The trial reported herein investigated the use of maggot meal as a replacement for fish meal in a cassava products-based layers diet. Old laying hens (/* weeks in lay) made up of two hybrids (Isa Brown and Black Nera) were randomly allotted to five iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous experimental diets such that each dietary treatment was replicated three times with two birds/replicate. All the diets contained whole cassava root meal (WCRM,-3*.,ῌ.,..0 g/kg) as source of energy with soybean meal (SBM) and cassava leaf meal (CLM) (plant protein sources) supplying /*ῌ and ,/ῌ of the total dietary protein respectively. The experimental treatment consists of fish meal (FM) and maggot meal (MM) as animal protein sources supplying the remaining ,/ῌ of the total dietary protein. Additionally, in diet + (FM and MM supplied ,/.* and *ῌ of dietary animal protein respectively), diet , (FM and MM supplied +2.1/ and 0.,/ῌ of dietary animal protein respectively), diet-(FM and MM supplied +,./* and +,./*ῌ of dietary animal protein respectively), diet. (FM and MM supplied 0.,/ῌ and +2.1/ῌ of dietary animal protein respectively) while in diet / (FM and MM supplied * and ,/.*ῌ of dietary animal protein respectively). The diets were fed over an eight-week period. Average daily feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio were not significantly a#ected (P῍*.*/) by dietary treatment although breed of laying bird significantly a#ected (Pῌ*.*/) these indices. Hen-day egg production was significantly influenced (Pῌ*.*/) by dietary treatments. Of all egg quality characteristics investigated, only shell thickness and shell weight were significantly (Pῌ*.*/) a#ected by dietary treatment and breed. In conclusion, the results of this experiment indicated that maggot meal holds promise as a replacement for fish meal in cassava root-cassava leaf-based diets as it could replace /*ῌ of the dietary animal protein supplied by fish meal without deleterious e#ects on egg production and shell strength.

Several studies revealed inconsistencies in recommended feed particle size for optimal growth and productive performance of rabbits. Information on the interaction effect of feed form and feed particle size on rabbit’s growth performance and gut morphology is thereby a growing concern. Hence, the growth response, carcass yield and intestinal villus morphology of thirty-six growing male rabbits of mixed breeds (Chinchilla × New Zealand White) weighing between 550-600g were determined using two feed forms (FF): pellets and crumbs of different particle sizes (PS): 1 and 2 mm. The rabbits were allotted on weight equalization basis to crumbs and pellets composed of 1 and 2 mm PS in a 2 × 2 factorial experimental layout and subjected to Completely Randomized Design. Nine (9) rabbits were assigned to each treatment made of three replicates of three rabbits each. The rabbits were maintained on concentrate diets ad libitum for 10 weeks. Two rabbits per replicate with representative mean live weight were selected for carcass evaluation at the 10th week and the remaining one was used for intestinal villus morphology. FF and PS significantly (P<0.05) influenced the cost/kg feed but did not influence the growth responses. Rabbits on 1mm PS feed had a higher (P<0.05) dressing percentage (65.61 %) than 2 mm. Also, rabbits fed crumbs containing 1 mm PS recorded the highest dressing percentage. Rabbits on 1mm PS feed had a higher (P<0.05) lamina propria depth (172.50 µm) and apical width (52.50 µm) of ileum. Significant (P<0.05) interaction effects were observed for lamina propria depth (LPD) and basal width with rabbits fed crumbs of 1 mm PS having the highest LPD. It was concluded that carcass yield of growing rabbits could be optimized by feeding pellets or crumbs of 1mm particle size.

