Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Poultry Feeding and feeds'

The use of shrimp processing waste with other cheap raw materials such as cassava was studied as a potential low cost animal feed, specially in developing countries. The impact on the economies of the shrimp industry and possible effects on the environmental were taken into consideration in developing the project.

Effects of tallow supplementation on dietary nutrient and minimal amino acid utilization in the laying hen were studied in two experiments. In the first experiment diets contained six levels of animal tallow ranging from 0 to 10%. Percent egg production and egg mass were not significantly affected by tallow. Body weight was significantly increased by 2% tallow was maximum at 6%. Addition of up to 6% fat improved feed conversion without adversely affecting other production characteristics. Metabolizable energy (ME) intake increased from 305.1 to 322.4 kcal/hen/d over the range of 0 to 6% tallow with no further improvement at higher tallow levels. Maximum net energetic efficiency was obtained with 2 and 4% tallow. Ability to digest tallow declined significantly with hen age. Higher tallow ME values were obtained from calorimetry data than from digestibility measurements due to beneficial effects of tallow on digestibilities of fat and protein in the basal diet. No improvement in starch retention was observed with tallow supplementation. In the second experiment, diets containing four levels of protein (15.0, 13.6, 15.0 + methionine and 17.0%) without and with 3% tallow were fed to hens housed in an open cage house or an insulated, evaporatively cooled house. Egg production and egg mass were significantly higher in the insulated house. This study indicates that reducing total protein below the National Research Council (NRC, 1984) recommended level significantly reduced egg production by birds housed in an open house. Supplemental methionine to provide .60% TSAA was required for maximum egg production. Egg production was significantly improved with the low protein diet when 3% tallow was added; however, egg production rate supported by this combination was significantly below that obtained with the 17% protein diet either with or without added tallow. For birds housed in the insulated, evaporatively cooled house the diet based on the NRC amino acid recommendations appeared to be optimal for performance, even with a lower protein level. No additional benefits were obtained in egg production with 3% tallow in any of the diets under these housing conditions.

Introduction : Family Poultry (FP) are birds of indigenous breeds living in almost symbiotic relationship with human communities. The chickens are usually free ranging, or have very limited restrains on their access to the village environment. African livestock population statistics for 1995 indicates poultry to be the most numerous species of farm animal (Anonymous, 1996a). More than 80% of poultry are kept in rural areas and contribute substantially to annual egg and meat production (Sonaiya, 1997). Throughout Africa poultry production stems from ancient traditional practices. FP is the most important type of poultry kept on the continent. In general, village producers keep small flocks of between 5 and 20 birds per household (Gueye, 1997a). Women and children play a key role in their management (Kitalyi, 1996). Because of its productivity, FP production has been neglected and is frequently considered by farmers as an insignificant occupation compared with other agricultural activities. Nevertheless, outside urban centers and especially in non-coastal areas, FP provides the population with a vital source of protein and income. In addition, they play an important role within the context of many social and/ or religious ceremonies. Although this type of poultry constitutes an important part of food security for rural households in South Africa, scientists have not explored this area of research for improving or recording this production system. Yet, FP survived for decades without being wiped out, in the interim, their keepers have gathered and stored a wealth of knowledge and experience, ensuring the survival of this genetic resource. The objective of this study was to collect the baseline data on FP production systems, determine their production constraints and achieve data for future use in the intervention strategies.

Three experiments were conducted to study changes in exocrine pancreas function in relation to age, dietary fat and digestibility in poultry. In the first experiment, 120 White Leghorn and 120 Hubbard chicks were fed a basal diet with or without 5% animal fat. Total units of lipase, amylase, trypsin and chymotrypsin activities in pancreas increased linearly with age in Hubbards from 2 to 29 days, but plateaued after 16 days in Leghorns. Hubbards showed higher total pancreatic lipase, amylase, trypsin and chymotrypsin activities compared with Leghorns. Addition of 5% dietary fat significantly increased total lipase activity in pancreas, but decreased total amylase activity. Added fat had no well defined effect on total pancreatic trypsin and chymotrypsin activities. Fat digestibility in Leghorns fed the low fat diet increased significantly from 14 to 30 days of age, but not in Leghorns fed the high fat diet; while Hubbards fed both diets showed a significant decrease in fat digestibility. Fat digestibility was increased with added fat in both breeds. No direct correlation was found between nutrient digestibility and corresponding enzyme activity. In the second experiment, 80 young White Leghorn hens were fed a basal diet with or without 5% animal fat. Fat supplementation did not generally significantly affect lipase activities, but total lipase activity in pancreas decreased after 10.6 and increased after 12.7 mo in pancreata of birds fed both diets and fed the high fat diet, respectively. Fat digestibility was not affected by age, but was higher with fat supplementation. In the third experiment, 96 older White Leghorn hens were fed a basal diet with or without 5% animal fat. Total pancreatic lipase activity showed a U-shaped curve with the lowest value at 15.7 mo and increased after 15.7 mo following either natural or force molting. Fat supplementation did not significantly affect lipase activities. Amylase, trypsin and chymotrypsin activities decreased with age from 10.2 to 15.7 mo, but were increased with fat supplementation. Fat digestibility was not affected by age, but was significantly higher with fat supplementation.

Assignment (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance and profitability of different dietary specifications for broiler chickens slaughtered at 35 days of age. Two trials were performed to evaluate different production parameters. The results of these trials were compared to the predicted results of the EFG broiler model. No carcass data were available for the two trials mentioned above. Therefore, in order to evaluate the accuracy of the broiler model when predicting carcass characteristics, two published data sets (Leeson et al., 1996a) were used. Predicted and actual values were compared, evaluated and discussed. Two broiler trials were performed. In Trial One the amino acid density decreased throughout the range of three treatments from prestarter to finisher diets. In Trial Two the amino acid density decreased only in the four finisher diets. The main difference between predicted and actual results was the response to body weight. The model predicted a steady increase in feed intake to compensate for the lower dietary specifications while body weight did not change significantly. This increase in feed intake seems to be enough to maintain body weight. Trial birds also increased their feed intake as dietary amino acid density decreased, but this compensation seemed to be too low to maintain body weight compared to the control diet. The birds may find it easier to compensate when they have time to adapt to the specification. There is evidence in the literature that birds need seven days to adapt their feed intake to a lower feed specification (Leeson et al., 1996a). It can be speculated that the trial birds started to loose body weight due to a lower amino acid intake in this period. The model seems to adapt feed intake immediately after a change in diet specification. The simulation on literature data lead to the following conclusions: 1) Broilers posses the capacity to increase their feed intake with at least 65% should finisher diets with lower amino acid and energy concentrations be supplied. If only the energy concentration of finisher diets were decreased, the increase in feed intake will be around 30%. (see Table 16 and 23) 2) The accurate prediction of feed intake from the given dietary specification has a major influence on the accuracy of the prediction of broiler performance. 3) Amino acid density and DLys:ME ratio plays a significant role in the control and prediction of feed intake. The EFG broiler model is based on sound scientific principles. The model is comprehensive and can be used for a wide range of environmental and management conditions as well as dietary conditions. The nutritionist can use the model with confidence to assist in practical feed formulation. The actual strength of the model lies in the time and money being saved compared to practical trials.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om die prestasie en winsgewendheid van braaikuikens te bepaal wanneer voere met verskillende digthede tot op 35 dae gevoer word. Twee eksperimente is uitgevoer om produksieresultate te evalueer. Die resultate van hierdie eksperimente is met die voorspelde waardes uit die EFG simulasie-model vergelyk. Aangesien geen karkasdata vir bogenoemde eksperimente beskikbaar was nie, is twee gepubliseerde datastelle gebruik om hierdie deel van die model te evalueer (Leeson et al., 1996a). Twee braaikuiken eksperimente is uitgevoer. Eksperiment Een het uit drie behandelings bestaan waarvan die aminosuur-konsentrasie vanaf dag een tussen behandelings verskil het. In Eksperiment Twee het die aminosuur-konsentrasie net in die vier afrondingsdiëte verskil. Liggaamsmassa op 35 dae het die grooste verskil tussen voorspelde- en werklike waardes getoon. Beide voorspelde en werklike innames het in albei eksperimente verhoog soos wat aminosuur-konsentrasie afgeneem het. Voorspelde liggaamsmassa het egter konstant gebly terwyl werklike data 'n afname in liggaamsmassa getoon het. Dit bleik dat die voorspelde toename in innames voldoende was om massa te onderhou terwyl die voëls in werklikheid nie genoeg gekompenseer het nie. Leeson et al., 1996a het tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat braaikuikens minstens sewe dae benodig om hul voeriname by 'n nuwe spesifikasie aan te pas. So 'n stadige aanpassing kan daartoe lei dat energie- en aminosuur-inname daal indien 'n dieet met laer spesifikasie gevoer. Dit sal daartoe lei dat die kuikens liggaamsmassa verloor. Uit die literatuur simulasies is die volgende afleidings gemaak: 1) Braaikuikens besit die vermoeë om voerinname in die afrondingstyd met minstens 65% te verhoog indien 'n afrondingvoer met laer amiosuur- asook energiekonsentrasie gevoer word. Indien net die energiekonsentrasie verlaag word, sal die inname met sowat 30% verhoog. 2) Die akkurate voorspelling van inname is krities vir die akkurate voorspelling van produksieparameters. 3) Aminosuur-digtheid en DLys:ME speel 'n belangrike rol in die beheer en voorspelling van voerinname by braaikuikens. Die EFG braaikuikenmodel is op suiwer wetenskaplike beginsels geskoei. Die model is omvattend en kan vir 'n wye reeks van omgewings- en bestuurstoestande asook dieet-spesifikasies gebruik word. Die voedingkundige kan die model met vertroue gebruik om met praktiese voerformulering by te staan. Die model kan die formuleerder baie tyd spaar aangesien praktiese eksperimente ingeperk kan word.

Determining the energy values of feed ingredients for poultry is of great concern, especially since production efficiency is associated with profit margins. Therefore, accurate, precise, and reproducible energy values for feed ingredients are of the utmost importance in formulating an economical diet. An important aspect in determining the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) of a feed ingredient is the procedure employed in the drying of excreta samples. During sample preparation, substantial grinding losses were incurred amounting to 3.5 to 5.2% of the dried sample weight. Also moisture uptake during sample grinding accounted for a 1.9 to 3.9% increase in sample weight. To properly account for such losses, freshly collected excreta samples should be weighed, oven-dried at 40 C, reweighed, allowed to equilibrate with atmospheric moisture, weighed, ground, reweighed, and stored in air-tight containers for subsequent analyses. From the oven-drying of feed and excreta samples at various temperatures, a linear decrease in sample weight occurred with increasing drying temperatures. When dried at 100 C or less, the energy content of feed and excreta samples remained unchanged, but increased significantly at higher temperatures. The nitrogen composition of feed and excreta samples exhibited a similar trend, but a significant loss of excreta nitrogen (2%) occurred at 100 C. The loss of excreta nitrogen at a temperature of 100 C is of relatively minor consequence in the determination of metabolizable dry matter, but is of major concern in nitrogen balance studies. Extraction of feed and excreta samples with N,N-dimethylformamide and titration with Karl Fischer reagent indicated that significant amounts of water were retained by samples dried at 40, 60, and 80 C. However, at temperatures of 100 C or greater, little water was retained but sample decomposition occurred. A drying temperature of 90 C or the Karl Fischer method may yield a more accurate value for the dry matter of feed or excreta. When seven roosters were subjected to a total collection method for five consecutive days, individual birds were better metabolizers of dry matter and energy than others. By either a voluntary intake method or by a total collection method, values for the nitrogen-corrected metabolizable energy of corn were similar. The total collection method proved to be more reliable since it provided the least amount of variation when ad libitum feed intake and total excreta output were measured over a period of several days. In past experiments, adding fats to a test diet at the expense of cerelose in amounts no greater than 20% of the diet to determine the metabolizable energy of the fat has been associated with a high degree of variability. From the force-feeding of fats at levels to 100%, the variation associated with the metabolizable energy value of a fat was greatly reduced. The methodology presented here provided reliable estimates and detected differences between the metabolizable energy of two feed-grade fats in comparison to previous methods.
Ph. D.
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Thesis (Ph. D. (Animal Production )) -- University of Limpopo, 2013
Eight experiments were conducted to determine the effect of dietary lysine to energy ratio on the productivity and carcass characteristics of indigenous Venda chickens aged one to thirteen weeks and raised in closed confinement. The eight experiments were based on four different energy levels of 11, 12, 13 and 14 MJ of ME/kg DM. Each dietary energy level had four different levels of dietary lysine (8, 9, 11 and 14 g lysine/kg DM). Thus, different dietary lysine to energy ratios were calculated. Experiments 1 to 4 determined the effect of dietary lysine to energy ratio on productivity of unsexed Venda chickens aged one to seven weeks. Each experiment commenced with 160 unsexed day-old indigenous Venda chicks with an initial live weight of 30 ± 3 g per bird and was carried out for seven weeks. In each experiment, the chicks were randomly assigned to four treatments with four replications, each having 10 chicks. A complete randomized design was used for each experiment. All data were analysed by one-way analysis of variance. Where there were significant differences, the Duncan test for multiple comparisons was used to test the significance of differences between treatment means. A quadratic regression model was used to determine the ratios for optimum productivity in each experiment while a linear model was used to determine the relationships between dietary lysine to energy ratio and optimal responses in the variables measured. Results indicated that dietary lysine to energy ratio for optimal responses depended on the variable of interest. In Experiment 1, feed intake, growth rate, live weight, ME intake and nitrogen retention were optimized at different dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.722, 0.719, 0.719, 0.670 and 0.712, respectively. There was a positive and strong relationship (r2 = 0.950) between dietary lysine to energy ratio and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Results from Experiment 2 indicated that feed intake, growth rate, FCR, live weight, ME intake and nitrogen retention were optimized at dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.719, 0.742, 0.788, 0.742, 0.734 and 0.789, respectively. In Experiment 3, dietary lysine to energy ratio did not have any effect (P>0.05) on all the parameters measured. However, quadratic analysis indicated that dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.817, 0.883, 0.920, 0.898, 0.895 and 0.955 optimized feed intake, growth rate, FCR, live weight, ME intake and nitrogen retention of the chickens, respectively. Experiment 4 results showed that feed intake, growth rate, FCR, live weight ME intake and nitrogen retention were v optimized at different dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.906, 0.964, 1.023, 0.966, 0.963 and 0.951, respectively. Experiments 5 to 8 determined the effect of dietary lysine to energy ratio on productivity, carcass characteristics, sensory attributes and haematological values of female indigenous Venda chickens aged eight to thirteen weeks. The layouts, treatments, design and execution were similar to those described for Experiments 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, except that Experiments 5 to 8 were for female indigenous Venda chickens aged eight to 13 weeks. These chickens were different from those used in Experiments 1 to 4. They were raised on a grower mash (16 % crude protein, 11 MJ of ME/kg DM and 180 g of lysine) prior to commencement of the study. Each experiment commenced with 120 eight weeks old female Venda chickens with an initial live weight of 412 ± 3 g per chicken. In each experiment, the chickens were randomly assigned to four treatments with five replicates, each having six chickens. Results obtained from Experiment 5 showed that feed intake, growth rate, FCR, live weight, ME intake, carcass weight, dressing percentage, breast meat, drumstick, wing weight, breast meat drip loss, juiciness, flavour, haemoglobin and pack cell volume were optimized at different dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.672, 0.646, 0639, 0.649, 0.655, 0.656, 0.664, 0.669, 0.665, 0.663, 0.631, 0.708, 0.623, 0.556 and 0.609, respectively. In Experiment 6, the diets were formulated to have higher lysine to energy ratios than those in Experiment 5 by using a dietary lysine level of 9 g lysine/kg DM. Results from this experiment showed that feed intake, FCR, nitrogen retention, carcass weight, dressing percentage, breast meat, gizzard weights and breast meat pH at 2, 12 and 24 hours after slaughter were optimized at dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.798, 0.613, 0.777, 0.742, 0.753, 0.729, 0.758, 0.752, 0.802 and 0.797, respectively. Red blood cell and haemoglobin values in this experiment were optimized at dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.480 and 0.624, respectively. In Experiment 7, dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.79, 0.85, 0.92 and 1.00 g lysine/ MJ of ME were used. Dietary treatments in this experiment had no effect (P>0.05) on all the production parameters measured except feed and apparent metabolisable energy intakes. Quadratic analysis of the results indicated that dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.964, 0.912, 0.900, 0.890, 0.910, 1.090, 0.934 and 0.895 optimized feed intake, apparent metabolisable energy, carcass, breast meat, drumstick weights and vi breast meat drip loss, juiciness and flavour, respectively. A positive and very strong relationship (r2 =0.998) was observed between dietary lysine to energy ratio and pack cell volume. Experiment 8 diets were formulated to have higher dietary lysine to energy ratios than the other experiments. Results of this experiment indicated that all the production parameters were influenced (P<0.05) by dietary lysine to energy ratio except mortality. Feed intake, growth rate, feed conversion ratio, live weight, apparent metabolisable energy and nitrogen retention were optimized at dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.996, 0.980, 0.991, 1.010, 0.957 and 0.993, respectively. Dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.992, 0.974, 0.991, 0.992, 1.023, 0.981, 0.979 and 0.815 optimized carcass weight, dressing percentage, breast meat, drumstick, liver weights and breast meat tenderness, juiciness and flavour, respectively. There were variations in the optimal lysine to energy ratios for different parameters investigated. In a diet containing 8 g of lysine per kg DM, 11.13 MJ of ME/kg DM and 150 g of CP/kg DM, dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.719 and 0.649 are recommended for optimal live weight of Venda chickens aged one to seven and eight to 13 weeks, respectively. In a diet containing 9 g of lysine per kg DM, 12.13 MJ of ME/kg DM and 180 g of CP/kg DM, dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.742 and 0.712 are recommended for optimal live weight of Venda chickens aged one to seven and eight to 13 weeks, respectively. In a diet containing 11 g of lysine per kg DM, 12.51 MJ of ME/kg DM and 220 g of CP/kg DM, dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.878 and 0.894 are recommended for optimal live weight of Venda chickens aged one to seven and eight to 13 weeks respectively. In a diet containing 12 g of lysine per kg DM, 12.05 MJ of ME/kg DM and 240 g of CP/kg DM, dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.996 and 1.010 are recommended for optimal live weight of Venda chickens aged one to seven and eight to 13 weeks, respectively. The results obtained in this study showed that different production parameters of Venda chickens were optimized at different lysine to energy ratios. This implies that the nutritional requirements of these chickens are dynamic and thus, dietary lysine to energy for optimal production depends on the production parameter of interest. This has implications on ration formulation for indigenous chickens.

