ABSTRACT.A 42-day study was conducted to investigate probiotic supplementation on shea butter cake (SBC) based diets of broilers on the carcass traits and haematological indices. A total of 280, 1-day old Arbor acres strain broiler chicks were divided into 7 dietary treatments with 4 replicates of 10 birds each in a completely randomized design. Diet 1 (control diet) has no SBC and probiotic supplementation while remaining 6 diets contained 5, 10, and 15% levels of SBC each with (+) or without (-) probiotic supplementation. The results showed that carcass parameters and prime cuts weights increased (p < 0.05) in birds fed probiotic-SBC diets compared to control diets. Abdominal fat content was lower (p < 0.05) in birds fed probiotic-SBC diets than those on control and non-probiotic SBC diets. Differences in relative organ weights among all treatments were non-significant (p > 0.05) except for liver and bursa weight. Packed cell volume and hemoglobin contents were higher (p < 0.05) in birds fed probiotic-SBC diets than the group without probiotic supplementation compared to those on control diet. In conclusion, supplementation of multi-strain probiotic improved carcass traits, prime cut-parts and relative organ weights without any adverse effect on the blood parameters up to 15% inclusion level.Keywords: agro by-product, feed additive, carcass characteristics, blood, chicken.Efeito da suplementação dietética de probiótico sobre as características de carcaça e respostas hematológicas de frangos de corte alimentados com dietas à base de bolo de manteiga de carité RESUMO. Este estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar a suplementação de probiótico em dietas à base de bolo de manteiga de carité -sheabuttercake (SBC) sobre as características de carcaça e índices hematológicos de frangos de corte. Foram utilizados 280 frangos de corte da linhagem Arbor acres, distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com sete tratamentos, quatro repetições e dez aves por repetição. Foi formulada uma dieta sem SBC nem probiótico e utilizada como dieta controle. As demais dietas experimentais continham 5, 10 e 15% de SBC e com (+) ou sem (-) a suplementação de probiótico. Os parâmetros de carcaça e o peso dos cortes nobres aumentaram (p < 0.05) nas aves que receberam as dietas com (+) SBC probiótico quando comparadas com o controle. O teor de gordura abdominal foi menor (p < 0.05) nas aves que receberam as dietas com (+) SBC-probiótico do que nas aves alimentas com a dieta controle ou com (-) SBC sem probiótico. Não foram observadas diferenças (p < 0.05) para o peso relativo dos órgãos, exceto para o peso do fígado e da bolsa cloacal. A quantidade de eritrócitos e hemoglobina foram maiores (p < 0.05) nas aves que receberam as dietas com (+) SBCprobiótico quando comparadas com o tratamento controle. A suplementação com probiótico em até 15% melhorou as características de carcaça e o peso relativo dos cortes nobres e órgãos sem nenhum efeito adverso nos parâmetros sanguíneos.Palavras-chave: aditivo alimentar, caracterís...

The present study was aimed at studying pectinolytic activity of resident fungi isolated from decomposing grapefruit (Citrus parasidis) peels in solid state fermentation. Grape fruit peel was subjected to natural fermentation and the fermenting fungi were isolated, characterized and identified using standard microbiological methods. The isolated fungi were in turn used for fermentation to determine their pectinolytic activity through solid state fermentation technique. Culture parameters such as incubation period, temperature, moisture content and addition of salts supplements were optimized during the research for five days. The identified fungi were Aspergillus Niger and Aspergillus flavus. The peak of pectinolytic activity was at day three of fermentation when the highest pectinase activity of 13.32 μmol/mg/min was recorded for A. Niger and 11.32 μmol/mg/min for A. flavus. Optimum temperature and pH for pectinase activity by A. Niger and A. flavus was at 40 0C and pH 7.5 and 7.7 respectively. The use of salt supplemented substrate did not alter enzyme activity. In conclusion, the isolated fungi could be promising organisms for pectinolytic enzyme production on grape peel as substrate. Keywords: Grapefruit, Pectinolytic Activity, Fungi, Fermentation, Aspergillus

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