Journal of World's Poultry Research

8-21

Authors: Djitie KF, Mohamadou B, Radu-Rusu RM, and Tchiegang C.

Physicochemical characteristics of eggs are still poorly controlled in poultry farming in the city of Ngaoundéré, Cameroon. The present study was thus conducted to characterize the rearing systems in modern poultry farming and to analyze the physicochemical characteristics of eggs from hens reared in deep litter, battery, and backyard systems from August to October 2020 in Ngaoundéré, Cameroon. To this end, 33 farms with approximately 61100 hens (Cobb500 broiler and layer) were surveyed. At the end of this survey, a sample of 180 eggs was collected, with 60 eggs per system for physicochemical analyses. Data included socio-economic and technical characteristics of modern farming systems as well as the physicochemical parameters of the eggs. The obtained results indicated that 90.9% of Cobb500 chicken owners were men. Of the total of the layer’s buildings, 73% were equipped with nests. The materials used for feeders were made of wood (54.4%), plastic (21.2%), or cement (6.1%). Moreover, 81.1% of the poultry farmers buy chicken feed on the market while the others prepare their own feed from various ingredients. Preventive and curative prophylactic measures were applied by all livestock farmers, yet 54. 5% were still victims of different diseases. The selling price of a 45-day-old broiler chicken was between 4 and 6 USD, while the price of a 30-egg tray varied between 3 and 4 USD, which contributed to 60-80% of family income for 54.5% of poultry farmers. The high feed cost as well as lack of finance, ingredients, and security were the main issues of poultry farming. Concerning the physicochemical characteristics of eggs, a significant increase in egg weight was noted among backyard (43.50 ± 3.15 g), battery (58.19 ± 4.02 g), and deep litter (63.51 ± 3.91 g) systems. The Haugh’s Unit of eggs in the backyard system (72.33 ± 4.42%) was significantly lower than deep litter (82.91 ± 6.76%) and battery systems (86.83 ± 11.42%). The proportions of eggshell and edible contents were similar in all production systems. Yolk lipid (17.63%) and yolk protein (7.11%) in dry matter contents of local breed eggs were higher than those of improved breed from both systems. The findings indicated that modern poultry farming in Ngaoundéré has been poorly developed and backyard eggs were richer in nutrients and consequently highly recommended to use.

31-37

Authors: Sandi S

The study aimed to determine the effect of probiotics derived from an isolate of silage Kumpai Minyak grass on performance and the physical egg quality of Pegagan ducks. The study was conducted in 16 weeks, from May to September 2020. The sample size was 400 female Pegagan ducks aged five months. The treatments included basal diet (Control) and base diet plus 0.2% (P2), 0.4% (P4), 0.6% (P6), and 0.8% (P8) probiotic silage of Kumpai Minyak grass. The observed variables were performance (egg production, egg weight, feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio) and physical quality (albumen index, albumen weight, yolk weight, and Haugh unit). Observation data on probiotic treatment 0.8% (P8) established a significant effect on egg weight, compared to other treatments. Moreover, P8 probiotic treatment could significantly affect daily egg production and feed conversion ratio, compared to P2 and P4 probiotic treatments. Different results were found in the observations on feed consumption, where the overall treatment diet indicated significant results, compared to the control treatment. Specifically, several variables showed a significant effect, namely albumen index, albumen weight, egg yolk weight, and Haugh unit. Each observed variable value increased along with increasing probiotic treatment levels. However, egg index, egg yolk index, shell weight, and thickness were inversely related to the other variables investigated in this study. The P8 probiotic treatment could increase digestibility and absorption of feed nutrients due to inhibition of pathogenic bacteria and optimization of the digestive tract. The probiotics at the level of 0.8% produced from the Kumpai grass silage process can be used as a growth promoter for laying ducks to replace commercial antibiotic products.

46-51

Authors: Leke JR

Eggs contain all the proteins, lipids, vitamins, minerals, and growth factors necessary for the development of the embryo. Egg white and yolk proteins are considered functional food substances since they have biological activities, such as metal-chelating, antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities. The current study aimed to determine the effect of banana kepok on the production levels of immunoglobulin Y (IgY), vitamins, and cholesterol of eggs in laying hens. A total of 200 laying hens (medium brown 402) were used at 80 weeks of age with 5 treatments and 5 replications and each entailed 8 chickens. The treatment groups included the use of kepok banana flour (KBF) as R0 (no KBF), R1 (95 Basal feed + 5% KBF), R2 (90 basal feed + 10% KBF), R3 (85 basal feed + 15% KBF), and R4 (80 basal feed + 20% KBF). A total of 50 eggs were used in egg yolk sampling. The investigated variables were egg IgY, vitamins (A, B1, B6, D2, D3), and cholesterol content. The results of the study indicated that the administration of kepok bananas at different levels could provide a significant difference in IgY, vitamins (A, B1, D2, D3), and cholesterol of eggs. However, it did not significantly affect Vitamin B6. The study concluded that KBF can positively affect IgY and vitamins in eggs. Moreover, it could decrease the cholesterol in eggs.

69-76

Authors: Taer A and Taer E

The survival of native chickens during the first 6 weeks of growth is less than 50%. Hence, this study proposes the introduction of prophylactic antibiotics for poultry diseases prevention and treatment. However, the ban on antibiotics has prompted the search for plant-based biomedicines. Therefore, this trial aimed to determine the effect of phytogenic compounds (PC) of five herbs as water additives on the survival and growth responses of native chickens. A total of 204 Bisaya chickens (unsexed) were randomly assigned to 4 treatments replicated three times with 17 chickens in each replicate. Chickens were fed ad libitum and received water with 1.5 g antibiotics/1000ml water (control), 20 ml PC/1000ml water (T2), 40 ml PC/1000ml water (T3), and 60 ml PC/1000ml water (T4) for 35 days. No significant differences were observed on feed intake for chickens in antibiotics and PC treatments, however, the 60-PC group consumed slightly higher feed intake, compared to chickens under antibiotics and the other level of PC supplementation. Chickens in 60-PC ate 4-12% more feed than the others at the end of the trial period. Cumulative water used per kg feed did not differ among the experimental groups. The control and the PC supplemented chickens shared homogenous body weight and weight gains patterns, averaging 403.79 to 415.20g and 85.49 to 86.85g, respectively. Supplementation of 40-PC and 60-PC in drinking water for native chickens reduced the mortality rate and comparable feed conversion ratio with antibiotics. The 60-PC as a phytogenic water additive could enhance the growth performance, increase the survival rate, reduce mortality, and improve feed conversion ratio correlative to antibiotics.