This study investigated the ameliorative effect of dietary tomato powder (TP) on performance and blood characteristics of broilers under heat stress condition. A total of 240 (21 days old), unsexed Marshall broiler chicks were allotted to four dietary treatments having 6 replicates of 10 birds each in a completely randomized design (CRD). The birds were exposed to ambient temperature of 33 °C between 8:00am and 5:00 pm and relative humidity of 81.5% for 2 h per day, throughout the 21-day feeding trial. Data was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and polynomial contrast (linear (L) and quadratic (Q)) applied using IBM SPSS version 20. The experimental diets 1 (control), 2, 3, and 4 contained 0%, 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5% TP, respectively. Results showed that live weight, weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio increased (L.Q: P < 0.05) while mortality rate reduced (P < 0.05) following increasing dietary inclusion of TP. Birds fed diets containing 0, 2.5, and 5.0% TP had similar feed cost per weight gain which was lower (L: P < 0.001: Q: P < 0.05) than those of birds fed diet containing 7.5% TP. Most hematological parameters and serum enzymes measured were not affected (P > 0.05) by inclusion of TP. Birds fed diets containing 5.0 and 7.5% TP had similar serum cholesterol (L.Q: P < 0.05) and triglyceride (L:P < 0.001:.Q:P < 0.05) concentration which is lower than those of control. It was concluded that tomato powder (especially at 5% inclusion) in the diet of heat-stressed broiler chickens is beneficial for improved growth, health, and production cost with no adverse effect.

This study was undertaken to determine the suitability of vegetable oil blends as a major source of lipid in place of fish oil in the diet of Heterobranchus longifilis fingerlings. The fish were fed one of the six experimental diets twice daily to satiation for twelve weeks. The test diets were identical in composition, except for the source of supplemental lipid which was either fish oil (FO), palm oil (PO), soybean oil (SO), equal blend of FO and PO (FOPO), e qual blend of PO and SO (POSO) or equal blend of FO, PO and SO (FOPOSO). The growth parameters were significantly different ( P 0.05). Malic enzyme activities in the liver were not significantly different among dietary groups. On the other hand, the activities of glucose - 6 - phosphate dehydrogenase were significantly different and over six - fold hi gher malic enzyme. Results indicated that FO may be replaced with either PO, SO and their blends in H. longifilis diets.

Ackee Apple Seeds (AAS) subjected to chemical detoxification with glycine and riboflavin at 5% coupled with traditional treatments of soaking and boiling to leach out some soluble AAS toxins, hypoglycin A and B, was evaluated for nutritional adequacy using day chicks (DOC). Six iso-caloric and nitrogenous diets were prepared with graded levels of 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 and 12.5% AAS meal in rations 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively. The diets including a corn-soybeans control diet were fed ad libitum to 144-DOC in a 4-week feeding trial. Results showed that the test feedstuff improved blood composition (PCV, WBC). The non- significant difference recorded on lengths of GIT parts including ileum and duodenum relative to th e reference diet suggest the similarity of the test diets with the conventional diet (p>0.05). Differences observed on absolute and relative organ weights (AOW and ROW) supported the result on performance which gave significant increase in body weight gain (p<0.05). Results on hematology, GIT, AOW and ROW following detoxified AAS meal ingestion suggest that the methods offer great potential for effective detoxification of Ackee apple seeds.

This experiment was carried out to determine the effects of supplementing feed with palm oil and extracted fish meal on the histological, haematological and serum biochemical profile of Heterobranchus longifilis . Ten experimental diets were formulated by replacing fish oil with palm oil (PO) at 0, 25, 50, 75 or 100% in extracted and unextracted fishmeal-based diets in a 2 x 5 factorial design. The red blood cell counts (RBC) were significantly affected by the PO levels and highest in fish fed 50% and 75% FO replacement with PO. Extraction of fishmeal significantly affected the haematological parameters. Total protein, glucose concentrations, AST and ALT activities were not significantly ( P > 0.05) affected by the PO levels. However, serum total cholesterol was significantly ( P < 0.05) increased in fish fed 50% FO. Similarly HDL was significantly ( P < 0.05) higher in fish fed 50%, 75% and 100% FO replacement with PO, but HDL of fish fed unextracted fishmeal diets was significantly ( P < 0.05) lower than those fed the extracted fishmeal diets. Histological examination of the intestines showed no accumulation of lipid vacuoles in the cytoplasm. However, liver from fish fed unextracted fish meal-based diets with 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% FO replacement showed homogenous size hepatocytes with vacuolized cytoplasm, swelling and nuclei displacement were also evident. These results indicate that extraction of fishmeal and use of PO as a substitute for FO in the diets of H. longifilis had no noticeable negative health impacts.