Corrigenda inserted behind title page. Bibliography: leaves 275-306. The pattern of body growth and intestinal development of an Australian strain of broiler chicken, the Steggles x Ross (F1) in response to different diets was studied. Five experiments were designed to examine the pattern of growth and mechanisms involved. In four other experiments, the mechanisms underlying the gross response of the broiler chicks to dietary ingredients, anti-nutritive factors and growth enhancers were examined. Results indicated that a rapid development of the small intestine preceded significant overall body growth. Body growth would, however, depend more on the various physiological events such as those related to mucosal growth and renewal, digestive enzyme function, and nutrient transport. Some of the differences observed in productivity of broiler chickens on different diets were traced to events at the intestinal level.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of dietary self-selection of protein and energy on the reproductive performance of Large White turkey hens. The first study examined the effect of self-selection on reproductive performance during a production cycle that started in July and ended in December. Hens were maintained on one of two dietary regimes for a 20-week production cycle. Control birds were fed a conventional diet (18% crude protein, 2700 kcal/kg) which contained nutrients at levels recommended by the National Research Council (NRC, 1984). The remaining hens were allowed to select their diet from two feed sources: one relatively high in protein and low in energy (35% crude protein, 1850 kcal/kg) and the other relatively low in protein and high in energy (8% crude protein, 3220 kcal/kg). Hens fed the split diet produced an equal number of eggs as control hens but consumed significantly less feed (p≤.05). The diet that was selected contained approximately 40% less protein than the control diet (p≤.001) which resulted in significantly increased efficiency of protein utilization (eggs/kg protein) for hens fed the split-diet (p≤.001). In addition, the incidence of broodiness was significantly reduced in the split-diet treatment (p≤.10). Egg weight, fertility, hatchability and hatch of fertile eggs were not significantly effected by the dietary regimes. There was significantly greater body weight loss in hens fed the split-diet (p≤.05). Increasing trends in feed, energy, and protein consumptions were noted over the course of production. For this reason a second experiment was conducted to determine if these trends were the result of seasonal affects, due to changing ambient temperatures, or the result of changes in nutrient requirements of the turkey hen occurring with different stages of production. The second experiment was similar to Experiment 1 except that the production period started in March and ended in July. As in the first experiment, egg production was equal for hens in the two treatment groups. Feed intake and energy intake were not significantly different for hens fed the split and complete diets. However, as in the previous experiment, protein intake was significantly reduced in the split-diet treatment (p≤.001). The incidence of broodiness was again attenuated among split-fed birds (p≤.10). Average daily feed and energy intake appeared to decrease over the course of production which was presumed to be related to increasing ambient temperatures. As in the previous experiment, protein intake increased over the course of production despite increasing environmental temperatures. Therefore, the increased protein selection noted in these two experiments does not seem to be related to hot weather and may indicate an increased protein requirement in the later stages of egg production. Based on the finding that the incidence of broodiness was reduced among hens fed the split-diet, blood sera from hens in both experiments were analyzed for luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin (PRL). Although the incidence of broodiness was significantly reduced among birds fed the split-diet, there was no significant difference in serum LH and PRL concentrations. Therefore, the reduction in the incidence of broodiness that was noted in these experiments was not correlated with changes in the blood concentration of these hormones.
Master of Science

A study was conducted using commercial broiler breeders with the males fed a diet containing, either 120/0 or 140/0 protein and body weight maintained at either 900/0 or 1000/0 of that recommended by the primary breeder (fed separately), or allowed to eat from the female feeders (controls). Female feeders in the separately fed pens were equipped with especially designed grills, which denied access to the males. The male feeder in these pens was elevated so that females were denied access.

Males fed separately (body weight 90% or 1000/0, and dietary protein 120/0 or 140/0) had a significantly higher percentage fertility (4.20/0) than males allowed to eat with the females. No differences in percentage fertility were found among the four separately fed groups. No differences were noted in percentage hatch of fertile eggs among any of the treatment groups.

Males eating from the female feeders had significantly heavier body weights and testes weights at 65 weeks of age than breeder males in the separately fed, groups. Mean body weights were 3819g and 4773g at 35 weeks of age, and 4192g and 5443g at 65 weeks of age for males eating separately and eating with the females, respectively. Furthermore, males in the control group had significantly larger breast angle measurements when compared with the separately fed males. No differences were observed in foot scores and semen concentration among males in the various treatment groups.

Master of Science

Research was conducted in Sri Lanka to evaluate the feasibility of developing cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) leaf meal as an animal feed. In feeding trials with broilers, improvements in performance were observed at 10% inclusion of cassava leaf meal (CLM). High levels (20 and 30%) of CLM depressed gain, feed intake and feed per gain. Weights of spleen and liver (% of body weight) linearly increased with increasing levels of CLM. Carcass pigmentation values favored the CLM-based diets. Dietary additives (methionine, sodium thiosulfate or soybean oil plus methionine) improved the growth of broilers fed 20% CLM diet without, however, having any beneficial effect when added to the basal diet. Gain of broilers tended to decrease with increasing dietary levels of cyanide. Feeding trials with growing pigs showed that CLM can be included up to 26.7% level without any effect on performance. Gain and feed per gain were improved at 13.3% CLM level, whereas marked depressions were noted at 40% CLM level. Results of the balance trials indicated that cassava leaf protein is utilized more efficiently by the pigs, although the nutrients in CLM are not as digestible as those in coconut oil meal. The overall results suggest that bulkiness, low energy content, methionine deficiency and presence of anti-nutritional factors, are the major factors limiting the high level use of CLM in non-ruminant diets. Studies on the processing of CLM revealed that simple drying is sufficient to eliminate almost 90% of the initial cyanide level in the fresh cassava leaves. A combination of chopping and 3-day wilting prior to drying proved most effective in lowering the cyanide level of CLM. Field trials conducted with a short-age cassava variety, MU 22, demonstrated that it is possible to increase cassava leaf dry matter yields by defoliating once during the growing season and to produce within 86% of the normal yield of roots. Two defoliations during the growing season depressed the root crop by more than half.
Ph. D.

Nutrition is a primary human need. Families often will raise their own animals to meet these nutritional needs. However, high feed costs can severely limit the viability of these small family enterprises. This study addressed ways to improve poultry production as a means for families to ameliorate their diets and increase income. Research was conducted at the Centro Universitario de Oriente (CUNORI), Chiquimula, Guatemala. For this study, commercial poultry feed was supplemented with corn flour at three treatment levels and fed to poultry. Results indicated that partial substitution of commercial feed with corn flour at these three treatment levels did not affect feed consumption. However, negative feed conversion occurred when the substitution took place on the fifth week at all treatment levels. The treatment that supplemented the commercial feed with 15% corn flour on the fifth week obtained the highest marginal return.

Thesis (MA. Agric. (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2014
This study determined the effect of carrot meal supplementation on productivity and carcass characteristics of Arbor acres broiler chickens aged one to six weeks. Experiment I determined the effect of carrot meal supplementation on productivity of Arbor acre broiler chicks aged one to 21 days. Two hundred unsexed Arbor acre broiler chickens were randomly assigned to five treatments with five replicates, each replicate having ten birds. A completely randomized design was used in the first experiment. The treatments were 0 (UA0), 20 (AU20), 50 (AU50), 75 (AU75) or 100 (AU100) g of carrot meal supplementation per kg DM feed. Quadratic equations were used to determine levels of carrot meal supplementation for optimal feed intake, metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of Arbor acre broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Linear equations were used to determine relationships between carrot meal supplementation and productivity variables. Dietary carrot meal supplementation had no (P>0.05) effect on growth rate, live weight and feed conversion ratio of unsexed Arbor acre broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Carrot meal supplementation, however, improved (P<0.05) metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of the chickens. Dietary metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of the chickens were optimized at different carrot meal supplementation levels of 40.5 and 53.57 g/kg DM feed, respectively. No chicken deaths were recorded. Experiment II determined the effect of carrot meal supplementation on productivity and carcass characteristics of female Arbor acre broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. The chickens were randomly allocated to five treatments with five replicates, each having 10 birds, in a completely randomized design. The supplementation levels were 0 (FA0), 20 (FA20), 50 (FA50), 75 (FA75), or 100 (FA100) g of carrot meal per kg DM feed. Quadratic equations were used to determine levels of carrot meal supplementation for optimal feed intake, feed conversion ratio, live weight, metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. Linear equations were used to determine relationships between carrot meal supplementation and production variables. Dietary carrot meal supplementation had no (P>0.05) effect on growth rate, live weight and carcass parts of female Arbor acre broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. Carrot meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) feed intake, feed conversion ratio, metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of Arbor acre broiler chickens aged vi 22 to 42 days. Dietary feed intake, feed conversion ratio, live weight, metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention were optimized at different dietary carrot meal supplementation levels of 52.8, 63.8, 38.0, 42.0 and 44.3 g/kg DM feed, respectively. Dietary carrot meal supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on tenderness and flavour of female Arbor acre broiler meat. Broiler chickens on diets supplemented with 20, 50 or 100 g of carrot meal per kg DM feed produced meat with better (P<0.05) juiciness values than those of meat from chickens not supplemented with dietary carrot meal and those supplemented with 75 g/kg DM feed. There was a positive relationship between carrot meal supplementation and chicken meat juiciness. It is concluded that carrot meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of unsexed Arbor acre broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. However, carrot meal supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on growth rate, live weight and feed conversion ratio of unsexed Arbor acre broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Carrot meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) intake, feed conversion ratio, metabolisable energy and nitrogen retention of female Arbor acre broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. However, carrot meal supplementation did not (P>0.05) improve growth rate and live weights of the chickens.

The potential of lignin and mannanoligosaccharides (MOS), as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters was evaluated in broilers. Dietary treatments included: (1) negative control (CTL-, antibiotic free); (2) positive control (CTL+, 11 mg/kg virginiamycin); (3) MOS (diet 1 + Bio-Mos: 0.2% to 21 d and 0.1% thereafter); (4) LL (diet 1 + 1.25% Alcell lignin); (5) HL (diet 1 + 2.5% Alcell lignin). Bodyweight and feed conversion were not different when broilers were fed the CTL+, MOS, LL or HL diet. Birds fed MOS or LL had increased jejunum villi height (P < 0.05) and greater goblet cell number per villus (P < 0.05) when compared to those fed the CTL+ diet. MOS and LL increased (P < 0.05) the cecal populations of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria when compared to CTL+ fed birds. However, Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria loads were lowest (P < 0.05) in birds fed the CTL+ or HL diet. Litter E. coli load was reduced (P < 0.05) when birds were fed MOS than when fed the CTL+ diet, but comparable to LL or HL fed birds. In birds challenged with pathogenic strains of E. coli (O2 and O88 serotypes) and fed the MOS or HL diet, the cecal population of total E. coli was lower (P < 0.05) than those fed the CTL+ diet; LL fed birds tended to have lower E. coli load than CTL+ fed birds. In summary, birds fed the MOS or LL diet had comparative advantage over CTL+ fed birds as evidenced by increased cecal populations of Lactobacilli and Bifdobacteria, increased villi height and greater goblet cell number in the jejunum, lower E. coli load in the litter, and lower cecal population of E. coli after an in vivo challenge with pathogenic strains of E. coli. Therefore, MOS and lignin could be regarded as natural alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in poultry production.
Key words. Antibiotics, mannanoligosaccharides, lignin, gut health, broilers.

