A study was carried out to look at the utilization of cowpea based diets on performance characteristics and haematology of broiler chickens. Raw cowpea, dehulled cowpea, dehulled cooked cowpea and dehulled roasted cowpea grains were fed to broiler chickens in an eight week feeding trial. A total of two hundred (200) day old unsexed broiler chicks of Marshall strain were allotted into five dietary treatments. Feed intake and growth were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in birds fed raw cowpea and dehulled cowpea respectively. The feed conversion efficiency (FCE) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) also followed a similar pattern. Non significant (P > 0.05) differences were however obtained in weight gain, FCE and PER of birds fed control diet and those fed dehulled cooked cowpea in this study. Birds fed dehulled roasted cowpea also had marginal reductions in weight gain, FCE and PER when compared to those fed dehulled cooked cowpea based diet. The haematological studies showed lower (P < 0.05) values of haemoglobin, red blood cells, packed cell volume and white blood cells of birds fed raw cowpea and dehulled cowpea respectively. The best significant indices in this study were however obtained in birds fed dehulled cooked cowpea.

This study was carried out to determine the effects of Moringa oleifera leaf meal on the

Tujuan penelitian untuk menentukan pengaruh biji benne mentah atau RBS (Sesamum indicum) dengan atau tanpa suplementasi lisin terhadap karakteristik penampilan dan retensi mineral pada ayam broiler. Rancangan acak lengkap digunakan pada penelitian ini dengan tujuh perlakuan dan 20 ulangan per per perlakuan. Pemberian pakan dilakukan selama 56 hari. Anak ayam umur 140 hari (strain Marshall) tanpa dibedakan jenis kelamin digunakan sebagai materi penelitian. RBS dimasukkan ke dalam pakan pada tingkat 15% dan 30% dan ditambah dengan lisin masing-masing sebanyak 0%; 0,25% dan 0,5%. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa rataan konsumsi pakan mingguan pada ayam yang diberi pakan kontrol dan pakan basal 15% RBS yang ditambah 0,25% dan 0,5% lisin tidak menunjukkan perbedaan nyata, tetapi lebih tinggi (P<0.05) dibanding dengan yang diberi pakan lainnya. Efisiensi konversi pakan dan rasio efisiensi protein secara nyata (P<0,05) menurun pada ayam yang diberi pakan 30% RBS dengan atau tanpa penambahan lisin. Pakan dengan penambahan lisin 0,25% dan 0,5% meningkatkan (P<0,05) retensi nitrogen, kalsium, fosfor dan zat besi pada ayam yang diberi pakan berbasis 15% RBS, tapi menurun (P<0,05) pada ayam yang diberi pakan 30% RBS. Penurunan karakteristik penampilan ayam yang diberi pakan 30% RBS dengan atau tanpa lisin dapat dikaitkan dengan interaksi efek racun dari faktor-faktor antinutritional yang lebih tinggi seperti tannin, oksalat dan fitat. Kesimpulannya, indeks respon meningkat ketika 15% RBS ditambah 0,5% lisin kepada ayam.

The study was carried out to compare the effects of unfermented and fermented African locust bean on laying performance, haematology and serum biochemical profile of hens in a twelve week feeding trial. The unfermented African locust bean (UALB) contained seeds that were dehulled and boiled in water, without going through fermentation. The fermented African locust bean (FALB) contained seeds that were dehulled, boiled in water and made to undergo natural fermentation for 4 days. One hundred, 40-week old, laying hens (Nera black) were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments in which UALB and FALB replaced soybean meal at 50% and 100% levels. Trypsin inhibitor (TI) activity was higher in the raw African locust beans (RALB), but no trace of the TI was contained in the UALB and FALB. However, higher residual amounts of tannin (38.10 mg/g) and phytate (2.80 mg/g) were obtained from the UALB. Egg weight and hen day production were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in birds fed 100% UALB. Haemoglobin was similar (p > 0.05) across the groups of hens. The packed cell volume, red blood cells and white blood cells were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in hens fed 100% UALB. Alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in birds fed 50% UALB and 100% UALB respectively. Marginal differences were however obtained in all the response indices between hens fed the control diet, 50% FALB and 100% FALB respectively. It was therefore concluded that fermentation was a better processing method for optimal utilization of Africa locust beans in diets of laying hens.

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