Little is known about the effects of the dietary intake of palm o il and extracted fishmeal on growth performance and tissue fatty acid composition of Heterobranchus longifilis. Twenty H. Longifilis fingerlings were allotted for each treatment tanks in triplicate groups at random and were fed ten isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets during a 12-week feeding trial. Diets were prepared by replacing fish oil with palm oil (PO) at 0, 25, 50, 75 or 100% (of fish oil) in ext racted and un-ext racted fishmeal-based diets in a 2 x 5 factorial design. Feeding H. longifilis fingerling with various levels of PO did not result in differences in fish growth and feed utilizat ion parameters (P > 0.05). This suggests that complete replacement of FO with PO can support growth comparable to a FO based diet. Ho wever, reduced growth and feed utilization parameter values were observed in H. longifilis fingerling fed un-extracted fishmeal-based diets (P < 0.05). Extract ion of lipids fro m fishmeal resulted in lower concentration of tissue eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and total n-3 PUFA (p < 0.05). While the tissue concentration of saturated, monounsaturated, n-9, n-6 and 18:2n-6 fatty acids increased in the extracted than the un-ext racted groups (P < 0.05). PO and ext racted fishmeal resulted in increased index of atherogenicity and index of thrombogenicity of the fillet (P < 0.05), but the value was less than 1.00 considered to be healthy for human consumer. Fro m the results of this study we conclude that H. longifilis fingerling be fed diets containing PO and extracted fishmeal, to enhance fish growth, survival and feed efficiency.

Mango Kernel Cake (MKC) was fermented each with the mono-culture of Rhizopus oligosporus, Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus stolonifer and Penicillium chrysogenum for 7days in a fermentor. The fermented MKC was incorporated into the diets of broiler chicks at 20% replacement for maize for four weeks in order to determine the effect of feeding fermented MKC on gut microbial count and organ weights of broilers. Carcass parameters were determined as percentage of live weight. Results showed that there was significant difference in the values of mean weight of the liver, lung, heart, gizzard, pancreas, proventiculus and small intestine. Mean weight of the kidney and spleen of treated chickens were not statistically different (P>0.05) from birds fed diet containing unfermented MKC and control diets. The weight of lung and liver of the birds were significantly higher (p<0.05) compared with the control and unfermented diets. The weights (crop, 2.4; gizzard, 1.9; proventiculus, 4.5 and small intestine, 13.2x104cfu/g) obtained for the birds fed on P. chrysogenum fermented MKC were generally lower (p < 0.05) than the values of birds fed on the other diets including the control. Total coliform counts of the birds fed treated diets were generally lower than control diets, although these values were not statistically different in the proventiculus and small intestine. Total coliform counts in the gut of birds fed P. chrysogenum fermented MKC were significantly lower (p<0.05) than the other treatment diets while, fungal counts in the gut parts were not statistically different from the control. Results of carcass characteristics and microbial counts of the gut varied with the inclusion of different mono-culture fermented MKC indicated that apart from the antibacterial properties of the metabolic products of the fermenting mono-culture fungus, the residual tannins in the fermented products still interfered with the development of the chickens and their gut microflora.

