In spite of the large amounts of money invested in research, breeding, and the improvement of commercial egg-type strains, high environmental temperature (HET) has been identified as a major non-genetic constraint limiting expression of their full genetic potential. This environmental stressor has been implicated in adverse marked effects on egg production and eggshell quality of hens. Reports have conclusively indicated that poor performance (i.e. drop in egg production and poor eggshell quality) of layers reared in thermally-stressed environments could be adduced to a complex interplay of low feed intake, malfunctioning of the endocrine system, acid-base imbalance and poor physiological functioning of organs and mechanisms connected with the entire egg production process, via follicular recruitment and growth, ovulation, egg formation, shell formation, egg development, oviposition and oviposition interval.

The performance characteristics and physiological response of broiler chickens to oral supplementation with Telfairia occidentalis leaf extract (TOLE) at finisher stage were investigated. One hundred and twenty unsexed broilers of Arbor Acre strain at 28-day-old were randomly divided into four treatment groups of oral supplementation each with three replicates. The treatment groups are: T 1= Water (control), T 2 =Vitalyte, T 3 =15% TOLE, and T 4 =30% TOLE. The experiment lasted for 70 days, during which data collection was carried out and blood obtained for analysis at the 70 th day. Results revealed that average body weight gain, average daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were significantly (P<0.05) affected by oral TOLE while percentage crop and gizzard weight were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by oral TOLE. Measured blood parameters of the groups on TOLE were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those on vitalyte and control group. Hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume and red blood cell counts revealed that broilers on oral TOLE had better values when compared to those on vitalyte and control. Meanwhile, white blood cell count was not affected significantly (P>0.05) by the oral supplementations. Apart from creatinine, uric acid and globulin, other serum metabolites investigated were significantly (P<0.05) affected by TOLE inclusions. No mortality was recorded during the experiment. Oral supplementation of TOLE compared well with conventional vitamin supplement based on measured parameters, 30% supplementation can be used as vitamin supplement in broiler chicken at finisher phase.

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.

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