Journal of World's Poultry Research

199-204

Authors: Getachew T, Hawaz E, Ameha N and Guesh T.

Probiotics are live microbial food ingredients that have a beneficial effect on human health. Intake of probiotics improves feed intake, egg production and egg quality in laying breeds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the probiotic lactobacillus species supplementation on productive traits of White Leghorn chicken. For this purpose, 30 samples of cow milk were collected from Haramaya university dairy farm during the period from May to August 2015. The probiotic properties of each isolates were confirmed by simulating gastrointestinal tract conditions. Based on physiological and biochemical tests Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus plantarum were isolated. The experimental design used in this experiment was single-factor Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with treatments basal feed (control), supplementation of L. acidophilus (T2), L. plantarum (T3) and their combination (T4) and a 5% (P< 0.05) level significance was used. Supplementation of Lactobacillus species improved the Feed Intake (FI), Hen Day Egg production (HDEP) and egg weight. The FI recorded were 98.9 g/day/hen, 99.8 g/day/hen, 101.8 g/day/hen and 105.0 g/day/hen in control, T1, T2 and T3 respectively. HDEP of 0.31%, 0.33%, 0.33% and 0.34% were recorded at control, T1, T2 and T3 respectively. The egg weight of the control treatment, T1, T2 and T3 were 50.8g, 51.4 g, 51.4g and 51.9g respectively. Probiotic Lactobacillus species (L. acidophilus and L. plantarum) improves the productive traits of the laying flock. Chicken received the combination of probiotic lactobacillus species significantly perform best in FI, HDEP and egg weight.

117-120

Authors: Akanbi OB, Rimfa AG and Okewole PA

Avipoxvirus of the subfamily Chordopoxvirinae is known to cause fowl pox infection in chickens. The disease manifest as Cutaneous, diphtheritic, systemic and oncogenic forms in birds. The former two being the most frequent forms of the infection and occurring in chickens. Twelve cases of fowl pox virus infection in chicken flocks over a 5-year period were reviewed to describe the pathologies and the forms of pox virus infection observed in Bauchi and Plateau States in Nigeria. Three forms (cutaneous, diphtheritic and systemic) of fowl pox virus infection were investigated in indigenous and commercial backyard chicken breeds at different ages and with infection during different period of the year using gross- and histo-pathological features. Our findings showed that the cutaneous form was most common in Bauchi and Plateau States in north-eastern and north-central Nigeria respectively. Rather than the mixed Cutaneous and diphtheritic form previously reported, we observed a new co-occurrence of a mixed Cutaneous and systemic form of fowl pox virus infection in a young cockerel chicken. Also, there seems to be no seasonal variation in the occurrence of fowl pox virus infections in the chicken flocks in the study area, a notion responsible for fowl pox virus vaccine demands in the country. Therefore, present study suggest a routine fowl pox vaccination program for susceptible chicken flocks as all the flocks reported in this study had a history of unvaccinated status with the exception of the indigenous chicken which is rarely vaccinated against any infectious or contagious disease in the country.

131-138

Authors: Agboola AF, Omidiwura BRO, Ologbosere EY and Iyayi EA.

This study was carried out to determine the energy and protein requirements of laying Japanese quails. A completely randomized design of treatments comprising four dietary protein levels (18, 20, 22 and 24%) and three levels of metabolisable energy (3000. 3100, 3200 kcal/kg) in a 4 × 3 factorial arrangement was used.ÂÂÂÂÂÂ 144 Japanese quails aged 7 weeks were randomly divided into 12 dietary treatments with 3 replicates per treatment and each replicate with 4 birds. The experiment lasted for five weeks. The results of the study showed that there was no significant (P>0.05) effect of protein, energy or their interaction on feed intake, feed conversion ratio, hen day production, egg weight and egg number. However, protein as a single variable had a significant effect (P0.05) effect of protein, energy or their interaction on egg quality traits (yolk colour, yolk weight, albumen weight, shape index, shell thickness, shell weight, and haugh unit). However, birds fed 20% crude protein and 3000 kcal/kg metabolisable energy had better hen day production, number of eggs per bird and egg quality traits compared with birds on the other groups. Dietary protein increased egg production and egg weight, augmented by energy. The yolk colour was increased with increasing energy level. Therefore, the results of the experiment revealed that 20% crude protein and 3000 kcal/kg metabolisable energy could be used to obtain the best production performance and good egg quality traits of Japanese quails at the laying phase.

147-152

Authors: Akanbi OB, Ekong PS, Odita CI and Taiwo VO.