Four studies were performed to examine peripheral factors involved with food intake regulation in the domestic fowl. In the first study, the mechanism by which tryptophan depresses food intake was clarified. Intraperitoneal injections of tryptophan methyl ester were demonstrated to inhibit feeding in Single Comb White Leghorn (SCWL) cockerels. Intragastric intubations of tryptophan inhibited food intake and decreased body temperature of SCWL cockerels. These results, in conjunction with previous findings, indicate that tryptophan's inhibitory influence on food intake is peripherally rather than centrally based. The second study explored the role of the duodenum in food intake regulation. Intraduodenal glucose loads had no effect on food intake of SCWL or Rock Cornish (RC) commercial broiler cockerels. In addition, splanchnicectomized birds did not respond to intraduodenal glucose infusions any differently than sham-operated controls. Apparently, the duodenum does not play a significant role in food intake control in the fowl. Hepatic involvement in appetite regulation was examined in SCWL and RC cockerels in the third study. Amino acid solutions failed to influence food intake when infused intraportally in either strain of chicken. Relatively small glucose or lipid solutions depressed food intake significantly when infused intraportally in the SCWL birds but had no effect in the RC cockerels. The liver appears to be integrally involved in controlling food consumption in the SCWL chicken. In the final study, the existence of a "hunger" factor in the peripheral circulation of two lines of chickens divergently selected for body weight was explored. Intrahepatic infusions of plasma from food deprived high-weight line chickens stimulated food intake of sated low-weight line chickens. These studies indicate that peripheral mechanisms are important in regulating appetite in light-breed chickens such as the SCWL, however, such mechanisms in heavy-breed chickens such as the RC appear to be less sensitive. This desensitization in heavy-breed chickens suggests that genetic selection for increased growth has affected the food intake control systems.
Ph. D.

Thesis (MScAgric (Animal Sciences))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.
Includes bibliography.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Two studies were done to determine the distribution rate and efficiency of dietary melamine (MEL) to poultry meat and eggs. The possibility of MEL distribution into meat and eggs after feeding cyromazine (CYR) was also investigated. Five separate diets were formulated for broiler and layer chickens containing graded levels of MEL. In the broiler trial (Experiment 1), a number of 480 day-old Cobb 500 broiler chickens were divided into five treatment groups. Diets contained 0 (CON), 50 (MEL50), 100 (MEL100), 500 (MEL500) mg/kg MEL or 4 mg/kg CYR (CYR4). The duration of the trial was 36 days and breast muscle, kidney and liver samples were harvested on Days 11, 13, 15, 18, 22, 29 and 36 after the start of the feeding and analyzed for MEL. For the duration of the trial, all experimental diets were presented ad libitum and feed intake, weight gain, mortality rate, feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency rate of birds and the European production efficiency rate were determined. In the layer trial (Experiment 2), 120 Hyline Silver hens (24 weeks of age) were randomly divided into five treatment groups. The treatment diets were the same as for Experiment 1. The duration of the trial was 20 days and layers received the treatment diets for the first 10 days after which the control diet was provided for another 10 days. Feed intake, mortality rate, egg production and egg weights were recorded daily, while live weight was recorded at the beginning and end of the trial. Dietary MEL levels of up to 500 mg/kg did not have any detrimental effect on production parameters for broilers. In the layer trial, feed intake and egg weights were negatively affected by the MEL500 treatment. Dietary MEL was absorbed by broilers and layers and rapidly distributed to the kidneys, livers, muscles and eggs. As the dietary MEL concentration increased from 50 and 100 mg/kg to 500 mg/kg, an increase (P < 0.01) was observed in muscle tissue and egg MEL residue concentrations. Melamine concentration for broilers peaked at 22 days of age and decreased until day of slaughter. The kidneys contained the highest MEL residue levels, compared to other organ tissues, such as muscle and liver. In layer hens, a MEL distribution plateau in eggs was reached between Days 1 and 4 and decreased from Day 7 to 10. The distribution of MEL in eggs was higher to albumin than to the yolk. Upon withdrawal, MEL concentration in these tissues declined to undetectable levels within seven days. No MEL could be detected in meat or eggs when birds received the CYR4 treatment. The distribution efficiency (DEf) of MEL to meat and eggs did not appear to be dose dependant. For meat, the DEf varied between 1.2 and 2.7% and for eggs it varied between 0.7 and 0.8%.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Twee studies is uitgevoer om die verspreidings tempo en effektiwiteit van melamien (MEL) na hoender vleis en -eiers te bepaal. Die moontlikheid van MEL verspreiding na vleis en eiers deur die voeding van cyromazien (CYR) is ook ondersoek. Vyf aparte diëte is geformuleer vir braaikuikens en lê-henne wat verskillende MEL insluitings vlakke bevat het. Vir die braaikuiken proef (Eksperiment 1), is 480 dag oud Cobb 500 braaikuikens ingedeel in vyf behandelings groepe. Diëte het 0 (CON), 50 (MEL50), 100 (MEL100), 500 (MEL500) mg/kg MEL en 4 mg/kg CYR (CYR4) bevat. Die tydsduur van hierdie proef was 36 dae en bors-, spier-, nier- en lewer monsters is ingesamel op Dae 11, 13, 15, 18, 22, 29 en 36 wat geëvalueer is vir MEL. Tydens die verloop van die proef is alle eksperimentele diëte ad libitum gevoer en voerinname, massa toename, mortaliteit, voeromsettings verhouding, proteïen effektiwiteits tempo asook die Europese produksie effektiwiteits tempo is bepaal. Vir die lê-hen proef (Eksperiment 2), is 120 Hyline Silver henne (24 weke oud) ewekansig verdeel in vyf behandelings groepe. Die behandelings diëte het dieselfde MEL en CYR konsentrasies bevat as Eksperiment 1. Die tydsduur van hierdie proef was altesaam 20 dae waarvan henne behandelings diëte vir die eerste 10 dae ontvang het, waarna henne vir die daarop volgende 10 dae ‘n kontrole dieët wat 0 mg/kg MEL bevat gevoer is. Voerinname, mortaliteit, eier produksie en eier gewig is daagliks opgeteken, terwyl lewende massa aan die begin en einde van die proef gemeet is. Melamien dieët vlakke tot 500 mg/kg het geen negatiewe effek op braaikuiken produksie parameters gehad nie. Vir lê-henne, is slegs voerinname en eier gewig negatief beïnvloed vir MEL500. Melamien is na inname geabsorbeer deur braaikuikens en lê-henne en het vinnig versprei na die niere, lewer, spiere en eiers. Soos die MEL vlakke van die behandelings diëte toegeneem het van 50 en 100 mg/kg na 500 mg/kg, het ‘n beduidende (P < 0.01) toename in spierweefsel en eier MEL residu konsentrasies voorgekom. Melamien konsentrasies vir braaikuikens het gepiek op 22 dae en geleidelik afgeneem tot op dag 36. In lê-henne het ‘n MEL verspreidings platu in eiers plaasgevind tussen Dag 1 en 4 en geleidelik afgeneem tydens Dag 7 en 10. Die niere het die hoogste MEL residu vlakke bevat in vergelyking met die lewer- en spierweefsels. Die verspreiding van MEL in eiers was hoër na die albumien as na die dooier. Tydens onttrekking het die MEL konsentrasie vlakke in hierdie weefsels in so ‘n mate afgeneem dat dit onbespeurbaar was binne sewe dae. Geen MEL kon in vleis- en eiermonsters gemeet word vir CYR4 nie. Die verspreidings doeltreffendheid (DEf) van MEL na vleis en eiers was nie dosis afhanklik nie. Vir vleis het die DEf gevarieër tussen 1.2 en 2.7% en vir eiers tussen 0.7 en 0.8%.

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: 1. The effect of heat-treatment and dehulling of full-fat soya (Glycine max) on AMEn' amino acid availability and broiler performance. Heat treatment and dehulling of full-fat soya were evaluated in terms of their effect on AMEn, apparent amino acid availability and broiler performance. Four products were tested: raw whole soya (RWS), raw dehulled soya (RDS), extruded whole soya (EWS) and extruded dehulled soya (EDS). Trials were conducted to determine AMEn values and apparent amino acid availability of the products. A 42-day broiler trial was conducted to measure the effect of extrusion and dehulling on broiler performance. Test products were added to the diets at levels up to 263.2 g/kg in the starter diet and 260.0 g/kg in the finisher diet. Results indicated that extrusion cooking improved AMEn and apparent amino acid availability. This was reflected in the improved performance of broilers fed extruded soya as compared to raw soya. Increasing amounts of RWS and RDS led to decreases in mass and intake and poor feed conversion ratio (FeR) due to the presence of anti-nutritional factors. Broilers fed EWS were heavier, consumed more feed and had better FeR than those fed RWS or RDS. Dehulling improved AMEn (EWS: 13.75 MJ/kg vs EDS: 15.09 MJ/kg) and rendered a product with slightly higher levels of total amino acids. Broiler performance did not reflect this as there was no difference in mass, intake or FeR between broilers fed increasing levels of EWS or EDS. Lysine and arginine were less available in EDS than EWS indicating the possible over-cooking of EDS. Levels of EWS and EDS of 263.2 g/kg in the starter and 260.0 g/kg in the finisher supported maximum broiler performance. 2. The effect of heat-treatment and dehulling of full-fat sunflower (Helianthus annuus) on AMEm amino acid availability and broiler performance. Heat treatment and dehulling of full-fat sunflower were evaluated in terms of their effect on AMEn, apparent amino acid availability and broiler performance. Four products were tested: raw whole sunflower (RWSF), raw dehulled sunflower (RDSF), extruded whole sunflower (EWSF) and extruded dehulled sunflower (ED SF). Trials were conducted to determine AMEn values and apparent amino acid availability of the products. A 42-day broiler trial was conducted to measure the effect of expansion and dehulling on broiler performance. Test products were added to the diets at levels up to 115.0 glkg in the starter diet and 181.5 glkg in the finisher diet. Dehulling rendered a product with higher crude protein, ether extract, amino acid and AMEn values. AMEn was only slightly improved by expansion. The AMEn values obtained were: RWSF: 16.03 MJ/kg, RDSF: 18.87 MJ/kg, EWSF: 16.22 MJ/kg, EDSF: 19.49 MJ/kg. Dehulling had no effect on apparent amino acid availability. Expansion did not affect apparent amino acid availability of dehulled full-fat sunflower but had a negative influence on apparent amino acid availability of whole sunflower seeds. This highlights the possible dangers of reduced protein quality as a result of overprocessing. No differences were observed in terms of mass, intake and feed conversion ratio of broilers fed any of the products during the 42-day broiler growth trial. All products supported optimum broiler performance at levels up to 115.0 glkg in the starter diet. For the finisher diets, optimum performance was maintained at levels of 181.5 glkg, for RDSF and EDSF, while performance of broilers fed RWSF and EWSF was optimal up to 145.2 glkg.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 1. Die invloed van hitte-behandeling en ontdopping van volvetsojabone (Glycine max) op SMEm skynbare aminosuur beskikbaarheid en braaikuikenprestasie. Hitte-behandeling en ontdopping van volvetsojabone is ge-evalueer in terme van hul invloed op stikstof gekorrekteerde skynbare metaboliseerbare energie (SMEn) waardes, skynbare aminosuur beskikbaarheid en braaikuikenprestasie. Vier produkte is getoets: rou heel sojabone (RWS), rou ontdopte sojabone (RDS), geekstrueerde heel sojabone (EWS) en geekstrueerde ontdopte sojabone (EDS). Proewe is uitgevoer om die SMEn waardes en skynbare aminosuur beskikbaarheid van die vier produkte te bepaal. Gedurende 'n braaikuikengroeitoets van 42 dae is die invloed van hittebehandeling (ekstrusie) en ontdopping op braaikuikenprestasie gemeet. Die vier toetsprodukte is ingesluit in die aanvangsdieet teen peile van tot 263.2 g/kg en teen peile van tot 260.0 g/kg in die afrondingsdieet. Resultate het getoon dat ekstrusie die SMEn waardes en skynbare aminosuur beskikbaarheid verbeter het. Braaikuikens wat geekstrueerde soja ontvang het, het beter gepresteer as braaikuikens wat rou soja ontvang het. Verhoogte insluitings van RWS en RDS het gelei tot verlagings in massa toename en voerinname en swak voeromsetverhoudings (VOV), as gevolg van die teenwoordigheid van anti-voedings faktore. Braaikuikens wat EWS ontvang het, was swaarder, het meer ingeneem en het beter vav gehad as die wat RWS of RDS ontvang het. Ontdopping het SMEn verhoog (EWS: 13.75 MJ/kg vs EDS: 15.09 MJ/kg) en ontdopte produkte het klein hoeveelhede meer aminosure bevat. Dit het egter nie in braaikuikenprestasie gewys nie. Daar was geen verskille in massa, voerinname en vav tussen braaikuikens wat EWS of EDS ontvang het. Lisien en arginien was minder beskikbaar in EDS as EWS wat op die moontlike oorprosessering van EDS dui. Vlakke van EWS en EDS van 263.2 g/kg in die aanvangsdieet en 260.0 g/kg In die afrondingsdieet het maksimale braaikuikenprestasie ondersteun. 2. Die invloed volvetsonneblosaad van hitte-behandeling (Helianthus annuus) en ontdopping van op SMEo, skynbare aminosuur beskikbaarheid en braaikuikenprestasie. Hitte-behandeling en ontdopping van volvetsonneblomsaad is geevalueer in terme van hul invloed op stikstof gekorrekteerde skynbare metaboliseerbare energie (SMEn) waardes, skynbare aminosuur beskikbaarheid en braaikuikenprestasie. Vier produkte is getoets: rou heel sonneblomsaad (RWS), rou ontdopte sonneblomsaad (RDS), geekspandeerde heel sonneblomsaad (EWS) en geekspandeerde ontdopte sonneblomsaad (EDS). Proewe is uitgevoer om die SMEn waardes en skynbare aminosuur beskikbaarheid van die vier produkte te bepaal. Gedurende 'n braaikuikengroeitoets van 42 dae is die invloed van hitte-behandeling (ekspansie) en ontdopping op braaikuikenprestasie gemeet. Die vier toetsprodukte is ingesluit in die aanvangsdieet teen peile van tot 115.0 g/kg en teen peile van tot 181.5 g/kg in die afrondingsdieet. Ontdopte sonneblomsaad het hoer peile van ruproteien, eter-ekstrak en aminosure as heel sonneblomsaad. SMEn waardes is ook hoer vir ontdopte sonneblomsaad. Hitte-behandeling het SMEn waardes effens verhoog. Die bepaalde SMEn waardes is as volg: RWSF: 16.03 MJ/kg, RDSF: 18.87 MJ/kg, EWSF: 16.22 MJ/kg, EDSF: 19.49 MJ/kg. Ontdopping het geen invloed op skynbare aminosuur bekikbaarheid gehad nie. Skynbare aminosuur beskikbaarheid van ontdopte sonneblomsaad IS me deur hitte-behandeling beinvloed nie, terwyl die van heel sonneblomsaad negatief beinvloed is. Dit beklemtoon die gevare van verswakte proteien kwaliteit as gevolg van oor-prosessering. Geen verskille is opgemerk in terme van massa, voerinname en voeromset verhouding (VOV) tussen die vier produkte gedurende die braaikuikengroeitoets van 42 dae. Alle produkte het maksimale braaikuiken prestasie ondersteun in die aanvangsdieet teen vlakke van 115.0 g/kg. In die afrondingsdieet het RDSF en EDSF optimale braaikuikenprestasie onderhou teen vlakke van 181.5 g/kg, terwyl RWSF en EWSF net t

Three potential probiotics, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei and the fungus Scytalidium acidophilum were prepared in different ways. They were evaluated for their effects on performance and immune responses in broiler chickens in two 6-week trials. In the first trial, probiotics were orally administered at the ages of day 1 and day 8. There were no differences between live and disrupted cells. However, cobalt-containing cells had improved effects numerously in comparison with non cobalt-containing cells. As a result, these three disrupted probiotics, each in two different concentrations, were sprayed onto a mash basal feed before pelleting in the second trial. Improved feed intake (up to 6%) and body weight gain (up to 7%) were observed in all probiotic treatments. The anti-KLH IgA and IgG titers of probiotic-treated chickens were not significantly different from the negative controls in both trials. In summary, disrupted and cobalt-containing probiotics were proved to enhance the performance of broiler chickens and are promising for commercial application. In addition, a new fungal mycelium, Scytalidium acidophilum, was suggested to be a good probiotic to improve the growth of broilers.

