Journal of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine

6

Authors: Wuanor, A. A., Gwaza, D. S. and Kembe, T.

A 90-day study was conducted to evaluate the performance response of feedlot Bunaji bulls to dietary melon seed husk meal inclusion. Twelve Bunaji bulls aged two years and weighing 105 Kg on the average were randomly divided into four groups of three bulls each and allotted to four dietary treatments in a Completely Randomized Design in which each bull served as a replicate. The experimental diets were formulated using maize offal, palm kernel meal, soya bean haulm, cowpea husk, soya meal, rice offal, melon seed husk, bone ash and table salt. Melon seed husk meal (MSHM) was included in the diets at 0, 5, 10 and 20% corresponding to T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. Elephant grass (forage) and water were offered ad libitum while the experimental diets containing the melon seed husk meal were fed at 3.0% body weight of the bulls. Results obtained at the end of the study showed that there were no significant differences (P>0.05) in the initial body weight, average daily supplement intake, average daily forage intake, average daily total feed intake, average daily body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and final body weight. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the average daily water intake whose values were 13.66, 13.42, 12.47 and 12.26 litres for T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. It was concluded that inclusion of melon seed husk meal in the diets did not exert any deleterious effect on the performance of the feedlot Bunaji bulls. It was recommended that melon seed husk meal can be included up to 10% in the supplementary diets of feedlot Bunaji bulls.

7

Authors: Oyebanji, B. O., Oyewumi Oluwaseun, C. and Fadopemu, O. C.

This study was conducted to assess the effect of Curcuma longa on growth performance, haematological and biochemical parameters of noiler birds. A total of sixty-four (64) noiler birds of both sexes with an average weight of 1974±0.03 g were randomized into four treatment groups. Each treatment group comprised of eight birds per replicate and was replicated twice. Treatment 1 (control), treatment 2 (turmeric at 10 g/kg of feed), treatment 3 (turmeric at 20 g/kg of feed) and treatment 4 (selcon forte at 0.5 g/kg of feed). Weekly body weight and daily feed intake of the birds were recorded for 6 weeks, after which daily weight gain and the feed conversion ratio were calculated. At the end of the feeding trial, blood samples were collected for hematology and biochemical parameters, whole blood was analyzed for hematological parameters while serum was used for biochemical parameters. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the daily weight gain and the feed intake of the birds in all the treatments. The packed cell volume (PCV) of birds administered 10 g of turmeric per kg of feed (T2) (35.00±1.88%) was significantly higher when compared with birds in treatments T1 (31.09±2.3%), T3 (33.17±0.79%) and T4 (31.33±2.23%). The hemoglobin value of T2 birds (11.48±0.67 g/dl) was also significantly higher than birds in the other groups. The total protein of birds in groups T2 (5.28±0.45 g/dl) and T3 (5.63±0.34 g/dl) were significantly (p<0.05) higher compared to birds in groups T1 (5.03±0.48 g/dl) and T4 (4.93±0.40 g/dl). The birds fed diets supplemented with turmeric (T2 and T3) had significantly low total cholesterol level and higher value of high density lipoprotein and reduced the level of low density lipoprotein when compared to T1 and T4 birds. It can be concluded that turmeric fed to noiler chickens have no deleterious effect and can be included in their feed at 10 g/kg.

8

Authors: Ilo, S.U. and Egu, U.N.

Forty-eight sexually matured (7 to 8 months old) healthy New Zealand White rabbits consisting of male and female of equal sexes were used to determine the effect of graded levels of ginger rhizome meal on haematological parameters. The rabbits were divided into 4 treatment groups, identified as T1, T2, T3 and T4 and randomly assigned to four treatment diets in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Each of the treatment groups consisted of 12 rabbits (6 does and 6 bucks) replicated 3 times with 4 rabbits per replicate. The levels of inclusion of the ginger rhizome meal were 0.00, 5.00, 10.00 and 15.00% identified as T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. Treatment one (T1) which contained no ginger rhizome meal served as the control. The rabbits were fed twice daily, in the morning and evening. Water was given ad libitum to the rabbits. After 30 days of the feeding trail, blood samples were randomly collected from 12 rabbits (6 does and 6 bucks) in each treatment group for hematological evaluation. The results showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) among the treatment groups in haematological parameters: haemoglobin (HB), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) , white blood cells (WBC), neutrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte values. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) among the treatment groups in red blood cells (RBC), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), basophils and monocyte values. The results further showed that the HB, PCV, RBC, WBC, neutrophil and lymphocyte values of the rabbits were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by sexes. Haemoglobin (12.72g/dl) PCV 37.87% RBC 5.54 (x1012/L) and lymphocytes (47.67%) of the male rabbits (bucks) were significantly (P<0.05) higher than their female (doe) counterparts 11.97 g/dl, 34.60%, 4.98 (x1012/L) and 39.00% respectively. Mean corpuscular volume (70.43 fl), WBC (9.07x109/L) and neutrophils (60.00%) of the female rabbits differed significantly (P<0.05) from their male counterparts 67.65 fl, 6.40x109/l and 51.33% respectively. The results of this study indicate that inclusion of ginger rhizome meal in the diets of the pubertal rabbits up to 5% improved the haematological indices of these rabbits.