The first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus in Nigeria was in 2006 and it involved different poultry species, mostly chickens in different ages, reared and bred on the same premises with some numbers of ducks, geese, turkeys and ostriches. To determine the effect of HPAI on mixed species poultry farming in the face of the ongoing 2015-2016 resurgent HPAI in Nigeria, data of confirmed 2006-2008 HPAI H5N1 outbreak in poultry were expressed as percentage proportions and used to produce spatial map using ArcGIS10.3 (ESRI®, USA) against some ecological features of the country. The outbreaks were more clustered in poultry farm dense areas especially in the northern states while very few clustering were observed around Important Bird Area and wetlands. A total of 177,996 (25.9%) on farm bird mortality was recorded from the selected outbreaks. From the backyard flock, the total mortality was 25, 915 birds (14.6%) and from the commercial flock, total mortality was 152, 081 birds (85.4%). The commercial flocks recorded higher mortality rate (P< 0.0001). In the single species flock, total mortality recorded was 173, 425 (25.5%) while in the mixed species flock, total mortality was 4, 571 (52.9%). Mortality rate was much higher in the mixed species flock (P< 0.0001) and ranged from 4.92 – 73.15% with the chicken-duck-turkey mixed flock farms having the highest rate (73.15%). Results show a higher risk of HPAI disease occurrence in multiple, mixed species poultry than in single species poultry production.

161-190

Authors: Waseem Mirza M, Pirgozliev V, Rose SP and Sparks NHC.

An experiment was conducted to explore the time bound (different growth phases) effect of different dietary nutrient densities i.e., different energy and protein concentration while maintaining the ratio between the two, all with the same ideal amino acid profile, on litter quality and leg health (footpad dermatitis (FPD) and hock burn (HB)), when fed to growing turkeys. The effects of dietary nutrient modelling on growth performance parameters, water intake and excretion, dry matter (DMD), organic matter (OMD), crude protein (CPD) digestibility coefficients and apparent metabolisable energy (AME) were also examined, when fed to growing turkeys in varying growth phases. At twenty-eight days of age one hundred and seventy five male turkeys (BUT 8) were transferred to 35 floor pens, using stratified randomisation on body weight, 5 birds in a pen, all pens were equipped with plastic feed hoppers and drinkers. The experiment was a randomized block design consisting of 5 treatments (5 levels of CP and ME concentrations and 4 feeding/ growth phases). Each dietary treatment was replicated 7 times with 5 birds in each replicate. Feed and water were offered ad libitum throughout the experiment. Five dietary treatments, containing either 77, 85, 100, 110 or 120% of the crude protein (CP) and metabolisable energy (ME) content recommended by the breed standard. The whole experimental period of 16 weeks starting from 4 weeks of age was divided into 4 weeks standard growth phases: 4-8, 8-12, 12-16 and 16-20 weeks, finishing at 20 weeks of turkey’s age, according to commercial management guide for BUT 8 (Aviagen Turkeys Ltd.). Nutrient density had a positive and linear effect (P< 0.001) on weight gain, feed efficiency and dry matter digestibility (DMD) whereas the effect of nutrient density on dietary protein digestibility (CPD) only approached significance (P= 0.081). As might be expected increasing nutrient density had a negative and linear effect on feed (P< 0.001) and water (P< 0.01) intake and did not affect the ratio between these two parameters. Increasing nutrient density had a positive effect on litter quality (linear (P< 0.001), with both the litter moisture (P< 0.01) and the litter score decreasing (P< 0.001). Conversely litter ammonia concentration increased (P< 0.001) as nutrient density increased, similarly as nutrient density increased so did the prevalence of hock burn (P 0.05) of treatment on FPD. The results suggest that an increase in nutrient concentration can reduce the moisture content of the litter and so improve overall litter quality. However, the incidence of hock burn increased with the high nutrient density diets, suggesting that factors other than the litter moisture alone may contribute the occurrence of leg health problems in turkey production.

48-58

Authors: Ulbad Polycarpe Tougan1,2,3*, Gabriel Assouan Bonou3 , Thibaut Gbaguidi3 , Benoît Gbetondjingninougbo Koutinhouin3 , Serge Ahounou3 , Chakirath Salifou3 , Serge Mingnissè Zannou1 , Appolinaire Guy Mensah4,5, Yves Beckers2 , Nadia Everaert2 , André Théwis2 , and Issaka Abdou Karim Youssao