Thesis (MSc. Agriculture (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2014
Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of moringa seed meal supplementation on productivity and carcass characteristics of Ross 308 broiler chickens. The first experiment determined the effect of moringa seed meal supplementation on productivity of Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Two hundred and fifty unsexed day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments, replicated five times, and each replication having 10 chickens. A completely randomized design was used. The chickens were fed on a grower diet supplemented with 0 (M0), 5 (M5), 10 (M10), 15 (M15) and 20 (M20) g of moringa seed meal/bird/day. Moringa seed meal supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on feed intake, metabolisable energy intake, nitrogen retention, feed conversion ratio and live weight of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens. Moringa seed meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) growth rates of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. A moringa seed meal supplementation level of 13.3 g/kg DM feed optimized growth rate of Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. The second experiment determined the effect of moringa seed meal supplementation on productivity and carcass characteristics of female Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. The chickens weighing 558 ± 10 g/bird were randomly allocated to five treatments with five replications having 10 birds. The chickens, aged 21 days, were allocated to the treatments in a completely randomized design. The chickens were fed on a grower diet supplemented with 0 (FM0), 5 (FM5), 10 (FM10), 15 (FM15) and 20 (FM20) g of moringa seed meal per kg DM. Moringa seed meal supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on feed intake, growth rate, feed conversion ratio, live weight, metabolisable energy intake, carcass weight, breast meat weight, abdominal fat pad weight, liver weight, heart weight, thigh weight, meat flavour, juiciness and tenderness of female Ross 308 broiler chickens. However, moringa seed meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) nitrogen retention and gizzard weights of female Ross 308 broiler chickens. vi It was concluded that moringa seed meal supplementation improved growth rate of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Similarly, moringa seed meal supplementation increased nitrogen retention and gizzard weights of female Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days.

A series of experiments were carved out to study the effect of dietary enzyme inclusion or flaxseed processing on feeding value of flaxseed for broilers. The feed enzymes tested containing xylanase activities failed to produce any positive performance response when used in a 10% flaxseed diet with manufacturer recommended dosage for broilers (D 1 to 21).
Autoclaving of flaxseed at 16.5 kg/cm2 and 120°C for 15 min slightly improved the performance of young broilers fed a 10% flaxseed diet. This improvement was not observed at lower temperature and shorter period of autoclaving, but was magnified at higher flaxseed level. Autoclaving, microwave roasting, pelleting significantly (P < 0.05) reduced HCN content in flaxseed. The greatest HCN reduction was observed with repeated pelleting (54.9%) and microwave roasting (83.2%), from its 377 mg/kg of raw flaxseed.
When tested with roosters, flaxseed processing effectively increased ME values, dry matter, and ether extract utilization. The raw flaxseed TME and TMEn of 3343 and 3225 kcal/kg, respectively, was significantly (P < 0.01) increased by repeated pelleting (44%) and microwave roasting (32%). It was the result of significant improvement (P < 0.05) of EE utilization by the relevant processing. These improvements had a similar effect on total FA and linolenic acid utilization.
The processing method and flaxseed level had a very significant effect on deposition of total T-3 FAs in breast and thigh meat (P < 0.001) of 40 days old broilers. The highest level of T-3 FAs in muscle lipids of 23.04% and 26.46% for breast and thigh, respectively, was achieved with the highest flaxseed level (14% in days 1 to 21 days, and 17% in days 22--40) and pellet-then-mash processing, which lead to low T-6/T-3 ratios of 0.81 and 0.80 in breast and thigh muscle lipid, respectively. The proper flaxseed processing allowed more flaxseed (up to 12%) to be included in broiler diets without obvious growth depression, while achieving the higher desired T-3 FAs deposition in meat.

Three series of experiments were conducted to determine the relative bioavailability of various phosphate products with an emphasis on the defluorinated phosphates. In Series I, phosphorus in commercial mono/dicalcium phosphates, commercial dicalcium phosphates, commercial defluorinated phosphates, and experimental defluorinated phosphates were found to be 93, 81, 70, and 76% as available as that in dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, respectively, using 3-week bodyweight and toe ash in a nonlinear regression analysis. In Series II, phosphorus in a commercial defluorinated phosphate was compared directly with that in a commercial dicalcium phosphate using poult from 1 to 4 weeks of age. No significant differences were found between the two products which may be attributed partly to the feeding of the starter diet during the pre-experimental period. The commercial defluorinated phosphate was numerically less available than the commercial dicalcium phosphate in all cases. In Series III, phosphorus in various defluorinated phosphates was compared with that in a dicalcium phosphate dihydrate. Ash of dry unextracted tibia, ash of dry toe, and 0 to 3-week body weight gain as responses to added phosphorus followed a sigmoidal regression model while 0 to 2-week body weight gain followed an asymptotic model in Experiment 1. The defluorinated phosphate was found to be 53% as available as the standard. In Experiment 2, an experimental defluorinated phosphate from Series I which was found to be 76% as available as the standard was found to be 62% as available as the standard used in Series III, indicating differences in bioavailability of the two standards. In Experiment 3, two commercial defluorinated phosphates were found to have equal relative biological values, 67.2 and 67.6% as compared with the standard using poults from 0 to 2 weeks of age, and three experimental defluorinated phosphates 51.7, 74.0, and 88.2% with the product with the fine particles having the highest relative biological value. In cases where the sigmoidal regression gave a significantly better fit to the data than the asymptotic model, the relative biological values and the associated confidence limits from the asymptotic model were equal to those from the sigmoidal model.
Ph. D.
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Experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of dietary fat, vitamin E(Vit. E) and selenium(Se) supplementation on the performance, fatty acid(FA) composition, lipid oxidation on blood and the oxidative stability of muscle tissues (breast and thigh) during refrigerated storage of broiler chickens fed high levels of flaxseed(FXS). Four hundred and eighty d-old broiler chicks were fed experimental diets for a 3 wk period, which consisted of the combination of two dietary fat sources: fullfat soybean(FFSB) and FXS; 3 Vit. E levels: 10, 40 and 80 IU/kg and two Se levels: 0.15 and 0.30ppm (Exp. I). Four hundred and forty d-old chicks were fed on FFSB diets supplemented with 10, 80, and 160 IU of Vit. E/kg, FXS diets supplemented with 10, 40, 80, 120, 160 and 200 IU of Vit. E/kg, corn-soybean based diet (control), and on a commercial diet for 21 days (Exp. II). For Exp. III, 1680 (840 of each sex) d-old broiler chicks were raised up to 41d. Three basal diets containing 10% FXS and 3 levels of Vit. E: 60-, 90- and 160 IU/kg were formulated for 3 age periods: starter (0--3wk), grower (3--5 wk) and finisher (5--6wk). Three groups of birds were fed these basal diets, while 3 other groups were fed the diet containing 160 IU of Vit. E either during the starter, grower or finisher phase (diets supplemented with 60 IU/kg were given in the two remaining phases). (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The use of phytase enzymes to liberate phosphorus and other phytate bound nutrients in monogastric animal diets are becoming common practice and several commercial phytase enzymes are available on the market. Phytase manufacturers supply nutritionists with matrix values for the specific phytase, enabling nutritionists to effectively decrease the dietary concentrations of phosphorus and nutrients during diet formulation. A 32 day experiment was conducted with 5120 broiler chicks fed diets supplemented with different commercial phytase enzymes (1000 FYT or 1500 FYT HiPhos/kg diet, 1500 FYT Ronozyme/kg diet, 500 FTU Natuphos/kg diet or 500 FTU Phyzyme/kg diet) at levels recommended by the manufacturers and with similar phosphorus equivalence. The nutrient content of the diets supplemented with 500 FTU Natuphos, 500 FTU Phyzyme 1500 Ronozyme and 1000 FYT HiPhos were reduced according to the matrix values of 1000 FYT/kg HiPhos, whilst the diet supplemented with 1500 FYT HiPhos /kg diet was reduced according to the matrix values 1500 FYT HiPhos. The objectives of this study were threefold: (i) to confirm the matrix value for a newly developed phytase (HiPhos, DSM Nutritional Products, Basel, Switzerland), at two different inclusion levels, using weight gain and bone parameters of broilers as response criteria; (ii) to compare production and bone parameters of broilers reared on three different commercial phytases to broilers reared on HiPhos (iii) to investigate the effect that supplementation of these four phytases has on water intake, carcass characteristics, organ weights and gastrointestinal tract morphology of broilers. The matrix values for 1500 FYT HiPhos were confirmed by using live weight gain as response criteria, but results for bone parameters were insufficient in confirming the matrix values. The matrix values for 1000 FYT HiPhos were confirmed by the results for tibia weight and tibia strength, but results for weight gain were insufficient to confirm the values. The matrix values for 1000 FYT HiPhos and 1500 FYT HiPhos could not be confirmed nor disproved, nevertheless results from the current trial proved diets supplemented with HiPhos to be more economically viable when compared to the standard commercial broiler diet. Total feed and water intake were not influenced by phytase supplementation. Production parameters (live weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, European production efficiency factor and average daily gain) and bone parameters (tibia strength, fat free tibia weight, fat free tibia ash and mineral content) did not differ between phytase treatments and therefore all the commercial phytases were equally effective to the HiPhos phytase. Furthermore, results indicate that the investigated phytases had no effect on internal organ weight or gastrointestinal tract morphology in broilers. Overall the results obtained from the study indicate that the use of phytase as feed additive has no negative effects on growth performance, carcass characteristics or bone parameters. No major differences for the production and bone parameters were observed between broilers supplemented with different phytases. Therefore the costs of these phytases can be the determining factor when nutritionists decide which commercial phytase to use.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die gebruik van fitase ensieme in die diëte van enkelmaagdiere om fitaat-gebonde fosfor en voedingstowwe vry te stel, word al hoe meer algemeen in die bedryf en verskeie kommersiële fitase ensieme is in die mark beskikbaar. Die ensiemvervaardigers verskaf die fitases se matryswaardes aan voedingskundiges wat hul in staat stel om die fosfor- en nutrientvlakke in die dieet effektief te verminder. ´n Studie met 5120 braaikuikens was vir 32 dae uitgevoer. Die braaikuiken diëte was met verskillende kommersiële fitase ensieme (1000 FYT & 1500 FYT HiPhos/kg dieet, 1500 FYT Ronozyme/kg dieet, 500 FTU Natuphos/kg dieet of 500 FTU Phyzyme/kg dieet) aangevul. Die nutrientvlakke van die diëte wat met fitase aangevul was, was verminder volgens die matryswaardes van 1000 FYT of 1500 FYT HiPhos fitase. Die doelstellings van hierdie studie was drievoudig: (i) om die matryswaardes van ´n nuwe fitase (HiPhos, DSM Nutritional Products, Basel, Switzerland) by twee verskillende insluitingsvlakke te bevestig deur massa toename en been parameters as reaksie maatstawwe te gebruik (ii) om produksie- en been parameters van braaikuikens, wat een van drie kommersiële fitase ensieme as voerbymiddel ontvang het, met dié van braaikuikens wat die nuwe ensiem gevoer was te vergelyk (iii) om die effek wat fitase op water inname, karkaseienskappe, orgaan massas en spysverteringskanaal morfologie het te bestudeer. Die matryswaardes vir 1500 FYT HiPhos was bevestig deur lewendige massa toename as respons kriteria te gebruik, maar resultate vir die been parameters was onvoldoende om die matryswaardes te bevestig. Die matryswaardes vir 1000 FYT HiPhos was slegs bevestig deur die resultate vir die breeksterktes van die tibias, maar resultate vir massa toename was onvoldoende om die matryswaardes te bevestig. Dus kon die matryswaardes vir die HiPhos fitase nie bevestig of verkeerd bewys word nie. Desondanks het die resultate in die huidige proef bewys dat diëte wat met HiPhos aangevul was meer ekonomies as die kommersiële braaikuiken dieet is. Totale voer- en water-inname was nie deur die aanvulling van fitase beïnvloed nie. Produksie parameters (lewendige massa, voeromset, die Europese produksie doeltreffendheids faktor, gemiddelde daaglikse toename) en been parameters (tibia breeksterkte, vet vrye tibia massa, vet vrye tibia as en mineraal-inhoud) het nie verskil tussen die fitase behandelings nie en dus was al die kommersiële fitases ewe effektief. Vanuit die studie is getoon dat die gebruik van fitase as ´n voerbymiddels geen negatiewe effek op groei, karkas eienskappe of been parameters het nie en dat fitase ook nie die orgaan gewigte of die spysverteringskanaal morfologie van braaikuikens beïnvloed nie. Geen groot verskille in produksieen been parameters was waargeneem tussen hoenders wat verskillende fitases as voerbymiddel ontvang het nie, daarom kan die koste van die ensiem die bepalende faktor wees as voedingkundiges die keuse maak tussen hierdie kommersiele fitases.

[Truncated abstract] Australia produces 87% of the world’s lupins (Lupinus angustifolius) which have the potential to be an excellent source of protein and energy in animal diets. However, feed manufacturers and poultry producers cannot use more than about 5% lupins in broiler and 7% in layer diets. The main reason is because 34% of the lupin grain comprises complex cell-wall polysaccharides that are indigestible. The main component of cell walls in lupins is pectin (33%). Poultry cannot digest pectin because they don't secrete the appropriate enzymes so their ability to use lupins is limited. Undigested pectins increase the viscosity of digesta in the bird's digestive tract, which in turn reduces the digestibility of dry matter and efficiency of feed utilisation. Pectins also increase water-holding capacity, a characteristic directly related to water intake and wet droppings. In this thesis, I tested the general hypothesis that breakdown of cell walls and pectins will improve the nutritive value of lupins for broilers and layers and reduce wet droppings. This hypothesis was tested in six experiments by treating lupins with specific exogenous enzymes (pectinases) or mechanical-heat treatment (expansion) plus pectinase. In the first experiment, attempts to break down the cell walls and pectins using four doses of pectinase, specifically polygalacturonase (PG), succeeded in improving the nutritive value of whole and dehulled lupins for egg layers. The lowest dose, 0.6g/kg diet, was the most effective dose for reducing water intake, wet droppings, the viscosity of the digesta and the number of soiled eggs. ... Equivalent figures for layers were 14, 15, 5 and 8%, indicating that the pectinases were slightly more effective in layers than broilers. For diets containing 20% dehulled lupins, pectinases were also very effective at breaking down both pectin and cell walls to release nutrients and, concomitantly, reducing water intake and wet droppings, but the magnitude of the responses was slightly less than with the 10% dehulled lupin diets. For diets containing 30% dehulled lupins, although the pectinases again were effective at breaking down pectin and cell walls and reducing viscosity, they did not reduce water intake or wet droppings. This might be due to the large amounts of nonmethylated pectic polysaccharides, which make up two thirds of the cell walls, by increasing water-holding capacity particularly when dehulled lupins are included in the diet at high levels (up to 30%). These polysaccharides might be broken down by appropriate enzymes. This hypothesis is worth testing in the future. Overall, the results of my study supported the general hypothesis. These in vivo results are conclusive and consistent. They show that an optimum combination of PME and PG is capable of including dehulled lupins up to 20% in broiler and layer diets without any nutritional or hygienic problems. The strategies I developed have proven very useful for breaking down the cell walls and pectins, improving the nutritive value of lupins for broilers and layers, and reducing wet droppings. By using the optimum combination of two pectinases, it should be possible to make substantial improvements in the nutritive value of lupins for broilers and layers, most importantly by reducing excessive water intake and wet droppings associated with feeding dehulled lupins. Without pectinases, the amount of dehulled lupins used in poultry diets is fairly small (7%), but if pectinases are used, this upper limit can be lifted to 20%.

