0.10), the CTTAD of ether extract was higher in rabbits fed the diets based on BLM (<em>P</em>&lt;0.05). No effect of treatment was noted on ingested and faecal N. Urinary (<em>P</em>&lt;0.05) and retained N (<em>P</em>&lt;0.10) were higher in animals fed with BLM30 and BLM20 diets, respectively. Dietary BLM supplementation increased a* (<em>P</em>&lt;0.05) and tended to reduce L* (<em>P</em>&lt;0.10) in rabbit meat samples. It was concluded that replacing alfalfa meal with BLM (20%) can promote growth and increase ether extract digestibility. Additionally, dietary BLM supplementation can increase the redness value of meat.</p>

Effect of dietary Moringa oleifera leaves on the performance, ileal microbiota and antioxidative status of broiler chickens

In this study, we investigated the effect of Moringa oleifera leaves (MOL) supplements on the performance, ileal microbiota carcass traits and biochemical and antioxidant parameters of broiler chickens. MOL was added to starter, grower and finisher diets at four levels (0%, 0.5%, 1.0% and 5.0%). A total of 320 one-day-old mixed-sex Cobb-500 broiler chicks were divided equally into four treatment groups, with 5 replicates of 16 chicks each until 42 days of age. Compared to the control group, chicks fed 0.5% and 1% MOL exhibited a higher final body weight (FBW), greater weight gain (BWG), and better average daily gain (ADG). Feed intake (FI) gradually decreased as the inclusion rate of MOL in the broilers' diet increased to 5%. The best feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and performance index (PI) were observed in broilers that were fed the MOL diet. The percentage of abdominal fat in broilers decreased significantly in response to dietary supplementation with MOL. The haematological profile in the MOL group revealed a lower WBC count and lymphocyte percentage but higher heterophil and H/L ratio without affecting haemoglobin and RBC count. The inclusion of MOL increased total serum protein, Ca and P levels but decreased glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, AST and ALT concentrations. Moreover, dietary MOL increased the activities of GSH, CAT and SOD, GPx and GST while decreasing the TBARS level. The pH value decreased in the ileum of broilers fed the 1% and 5% MOL diet compared to the other treatments. Decreased ileal counts of E. coli, Salmonella and Staphylococcus spp. were observed whereas the total ileal Lactobacillus spp. count increased in broilers fed the MOL diet. In conclusion, the MOL supplement can enhance growth performance and antioxidant status, alter ileal microbiota and protect against enteropathogens with no deleterious effects on the broiler chickens.