The increased pressure on the poultry industry to encourage organic livestock and poultry production has stimulated increased interest in natural consumer accepted growth promoters. Most of the information on the benefits of turmeric and clove concentrate on broiler chickens and there is no documentation on the synergistic effect of turmeric and clove. This study was conducted to assess the effect of Turmeric, Clove and Turmeric + Clove on haematological and serum biochemical indices of pullet chicks. A total of 504, day old pullet chicks (Isa brown) were used for the experiment. The Chicks were divided into 36 groups of 14 each weighed and allotted into experimental units. A total of nine experimental diets were formulated such that they contained 0, 1 and 2% turmeric, 0, 1 and 2% clove, and 0, 1 and 2% turmeric + clove combination on a 1:1 basis, respectively. The chicks in the different experimental units were randomly assigned to the 9 experimental diets in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement (turmeric x clove x turmeric + clove: 0 x 1 x 2), replicated four times. The experiment lasted 56 days. Blood samples were collected from the wing vein at the 56th day of the experiment and evaluated for their haematological and serum biochemical indices. Birds fed turmeric and clove diets had significantly (p<0.05) higher PCV value than those fed turmeric + clove diet while those fed turmeric had significantly (p<0.05) higher Hb and RBC than the other treatment groups. The other parameters measured were unaffected by the treatments except for the significantly (p<0.05) higher MCV value in birds fed clove diet when compared with turmeric diet group. Birds fed diets containing 2% turmeric, clove or turmeric + clove had significantly (p<0.05) higher Hb and RBC, and lower MCV values than those fed 0 and 1% diets. Inclusion of clove in the diet significantly (p<0.05) decreased the creatinine value of the birds when compared with the turmeric and turmeric + clove diet groups but all the other parameters determined were unaffected. Birds fed 0% turmeric, clove or turmeric + clove had significantly (p<0.05) lower total protein, albumin, globulin, ALP and higher glucose, AST, uric acid, triglyceride, LDL and VLDL values than those fed 1 and 2% diets. Birds fed the 1% turmeric diet recorded the least cholesterol value, across the treatment groups. It was concluded that up to 2% turmeric, clove and TUM+CLV can be included in pullet chick's diet without any detrimental effect on their health status.       La pression accrue exercée sur l'industrie avicole pour encourager l'élevage biologique et la production avicole a stimulé un intérêt accru pour les promoteurs de sa croissance acceptés par les consommateurs naturels. La plupart des informations sur les avantages du curcuma et du clou de girofle se concentrent sur les poulets de gril et il n'y a aucune documentation sur l'effet synergique du curcuma et du clou de girofle. Cette étude a été menée pour évaluer l'effet du curcuma, du clou de girofle et du curcuma + clou de girofle sur les indices biochimiques hématologiques et sériques des poussins pullet. Un total de 504 poussins de poulet d'un jour (Isa brown) ont été utilisés pour l'expérience. Les poussins ont été divisés en 36 groupes de 14 chacun pesés et attribués en unités expérimentales. Un total de neuf régimes expérimentaux ont été formulés de telle sorte qu'ils contenaient 0, 1 et 2% de curcuma, 0, 1 et 2% clou de girofle, et 0, 1 et 2% de curcuma + combinaison de clous de girofle sur une base 1:1, respectivement. Les poussins des différentes unités expérimentales ont été assignés au hasard aux 9 régimes expérimentaux dans un arrangement factorial de 3 x 3 (curcuma x clou de girofle x curcuma + clou de girofle : 0 x 1 x 2), répliqué quatre fois. L'expérience a duré 56 jours. Des échantillons de sang ont été prélevés dans la veine de l'aile au 56e jour de l'expérience et évalués pour leurs indices biochimiques hématologiques et sériques. Les oiseaux nourris au curcuma et aux clous de girofle avaient une valeur de PCV significativement (p<0.05) plus élevée que ceux nourris au curcuma + clou de girofle, tandis que ceux nourris au curcuma avaient significativement (p<0.05) plus élevé Hb et RBC que les autres groupes de traitement. Les autres paramètres mesurés n'ont pas été affectés par les traitements, à l'exception de la valeur significativement (p<0.05) plus élevée de MCV chez les oiseaux nourris au régime de clou de girofle par rapport au groupe de régime de curcuma. Les oiseaux nourris avec un régime alimentaire contenant 2 % de curcuma, de clou de girofle ou de curcuma + clou de girofle avaient des taux de Hb et de RBC considérablement (p<0.05) plus élevés, et des valeurs de MCV inférieures à celles des régimes nourris à 0 et 1 %. L'inclusion du clou de girofle dans le régime alimentaire de manière significative (p<0.05) a diminué la valeur créatinine des oiseaux par rapport aux groupes de régime de curcuma et de curcuma + clou de girofle, mais tous les autres paramètres déterminés n'ont pas été affectés. Les oiseaux nourris à 0 % de curcuma, de clou de girofle ou de curcuma + clou de girofle avaient des valeurs significativement (p<0.05) inférieures au total des protéines, de l'albumine, de la globuline, de l'ALP et du glucose plus élevé, de l'AST, de l'acide urique, du triglycéride, du LDL et du VLDL que ceux nourris à 1 et 2 %. Les oiseaux nourris au régime de 1 % de curcuma ont enregistré la valeur de cholestérol la moins élevée dans les groupes de traitement. Il a été conclu que jusqu'à 2% de curcuma, clou de girofle et TUM +CLV peuvent être inclus dans le régime alimentaire du poussin pullet sans aucun effet néfaste sur leur état de santé.

Immunity plays a key role in maintaining animal health, and thereby helps to enhance performance in livestock. The focus of alternative antibiotic growth promoters (prebiotic, probiotic, and symbiotic) strategies has been to prevent proliferation of pathogenic pathogen and to improve the immune status and performance of livestock. Atotal of 360, day old Noiler chickens were randomly distributed into 12 treatments with 3 replicates of 10 birds each. Experimental treatments consisted of 4 different growth promoters (probiotic, prebiotic, symbiotic and antibiotic) at 3 inclusion rates (0, 0.5 and 1g) into kg of feed respectively. The chickens were reared for a period of 42 days to evaluate the titer value of the bird fed with different growth promoters (prebiotic, probiotic, symbiotic and oxytetracycline antibiotic). The results obtained revealed significant differences in (P<0.05) in the Newcastle disease titer value of birds fed with different growth promoters with prebiotic having the best value (4.67), followed by symbiotic (4.55) and the inclusion of growth promoters at 1g into a kg of feed were significantly improved for prebiotic (6.00) and symbiotic (5.60) as compared to 0.5 and 0 g level of inclusion across the biotic additives. Hence it could be concluded that inclusion of prebiotic improved the Newcastle disease titer value of Noiler chicken at 1g/kg of feed.

The experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of egg size on hatching quality and post-hatch growth performance of normal feathered indigenous chickens. Hatchable eggs, grouped into three sizes: medium/control, small and large, were incubated to obtain day-old chicks. One hundred and eighty (180) day-old chicks were allotted to three treatment groups according to the egg sizes from which they were hatched. Egg size significantly (p<0.05) influenced chick hatching weight. Chicks hatched from large eggs were the heaviest (36.89g) while those obtained from small ones were the smallest (31.02g). Daily growth rate (DGR) was progressive and uniform in both cockerels and pullets in the first 8 weeks of life across the treatment groups. It was concluded that egg size, though could determine chick hatching weight, but not a good predictor of post-hatch growth performance in normal feathered indigenous chickens