Thesis (MSC. Agriculture (Animal Production)) --University of Limpopo, 2014
Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of moringa seed meal supplementation on productivity and carcass characteristics of Ross 308 broiler chickens. The first experiment determined the effect of moringa seed meal supplementation on productivity of Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Two hundred and fifty unsexed day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments, replicated five times, and each replication having 10 chickens. A completely randomized design was used. The chickens were fed on a grower diet supplemented with 0 (M0), 5 (M5), 10 (M10), 15 (M15) and 20 (M20) g of moringa seed meal/bird/day. Moringa seed meal supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on feed intake, metabolisable energy intake, nitrogen retention, feed conversion ratio and live weight of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens. Moringa seed meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) growth rates of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. A moringa seed meal supplementation level of 13.3 g/kg DM feed optimized growth rate of Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. The second experiment determined the effect of moringa seed meal supplementation on productivity and carcass characteristics of female Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. The chickens weighing 558 ± 10 g/bird were randomly allocated to five treatments with five replications having 10 birds. The chickens, aged 21 days, were allocated to the treatments in a completely randomized design. The chickens were fed on a grower diet supplemented with 0 (FM0), 5 (FM5), 10 (FM10), 15 (FM15) and 20 (FM20) g of moringa seed meal per kg DM. Moringa seed meal supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on feed intake, growth rate, feed conversion ratio, live weight, metabolisable energy intake, carcass weight, breast meat weight, abdominal fat pad weight, liver weight, heart weight, thigh weight, meat flavour, juiciness and tenderness of female Ross 308 broiler chickens. However, moringa seed meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) nitrogen retention and gizzard weights of female Ross 308 broiler chickens. vi It was concluded that moringa seed meal supplementation improved growth rate of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Similarly, moringa seed meal supplementation increased nitrogen retention and gizzard weights of female Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days.

Thesis (MSc. (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2016
This study was conducted to determine the effect of supplementing diets with antimicrobials and effective microorganisms on productivity and carcass characteristics of Ross 308 broiler chickens. The study consisted of two parts. The first part determined the effect of antimicrobial and effective microorganism (EM) supplementations on growth performance of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. A complete randomized design was used and 150 unsexed day-old chicks with an initial weight of 42 ± 2g were randomly assigned to five different treatments which were replicated 3 times with each replicate having 10 chicks. The five grower diets had the same nutrients (20% CP and 12MJ/kg) but different supplementation levels of 0g oxytetracycline and 0ml EMs/l of water (UAM0EM0), 0.01g oxytetracycline (UAM0.01EM0), 30ml EMs/l of water (UAM0EM30), 50ml EMs/l of water (UAM0EM50) and 100ml EMs/l of water (UAM0EM100). A quadratic regression model was used to determine dietary effective microorganism supplementation levels for optimal feed intake and live weight of Ross 308 broiler chickens. A linear model was used to determine the relationship between dietary effective microorganism supplementation levels and metabolisable energy intakes. Antimicrobial and effective microorganism supplementations did not have any effect (P>0.05) on growth rate, feed conversion ratio and mortality. Antimicrobial supplementation improved (P<0.05) feed intake and live weight of the chickens. Supplementation with 50ml of EMs/l of water improved (P<0.05) feed intake. Supplementation with 50 or 100ml of EMs per litre of water increased (P<0.05) ME intake of the chickens. Effective microorganism supplementation levels of 72.25 and 48.29ml of drinking water optimized feed intake and live weight, respectively. The second part of the experiment determined the effect of antimicrobials and effective microorganisms on productivity, blood, carcass characteristics and meat quality of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. The chickens were randomly allocated to five treatments with three replications, each having six chickens. A total of 90 male chickens, with the initial live weight of 452 ± 3g were allocated to the treatments in a complete randomized design. The chickens were fed a grower diet supplemented with 0g oxytetracycline and 0ml EMs/l of water (MAM0EM0), 0.01g oxytetracycline (MAM0.01EM0), 30ml EMs/l of water (MAM0EM30), v 50ml EMs/l of water (MAM0EM50) and 100ml EMs/l of water (MAM0EM100). Antimicrobial and effective microorganism supplementation did not have effect (P>0.05) on feed intake, growth rate, live weight, ME intake, blood glucose and mortality. Poorer (P<0.05) feed conversion ratio was observed with the supplementation of antimicrobial. Blood glucose levels were optimized at an effective microorganism supplementation level of 29.00ml of EM/l of drinking water (Figure 4.05). Supplementing diets with antimicrobials and effective microorganisms did not have effect (P>0.05) on crop, gizzard, proventriculus and large intestine pH values of male chickens. However, supplementation with of 100ml of EMs per litre of drinking water reduced (P<.0.05) the pH of ileum. Effective microorganism supplementation level of 85.00ml per litre of drinking water optimized the crop pH value. Antimicrobial and effective microorganism supplementations did not have influence (P>0.05) on gizzard, proventriculus, small intestine, caecum, large intestine, liver and heart weights of male chickens at 42 days. Effective microorganism supplementation level of 50ml per litre of drinking water reduced (P<.0.05) crop weight. Antimicrobial and effective microorganism supplementations did not have effect (P>0.05) on whole gastro-intestinal tract (GIT), small intestine and caecum length of the chickens. Antimicrobial supplementation reduced (P<0.05) the length of large intestine. Effective microorganism supplementation levels of 41.00, 45.50 and 85.00ml per litre of drinking water optimized crop weights and caecum and large intestine lengths, respectively. Antimicrobial and effective microorganism supplementations did not have any influence (P>0.05) on live weight, carcass weight, breast weight, drumstick weight ad thigh weight. Similarly, antimicrobial and effective microorganism supplementations did not have influence on meat tenderness, juiciness and flavour. There were no antibiotic and effective microbe residues in the meat. It is, therefore, concluded that effective microorganism supplementation did not have much effect on production parameters, carcass characteristics and meat quality of Ross 308 broiler chickens.

This study was initiated to determine if factors exist in the blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the domestic fowl that act upon the central nervous system to control food intake. Plasma collected from free-feeding and 24-hour fasted leghorn cockerels was lyophilized, reconstituted to 2, 4, or 5 times the original concentration, and injected, via a stereotaxically implanted 23 gauge stainless steel guide cannula, into the lateral ventricle of free-feeding leghorn cockerels. Food intake was significantly reduced following injection of 2, 4, and 5 times normal concentration of plasma from free-feeding birds. Plasma from fasted birds did not alter food intake regardless of concentration, but did significantly reduce water intake when concentrated to five times normal. A similar study was conducted with fractions of plasma of different molecular weight ranges. Plasma collected from free-feeding cockerels was partitioned by gel filtration into the following molecular weight fractions: >5000 molecular weight, <5000 molecular weight, 1500-5000 molecular weight, and <1500 molecular weight. The fractions were lyophilized and reconstituted to four times the original concentration and injected into the lateral ventricle of free-feeding leghorn cockerels. Food intake was significantly decreased by the <5000 and <1500 molecular weight fractions, whereas water intake was not affected. The 1500-5000 molecular weight fraction and the fraction above 5000 did not affect food or water intake. To determine if this food intake inhibiting factor existed in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the domestic fowl, CSF was collected from free-feeding and 24-hour fasted broilers and injected into the lateral ventricle of leghorn and broiler cockerels. Food intake was not affected by either the normal or four-times normal concentration of CSF collected from free-feeding or 24-hour fasted broilers. Water intake was significantly increased in the leghorn and broiler birds receiving the four times normal concentration of CSF collected from 24-hour fasted birds, but was not affected in the birds receiving CSF collected from the free-feeding donors. It appears, therefore, that a food intake inhibiting factor exists in the plasma of the free-feeding domestic fowl that does not exist in the CSF.
Ph. D.