As the search for alternative sources of energy for non ruminants continues, this review was undertaken to examine the potential value of cassava (Manihot utilissima Pohl.), sweet potato (Ipomea batatas Poir.), cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium Schott.) and their by-products as dietary supplements for non ruminants. Studies on these roots and tubers showed that, on a dry-weight basis, contained 2.0 – 7.9% crude protein, 0.3 – 3.1% crude fibre and 72.4 – 77.9% starch. The practical use of these roots and tubers in non ruminant feeds is generally low. This level of utilization is attributed to the low protein and dry matter and the potentially toxic cyanogenic glycosides in fresh cassava and irritating substance in cocoyam. Processing techniques such as fermentation, soaking, boiling, ensiling and sun-drying are adopted to remove the deleterious substances, and effects on animals. The comparable performance of pigs and poultry fed varying levels of roots and tubers and their by-products with those maintained on maize showed that they can be used as substitutes in non-ruminants diets at certain levels without detrimental effects. To achieve increase in the use of these root crops and their by-products for maize replacement in intensive non-ruminant production systems, adequate protein supplementation and proper processing are essential.

One of the major problems facing aquaculture is the inadequate supply of fish oil mostly used for fish feed manufacturing. The continued growth in aquaculture production cannot depend on this finite feed resources, therefore, it is imperative that cheap and readily available substitutes that do not compromise fish growth and fillet quality be found. To achieve this, a 12-week feeding trial with Heterobranchus longifilis fed diets differing in lipid source was conducted. Diets were supplemented with 6% lipid as fish oil, soybean oil, palm oil, coconut oil, groundnut oil and melon seed oil. Triplicate groups of 20 H. longifilis were fed the experimental diets two times a day to apparent satiation, over 84 days. Growth, digestibility, and muscle fatty acid profile were measured to assess diet effects. At the end of the study, survival, feed intake and hepatosomatic index were similar for fish fed experimental diets. However, weight gain, SGR and FCR of fish fed soybean oil-based diet was significantly reduced. Apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients were significantly lower in fish fed soybean, coconut and groundnut oil-based diets. Fillet and hepatic fatty acid compositions differed and reflected the fatty acid compositions of the diets. Docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3), 20:5n-3 and 20:4n-6 were conserved in vegetable oils-based diets fed fish possibly due to synthesis of HUFA from 18:3n-3 and 18:4n-6. Palm oil diet was the least expensive, and had the best economic conversion ratio. The use of vegetable oils in the diets had positive effect on growth and fillet composition of H. longifilis.

This study investigated the effects of dietary palm oil (PO) on growth performance and carcass composition of Heterobranchus longifilis with the goal of replacing dietary fish oil with palm oil. In this study triplicate groups of H. longifilis fingerlings were fed the experimental diets for 8 weeks. Five isonitrogenous (45% crude protein), isoenergetic (20 KJg-1) experimental diets were made containing either 6.0% FO and 0% PO, 4.5% FO and 1.5% PO; 3.0% FO and 3.0% PO; 1.5% FO and 4.5% PO; or 0% FO and 6.0% PO using soybean and fish meal as the protein source. Dietary palm oil had no significant effect on growth rate or feed conversion ratio. Similarly, No significant differences were observed between dietary treatments for moisture, protein and ash content in H. longifilis fingerlings. However, fillet saturated, monounsaturated fatty acids and liver lipid deposition were significantly (P<0.05) higher in fish fed 6.0% PO diet. This study suggests that the replacement of cod liver oil by palm oil as lipid supplement in the diet permitted a clear improvement of growth and FCR of H. longifilis. This indicates that PO can effectively replace FO in the diet of the fish without compromising fish growth and feed efficiency.

The worldwide increase in the use of antibiotics in farm animals, especially for poultry production to treat and prevent bacterial infections and as growth promoters in feeds has increased microbial resistance to antibiotics. Recent scientific evidences show that resistance to antibiotics is not only due to the ability of bacterial population to survive the effect of inhibitory concentration of antimicrobial agents, but may also arise from several pathways which include the transmissibility of acquired resistance to their progeny and across to other unrelated bacteria species through extra chromosomal DNA fragment called the plasmid which provide a slew of different resistances. The emergence and dissemination of resistant bacterial strains like Campylobacter sp, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus sp. from poultry products to consumer put humans at risk to new strains of bacteria that resist antibiotic treatment. Resistant bacteria thwart antibiotics by interfering with their mode of action via a range of effectors’ mechanisms, including synthesis of inactivating enzymes, cell wall and ribosomal alteration, and modified membrane carrier systems. These mechanisms are specific to the type of resistance developed. Because of the growing global concerns that resistance bacteria can pass from animals to humans, there is an increase in public and governmental interest in combating out imprudent usage of antibiotics in animal husbandry. Improvement in the hygienic practices of handling raw poultry products and adequate heat treatment to eliminate the possibility of antibiotic resistant bacteria surviving which play a role in preventing the spread. More attention should be focused on alternative approach involving the use of probiotic microorganisms that can similarly enhance poultry productivity and produce safe edible products.

