Four diets were formulated to study the influence of varying crude protein levels on the performance, egg quality, serum and haematological characteristics at the first phase of laying cycle of sixty Bovan Nera laying birds that were randomly allotted to dietary treatments. The four experimental diets had five replicates each and three birds per replicate. Diet 1 contained 14% crude protein (CP), while diet 2 contained 15% CP, diets 3 and 4 contained 16% and 17% CP respectively. The experimental birds were fed for 10 weeks and the data collected were statistically analysed. Apparent variations recorded for all the performance characteristics such as Egg number, Hen-day production, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) and weight gain were significantly different (p < 0.05). The best FCR value were recorded by birds fed 17% CP (3.45), while the highest weight gain mean value were also recorded by birds fed 17% CP value. Findings indicated a direct relationship between dietary crude protein values and performance.

This study investigated the inclusion of whole cassava meal (WCM) as a replacement to maize at graded levels on the performance and egg quality characteristics of layers fed. The cassava root, leaves and tender stems were harvested chopped separately and dried, ground and mixed at ratio 3:6:1 to get WCM. Five diets were formulated, diets I contained 50% maize 0% WCM and served as the control, diets II -V had WCM at graded levels of 25, 50, 75 and100% as a replacement to maize. 40 weeks old laying chickens were used for this feeding trial which lasted for twelve weeks.Results revealed that beyond 25% inclusion level feed intake, feed efficiency and the hen day production significantly decreased. From the feed: gain ratio efficiency of utilization declined as the inclusion of WCM increased hence performance characteristics and egg laying ability of the layers were adversely affected. The shell thickness and albumen were however not significantly affected (P>0.05) by the dietary treatment while yolk colour and haugh unit had no particular statistical trend.Conclusively 25% of the maize content of the layers diet could be replaced with whole cassava meal without adverse effect on the performance characteristics and egg quality parameters rather it brought down the cost of production which is desirable.

The high cost of soybean meal, and competition as food between human and animal have necessitated search for alternative plant protein source in poultry diet. Eight weeks trial was carried out on the evaluation of fermented locust bean meal (FLBM) as replacement for soybean meal (SBM) in broiler production. Ninety days old broilers were allotted randomly to three treatment diets, replicated three times with 10 birds per replicate. Diets I (control) did not contain FLBM, diets II and III had 50 and 100% FLBM inclusions respectively as replacement for soybean meal in both starter and finisher phases. At the end of finisher phase, 4 birds were randomly selected per replicate for analyses of blood samples and evaluation of internal organs and carcass characteristics. At starter phase, body weight was not significantly affected (P>0.05) by treatment diets among experimental groups. The feed intake was lower in diet III, and feed conversion ratio was better in diet I significantly (P<0.05). Mortality of birds on diet III was higher significantly (P<0.05). At the finisher level, broilers fed diet I had higher weight gain and better feed conversion ratio, which was significantly (P<0.05) similar to diet II. The packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin, red blood cell and platelets of birds fed diet II were significantly (P<0.05) higher when compared to those fed diets I and III and were within normal range for healthy birds. Blood serum showed that glucose, aspartate transaminase, cholesterol and creatinine of birds fed diet III were significantly (P<0.05) higher than others. Measurement of organs revealed that liver, lungs, intestine, gizzard and heart of those fed diets II and III were significantly (P<0.05) similar and smaller than the control with no traces of inflammation. Conclusively, FLBM could replace up to 50% SBM in broiler diet without adverse effect on the production performance.

This study was carried out at the teaching and research farm of Bowen University, Iwo Nigeria. It was designed to evaluate the performance of weaner rabbits fed concentrate and plantain leaf at ratio 50:50. Thirty six crossbred weaner rabbits obtained by crossing Newzealand and Chinchilla breeds purchased from Agrited farm Ibadan, Nigeria were used for this study .They were divided into nine groups such that each dietary treatment was replicated thrice. Three dietary treatments were formulated as the concentrates such that T1 which had maize and other ingredients served as the control while T2 and T3 had their maize portion replaced separately with malted and unmalted sorghum. Thirty six weaned eight week old rabbits were fed for a period of forty nine days which was the duration of the experiment. The feed intake, weight gain, digestibility, blood parameters and economics of raising weaner rabbits on the experimental diets were determined. The dry matter intake varied from 86.64 to 37.16g, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) from 4.09-7.71g.Similar feed intake of rabbit on T1 and T2 indicated that malted sorghum could actually replace the maize portion. The nutrient digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and ether extract were similar between dietT1 and T2 but higher in T3. The blood analysis indicated that white blood cells (WBC) were significantly affected by the dietary treatment while red blood cell (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), glucose, total protein and Albumin were not significantly (P>0.05) affected. Assessment of the carcass characteristics of the weaner rabbit indicated similar carcass weight and dressing percentage for all the dietary treatments. Final liveweight, kidney weight, head and fur were similar for T1 and T2 but were significantly higher in T3.However, the heart and the lungs were similar among the treatments. Mortality rate of 33.33% was, however, recorded in T3 unmalted sorghum in combination with plantain leaf at 50:50. Market weight of 2.5kg/rabbit was attained by 6.46 months for rabbit fed control which was earlier than the other diets which were 8.23 and 9.18 months, respectively.

All foods have limited shelf life which vary depending on the food and storage conditions. Table eggs are perishable food and storage temperature is an important factor that affects the shelf life. In tropical countries like Nigeria, eggs are usually preserved under ambient condition due to erratic power supply, which reduces the efficiency of refrigeration system. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of storage periods, temperature and their relationship on the pH of chicken egg internal properties (yolk, albumen and whole egg). Fresh chicken table eggs were randomly allotted to three treatments of storage temperatures; refrigerator (40C ? 2), laboratory (320c ? 4), and poultry store room (370C ? 4). Eggs were assigned to treatments in a completely randomized design, and each treatment was replicated thrice. The pH was measured daily for each storage temperature in all treatments. Storage temperature and periods had significant (P<0.05) effect on pH of measured parameters. The pH values increased with storage temperature and period of storage. The rate of pH increase was significantly (P<0.05) higher in ambient as compared to refrigerator temperature. In this study, only the refrigerator storage has pH values within the range for fresh table eggs. At storage period above three weeks, pH values increased beyond the range for fresh egg. It is validated that storage temperature and period affected egg shelf life, the rate of freshness reduced with increased temperature, thus, storage beyond three weeks of ambient temperature is not advisable in humid tropics.