Thesis (MScAgric) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2000.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Lipids remain one of the most important nutrients required by broilers. The growing awareness that some Western societies have too high a dietary ratio of n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids is of direct relevance to broiler nutrition and lipid metabolism. Meaningful quantities of n-3 polyunsaturates have been incorporated into major poultry tissues, so that the production of broiler meat with high n-3 polyunsaturates becomes advantageous for the broiler industry as they are perceived as having a 'healthier' lipid profile. Unfortunately, such broiler meat is rather susceptible to oxidative deterioration, and oxidation often determines shelf life of poultry meat products. The addition of a-tocopherol (vitamin E) to broiler diets is an effective means of improving the oxidative stability of broiler meat. Elevated a-tocopherol levels in broiler feeds increase tissue concentrations thereof resulting in improved stability of membranal structures which may be expected to increase the oxidative stability of broiler meat and meat products. Three investigations were done at Mariendahl Poultry Research Station in Stellenbosch. The broilers were kept in 1 x 0.4 x 0.5 m cages in a broiler rearing house. All the trials started with day-old chicks, except experiment 1 where 3-week old broilers were used. At the end of trials 2 and 3 the 6-week old broilers were slaughtered and the carcasses prepared for chemical analysis. Experiment 1: Metabolisabie energy of Canola acid oil and Famarol acid oil for broiler chickens. In trials with 21-day-old male broilers the true metabolisabie energy value, corrected for nitrogen retention (TMEn) was determined by the balance method for Canala acid oil (CAO) and Famarol acid oil (FAO). The trials were duplicated, each time using different samples of the two oils from the same source (experiment 1 and 2). Each of the two oils were blended in two ratios with a basal diet to form the test diets, viz. 100% Basal; 96% Basal: 4% Oil; 92% Basal: 8% Oil. In experiment 3, 50 % bran was added to the maize to form the basal diet. The balance trials lasted for 3 days after an adaptation period of 4 days. The TMEn values determined by regression for the broilers of CAO did not differ significantly (P>0.05) between experiments 1 and 2. However, the value for experiment 3 was significantly (P<0.05) higher than those for experiments 1 and 2. The TMEn values of FAO also did not differ significantly (P>0.05) between experiments 1 and 2, although the value for experiment 3 was significantly higher than that of experiment 1. The addition of 50 % bran to the basal diet in experiment 3 could have stimulated the digestive breakdown process and hence increase the secretion of digestive enzymes. This could lead to an increase in the utilisation of the test lipid and therefore an increase in the TMEn value. The TMEn values of CAO differed significantly (P<0.05) from those of FAO for all three the experiments (exp. 1:30.6 ± 0.399 MJ/kg for CAO vs. 25.9 ± 0.441 MJ/kg for FAO; expo 2: 31.0 ± 0.633 MJ/kg for CAO vs. 26.1 ± 0.668 MJ/kg for FAO: expo 3: 32.1 ± 0.867 MJ/kg for CAO vs. 27.1 MJ/kg for FAO).Experiment 2: of broilers. The dietary effects of various combinations of Canala acid oil (CAO, a high level of C18:3n-3 and MUFA) and Famarol Effects of various dietary n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratios on the perfonnance and body composition acid oil (FAO, a high level of 18:2n-6 and SFA) on tissue fatty acid composition were studied in broiler carcasses and abdominal fat pads. From day-old to six weeks, chicks were fed one of six diets containing 100% FAO, 80% FAO-20% CAO, 60% FAO-40% CAO, 40% FAO-60% CAO, 20% FAO-80% CAO, 100% CAO. There were no statistical differences (P>0.05) in average daily gain (1.71 ± 0.059 g) or feed conversion ratios (1.97 ± 0.051) among dietary groups. No statistical differences (P>0.05) were found in the chemical proximate composition of the carcasses for the moisture (66.20 ± 0.112 %), protein (17.63 ± 0.484 %), lipid (15.92 ± 1.507 %) and ash (0.95 ± 0.115 %) content among dietary groups. No statistical differences (P>0.05) were found in the chemical proximate composition of the abdominal fat pads for the moisture (28.77 ± 0.112 %), protein (3.03 ± 0.484 %), lipid (63.32 ± 9.789 %) and ash (0.45 ± 0.135 %) content among dietary groups. With the increase in dietary CAO levels, the percentages of C18:2n-6 and C20:4n-6 in the carcasses decreased respectively with 1.78 % from 20.88 % and 0.35 % from 1.05 %, whilst C18:3n-3 and longer chain n-3 fatty acids such as C20:5n-3 and C22:6n-3 increased respectively with 2.25 % from 1 %, 0.1 % from 0.1 % and 0.67 % from 0.2 %. The same tendency was seen in the abdominal fat pads where C18:2n-6 and C20:4n-6 decreased respectively with 1.55 % from 20.75 % and 0.98 % from 1.2 % with an increase in dietary CAO, whilst C18:3n-3, C20:5n-3 and C22:6n-3 increased respectively with 2.13 % from 1.15 %, 0.45 % from 0.03 % and 0.95 % from 0.05 %. The n-3/n-6 ratio in the carcasses and abdominal fat pads increased respectively with 0.16 % from 0.06 % and 0.19 % from 0.06 % with an increase in dietary CAO. These results clearly indicate that dietary CAO enriched with a-linolenic acid lower saturated fatty acids respectively in broiler carcasses and abdominal fat pads with 4.88 % from 31.6 % and 10.63% from 31.1 %, whilst increasing monounsaturated fatty acids with 3.87 % from 44.95 % and 7.25 % from 46.7 % respectively and polyunsaturated fatty acids with 1.02 % from 23.45 % and 2.38 % from 23.2 % respectively. Experiment 3: Effect of dietary vitamin E on the performance of broilers and oxidative stability, colour, microbiological stability, fatty acid composition and pH of broiler meat during refrigerated and frozen storage. Experiment 1 was carried out with 220 one-day-old broiler chicks to evaluate the effect of eleven concentrations of vitamin E (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180 and 200 mg a-tocopheryl acetate 1 kg diet) on their production performance and the oxidative stability of their frozen broiler carcasses. The diets with vitamin E levels 0 to 100 mg were fed from day-old to 42 days of age while the diets with vitamin E levels 120 to 200 mg were fed from 21 to 42 days of age. The oxidative stability, evaluated by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values, was determined after 30, 90, 120 and 150 days of storage at -20°C. There were no statistical differences (P>0.05) in average daily gain (1.85 ± 0.111 g) or feed conversion ratios (2.29 ± 0.397) among dietary groups. TBARS values increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing time of storage (basal diet: day 30 = 1.71 ± 0.51; day 150 = 4.89 ± 0.51), but decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing vitamin E levels (day 150: basal = 4.89 ± 0.51; 100 mg / kg = 1.09 ± 0.27). Experiment 2 was carried out with day-old broiler chicks to evaluate the effect of five concentrations of vitamin E (0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 mg atocopheryl acetate / diet) on their performance and the oxidative stability of their refrigerated carcasses. The experimental diets were fed from day-old to 42 days of age. The oxidative stability, evaluated by TBARS values, colour deterioration and microbiological stability were determined after 0, 4, 8, 10 and 12 days of storage at 4°C. Fatty acid analysis was done on the samples of days 0 and 12. There were no statistical differences (P>0.05) in average daily gain (1.88 ± 0.117 g) or feed conversion ratios (2.37 ± 0.467) among dietary groups. TBARS values increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing time of storage, but decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing vitamin E levels. There were no statistical differences (P>0.05) in colour measurements for L* (44.97 ± 0.662), a* (5.23 ± 0.315) or b* (12.76 ± 0.321) values between treatments. Microbiological counts increased significantly (P<0.05) over time with vitamin E concentration showing no effect. There were no statistical differences (P>0.05) for any of the fatty acid groups measured (SFA: Day 0 = 26.1 ± 1.13%, Day 12 = 26.1 ± 1.17%; MUFA: Day 0 = 41.4 ± 1.46%, Day 12 = 40.2 ± 2.28%; PUFA: Day 0 = 32.4 ± 1.95%, Day 12 = 33.8 ± 2.52%) among dietary groups. Similarly, none of the fatty acids showed statistical significant (P>0.05) concentration changes over time. There were no statistical differences (P>0.05) in pH (6.01 ± 0.206) among dietary groups.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Lipiede is steeds een van die mees belangrike voedingstowwe wat deur braakuikens benodig word. Die groeiende bewuswording dat sekere Westerse gemeenskappe 'n te hoë verhouding van n-6/n-3 poli-onversadigde vetsure in hul dieet het, is direk relevant vir braaikuikenvoeding en lipiedmetabolisme. Betekenisvolle hoeveelhede n-3 polionversadigde vetsure is geïnkorporeer in die belangrikste hoendersnitte, met die gevolg dat die produksie van braaikuikenvleis met hoë n-3 poli-onversadigde vetsure voordelig is vir die braaikuikenindustrie en geag word 'n meer "gesonde" beeld te hê. Ongelukkig is sodanige braaikuikenvleis redelik vatbaar vir oksidatiewe bederf, en oksidasie bepaal dikwels die rakleeftyd van hoendervleisprodukte. Die byvoeging van a-tokoferol (vitamine E) by braaikuikendiëte is 'n effektiewe manier om die oksidatiewe stabiliteit van braaikuikenvleis te verbeter. Verhoogde a-tokoferol vlakke in braakuikenvoere verhoog die weefselkonsentrasie wat verhoogde stabiliteit van die membraanstrukture en derhalwe moontlike verhoogde oksidatiewe stabiliteit van braakuikenvleis en -produkte tot gevolg het. Drie ondersoeke is onderneem by Mariendahl Pluimvee Navorsingstasie te Stellenbosch. Die braakuikens is aangehou in 1 x 0.4 x 0.5m hokke in braaikuikenhuise. In al die proewe is dagoud kuikens gebruik, behalwe eksperiment 1 waar drieweek oue kuikens gebruik is. Aan die einde van proewe 2 en 3 is die ses-week oue braaikuikens geslag en die karkasse voorberei vir analise. Eksperiment 1: braaikuikens. Die ware metaboliseerbare energie waarde van Canola voergraadolie (CAO) en Famarol voergraadolie (FAO), Metaboliseerbare energie van Canola voergraadolie en Famarol voergraadolie vir gekorregeer vir stikstof retensie (WMEn), is by wyse van proewe op 21 dae oue braaikuikenhaantjies bepaal deur van die balansrnetode gebruik te maak. Die proewe is tweemaal herhaal vir verhoogde akkuraatheid, met die gebruik van verskillende monsters van die twee olies vanaf dieselfde bron. Die olies is in twee verhoudings met 'n basale diëet gemeng om die proef dieet te vorm, nl. 100% Basaal; 96% Basaal: 4% Olie en 92% Basaal: 8% Olie. Die balans proewe het 3 dae geduur na afloop van 'n aanpassingsperiode van 4 dae. Die WMEn waardes van CAO, bepaal deur middel van regressie analise, het nie betekenisvol verskil (P>0.05) tussen eksperimente 1 en 2 nie. Die waarde van eksperiment 3 was betekenisvol hoër (P<0.05) as die van die eerste twee eksperimente. Die WMEn waardes van FAO het ook nie betekenisvol verskil (P>0.05) tussen eksperimente 1 en 2 nie, maar die waarde vir eksperiment 3 was betekenisvol hoër as dié van eksperiment 1. Die WMEn waardes van COA het betekenisvol verskil (P< 0.05) van dié van FAO vir al die eksperimente (exp. 1: 30.6 ± 0.399 MJ/kg vir CAO vs. 25.9 ± 0.441 MJ/kg vir FAO; expo 2: 31.0 ± 0.633 MJ/kg vir CAO vs. 26.1 ± 0.668 MJ/kg vir FAO: expo 3: 32.1 ± 0.867 MJ/kg vir CAO vs. 27.1 MJ/kg vir FAO). Eksperiment 2: Die invloed van verskeie rantsoen n-6/n3 vetsuurverhoudings op die produksie en liggaamsamestelling van braaikuikens. Die rantsoeneffek van verskeie kombinasies Canola voergraadolie (CAO, 'n hoë vlak van C18:3n-3 en monoonversadigde vetsure) en Famarol voergraadolie (FAO, 'n hoë vlak van 18:2n-6 en versadigde vetsure) op die weefselvetsuursamestelling is bestudeer in braaikuikenkarkasse en abdominale vetneerlegging. Die kuikens is van dagoud to op ses-weke ouderdom een van ses diëte gevoer met die volgende samestellings: 100% FAO, 80% FAO-20% CAO, 60% FAO - 40%CAO, 40% FAO - 60% CAO, 20% FAO - 80% CAO, 100% CAO. Daar was geen statistiese verskil tussen die rantsoengroepe (P>0.05) in die gemiddelde daaglikse toename (1.71 ± 0.059 g) of die voeromsetverhoudings (1.97 ± 0.051) nie. Geen statistiese verskil (P>0.05) is gevind in die chemiese samestelling van die karkasse vir vog (66.20 ± 0.112 %), proteïn (17.63 ± 0.484 %), lipied (15.92 ± 1.507 %) en as (0.95 ± 0.115 %) inhoud tussen die rantsoen groepe nie. Geen statistiese verskille (P>0.05) is gevind in die chemiese samestelling van die abdominale vetneerlegging vir vog (28.77 ± 0.112 %), proteien (3.03 ± 0.484 %), lipied (63.32 ± 9.789 %) en as (0.45 ± 0.135 %) inhoud onder die rantsoengroepe nie. Met die verhoging in die rantsoen CAO vlakke het die persentasie van C18:2n-6 en C20:4n-6 in die karkasse verminder met 1.78 % en 0.35 % respektiewelik, terwyl C18:3n-3 en langer ketting n-3 vetsure soos C20:5n-3 en C22:6n-3 respektiewelik met 2.25 %, 0.1 % en 0.67 % verhoog het. Dieselfde tendens is opgemerk in die abdominale vetneerlegging waar C18:2n-6 en C20:4n-6 afgeneem het met 1.55 % en 0.98 % respektiewelik met die verhoging van rantsoen CAO, terwyl C18:3n-3, C20:5n-3 en C22:6n-3 verhoog het met 2.13 %, 0.45 % en 0.95 % respektiewelik. Die n- 3/n-6 verhouding in die karkasse en abdominale vetneerlegging het verhoog met 0.16 % en 0.19 % respektiewelik met die verhoging van die rantsoen CAO. Die resultate toon onomwonde aan dat rantsoen CAO verryk met c-Iinoletensuur, verlaag versadigde vetsure in braaikuikenkarkasse en -adbdominale vetneerleggings met 4.88 % en 10.63% respektiewelik, terwyl die mono-onversadigde vetsure met 3.87 % en 7.25 % respektiewelik verhoog word en polionversadigde vetsure met 1.02 % en 2.38 % respektiewelik verhoog word. Eksperiment 3: Die invloed van vitamine E op die produksie van braaikuikens en die oksidatiewe stabiliteit, kleur, mikrobiologiese stabilitiet, vetsuursamestelling en pH van braaikuikenvleis gedurende verkoelde en bevrore berging. Eksperiment 1 is uitgevoer met 220 dagoud braaikuikens ten einde die effek van elf konsentrasies van vitamine E (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180 en 200 mg a-tokoferyl acetaat / kg voer) op hul produksieprestasie en die oksidatiewe stabiliteit van hul gevriesde braakuikenkarkasse te evalueer. Die diëte met vitamine E vlakke 0 tot 100 mg is vanaf dagoud tot 42-dae-ouderdom gevoer, terwyl die diëte met vitamine E vlakke van 120 tot 200mg gevoer is vanaf 21 tot 42- dae-ouderdom. Die oksidatiewe stabiliteit, soos geëvalueer deur tiobarbituriese suur reaktiewe stowwe (TBARS) waardes, is bepaal na 30, 90, 120 en 150 dae van berging teen -20°C. Daar was geen statistiese verskille (P>0.05) in die gemiddelde daaglikse toename (1.85 ± 0.111 g) of voeromsetverhoudings (2.29 ± 0.397) tussen die rantsoengroepe nie. TBARS waardes het betekenisvol toegeneem (P<0.05) met die verhoging in bergingsperiode, maar het betekenisvol afgeneem (P<0.05) met verhoogde vitamine E vlakke. Eksperiment 2 is uitgevoer met dagoud braaikuikens ten einde die effek van vyf konsentrasies van vitamine E (0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 mg a-tokoferyl acetaat / kg voer) op hul prestasie en die oksidatiewe stabiliteit van hul verkoelde karkasse te evalueer. Die eksperimentele diëte is gevoer vanaf dagoud tot 42- dae-ouderdom. Die oksidatiewe stabiliteit, geëvalueer deur middel van TBARS waardes, kleur afname en mikrobiologiese stabiliteit is bepaal na 0, 4, 8, 10 en 12 dae van berging teen 4°C. Vetsuuranalises is gedoen op die monsters van dae 0 en 12. Daar was geen statistiese verskille (P>0.05) in die gemiddelde daaglikse toename (1.88 ± 0.117 g) of voeromsetverhoudings (2.37 ± 0.467) tussen die rantsoengroepe nie. TBARS waardes het betekenisvol verhoog (P<0.05) met die verlengde bergingsperiode, maar het betekenisvol afgeneem (P<0.05) met verhoogde viatmine E vlakke. Daar was geen statistiese verskille (P>0.05) in kleur metings vir L* (44.97 ± 0.662), a* (5.23 ± 0.315) of b* (12.76 ± 0.321) waardes tussen behandelings nie. Mikrobiologiese tellings het betekenisvol verhoog (P<0.05) oor tyd met die vitamine E konsentrasie wat geen effek getoon het nie. Daar was geen statisties betekenisvolle verskille (P>0.05) vir enige van die vetsuurgroepe tussen die behandelings nie. Soortgelyks het geen van die vetsure statisties betekenisvolle (P>0.05) konsentrasieveranderings oor tyd aangetoon nie. Daar was geen statistiese verskil (P>0.05) in die pH (6.01 ± 0.206) tussen die rantsoengroepe nie.

The objective of the study was to determine the effects of Aloe ferox inclusion in drinking water on growth performance, blood biochemistry, physico-chemical characteristics, fatty acid profile and oxidative stability of broiler meat. The importance of A. ferox as a medicinal plant and factors that influence its utilization by communal poultry farmers were also investigated by use of a questionnaire survey. The survey revealed that the majority of respondents (84.6%) faced health challenges in their chickens and many relied (96.2%) on A. ferox to treat diseases and control parasites. The study also revealed that the choice of medicine (traditional or conventional) was influenced (P<0.05) by level of education and income. In the second phase of the research, a total of 600 Ross 308 day-old broilers, were randomly put in 6 treatment groups with 4 replicates, each having 25 birds. Fresh aqueous A. ferox leaf juice (ALJ) was administered in drinking water at a dosage of 20ml/litre to T1, T2 and T3 from day one to day 35, day one to day 14 and day 15 to day 28, respectively. Birds in T4 and T5 (positive controls) were treated with terramycin at the recommended dosage of 14g/litre of drinking water from day one to day 6 and from day 15 to 20, respectively; and birds in T6 (negative control) received distilled water from day 1 to 35. Feed Intake (FI), average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated for the 5 week trial. After slaughter, carcass characteristics particularly dressing percentage (DP) and relative organ weight (ROW) were calculated. Serum biochemistry was also determined. For meat quality, pH and color were recorded 45 minutes and 24 hours after slaughter from the breast muscle. Fatty acid profiling and oxidative stability were determined using meat samples from the breast and thigh muscles. The results for growth performance showed that thebirds which were given A. ferox for the first two weeks (T2) consumed significantly (P>0.05) more feed (189.4g) than those in the negative control (159.6g) at the beginning of the starter phase. Subsequently, their ADG recorded on day 7 (27.1g) and day 14 (43.1g) were significantly (P<0.05) higher than the negative control (22.8g and 36.2g, respectively). Significant treatment effects (P<0.05) for FCR were reported in the 4th week for the birds that received A. ferox throughout (T1: 3.5). Carcass characteristics were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by A. ferox inclusion in drinking water. The highest high density lipoprotein (HDL) values (2.78 mmol/L) were yielded in T2and T3 had the lowest values (0.61mmol/L) for low density lipoprotein (LDL). For physico-chemical properties, no significant effects (P>0.05) of treatment on pH, colour, cooking loss and tenderness were observed. However, the group treated with A.ferox throughout the production cycle, had the highest pH (6.2), lowest lightness (38.5), highest redness (4.1), highest tenderness (13.86N) and the lowest cooking loss (12.6%). Significant treatment effects (P<0.05) were observed on the composition of the PUFA eicosatrienoic acid (C20:3c8, 11, 14(n-6)) of the breast muscle which was significantly lower in the A. ferox treatment groups than the positive controls. For the thigh muscle, there were significant (P<0.05) treatment effects on composition of palmitoleic acid (C16:1c9) and g-linolenic acid (C18:3c6, 9, 12 (n-3)). No significant (P>0.05) effects were found on oxidative stability of both thigh and breast muscles. In conclusion, the wide use of A. ferox by communal chicken farmers showed its importance as a medicinal plant. Apart from it being an effective medicinal plant, A. ferox inclusion in drinking water results in improved FI, ADG, reduced in LDLC and better g-linolenic and palmitoleic acid composition in the meat.

Thesis (MscAgric (Animal Sciences))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005.
Broiler diets are supplemented with feed phosphates to ensure that adequate available phosphorus is provided in the diet to meet the bird’s requirements. These feed phosphates make a considerable contribution to the total available phosphorus in the diet and small differences in their availability may have significant effects on whether the bird’s requirements are met or not. The variation in availability of phosphorus between feed phosphates belonging to different classes and between feed phosphates of the same generic class is well documented.