Feathers may be problematic to chickens in thermoregulation during heat stress. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of clipping feathers, dietary ascorbic acid supplementation and season on performance of laying chickens. 180 ‘Isa Brown’ (IB) layers of about 30 weeks old were subjected to a 2×2×2 factorial combination of feather conditions (intact and clipping), dietary ascorbic acid supplementation (0 and 300 ppm) and season (early dry, ED and late dry, LD) during a trial using a factorial design. The birds were randomly allotted to 8 treatments consisting of treatment one (basal diet and intact feathers); treatment two (basal diet and clipped feathers); treatment three (basal diet supplemented with 300 ppm ascorbic acid and intact feathers) and treatment four (basal diet supplemented with 300 ppm ascorbic acid and clipped feathers) in both ED and LD seasons. Results showed that clipping feathers significantly improved (P 0.05) on HDP, WI, F/Doz., EW, and ESW. However, the effect of the interactions of the three factors were not significant (P>0.05) on FC, EM, EST and %ESW. Finally, clipping of feathers alone; secondly, dietary ascorbic acid supplementation at 300 ppm alone; and thirdly, a combination of the two, can be efficient in condition of heat stress. Key words: Feathers, ascorbic acid, season.

The present study was performed to investigate the influence of fish oil (FO), two terrestrial animal fats (lard (PL) and poultry oil (CF)) and three vegetable oils (palm kernel (PKO), sheabutter (SBO) and sunflower (SFO)) as the dietary lipid sources on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fatty acid (FA) composition and histology of Hetero-branchus longifilis. Six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets containing 6% of added fat from the lipid sources were formulated and used. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of 20 fish. The lipid source influenced (P < 0.05) weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, hepatosomatic index and nutrient digestibility. Liver morphology of H. longifilis fed CF showed intense steatosis with hepatocytes containing numerous lipid vacuoles. However, fish fed PKO and SFO showed regular-shaped hepatocytes with few lipid vacuoles in the cytoplasm. Fillet FA profile of fish fed PKO, SBO, PL and CF diets had significantly higher (P < 0.05) concentrations of SFA and MUFA, but lower PUFA com-pared to fish fed FO and SFO diets. Fillet of fish fed the FO diet had higher (P < 0.05) concentrations of EPA and DHA compared with fish fed the other diets. The results of this study shows that alternative lipids sources could be used in H. longifilis diets however, inclusion of PKO or SBO in the diet of H. longifilis produced fillets with low concentrations of long chain n-3 PUFA.

A study was carried out on fish oil, two terrestrial animal fats (lard and chicken fat) and eight vegetable oils (palm kernel, sheabutter, soybean, palm, coconut, sunflower, groundnut and melon seed oils) to investigate their chemical and quality characteristics and the possibility of using them as alternative lipids in aquafeed.The results showed that the peroxide value of lard was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than values obtained in the other vegetable oils and animal fat sources; acid values of the oils ranged from 1.38 in coconut oil to 14.04 NaOH/g in palm kernel oil and were significantly different; the iodine value of sunflower oil, fish oil and soybean oil were comparable and higher, while a lower value that was not significantly different were observed in groundnut oil, coconut oil and melon seed oil.Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances of the oils were significantly different and showed low concentrations.The main fatty acids predominating in terms of relative abundance in the vegetable oils and animal fats examined are Lauric, palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids.Substantial levels of n-3 PUFA was observed in soybean oil and groundnut oil.The soybean oil and groundnut oil are exceptional high in the n-3 fatty acid content of the 18:3n-3 among the vegetable oils and would be a good lipid sources for tropical freshwater fishes.