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of different feed withdrawal durations (0, 12 and 24 hours) on carcass traits and meat technological quality in local chicken of Benin. 30 South ecotype chickens of Benin were divided into 3 groups and slaughtered for the study after 12 hours of feed withdrawal. These chickens were all reared in free range according to the same traditional breeding system. The pH, weight of each carcass and the color of meat (breast and thigh) were determined. It appears that longer feed withdrawal periods significantly increased weight loss in chicken. The highest carcass weight, breast weight and carcass yields were recorded after 12 hours of feed withdrawal (P < 0.05). Technologically, the lowest pH values in the breast muscle at 1 hour, 8 hours, 16 hours and 20 hours post mortem were found in chickens slaughtered without any feed withdrawal (P < 0.05). At 12 and 24 hours post mortem, the highest pH values were noted in chickens slaughtered after 12 hours of feed withdrawal (P < 0.01). The live weight of control chickens and those slaughtered after 12 hours of feed withdrawal was highly and positively correlated with carcass weights (P < 0.001) but weakly and positively associated to breast weight and thigh-drumstick weight (P < 0.05); while after 24 hours of feed withdrawal, the live weight was moderately and positively correlated with the thigh-drumstick weight (P < 0.01, r = 0.9) but weakly associated to hot carcass weight and cold carcass weight (P < 0.05). After 24 hours of feed withdrawal, carcass yield was negatively correlated to breast drip loss (P ˂ 0.05). Overall, longer feed withdrawal increased weight loss, pH, luminance and yellowness of meat but reduced its redness, water holding capacity and shear force.

66-72

Authors: Frederick Adzitey*, Peter Birteeb and Benjamin Kwasi Holdbrook

This study was conducted to determine the cohesiveness of whole guinea fowl egg as a binder in chevon and beef burgers. The study also investigated the sensory characteristics, nutritional content, cooking loss, lateral shrinkage, welling and doming of the beef and chevon burgers prepared using whole guinea fowl eggs. A total of 3 kg beef and 3 kg chevon were used. The meats were assigned using complete randomized design into 3 levels. The 3 levels of inclusion of the whole guinea fowl egg per kilogram of meat were 0 g, 50 g and 100 g which corresponds to each treatment that is B1 (control), B2 (5 %) and B3 (9 %) for beef, and C1 (control), C2 (5 %) and C3 (9 %) for chevon, respectively. Thus each treatment contained 1 kg meat, 0.5 g red pepper, 1.0 g black pepper, 1.0 g white pepper, 2.0 g mixed spice (adobo®), 5 g salt and whole guinea fowl egg (0 g, 50 g or 100 g). The meat and spices were minced and moulded manually into burgers using a cylindrical tube to obtain uniform shapes and sizes. They were vacuumpacked in transparent packaging bags and stored overnight at 4 °C prior to processing. The processed samples were evaluated for their sensory, nutritional and binding properties. Sensory characteristics of beef and chevon burgers (cohesiveness, colour, juiciness, texture, taste, flavor and overall liking) showed no significant differences (P > 0.05). In absolute terms beef and chevon burgers with the highest inclusion level (9 %) of whole guinea fowl egg were most preferred. There were also no significant differences (P > 0.05) in moisture content, crude protein content, pH, cooking loss, lateral shrinkage and doming of the beef and chevon burgers. Significant difference (P < 0.05) occurred in the crude fat content of chevon burger but not beef burger. Welling was not observed in the beef and chevon burgers.

84-91

Authors: Oluwadare, Modupe Lola* 1 , Okewole, Philip2 , Dashe, Yakubu3 , Barde Israel3 , Sa’idu, Lawal4 , Abdu, Paul4 and Oladele, Sunday Blessing5

Newcastle disease is a highly contagious viral disease which affects existing or developing poultry industries. This study was performed to assess the level of awareness of farmers on Newcastle disease and its control through vaccination and also to determine the level of Newcastle disease virus antibody (Ab) titer in commercial layer chicken sera using haemagglutination inhibition test in Jos South Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was shared to farmers to fill. Thirty four farms were visited and nine districts were randomly selected. A total of 354 sera were collected from commercial chickens; ten from each flock. There was a high level of awareness of farmers (100%) on ND and its vaccination (100%) and all the farmers (100%) had vaccinated their chickens against ND. The HI test revealed that, out of the 354 sera tested, 9 (2.5 %) chickens were negative for NDV Abs, which means had NDV antibody titer below the minimum protective titer of log2 3 and 345 chickens (97.5%) were positive for NDV Abs; had NDV antibody titer above log2 3. It was concluded that the level of awareness of farmers on ND and its control through vaccination was incredibly high, also, the level of protection to ND in vaccinated chickens was also very high, in that a higher percentage of the chickens had NDV Antibodies between log2 6 and log2 8, however, inspite of these, ND is still a continual threat to the poultry industry in Nigeria. It is therefore recommended that, other biosecurity measures, such as good management practice, proper hygiene and surveillance be emphasized and ensured, in order to prevent ND infection among flocks.