Thesis (M. Tech.(Agriculture: Animal Production)) - Central University of technology, Free State, 2012
A 42-day feeding trial involving 180 day old broiler chicks was carried out at Glen Agric Institute ARC poultry section to study the effects of whole hatchery waste meal (WHWM) as an alternative in broiler diets. In this study whole hatchery waste meal (WHHW) replaced fish meal (FM), protein for protein, in broiler diets at 0, 10, 20, and 30% levels. One hundred and eighty broiler chickens were grouped, 45 birds per treatment which were further replicated 3 times (15 birds per replicate) in a completely randomized design. Feed and water supply were offered to birds ad libitum while standard management practices were meticulously adopted. Samples of the two test ingredients were sent to a lab for chemical analysis and the results indicated that FM had higher content of crude protein (73.18%) while that of WHWM was 4226. The calcium phosphorus ratio was 16.6:1 for WHWM as against 1.5:1 in the FM. The results also indicated a higher content of Ash% and Ether extract for WHWM (18.12) and (23.94) respectively. The higher ash content could be due to the high content of eggshell at the time of processing. At the end of the feeding trial broiler performance, blood, carcass characteristics and the economic benefit of using WHWM in broiler diets were determined. Blood and meat samples were collected and sent to the pathology laboratory at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein for hematological and meat characteristics analysis. Results for broiler performance showed that broilers fed diet 2 had highest values for feed intake (118.25g/bird/day), weight gain (50.16g/bird/day) and daily protein intake (29.08g/bird/day) while those fed with diet 3 were superior in the efficiency of feed conversion (2.31). The highest value of abdominal fat 1.12% was observed in birds fed diet 2. The highest live mass was observed in birds fed diets containing no WHWM (2.83), while non significant difference were observed in live mass of birds fed diet 1, 3 and 4. Broilers fed control diet had highest mean values for eviscerated weight (2.20kg) and dressing percentage (77.86%). Blood samples were sent for analysis of White blood cells (WBC), Red blood cells (RBC) and Haemoglobin (HGB), Hematogrit (HCT), Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), Mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC). The results showed marginal variations in blood parameters. White blood cell counts were higher for birds fed control diet (519.59 x 103/1) than those fed WHWM (484.93 X 103/1). Non significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed on the HGB of all treatment groups including the control group. RBC counts of T1-T3 were not significantly different from each other but statistically significantly different from T4 (30% WHWM). The highest value of 2.67 106/ mm3 was observed in birds fed a higher level of WHWM. High RBC and HGB counts in the birds fed WHWM are an indicative of higher oxygen carrying capacity. The HCT and MCH results showed nonsignificant differences between T1, T3 and T4, except T2 which was significantly different from the other treatment groups. The MCV values for T1-T4 were 132.58, 126.47, 129.15 and 128.15 10'15L respectively. The highest and lowest values were recorded on T1 and T2 respectively. The feed costs decreased with an increase in the level of WHWM in broiler diets. The lowest feed cost/kg weight gain of R8.69 recorded for broilers fed on diet three. This agrees with several studies which documented the use of hatching waste in poultry diet as means of reducing feed cost (Babiker et al 1991; Abiola, 1999; Abiola, 2000; Abiola and Onunkwor 2004). It can be concluded that 10% of FM can be replaced with WHWM in broiler diets without adverse effects on growth, hematological and carcass traits.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2014
Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of supplementing diets with effective microorganisms on intake, growth and carcass characteristics of Ross 308 broiler chickens. The first experiment determined the effect of supplementing diets with effective microorganisms on performance of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to three weeks. Two hundred unsexed day-old chicks were randomly assigned to five treatments with four replications, each replication having ten birds. A complete randomized design was used. The chickens were fed a grower diet supplemented with 0 (EM0), 30 (EM30), 50 (EM50), 70 (EM70) or 100 (EM100) ml of effective microorganisms per litre of water. Effective microorganism supplementation did not improve (P>0.05) diet and metabolisable energy intakes of the chickens. Effective microorganism supplementation reduced (P<0.05) growth rate and live weight of the chickens. Poorer (P<0.05) feed conversion ratios were observed in chickens supplemented with effective microorganisms. However, effective microorganism supplementation improved (P<0.05) crude protein retention of the chickens. Supplementation with effective microorganisms reduced (P<0.05) mortality rate of the chickens from 10 to 0 %. The second experiment determined the effect of supplementing diets with effective microorganisms on performance of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. The chickens were randomly allocated to five treatments with four replications, each replication having 10 birds. The chickens aged 21 days, weighing 474 ± 2g, were allocated to the treatments in a complete randomized design. The chickens were fed a grower diet supplemented with 0 (EMM0), 30 (EMM30), 50 (EMM50, 70 (EMM70) or 100 (EMM100) ml of effective microorganisms per litre of water. Effective microorganism supplementation did not improve (P>0.05) intake, DM digestibility, metabolisable energy, feed conversion ratio, fat pad weight and meat sensory attributes of the chickens. Effective microorganism supplementation reduced (P<0.05) growth rate, live weight and carcass weight of the chickens. However, effective microorganism supplementation improved (P<0.05) crude protein retention and crude protein content of meat of the chickens. Supplementation with effective microorganisms reduced (P<0.05) mortality of the chickens from 5 to 0 %. v It is concluded that effective microorganism supplementation to the diets of Ross 308 broiler chickens reduced growth rate and live weight of the chickens. However, effective microorganism supplementation improved crude protein retention and crude protein content of the meat of broiler chickens. Supplementation with effective microorganisms reduced mortality of the chickens to zero.

This investigation was conducted in the rural community of Cuambo, located in the northeast of the province of Imbabura, in the Mira river basin of Salinas parish, at 1530 meters above sea level and with an average temperature of 19.5° C. The main objective of this investigation was to analyze the effect of using amaranth (Amaranthus) leaf flour in the creation of feeds for broiler chickens. The field work occurred during 12 months and consisted of two phases: A. Creation of the feed: This proceeded from the cultivation, cutting, and drying of amaranth until the obtaining of the flour and later the feed, with the respective formulation and acquisition of primary materials. B. Broiler chicken production: This occurred in the coop of the community's school, previously prepared for taking in the chicks. The study lasted 8 weeks. A completely random design (CRD) with five treatments and four repetitions per treatment was used, with 10 chickens per experimental unit. ANOVA analysis and Tukey and orthogonal comparisons were applied. The factor under study was the percentage of amaranth leaf flour in a basic diet. The treatments were as follows: T0 = Control diet for broiler chickens T1 = 16.7% amaranth leaf flour T2 = 35% amaranth leaf flour T3 = 54% amaranth leaf flour T4 = 78% amaranth leaf flour Analyzed variables: Weekly weight increase, Weekly food conversion, Accumulated food conversion, Total food consumption, Efficiency index, Yield, Skin pigmentation at the end of the treatments, Organoleptic analysis, Mortality, Economic analysis. From the results obtained, we conclude that the feed from treatment 1 (T1) is the best because it gave the most efficient results in terms of weight increase, food conversion, efficiency index, yield, and production cost. In the organoleptic analysis, T2 received more points regarding appearance, color, and texture; T1 received the best points in odor. The most acceptable treatments are T2 and T1, with the most points. In production cost, T4 was the least expensive, but it is not recommended for use because the chickens had poor results in the studied variables.

Bibliography: leaves 107-130. This study evaluates quality of fermentation of the silage and also its nutritive value to ruminants on the basis of "in vitro" and "in sacco" digestability. Animal response to the silage is also evaluated in an "in vivo" digestability and nitrogen balance trial with Australian Merino sheep. The objective of this thesis is to investigate the opportunities for utilising citrus pulp and poultry litter to improve the nutritive value of wheat straw.

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2011.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of Musca domestica (common house fly) larvae meal, as protein source, for broiler production. This was done by investigating the nutritive value of house fly larvae meal together with its total tract digestibility, potential toxicity and carcass characteristics of the broilers supplemented with house fly larvae meal. The proximate analysis of house fly larvae meal show that it contained, on a dry matter basis, a gross energy value of 20.10 MJ/kg, 60.38% crude protein, 14.08% crude fat and 10.68% ash and that the house fly pupae contained a gross energy of 20.42 MJ/kg, 76.23% crude protein, 14.39% crude fat and 7.73% ash. House fly pupae meal had the closest match of amino acid profile when compared with the ideal amino acid profile required by broilers and it has arginine relative to the lysine content closer to the ideal amino acid profile than the house fly larvae meal. The essential fatty acid, linoleic acid, was found at levels of 26.25 and 36.27% of the total fats for the house fly larvae and pupae meal respectively. House fly larvae meal supplementation did not induce gizzard erosion or showed toxicity (regarding the gastro intestinal tract, immune system and organ stress) in broilers. Results revealed that house fly pupae meal had higher total tract digestibilities for most nutrients than of the house fly larvae meal. House fly larvae meal had a crude protein total tract digestibility of 69% and that of pupae meal was 79%. Both larvae and pupae meal had high amino acid total tract digestibilities of all the amino acids analysed. The house fly larvae and pupae meal had an apparent metabolizable energy (AME) value of 14.23MJ/kg and 15.15MJ/kg respectively. The larvae meal total tract crude fat and crude fibre digestibilities were 94% and 62% respectively. The pupae meal total tract crude fat and crude fibre digestibilities were 98% and 58% respectively. House fly larvae meal supplementation in a three phase feeding system significantly increased average broiler live weights at slaughter, total feed intake, cumulative feed intake as well as average daily gain (ADG) when compared to commercial maize: soya oil cake meal diet. In direct comparison of larvae inclusion levels with fishmeal in isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diet, no significant differences were observed between a 10% house fly larvae and a 10% fish meal diets regarding performance characteristic. The 25% house fly larvae meal diet yielded significantly better average broiler live weights at slaughter, total feed intake, cumulative feed intake (from the second week until slaughter) as well as average daily gain when compared to the 25% fish meal diet in the growth phases. Carcass characteristics of the 10% larvae, 10% fishmeal and commercial diets were compared. Chicks that received either the 10% house fly larvae meal or 10% fish meal supplementation produced significantly heavier carcasses and breast muscle portions than the chicks that received the commercial maize: soya oil cake meal. No treatment differences were found regarding breast and thigh muscle colour or pH. This study showed that house fly larvae meal can be regarded as a safe protein source that can be used to replace other protein sources and that has the ability to promote broiler performance without having any detrimental effects on carcass characteristics.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die evaluasie van Musca domestica (gewone huisvlieg) larwe meel as ‘n proteien bron vir braaikuiken produksie Die doel van die studie was om die effek van Musca domestica (gewone huisvlieg) larwe meel, as ‘n protein bron, in braaikuikens te evalueer. Dit was gedoen deur die nutrient waarde van huisvlieg larwe meel saam met die totale spysvertering verteerbaarheid, moontlike toksiesiteit en karkas-eienskappe van braai kuikens te evalueer. Laboratoruim analiese toon dat huisvlieg larwe meel 20.10 MJ/kg bruto energie, 60.38% ru- protein, 14.08% ru- vet en 10.68% as bevat en huisvlieg papie meel 20.42 MJ/kg bruto energie, 76.23% ru- protein, 14.39% ru- vet en 7.73% as bevat. Huisvlieg papie meel stem die meeste ooreen met die idiale amino suur profiel soos wat benodig word deur braaikuikens en dit het ‘n arginien tot lisien verhouding wat die meeste ooreenstem met die idiale amino suur profiel in vergelyking met huis vlieg larwe meel. Die essensiele vet suur, linolien suur, was geanaliseer teen vlakke van 26.25- en 36.27% van die totale vette onderskeidelik vir huisvlieg larwe- en papie meel. Huisvlieg larwe meel vervanging het nie spiermaag erosie of enige ander toksiese effekte te veroorsaak nie. Resultate het getoon dat huisvlieg papie meel, in vergelyking met larwe meel, het ‘n hoër totale spysvertering verteerbaarheid vir meeste van die nutrient. Die huisvlieg larwe meel het ‘n totale ru- protein spysvertering verteerbaarheid van 69% en die van papie meel van 79%. Beide larwe en papie meel het hoë amino suur spysvertering verteerbaarheid. Larwe meel en papie meel het skynbare metaboliseerbare energie waardes van 14.23MJ/kg en 15.15%MJ/kg onderskeidelik. Die larwe meel het ‘n ru-vet en ru- vesel spysvertering verteerbaarheid van 94% en 62% onderskeidelik, waar die papies ‘n ru-vet en ru- vesel spysvertering verteerbaarheid van onderskeidelik 98% en 58% het. Huisvlieg larwe meel vervanging in ‘n drie fase voer stelsel het getoon om die gemiddelde braaikuiken lewende gewigte by slag, totale voer iname, sowel as die gemiddelde daaglikse toename te verhoog waneer dit vergelyk word met ‘n kommersiele mielie- soya olie koek dieet. Geen mekwaardige verskille was waargeneem toe die 10% larwe meel dieet direk met die 10% vismeel diet vergelyk was rakende enige produksie einskappe gemeet nie. Die 25% larwe meel dieet het merkwaardig beter gemiddelde braaikuiken lewende gewigte by slag, totale voer iname, sowel as die gemiddelde daaglikse toename getoon wanneer vergelyk word met die 25% vismeel dieet gedurende die verskeie groei fases. Karkas eienskappe van die 10% larwe meel, 10% vismeel en die kommersiele diete was gevergelyk. Kuikens wat 10% larwe meel en 10% vismeel in die diete ontvang het, het swaarder karkasse gelewer met swaarder borsie massas wanneer vergelyk word met die kommersiele mielie- soya olie koek dieet. Geen behandelings verskille was gevind rakende die borsie- en dy spier kleure of pH nie. Die studie toon dat huisvlieg larwe meel as ‘n veillige protein bron kan beskou word, wat gebruik kan word om ander protein bronne te vervang. Huisvlieg larwe meel het ook die vermoë om braaikuiken produksie te verhoog sonder om enige negitiewe effekte rakende die karkas eienskappe te toon nie.

Thesis (MscAgric (Animal Sciences))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005.
The extrusion and dehulling of sweet blue lupins (Lupinus angustifolius, cultivar Wonga) and the expansion of full-fat canola seed were evaluated in terms of their effect on the nitrogen corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) value and broiler performance.

Master of Science
Department of Animal Sciences and Industry
R. Scott Beyer
The modern poultry industry uses auger feed lines to transport feed for broilers to pans to make feed available for them while greatly reducing labor costs. The feed given to broilers is manufactured at significant cost into a pelleted form. Pellets reduce broiler production costs by increasing feed intake and growth rate while reducing feed. Pellet quality is expressed using a method called the Pellet Durability Index (PDI). A series of studies was conducted to determine the effects of these destructive forces on both pellet quality and nutritive value. In Experiment 1, it was found that pellets of 78 and 86 PDI had 30% more fines in the final pan compared to the initial pan, but there was no significant difference between the two diets. In Experiment 2, a significant difference existed between a 23 PDI diet and an 82 PDI diet in the percentage of fines found at 12 selected pans. This indicates destruction occurring along the length of the feed line. In Experiment 3, soybean oil was applied to the exterior of the pellets and they were transported through the feed line. A significant difference in the amount of fat at each collection site was found, as the fat was removed from the exterior of the pellets in earlier pans, indicating destructive forces having an effect on the pellets. In Experiment 4, whole sorghum was used to create four diets with similar PDI. The feed was then placed in the feed line, collected at twelve locations, and analyzed for crude fat, CP, DM, ash and Ca. The results indicated the presence of whole sorghum in the pellets had no effect on percent fines or nutrient values. In Experiment 5, three diets with different PDI were transported through the feed line. Five collection sites were selected. Results indicate that high quality pellets withstand handling while pellets below 68 PDI show increased fine percentage. These experiments indicate pellets are damaged during transport in the feed line, but nutrients remain the same unless they are on the exterior of the pellet.

