Water troughs from deep litter and caged chicken water troughs (drinkers) fixed to each of the different 3-tier cages containing layer chickens in Farms A, B and C were subjected to a 7-day study which involved the monitoring of poultry farm hygiene. Drinkers were washed before filling with water on Day 1. For Days 3, 5 and 7 water was served without prior washing. The occurrence and characterization of the bacteria isolates were investigated and data obtained were analyzed and compared. For the bacterial count on Day 1, for layer chickens on cage system, no significant differences (p > 0.05) among the farms and between the farms tier interactions. On Day 3, no significant difference (p > 0.05) among the parameters. On Day 5, there was significant difference (p<0.05) among the farms and on Day 7, there was high significant difference (p < 0.01) among the farms. On Days 5 and 7, there were no significant differences (p>0.05) among the tiers nor between the interactions of the farms and tiers. The bacterial count in water troughs of layer chickens in deep litter system, on Day 1, had no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the farms, water troughs and their interactions. On Day 3, no significant difference (p > 0.05) among the parameters. On Days 5 and 7, there were significant difference (p<0.05) and a high significant difference (p < 0.01) between the farms respectively. On Days 5 and 7, no significant differences between the water troughs and between the interaction of the farms and the water troughs. Farm A isolates contained Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris, Streptococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermis, Klebsiella sp., Salmonella sp., Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus salivarius and Corynebacterium sp. Farm B had Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermis, Bacillus subtilis, Corynebacterium sp., Escherichia coli, Streptococcus faecalis and Klebsiella sp. while for Farm C, apart from the prevalent bacteria isolates obtained in Farms A and B, additional 2 bacterial isolates, Lactobacillus salivarius and Pseudomonas aeuriginosa were found. In conclusion, water troughs when cleaned on daily basis carry minimum bacterial load. Those left for 3, 5 and 7 days uncleaned had progressively high bacterial loads, suggesting that the flock of birds and the consumers of the eggs and meat from the chickens are at risk of bacterial infection unless strict farm hygiene is ensured through regular monitoring.

No abstract

A 49-day feeding trial was conducted to assess the effect of substituting 10, 20, 30 and 40% of energy supplied by maize in a control diet with energy from palm oil sludge (POS) using 200 Shaver Starbo chickens allotted at 10 birds per replicate and 4 replicates per treatment. On the 49 th day, four female birds per replicate were humanely slaughtered for haematological variables, serum cholesterol and oxidative stability of refrigerated meat. Substituting maize with POS increased dietary ether extract. Haematological variables were not significantly (P>0.05) influenced by dietary treatment. Serum cholesterol contents increased from 140.32 ± 5.88 in the control to 198.00 ± 1.58 mg/dl (P<0.05) at 40% substitution (41.11% increase). Lipid contents of the meat increased with increasing levels of POS in the diets (P<0.05). Thigh, drumstick and breast muscle lipid contents were 119.9 ± 9.8, 103.1 ± 6.4 and 91.6 ± 7.1 g/kg muscle, respectively (P<0.05). Oxidative deterioration of the meat, measured as malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was lowest for meat from chickens fed the control diet and increased with increasing levels of dietary POS (P<0.05). It was concluded that even if economic returns by partial substitution of maize with POS is enhanced, the effect on meat quality in terms of elevated lipids, cholesterol and oxidative susceptibility vis-à-vis accumulation of dangerous lipid peroxidation products in/of the meat are of human health concern.

Water is the most universally used single necessity of life. To attain a safe water quality to various communities, an understanding of water microbiology and chemistry is therefore imperative. In this study, well water at different storage durations of 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks were assessed for bacteriological quality using standard microbiological techniques. Black barrel-shaped plastic containers (300 liter capacity) were used for different storage durations. Water samples at the different storage durations were collected from each corresponding containers. Sterile swabs were used to sample the sides and bottom of the storage containers to determine the prevalence of specific bacteria present in the samples. The results obtained showed that 0 week storage had the highest (100.00 CFU mL(-1)) coliform counts while the lowest (28 CFU mL(-1)) was obtained for 8 weeks of storage. Escherichia coli were not found in 4, 6 and 8 weeks old water. 0 and 2 weeks old water contained E. coli and the mean values were 1.80 x 10(4) +/- 0.03 and 1.43 x 10(4) +/- 0.01 CFU mL(-1), respectively (p < 0.05). Salmonella organisms were found in the 0 week old water but absent in the 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks old water. Shigella count (62.33 x 10(2) +/- 45.30 CFU mL(-1)) was highest in 4 week old water while the lowest (11.0 x 10(3) +/- 1.00 CFU mL(-1)) was found in 6 week old water (p < 0.05). Zero week old water had the lowest significant (p < 0.05) value of 0.35 x 10(4) +/- 0.05 CFU mL(-1) for mesophilic bacteria and the highest value of 50.00 x 10(4) +/- 10.0 CFU mL(-1) was recorded in the 8 weeks old water. Sides and bottom samples were contaminated with coliforms, E. coli, Salmonella and Shigella organisms. It was concluded that the variously stored well water samples were contaminated with bacteria and the values obtained were above the recommended standards by the World Health Organization (WHO).

No abstract