Thevetia peruviana seed meal was detoxified using two methods – acid hydrolysis followed by ethanolic extraction of the released aglycones and direct ethanolic extraction of the cardiac glycosides. Acid detoxification followed by alcoholic extraction of the aglycones gave a meal with 95% reduction in the glycoside content (from 42.7 to 2.15 g kg-1), while direct alcohol detoxification led to a 98% reduction in the glycoside content of the seed meal (from 42.7 to 0.83 g kg-1). The two treated Thevetia seed meals (TSM) were used to formulate poultry diets by introducing 0, 5, 10 and 15% of treated TSM into the feed composition which is equivalent to 0, 16.7, 33.3 and 50% replacement of soybean meal. The results showed that up to 15 % inclusion of alcohol detoxified TSM (≈ 50% replacement of soybean meal) produced no mortality and gave satisfactory growth performance of the cockerels used for the experiment. The performance of birds on alcohol detoxified diets was comparable with that of birds on the control diet. However, diets formulated with acid detoxified TSM gave fairly satisfactory performance only with 5% inclusion of the detoxified meal in the diet (i.e., 16.7 % replacement of soybean in the meal). Higher inclusion levels (5 and 10% inclusions) resulted in reduced feed intake and retention, reduced activity and high mortality (25 – 33% mortality). The birds were uncoordinated, walked limply and generally exhibited poor growth performance. Amino acid analysis of the detoxified TSM also showed that the alcohol-detoxified meal had a better amino acid profile and higher essential amino acid contents than either the raw meal or the acid-detoxified meal. The acid-detoxified meal had the lowest content of all amino acids analyzed except the acid amino acids which were increased. Generally, alcohol detoxification appeared to be the best and most effective of the two detoxification methods examined.

3 Abstract: An experiment was conducted to investigate the utilization of Jatropha seed cake by Albino rats. Jatropha Seed Cake (JSC) treated by boiling, fermentation followed by extraction with equal volumes of hexane and ethanol was included in diets at graded levels of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25%. Data obtained on performance and body organ indices showed that rats tolerated up to 15% dietary JSC without adverse effects on the measured parameters in relation to the corn-soy reference diet (p>0.05). However, 20 and 25% inclusion levels elicited mortality in all the animal subjects receiving the diets within one week in the course of the experimental trial.

The effects of treatment methods on the nutritive value of cotton seed cake (CSC) for laying hens were examined. Olympia laying hens (n = 96) were assigned randomly to a 2 × 3 factorial combination of fermented or unfermented CSC supplemented with enzyme, Vitamin E and ferrous sulphate over a 4-week feeding period. CSC was incorporated at 15% in the diets. Results showed no significant differences (P > 0.05) in feed intake, body weight gain and egg weight due to treatments. However, hen-day egg production was significantly reduced (P 0.05). Serum concentration of total protein among dietary treatments was lower (P 0.05) for all treatments. Generally, activities of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases increased (P < 0.05) among CSC dietary treatments compared with the control diet. The interaction between CSC form and additives had no significant effect on any of the parameters. The results of this study indicate that the treatment methods employed for CSC could not significantly improve its nutritive value for egg production at 15% level in the diet of laying hen.

A feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of fermented Terminalia catappa fruit meal (FTCM) with Aspergillus niger as replacement for maize on broiler growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and serum biochemical constituents. Dietary maize was replaced by FTCM at 0, 20, 40, 60, or 80%. One hundred and eighty one-day-old Shaver broiler chicks were randomly allocated to the five dietary treatments, three replicate groups of twelve chicks each for a 42-day period. There was no significant difference (P > .05) in the feed intake, weight gain, and feed; gain ratio between the broilers fed on 40% FTCM diet and the control group. The apparent digestibilities of nitrogen, crude fibre, and fat decreased significantly in broilers fed higher levels (>40%) of FTCM replacement diets compared with the control or lower FTCM diets. Serum concentrations of total protein, albumin, and globulin were decreased (P < .05) on 80% FTCM fed broilers. Serum cholesterol, creatinine, and glucose were not significantly (P > .05) altered among treatments. The activities of aspartate and alanine aminotransferases and alkaline phosphatase were significantly (P < .05) increased with higher FTCM replacement. The results indicate that FTCM could replace up to 40% of dietary maize in the diets of broiler chickens without adverse effect on growth performance or serum constituents.