Several experiments were conducted to identify the limiting amino acids in a 22% corn-soybean meal diet for poults from one to three weeks of age. Additional studies were designed to investigate changes in muscle composition and protein turnover in response to essential (EAA) and nonessential amino acid (NEAA) supplementation of the low protein diet. Developmental changes in muscle metabolism as well as differences between muscles were also examined. Protein synthesis was determined using a ¹⁴C-tyrosine emulsion technique. Protein degradation was calculated as the difference between synthesis and deposition rates. A 30% protein diet served as a control in all experiments. Methionine was confirmed as the first limiting amino acid. Individual deletion of EAA from a mixture added to the 22% protein diet indicated deficiencies of lysine, threonine and valine. Although lysine was more deficient than valine, the valine deficit was exacerbated by high dietary leucine and isoleucine levels. A dietary level of 1.25% valine was inadequate to support optimum growth, inferring a higher requirement than current recommendations. The addition of methionine, lysine and threonine and valine to the 22% protein diet supported maximum growth but feed efficiency remained depressed. Improvements in performance associated with NEAA supplementation indicated a crude protein deficiency in the 22% protein diet. The weights of the pectoralis and gastrocnemius muscles varied directly with body weight. Increases in pectoralis weight were primarily the result of expansions in DNA-unit size. Changes in DNA-unit size and number of the gastrocnemius could not be demonstrated despite consistent alterations in muscle mass. A supplement of methionine and lysine significantly decreased pectoral synthesis rate although protein synthesis tended to decline with any combination of added amino acids. The fractional synthesis rate in the gastrocnemius was relatively stable regardless of diet although a decrease was noted with methionine supplementation. Therefore, alterations in the fractional rate of protein deposition in both muscles were primarily attributable to fluctuations in degradation. Protein deposition was markedly reduced with methionine and lysine supplementation. However, the fractional and absolute rates of protein deposition were maximized by the combined addition of methionine, lysine, threonine and valine, concurring with body weight gain results. Thus, while equal rates of deposition were obtained with the 30% protein diet and the EAA-supplemented 22% protein diet, the latter represents a considerable reduction in energy expenditure for protein turnover.
Ph. D.

There is a growing market for specialty poultry production using alternative genotypes and management systems. However, producers interested in specialty poultry production face several challenges. One challenge is that little published data exists regarding the growth and production parameters for alternative genotypes like slow-growing meat strains and heritage breeds. To address this challenge, research at the University of Kentucky examined the effect of feed strategies, alternative feedstuffs, and dietary enzymes on the growth and performance of heritage breeds of chicken used for either egg- or meat-production. The first trial documented the growth and nutrient intake of pullets from three heritage breeds (Rhode Island Red, Barred Plymouth Rock, and Black Australorp) and three egg-laying strains (Red Star, Black Star, and ISA Brown) on a self-selection feeding program through nineteen weeks of age. The second trial documented the growth and nutrient intake of males from those same three heritage breeds, a slow-growing meat-type strain (Red Ranger), and males and females from a fast-growing meat-type strain (Cornish Cross). Birds used a self-selection feeding program and were grown to a common weight of 2300 grams. Carcass characteristics of these birds were evaluated in the third trial. The fourth trial evaluated the partial replacement of corn and soybean meal with alternative feedstuffs (field peas, buckwheat, and flax seed) and dietary enzymes on the performance of straight-run commercial broilers and two alternative breeds of chickens: males from a Black Sex-Link cross and straight-run Rhode Island Reds. The fifth trial examined the use of sorghum and field peas to completely replace corn and soybean meal in formulated diets for two heritage breeds (Rhode Island Red and Barred Plymouth Rock). Results of these trials showed that heritage breed pullets had similar growth parameters and nutrient intake as commercial egg-laying strains. Heritage breed cockerels grew significantly slower and exhibited poorer feed efficiency than meat-type birds, but seemed to tolerate low nutrient density diets better. Overall, the findings of these studies could help producers interested in raising slow-growing meat-type chickens and heritage breeds create accurate business plans and determine if they can profitably produce meat and/or eggs for niche markets.

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Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
Two experiments were accomplished in the section of aviculture of the Department of Zootecnia of the Federal University of Viçosa, as objetive to determine the energy values and of amino acids digestible of some victuals that can be used in the formulation of rations for poultry. The first objectified the determination of the values of apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and nitrogen corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn), besides the determination of the composition chemical of these feedstuffs. The traditional method of collections was used of you excrete with male broilers of court, in the period of 21 to 30 days of age and 41 to 50 days of age. A completely randomized experimental design was used, with eleven treatments, ten kind of food reference rations and where each treatment was composed by six repetitions and six poultry per the first experiment and four poultry per second experiment. The following aliments were studied: rice, rice bran, corn, sorghum, wheat bran, soybean meal, peanut meal, cotton meal, two yeast sugar cane (40% and 43%). The AMEn (Kcal/kg) values verified in the first and second experimental periods were, respectively, for the yeast sugar cane 40%: 2395 and 2483; for the yeast sugar cane 43%: 2626 and 2726; for the soybean meal: 2202 and 2306; for the cotton meal 28%: 1605 and 1786: for the peanut meal: 2155 and 2471; for the wheat bran: 1683 e 1877; for the sorghum: 3165 and 3364; for the corn: 3351 and 3524; for the rice meal: 2446 and 2650 and for the rice bran: 3138 and 3278. All meals presented superior values of AME and AMEn in second experimental period with aging. In the second experiment, the method of forced feed wis used to determined the amino acids real digestibility coefficients with cecectomized roosters. The design used in this research was a completely randomized one rooster per experimental unit. The following aliments were studied: rice meal, rice bran, corn, sorghum, wheat bran, soybean meal, two cotton meal (28% and 38%), two yeast sugar cane (40% and 43%). The essential and not essential amino acids real digestibility coefficients average values were assessed for those meals, in percentage, and were classified as following, respectively, for the yeast sugar cane 40%: 46,03 and 38,88; for the yeast sugar cane 43%: 49,16 and 48,63; for the soybean meal: 89,37 and 85,22; for the cotton meal 28%: 74,85 and 74,13; for the cotton meal 38%: 77,50 and 72,46; for the wheat bran: 70,75 and 48,55; for the sorghum: 84,48 and 67,29; for the corn: 84,65 and 74,42; for the rice meal: 73,33 and 52,54 and rice bran: 77,53 and 67,21.
Dois experimentos foram realizados no setor de avicultura do Departamento de Zootecnia da Universidade Federal de Viçosa, objetivando-se determinar os valores energéticos e de aminoácidos digestíveis de alguns alimentos passíveis de serem utilizados na formulação de rações para aves. No primeiro experimento objetivou-se a determinação dos valores de energia metabolizável aparente (EMA) e de energia metabolizável aparente corrigida pelo balanço de nitrogênio (EMAn), além da determinação da composição química destes alimentos. Foi utilizado o método tradicional de coletas total de excretas com pintos de corte machos, no período de 21 a 30 dias de idade e de 41 a 50 dias de idade. Foi utilizado o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com onze tratamentos, dez alimentos e uma dieta referência, onde cada tratamento foi composto por seis repetições, contendo seis e quatro animais por unidade experimental para o primeiro e segundo período, respectivamente. Os alimentos estudados foram: quirera de arroz; farelo de arroz integral; milho; sorgo; farelo de trigo; farelo de soja; farelo de amendoim; farelo de algodão 28%; levedura 43%; levedura 40%. Os valores de EMAn (Kcal/Kg), expressos na matéria natural, no primeiro e no segundo experimento foram, respectivamente, para a levedura 40%: 2395 e 2483 ; para a levedura 43%: 2626 e 2726 ; para o farelo de soja: 2202 e 2306; para o farelo de algodão 28%: 1605 e 1786: para o farelo de amendoim: 2155 e 2471; para o farelo de trigo: 1683 e 1877; para o sorgo: 3165 e 3364; para o milho: 3351 e 3524; para o farelo de arroz integral: 2446 e 2650 e para a quirera de arroz: 3138 e 3278. Todos os alimentos testados apresentaram valores superiores de EMA e EMAn no segundo período experimental, indicando que com o avanço da idade as aves apresentam melhor aproveitamento dos alimentos. No segundo experimento, foram determinados os coeficientes de digestibilidade verdadeira dos aminoácidos, utilizando-se o método de alimentação forçada com galos adultos cecectomizados, em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com dez tratamentos, sendo cada um representado por seis repetições e um animal por unidade experimental. Os alimentos estudados foram: quirera de arroz; farelo de arroz integral; milho; sorgo; farelo de trigo; farelo de soja; farelo de algodão 28% e farelo de algodão 38%; levedura 43%; levedura 40%. Os valores médios dos coeficientes de digestibilidade verdadeira dos aminoácidos essenciais e não essenciais, em percentagem, foram, respectivamente, para a levedura 40%: 46,03 e 38,88; para a levedura 43%: 49,16 e 48,63; para o farelo de soja: 89,37 e 85,22; para o farelo de algodão 28%: 74,85 e 74,13; para o farelo de algodão 38%: 77,50 e 72,46; para o farelo de trigo: 70,75 e 48,55: para o sorgo: 84,48 e 67,21; para o milho: 84,65 e 74,42; para o farelo de arroz integral: 73,33 e 52,54 e para a quirera de arroz: 77,53 e 67,21.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Animal Science, 1998.
Corrigenda inserted behind title page. Copies of author's previously published articles inserted. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 193-210).

L’objectif de ce travail était d’évaluer, les possibilités de diversification des matières premières utilisées en alimentation de la volaille et les conditions d’application des systèmes d’alimentation séquentielle et mélangée en milieu chaud. Une méta-analyse et deux expérimentations in vivo ont permis de conclure qu’il est possible de combiner sorgho/tourteau de coton et millet/sorgho dans l'aliment du poulet sans effet synergique sur les performances. Chez la poule pondeuse, une étude réalisée en milieu chaud et humide a permis de montrer que lorsque l’animal est soumis à des conditions thermiques et hygrométriques variables, les performances de production des poules en alimentation séquentielle et mélangée sont fortement affectées. En température chaude et constante, les poules en alimentation séquentielle ont une meilleure efficacité alimentaire que les poules en alimentation classique. Ce travail a permis de mettre en place des systèmes d’alimentation permettant de mieux valoriser des matières premières locales et d’améliorer l’ajustement des apports aux besoins des animaux. Les modèles présentés permettent ainsi de renforcer les liens entre filières avicole et végétale et de contribuer à leur développement
The objective of this work was to evaluate the impact of alternative feed ingredients in poultry feeding and to determine bird’s responses to sequential and loose-mix feeding in hot climate. A meta-analysis and in vivo trials were performed on the use of millet. sorghum and cottonseed meal in poultry diets. Results showed that simple or combined utilization of these ingredients resulted in similar feed intake and growth performance as corn/soybean-based diets. In laying hens, a study conducted in warm conditions showed that when they are subjected 10 variable temperature and humidity throughout and within a day, laying and growth performance decreased in sequential and loose-mix feeding. A second study confirmed that high environmental temperature does not disable sequential feeding benefits. This work suggest feeding systems in which feed ingredients produced in hot climates could be directly included in birds diets have been proposed. This will thereby help consolidating the links between poultry and vegetable supply chains and contribute to their development

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Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
Two experiments were conducted, one for performance and another for metabolism, with objectives of evaluating the effect of different digestible threonine: digestible lysine relations, supplemented or not with glycine on the performance, the threonine aldolase, threonine dehydrogenase and threonine dehydratase enzyme activity and the uric acid excretion of chicks cutting in the period of 8 to 21 days of age. For both experiments, 560 chicks cutting were used, all male, Coob lineage, distributed in completely randomized design, in a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement, being the digestible threonine: digestible lysine relations (55; 65 e 75 %), supplemented or not with glycine. An additional treatment containing meat flour was used with a 65% digestible threonine: digestible lysine relation. All treatments had eight repetitions and 10 birds per experimental unit, being lodged e metabolic batteries. A full collection of excrete proceeded during the experimental phase. For the analysis of the threonine aldolase, threonine dehydrogenase and threonine dehydratase enzyme activities, two birds per experimental unit were slaughtered and the liver and the pancreas were removed. The glycine supplementation did not influence (P>0,05) the nitrogen retention by the birds, however, it was essential to improve (P<0,05) the chicks cutting performance. The activity of the three examined enzymes in the liver and pancreas was influenced by the threonine levels of the diet. The birds fed with the diet that contained the meat flour had a more intense threonine aldolase activity in the liver and in the pancreas; the threonine dehydrogenase and the threonine dehydratase activity was smaller in the liver and higher in the pancreas in comparison to the birds fed with vegetable diet. The threonine levels of the diet and the supplementation of glycine did not influence the uric acid excretion from the birds. The glycine supplementation reduced the evaluated enzyme activity in the liver and in the pâncreas, providing a higher threonine amount for the protein deposition. Although, the threonine catabolism has been high in birds fed with the digestible threonine relation: digestible lisina of 55%, the feed conversion was not affected by the levels of threonine, therefore, the 55% threonine: lysine relation (0,631% digestible threonine), supplemented with glycine is enough to attend the demands of chicks cutting in the period of 08 to 21 days of age.
Foram conduzidos dois experimentos, um de desempenho e outro de metabolismo, com objetivos de avaliarem o efeito de diferentes relações treonina digestível: lisina digestível, suplementados ou não com glicina sobre o desempenho, a atividade das enzimas treonina aldolase, treonina desidrogenase e treonina desidratase e a excreção de ácido úrico, de pintos de corte no período de 08 a 21 dias de idade. Utilizaram-se, para ambos os experimentos, 560 pintos de corte, macho, da linhagem Coob, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualisado, em um arranjo fatorial 3 x 2, sendo três relações de treonina digestível: lisina digestível (55; 65 e 75 %), suplementadas ou não com glicina. Foi utilizado um tratamento adicional contendo farinha de carne, com relação treonina digestível: lisina digestível de 65 %%. Todos os tratamentos tiveram oito repetições e 10 aves por unidade experimental, sendo alojadas em baterias metálicas. Procedeu-se a coleta total de excreta durante toda a fase experimental. Para análise da atividade das enzimas treonina aldolase, treonina desidrogenase e treonina desidratase, foram abatidas, ao final do período experimental, duas aves por unidade experimental e retirados o fígado e o pâncreas. A suplementação de glicina não influenciou (P>0,05) a retenção de nitrogênio nas aves, porém, foi essencial para melhorar (P<0,05) o desempenho de pintos de corte. A atividade das três enzimas analisadas no fígado e no pâncreas foi influenciada pelos níveis de treonina da dieta. As aves alimentadas com dieta contendo a farinha de carne tiveram a atividade da treonina aldolase maior no fígado e no pâncreas; a atividade da treonina desidrogenase e da treonina desidratase foi menor no fígado e maior no pâncreas, em relação às aves alimentadas com dieta vegetal. Os níveis de treonina da dieta e a suplementação de glicina não influenciaram a excreção de ácido úrico das aves. A suplementação de glicina reduziu a atividade no fígado e no pâncreas de todas as enzimas avaliadas, disponibilizando maior quantidade de treonina para a deposição protéica. Embora, o catabolismo da treonina tenha sido alto nas aves alimentadas com a relação treonina digestível: lisina digestível de 55,0%, a conversão alimentar não foi afetada pelos níveis de treonina, portanto, a relação de 55,0% treonina: lisina (0,631% de treonina digestível), suplementada com glicina é suficiente para atender as exigências de pintos de corte no período de 08 a 21 dias de idade.

The objective of my studies was to determine the consequences of high levels of insoluble fibrous materials on growth rate, feed efficiency, nutrient digestibility, digestive organ structure, and morphology of intestinal mucosa of broiler chickens ... I was able to show that inclusion of insoluble fibre at high levels diminshed growth performance and nutrient digestibility, especiall the apparent metabolisable energy value of the diet.
Thesis (M.App.Sc.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2006