Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the chelating effect of silver nitrate (AgNO3) by chitosan on growth performances, hematological and biochemical parameters, and the histopathological structure of the liver and the kidney in broiler chicken. Materials and methods: A total of 192 day-old Cobb 500 strain chicks were randomly assigned to 3 treatments of 64 chicks each. Control group was fed on basal diet without supplement (R0) and the two others groups were fed on rations supplemented with 10 mg of unchelated (RAg) or chelated (RCs-Ag) AgNO3 per Kg of feed, respectively. Parameters that have been studied consisted of feed intake, weight gain, blood and serum biochemical, and histopathological analyses of liver and kidney. Results: Results revealed that chelation of AgNO3 by chitosan did not have any effect on growth performances and hematological parameters in chicken. However, chelated and unchelated AgNO3 increased the serum content in triglyceride, and cholesterol and decreased the serum content in creatinin, albumin and alanine aminotransferase (ALAT). Chelating AgNO3 with chitosan prevented and corrected the toxicity induced on the histological structure of liver and kidney. Conclusion: Chitosan can be used as a chelating agent to alleviate the harmful effects of AgNO3 as silver ion for poultry.

The present study was designed to evaluate Dioscarea bulbifera flour as potential feed ingredient in broilers diets. For this purpose, 256-day-old Cobb 500 broiler chicks, were divided into 4 groups replicated 4 times in a completely randomized design. A control ration (R0) containing maize as the main energy source was compared to three other rations in which 50%, 75% and 100% maize were substituted with Dioscarea bulbifera flour. The main results showed that, the increasing rate of Dioscarea bulbifera flour had no significant (p > 0.05) effect on the digestibility of feed components. Feed intake was higher with 50% and 75% Dioscarea bulbifera flour inclusion levels.As compared to the control ration, a significant (p < 0.05) drop in live weight and weight gain was recorded with 50% substitution while feed conversion ratio increased significantly with increasing level of Dioscarea bulbifera flour in the ration. Dioscarea bulbifera flour induced a linear and significant (p < 0.05) increase in the relative weight of the gizzard, liver and production cost.It was concluded that, substituting 50% maize with Dioscarea bulbifera flour could be a sustainable solution to palliate the growing inflation of maize as animal feed ingredient. However, the incorporation level of Dioscarea bulbifera as feed ingredient in substitution of maize must not exceed 50% at the risk of depreciating growth performance of broilers.

As a consequence of the antibiotics growth promoters restriction in livestock farming, there is a growing interest in plant feed additives. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of supplementing D. glomerata fruit powder on growth performance of Japanese quails. A total of 200 two weeks-old Japanese quail were randomly allocated to five experimental treatment groups. Experimental diets consisted of incorporating D. glomerata powder in the control ration (T0) at 2g (T1), 4g (T2) and 6g/kg (T3) of feed. Quails fed with D. glomerata supplemented diets were compared to quails fed on diet without any supplement (T0) and an antibiotic (1g/kg) medicated diet (T0+). Throughout the production period feed intake was not significantly affected by the experimental rations. Weight gain was significantly higher (p<0.05) with 4g/kg and 6g/kg D. glomerata, while feed conversion ratio was significantly lower (p<0.05) when compared to the control groups. Carcass yield of quails fed on antibiotic and 4g/kg D. glomerata were statistically higher (p<0.05) compared to the negative control diet. However, dietary treatments had no significant effect (p> 0.05) on the relative weight of organs when compared to the control diets. WBC, MCV, MCH, and MCHC were not significantly (p>0.05) affected by this spice. RBC significantly increased (p<0.05) with 6g/kg D. glomerata compared to the negative control diet, while Hgb and PCV decreased (p<0.05) compared to the positive control diet for the same treatment. Serum content in triglycerides was significantly higher (p<0.05) with 6g/kg D. glomerata compared to all other treatments. ASAT, ALAT, creatinine, total protein, albumin, urea, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL were not significantly affected by the inclusion of D. glomerata in the ration. Irrespective of the level of incorporation of D. glomerata, lactic acid bacteria count significantly increased as compared to Escherichia coli, Samonella and Staphylococcus spp. In conclusion, D. glomerata can be used up to 4g/kg as substitutes for infeed antibiotics for gut microbiota modulation and better weight gain without any adverse effects on the haemato-biochemical parameters of quail.

Aims: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of the bark of Afrostyrax lepidophyllus on growth and body composition of Clarias gariepinus. Study Design: This study was carried out from April to May 2022 in the Agro-ecological Farm of Bilone at Obala Lekié Division, Center Region of Cameroon. Methodology: Juvenile weighing 9.29 ± 0.15 g were divided into four triplicate treatments before being fed with diets containing 0 g (T0 or control), 1 g (T1), 1.5 g (T2) and 2 g (T3) A. lepidophyllus diet for 56 days. Fishes were fed at the rate of 5% body weight and every 14 days, intermediate sampling was done during which juveniles per treatment were counted, measurements were taken on a representative sample and the feeding rate was adjusted. The main water parameters were recorded daily before feeding. Results: Adding the bark of A. lepidophyllus in the diet significantly enhanced growth, feed nutrients utilization and body composition of juvenile C. gariepinus independent of the inclusion level. Fish fed T3 diet recorded final weight, weight gain (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) significantly high (P < 0.05) to those recorded in fish fed with the control diet. The same trend was observed with macro-nutrient retention as compared to the control. Conclusion: This study clearly showed that dietary inclusion of the bark of A. lepidophyllus powder improves growth performances, feed nutrients utilization and body composition of juveniles C. gariepinus.

No abstract