Journal of World's Poultry Research

01-04

Authors: Frederick Adzitey

Animal production is an integral part of Ghana’s agricultural economy and a major source of livelihood for many rural households in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions of Ghana. In Ghana, animals are raised under the extensive, semi-intensive and/or intensive system. However, the extensive system is the commonest method and it is practiced most especially in rural communities. Animal production holdings are commercially, family or individually owned. Commercial farmers normally keep poultry, and mostly under the intensive system. Different animal species are reared in Ghana purposely for local consumption. This paper provides an analysis of animal and meat production in Ghana within a 10 year period. Between 2001 and 2010 the average of live animal production was 3,958,560 for goats, 3,269,460 for sheep, 1,373,700 for cattle, 404,600 for pigs, and 33, 252 for chickens. In general, the increase in goat and sheep production was higher than the increase in cattle, pigs and chicken production within this period. Averages of meat production in Tonnes were 34,427, 24,491, 13,535, 12,336 and 12,056, for chicken (chicken meat), beef (cattle meat), pork (pig meat), chevon (goat meat) and mutton (sheep meat), respectively. The increase in chicken meat was the highest within this period. Total meat production in Tonnes was 177,723 in 2001, 176, 086 in 2002,181,686 in 2003, 186,470 in 2004, 188,537 in 2005, 191,021 in 2006, 198,093 in 2007, 220,243 in 2008, 232,516 in 2009 and 244,742 in 2010. Opportunities for increased animal and meat production in Ghana still exist since the country imports animal and meat from abroad. This overview provides reference data of animal and meat production in Ghana. It is expected that the Government and other stakeholders will use this data in planning and making of policies, and to monitor changes that may occur overtime.

13-17

Authors: 1 Mohammed A. Ahmed, 2 Bakheit M. Dousa and 3 Khadiga A. Abdel Atti

An experiment was conducted to study the nutritional value of yellow maize when it substitutes sorghum grain as source of energy at levels 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% in broiler rations. One hundred and forty unsexed one day old (Ross) broiler chicks were randomly assigned to five approximately isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets labeled as follows: Diet (S0) containing sorghum 100% (control, 60% of the diet), diet (S1) 75% sorghum 25% maize, diet (S2) 50% sorghum 50% maize, diet (S3) 25% sorghum 75% maize and diet (S4) maize (100%) (without sorghum). Each treatment had four replicates with 7 birds/replicate. The experiment lasted for 6 weeks. Feed intake and body weight gain had been recorded weekly. The results showed significant increase (P < 0.01) in feed intake (3847.7, 3817.68 and 3734.06gram) and body weight gain (2189.58, 2203.04 and 2078.98gram) for birds fed diets S0, S1 and S2 respectively. No significant differences were observed in feed conversion ratio among all dietary treatments. Moreover, protein efficiency was greater for birds received diet S0 (2.65) and diet S1 (2.62) and lowest for birds received diet S4 (2.45). Birds fed diet S3 and S4 recorded significantly (P < 0.01) lowest hot and cold carcass weights (1420.83, 1479.17gram) and (1395.84, 1458.34gram) respectively than other groups. Broiler chicks supplemented with diet S1 and S2 recorded significantly (P < 0.05) higher carcass hot dressing percentage (73.66 and 73.36) respectively than those fed diet S0 (72.60) and S4 (72.60) while those fed diet S3 (71.92) recorded the lowest one. The highest serum glucose level was obtained by chicks fed diet S1 (176.33) while those fed on the other four diets were statistically similar. Serum total protein was found to be higher for chicks fed diet S0 (3.10), S1 (3.66) and S4 (3.42) while the lowest level was observed by chicks fed diet S3 (2.31). All the treatments had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on cold carcass dressing percentage, liver and abdominal fat weights, serum cholesterol, serum calcium and inorganic phosphorus levels. The cost of production decreased by increasing level of maize.

24-27

Authors: P.K. Pathak and B.G. Nath*

Livestock and poultry rearing is an imperative factor for improving the nutritional security of rural poor in India. Rural farmers rear Desi type chicken with low egg and meat production in backyard system. For developing the rural poultry farming, improved backyard poultry like Vanaraja/Gramapriya birds rearing is of utmost important. These improved birds can rear in both intensive and free ranging system. Birds can be reared for egg production in small numbers (1020) in free range conditions if plenty of natural feed resources are available. Chicks need brooding during initial 6 weeks of age to maintain the required body temperature and to protect from predators. In nursery rearing, feeding of broiler starter up to 28 days is better option but it can also be formulated with locally available materials. At 42 days of age, the birds can be let out under backyard free-range conditions. Birds should be vaccinated specifically against the Newcastle disease and fowl pox. The backyard poultry farming with improved birds provide a solution to food security to the needy villagers paving a way for sustainable agriculture in rural areas of India.

35-37

Authors: Tahoora Shomali 2 1 1, * , Somayeh Hamedi 2 , Mohammad Reza Paryani 35 2 , Seyed Mehdi Mohseni , Mostafa Farzaneh 3

Regarding the remarkable role of bursa of Fabricius as a primary lymphoid organ in poultry, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of long term administration of Zataria multiflora as an herbal immunomodulatory agent on histological features of this organ in broiler chickens. To this end, fifty, one-day old chickens were randomly divided into five equal groups and fed with diets contained 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2% of Z. multiflora (experimental groups) or basal diet (control group) for 45 days. On day 46, birds were slaughtered and bursa of Fabricius was dissected immediately. 6μm-thick transverse sections were made and stained with H&E for measuring height of pelicae, follicular width as well as thickness of follicular cortex and medulla using a linear graticule. Number of follicles in plicae was also counted under light microscope. The results showed a dose dependent increase in all histomorphometric parameters due to Z. multiflora administration and the highest increase was in the thickness of follicular cortex of birds treated with 2% Z. multiflora. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of Z. multiflora during the rearing period of broilers, dose dependently affects histological structures of bursa of Fabricius in a way that may enhance its role as a lymphoid organ.