99-104

Authors: Babatunde Richard Olusegun Omidiwura*, Olatunbosun Odu, Adebisi Favour Agboola, Deborah Dara Akinbola and Eustace Ayemere Iyayi

Present experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of diets containing different levels of metabolizable energy (3000, 3100 and 3200 kcal metabolizable energy/kg) and crude protein (20, 22, 24 and 26% crude protein) on performance of growing Japanese quail. 288 two-week old quail chicks were assigned into 12 treatments and 3 replicates with 8 birds in each. Birds were randomly allocated to each dietary treatment. For 3000, 3100 and 3200 kcal metabolizable energy/kg levels of energy, crude protein levels of 26, 24, 22 and 20% were assigned. Data on performance and nutrient digestibility were recorded and analyzed using a completely randomized design with a 4×3 factorial arrangement during 6 weeks of age. Metabolizable energy significantly affected (P < 0.05) total and daily feed intake. Level of crude protein also had a significant effect on the crude protein intake and protein efficiency ratio of growing Japanese quails. Level of crude protein and metabolizable energy had no significant effect on the body weight gain. The metabolizable energy significantly affected (P < 0.05) the ether extract digestibility while crude protein significantly affected ash digestibility. The results indicated that a diet of 26% crude protein and 3200 kcal metabolizable energy/kg is suitable for optimum performance of Japanese quail in terms of weight gain.

06-13

Authors: Mudannayaka AI, Wimangika Rajapaksha DS and Heshan Taraka Kodithuwakku KA.

Present study was to determine the effect of beeswax, gelatin and Aloe vera gel coatings on internal quality and shelf life of chicken eggs compared to uncoated and mineral oil coated eggs. Four hundred and seventy five brown shell eggs were obtained from 32 weeks old Lohmann classic brown layers and all the eggs were randomly divided into five groups as ninety five eggs per group. Mineral oil, beeswax, Aloe vera gel and gelatin coatings were applied on eggs as four treatments and one group of eggs were uncoated and kept as control group. Then all the eggs were stored at 30°C and relative humidity of 70% - 75% for six weeks of storage period. Beeswax and gelatin coated eggs showed significantly (PAloe vera coated eggs and gelatin coated eggs dropped from AA to B and mineral oil and beeswax coated eggs changed from initial AA quality to A quality after six weeks of storage at 30°C. Results of microbiological analysis showed that all coated eggs were microbiologically safe throughout the storage period. The present study demonstrated that, in comparison to the mineral oil and the uncoated eggs, beeswax is a better novel coating material and gelatin can also be successfully used as coating material in preserving the internal quality and extending the shelf life of chicken eggs stored at 30 °C for six weeks.

18-24

Authors: EL-Dikeir N, Mohamed Elbeeli MY, Abdel-Rahim AM, Eshag NA and Mohamed Ali SA.

This study was carried out in Gezira state, Sudan to investigate feed and drinking water composition and contamination in open layer houses. Data was collected through individual interviews (questionnaires) of 97 randomly selected poultry farm owners during farms visits. Water and feed samples were collected from 20% of the visited farms and data was analyzed using SPSS. Results indicated that feed samples obtained from farms and mills had higher levels of crude protein than recommended; it was about (23-25%) in all localities, which affect birds’ kidney that negatively affect egg production. Metabolizable energy was in the recommended range in all localities. There was high fungal growth and aflatoxins presence in feeds in many localities. Total fungal count was from 113 colonies/g in Greater Medani municipality to 2850 colonies/gr in Almanagil municipality and aflatoxins were from 37.5% in Alkamleen to 66.7% in South of the Gezira and Greater Medani localities. Feed ingredients were also contaminated with fungal growth and aflatoxins presence. Drinking water indicated high pH and total hardness in many localities. There was also high bacterial total count in all localities and E-coli was from 5 colonies/ml in Alhasahesa municipality in the north to Greater Medani municipality mto150 colonies/ml in East of the Gezira locality. It was recommended that measures be taken to ensure poultry feed and drinking water safety in addition to adjusting feed composition to nutrients requirements for the specific production to sustain high productivity.

31-36

Authors: Getachew T.

Probiotics are live microbial food/feed ingredients that have a beneficial effect on health that stimulates the growth of beneficial microorganisms and reduces the amount of pathogens, thus improving the intestinal microbial balance of the host and lowering the risk of gastro-intestinal diseases. Probiotics can be harmful to debilitated and immuno-compromised populations. An accurate dosage of administration has yet to be established despite the wide-use of probiotics. Probiotics have antimutagenic, anticarcinogenic, hypocholesterolemic, antihypertensive, anti-osteoporosis, and immunomodulatory effects. Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Leuconostoc, Enterococcus, Lactococcus, Bacillus, Saccharomyces, Aspergillus and Pediococcus species are most commonly used probiotics in poultry production. When supplemented to chicken probiotics improve feed-intake, growth performance, meat quality, egg production, egg quality and have cholesterol lowering potential in poultry products. However, some studies reported no significant effect of probiotics on feed-intake, production traits, products’ quality and cholesterol level.