POULTRY SCIENCE |
|---|
| Volume - 3 | February - 2004 | Number - 2 |
|---|
|
Evaluation of Microdesmis puberula Leaf Meal as Feed Ingredient in Laying Hen Diets [Abstract] [Full Text] Ingredient in Laying Hen Diets B.O. Esonu, J.C. Azubuike and H.O. Ukwu Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 1526, Owerri, Nigeria Abstract:
A fifty-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the leaf meal of Microdesmis puberula as feed ingredient in laying hen diets. Microdesmis puberula is a preferred tropical browse plant. Seven experimental layers diets were formulated incorporating the leaf meal of Microdesmis puberula at 0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, 12.5 and 15.0% dietary levels. One hundred and five (105), Shikka brown layers already 10 months in lay were divided into 7 groups of 15 birds each and randomly assigned to the 7 treatment diets in a completely randomized design (CRD). There were no significant differences (p<0.05) in body weight, Haugh unit, Shell thickness, Yolk index and Albumin index among the groups. However, there were significant (p<0.05) differences among the groups in hen-day egg production, egg weight, feed intake, egg size and dressed carcass weight. The intensity of the egg yolk colouration increased with increasing levels of the leaf meal in the diets. The results of this study suggest that 15% dietary inclusion of Microdesmis puberula leaf meal could be used in layers diets without any deleterious effects on performance. Regimen of Calcium Source and Phosphorus Level Hafiz Anwar Ahmad1 and Richard J. Balander2 1Center for Computational Epidemiology, Bioinformatics and Risk Analysis, 107 Williams-Bowie Hall, CVMNAH, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 36088, USA 2Animal Science Department, 1250D Anthony Hall, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48825, USA E-mail: ahmadh@tuskegee.edu Abstract:
An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dietary calcium source, phosphorus level and the time of feeding on the physiological responses of laying hens pertaining to egg shell formation. Seventy-two Hyline W-36 hens were divided into three treatment groups. Treatment 1 was fed a commercial layer ration as morning and evening feed with limestone as the calcium source. Treatment 2 was fed the commercial ration in the morning, while the evening feed contained a normal calcium level with limestone as the calcium source, but a lower phosphorus level than Treatment 1. Treatment 3 feed contained normal calcium and phosphorus in the morning while Treatment 3 evening feed contained normal calcium, but low phosphorus. The calcium source for Treatment 3 was ½ limestone and ½ oyster shell. Blood was drawn for each post-oviposition hour from all three-treatment groups to collect 4 samples per hour. Oyster shell or the reduced phosphorus level in the layers' diet did not raise the plasma calcium level in Treatment 2 or 3 compared to Treatment 1 that had a significantly higher plasma calcium level. Reduced dietary phosphorus decreased plasma inorganic phosphorus in Treatment 3. Limestone alone with reduced phosphorus (Treatment 2) did not decrease plasma phosphorus. Reduced dietary phosphorus and/or calcium source appears to have affected blood levels of estradiol and progesterone. Eggshell quality can be improved by partial (½) replacement of the limestone with Oyster shell. Reduced phosphorus did not improve eggshell quality, however, it did help indirectly by reducing plasma inorganic phosphorus, the excess of which is otherwise detrimental to eggshell quality. Broiler Finisher Fed Microdesmis puberula Leaf Meal B.O. Esonu, J.C. Azubuike, O.O. Emenalom, E.B. Etuk, I.C. Okoli, H. Ukwu and C.S. Nneji Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 1526, Owerri, Nigeria Abstract:
A thirty-five day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the performance of broiler finishers fed Microdesmis puberula leaf meal supplemented with "SafzymeR" (a cellulolytic enzyme). Microdesmis puberula is a choice tropical browse plant. Three broiler finisher diets were formulated to contain 0.0, 12.5% Microdesmis puberula leaf meal without enzyme. and 12.5% Microdesmis puberula leaf meal with 0.10% enzyme. One hundred and twenty (120) four-week-old Hubbard broiler chicks were divided into three groups of forty (40) birds each and randomly assigned to the three treatment diets in a completely randomized design (CRD). Data were collected on feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. There was significant difference (p<0.05) in feed intake between birds on 0.0% leaf meal diet and birds on 12.5% leaf meal diet. Daily body weight gain of birds on leaf meal with enzyme diet did not significantly differ (p>0.05) from birds on leaf meal diets without enzyme supplementation. Birds on 0.0% leaf meal diet recorded the highest daily body weight gain. Feed conversion ratios of all treatment groups were comparable. The result suggests that 0.10% of the enzyme supplementation in diets containing 12.5% Microdesmis puberula leaf meal did not improve the performance of finisher broilers. in Broiler Chickens in Malaysia M. Hair-Bejo, P.T. Ooi and W.S. Phang Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia E-mail: mdhair@vet.upm.edu.my Abstract:
Recent outbreaks of Newcastle disease (ND) in commercial chickens in Malaysia was associated with infiltration of myeloid cells in the organs of the affected chickens which has not been reported previously and was consistent to those of Avian Leukosis Sub-group J (ALV-J) infection. However, little is known about the disease and it was the objective of the study to determine the sero-prevalence and lesions of ALV-J infection in broiler chickens. Broiler breeders (120) of 66-week-old from two breeder farms in Selangor and Malacca were used in the study. They were divided into 4 groups namely groups A1 (30 hens) or A2 (30 cocks) and B1 (36 hens) or B2 (24 cocks) of chickens from Selangor and Malacca, respectively. The broiler chickens (125) of 5-week-old were sampled from four broiler farms in Johor identified as groups C, D, E and F. The clinical signs were recorded and serum samples were collected for ALV-J antibody detection using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) technique. On necropsy, the gross lesions were recorded. Samples of brain, liver, spleen, kidney, lung, ribs and sciatic nerve, and bursa of Fabricius were collected from the broiler breeders and broilers, respectively for histopathology. The study showed that 10% of the broiler breeder had mild lameness, mainly due to bumble foot (83%). Fatty livers (12%), Pasteurella multocida infections (4%) and splenomegaly (2.5%) were also recorded. The chickens in the group C and D had complicated chronic respiratory disease (CCRD). Histologically, infiltrations of myeloid cells were found in the liver of a bird from the group A1. Infiltration of myeloid cells in the follicles of the bursa of Fabricius was also observed in chickens from groups C (10%), D (20%), E (50%) and F (30%). Moderate to severe lesion scoring of the bursa of Fabricius was recorded. The ALV-J antibody was detected in breeder chickens in groups A1 (27%), A2 (27%), B1 (36%) and B2 (42%), but was not detected in the broiler chickens. It was concluded that broiler breeder chickens in Malaysia is not free from ALV-J infections. The overall sero-prevalence of ALV-J in the broiler breeder chickens was 33% with no differences between the hens and cocks. The presence of myeloid cells infiltration in the follicles of the bursa of Fabricius, 10 to 50% of the samples examined suggests that broiler chickens are at high risk of ALV-J infection. Prospect of Layer Chick Rearer Package Programme of the Participatory Livestock Development Project in Bangladesh M.T. Islam and M.A. Samad Department of Medicine, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh E-mail: taohidmtuq@yahoo.com Abstract:
The Participatory Livestock Development Project (PLDP) has been implemented in Bangladesh for the alleviation of poverty through livestock production, employment, income generation and intake of nutrition in rural people. The management and disease problems with cost-benefit analysis of the layer chick rearer package programme of the PLDP have been evaluated in randomly selected 10 layer chick rearing units (n=3100 chicks) from day-old chicks up to 60 days to marketing of Muktagacha areas in the district of Mymensingh during the period from August to December 2002. It appears from the results of this study that 12.87% chicks died within 60 days of age inspite of chick reared in intensive management system and provided vaccines against common infectious diseases. The diagnosed diseases associated with mortality of chicks included infectious bursal disease (37.6%), coccidiosis (13.28%), chronic respiratory disease (13.28%) and other conditions (35.84%). The highest mortality rate (37.6%) in layer chicks, caused by infectious bursal disease (IBD), which were double vaccinated with Nobilis® Gumboro D-78 vaccines (Intervet) that indicates vaccination failure against IBD which deserve further investigation. Cost-benefit analysis of the outcome of the 10 layer chick rearing units varied, and it was found loss in one unit (-3.17%) and the highest profit of 45.66% with an average profit of 27.33%. However, profit was recorded in all the layer chick rearing units except one unit due to outbreak of IBD which could be due to vaccination failure. Therefore, it may be concluded from the results of this study that the ‘layer chick rearer package programme' could be economically prospective for the alleviation of poverty of rural people if the major infectious diseases of poultry are controlled in Bangladesh. in Broiler Chickens M. Hair-Bejo, M.K. Ng and H.Y. Ng Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia E-mail: mdhair@vet.upm.edu.my Abstract:
Infectious bursal disease (IBD) also known as Gumboro disease is an important viral disease in poultry industry due to significant economic losses resulting from high mortality and immunosuppression. The disease can only be controlled and prevented by proper vaccination and biosecurity. It was the objective of the study to determine the efficacy of an "intermediate" strain of live attenuated IBD vaccine in broiler chickens at day old vaccination. One hundred and fifty two day-old broiler chicks were reared and raised in slatted cage in experimental house. The chicks were divided into 3 groups namely the groups A, B and C. Both chicks in the group A (day old vaccination) and group B (day fourteen vaccination) were vaccinated with an "intermediate" strain of live attenuated IBD vaccine (104.5EID50/0.1ml) via intraocular route at day old and 14, respectively. The group C acted as the control. Eight chicks from each group A and group C were sacrificed at days 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42. The chicks in the group B were sacrificed at days 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42. The body weight of the sacrificed chicks was recorded and the blood samples were collected for IBD antibody titre using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). On necropsy, the gross pathological changes were recorded. The bursa of Fabricius was fixed in 10% buffered formalin for histological examination. The study showed that the body weight of chickens from all the three groups were not significant different (p>0.05) throughout the trial, except at day 14 and day 21 from group A was significantly lowered (p<0.05) than group C. The bursa weight and the ratio of bursa weight to body weight showed group B were significantly (p<0.05) lowered than group A and group C at days 28, 35 and 42. There were no bursa lesions in group A and group C throughout the experiment. However, moderate bursa lesions was observed in group B at days 21 and 28 of age and showed signs of recovery at days 35 and 42. Single dose of day old vaccination could not induce IBD antibody in the chickens. In contrast, vaccination at day 14 of age induced high and protective level of IBD antibody. The vaccine at both time of vaccination was able to neutralized high level of maternally derived antibody (MDA). It was concluded that single dose of day old vaccination in broiler chickens with high MDA (4821±509) was ineffective and could not induce IBD antibody. with Campylobacter in Broiler Farms in Malaysia : Possible Risk and Management Factors Saleha A.A. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia Abstract:
Nineteen chicken flocks from ten broiler farms were studied for the colonization of Campylobacter. A variety of factors such as farm location and chicken house structure, water source, rearing practice and hygiene management were investigated. Each flock was sampled weekly, from day-old-chicks to slaughter-age chickens and environmental samples which include water, feed, wood shavings, flies and chicken house environment were collected to examine for the presence of Campylobacter. In all farms, Campylobacter was not detected in one- and seven-day-old chicks. Campylobacter was first detected in 38.2% of 14-day-old-chicks and 45.3% of 21-day-old chickens. Samples of feed, wood shavings, flies and chicken house environment were all negative while only 1.5% of untreated water supplies were found positive for campylobacters. Prevalence of campylobacters' colonization was possibly associated with untreated water, presence of other animals and unhygienic management practices; also flying birds could be a source as they were found to harbour campylobacters; in one farm where 'fishing net' was placed over the chicken house to prevent birds from entering, Campylobacter was not isolated in the chickens up to slaughter age. Poultry Coccidiosis in Abak Agricultural Zone of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria E.B. Etuk1, I.C. Okoli2 and M.U. Uko3 1Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B.1526, Owerri, Nigeria 2Tropical Animal Health Production Research Laboratory, Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria 3Department of Animal Production and Health, Akwa Ibom State College of Agriculture, Obio Akpa, Nigeria E-mail: edeheetuk@yahoo.com Abstract:
A study of six farms each randomly selected from each of five local government areas of Abak agricultural zone of Akwa Ibom State, Southeastern Nigeria, was conducted to assess on-farm prevalence and management of poultry coccidiosis. The study, which involved scrutiny of farm and clinical records, distribution of structured and pre-tested questionnaires to elicit relevant data, showed that in the previous 12 months, 3,327 (29.36%) birds out of 11,333 encountered in the 30 farms suffered from coccidiosis. Overall mortality rate was 2.63%. The highest prevalence rates were recorded in the rainy season (12.7%), among birds managed in deep litter (26.69%), birds 1-5 weeks old (18.75%), layers (22.29%) and Harco strain (26.42%). Sixty percent of the farms consulted veterinarians for diagnosis and treatment especially at first incidence while 34.94% indulged in self-diagnosis. Good sanitary and hygiene practices were being employed in 50% of the farms as the major preventive measure. Combined administration of anticoccidial drugs and removal of litter (43.33%) ranked highest as control measure. Continued veterinary education and extension services are needed in the area to update the knowledge of the farmers especially on the benefits of vaccination, dangers of self-diagnosis and adoption of an integrated approach involving good hygienic practices and use of both drugs and vaccines in disease prevention. Vaccines with Their Immunologic Responses in Ducks M.A. Islam1*, M.A. Samad1 and M.B. Rahman2 1Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, 2Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh E-mail: maislam77@yahoo.com Abstract:
The alum precipitated formalin killed fowl cholera vaccines (FCV) are locally produced from the Livestock Research Institute (LRI), Mohakhali, Dhaka and Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh which are being used to control fowl cholera in chickens and ducks in Bangladesh. Efficacy of these two vaccines has been evaluated mostly in chickens but reports on ducks are very limited. Four weeks old 50 Jinding breed of ducks were used to evaluate the efficacy and immune responses of fowl cholera vaccines during the period from October 2002 to March 2003. These 50 ducks were divided into three groups (A = 20, B = 20 & C = 10 ducks) and each duck of group A was inoculated with FCV (LRI) @ 0.5 ml subcutaneously at the age of 8 weeks, and each duck of group B received FCV (BAU) @ 1.0 ml intramuscularly at the age of 12 weeks as manufacturer instruction, whereas ducks of group C served as unvaccinated control. Each duck of group A and B was also injected booster dose after two weeks of primary vaccination with their respective FCV. Each duck of all the three groups (A, B and C) was challenged after two weeks of post-booster vaccination with 1.0 ml inoculum containing 5.4×106 CFU of virulent Pasteurella multocida intramuscularly. The results of challenged experiment revealed that one (5.0%) duck of group A, two (10.0%) ducks of group B died within 2 to 3 days of post-challenged, whereas 10 (100%) unvaccinated control ducks of group C died within 1 to 3 days of post-challenged. Therefore, the FCV® (LRI) conferred protection to 95% and FCV (BAU) conferred protection to 90% of vaccinated birds against challenged infection after two weeks of booster vaccination. The mean values of Total leukocytic count (TLC), Total serum protein (TSP) and Passive haemagglutination assay (PHA) antibody titre of ducks in both the groups A and B were found significantly (p < 0.01) increased at two weeks of post-primary and two weeks of post-booster vaccination, and also two weeks of post-challenged infection in comparison to the respective pre-vaccination values. These results indicate that the FCV of LRI induced comparatively higher TLC, TSP and PHA antibody titre than FCV of BAU in ducks. These results showed that the locally prepared fowl cholera vaccines induced sufficient cellular and humoral immune responses which resulted satisfactory level of protection against duck cholera and therefore both the locally prepared FCV could be recommended to control duck cholera under filed conditions in Bangladesh. Assil and Local Chickens Reared in Sylhet Region in Bangladesh M.S. Islam, N.S. Lucky2, M.R. Islam2, A. Ahad2, B.R. Das2, M.M. Rahman1 and M.S.I. Siddiui2 Upazila Livestock Office, Laxmipur, Bangladesh 1Department of Physiology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh 2Sylhet Government Veterinary College, Tilagor, Sylhet, Bangladesh Abstract:
An experiment was conducted to study the hematological parameters in Fayoumi, Assil and Local Chickens of different ages reared in Sylhet region. 250 chickens of three breeds (100 Fayoumi, 50 Assil and 100 Local) were tested at different ages (1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months) to observe the hematological parameters: i) Total erythrocyte Count (TEC) ii) Packed Cell Volume (PCV) iii) Determination of Hemoglobin (Hb) iv) Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) v) Differential Leukocyte Count (DLC) vi) Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) vii) Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) viii) Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC). Erythrocyte numbers, hemoglobin concentration and packed cell volume increased with the advancement of age in all three breeds. The TEC was higher in Fayoumi. The hemoglobin concentration was high in Assil. The PCV was slightly different or similar in all three breeds. ESR was inversely related to the age. Higher ESR in early age and lower in the advancement of age. The Fayoumi showed the higher ESR compared to other two breeds. The ESR of last two groups (9 and 12 months) of Assil and all groups of Local Chickens were negligible. Lymphocytes and heterophils were two principal leukocytes, which exert their dominance on other leukocytes. Among three breeds Local chickens possess the higher lymphocyte percentage. The heterophils were higher in Fayoumi breed. Monocyte was lower in Assil and Local chickens. Eosinophils were higher in number in local and Assil compared to Fayoumi. Higher MCV was recorded in Local chickens followed by Assil and Fayoumi chickens. MCH values were near about similar in Assil and local chicken but lower in Fayoumi breeds. The MCHC values of all three breeds were almost nearer to each other. The above study has highlighted some of the normal hematological parameters of chicken mostly reared in Sylhet region. However, more detailed study could be conducted in this regards. Performance, Carcass Characteristics and N Excretion M. Rezaei1, H. Nassiri Moghaddam1, J. Pour Reza2 and H. Kermanshahi1 1Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University, Mashhad, Iran 2Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Technical University, Isfahan, Iran E-mail: mrezaei2000@yahoo.com Abstract:
In a 2×3 factorial arrangement, the effects of dietary protein and lysine levels on performance and carcass characteristics of Ross male broiler chickens from 1 to 3 weeks and 4 to 6 weeks of age were tested. Dietary treatments consisted of three levels of L-lysine.HCl in starter and grower period (0.0, 1.5 and 3.0 g/kg) and two levels of protein (208.4, 178.4 in starter and 181.2, 161.2 g/kg in grower period) with 12.12 MJ AME/kg diet. Reducing dietary protein decreased weight gain in starter, grower and total period up to 6.0, 4.6 and 5.6% respectively (P<0.05). It also decreased feed consumption in starter period (P<0.05). Decreasing dietary protein had no significant effect on gain to feed ratio and breast meat yield, but increased abdominal fat percentage significantly (P<0.05). Increasing dietary lysine increased feed consumption in starter and weight gain, feed to gain ratio in grower and total period of the experiment (P<0.05). It also increased breast meat yield and percentage (P<0.05). N excretion reduced significantly by decreasing dietary protein (P<0.05). Dietary treatments had no significant effect on mortality. T. Ahamed, K.M. Hossain, *M.M. Billah, K.M.D. Islam, M.M. Ahasan and M.E. Islam Biotechnology Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh E-mail: morsaline@yahoo.com Abstract:
Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is the infectious agent of Newcastle disease in poultry. This virus can grow within different animal cells including primary cell culture and established cell line. In order to adapt NDV on African green monkey kidney (Vero) cell line, five consecutive passages were done. Eagle's minimum essential medium (EMEM) with supplements was used for both culturing Vero cells and maintaining NDV on Vero cells. During first and second passage, wild NDV didn't produce any clear evidence of cytopathic effect (CPE), but in third passage changes in the characteristics of cell monolayer were observed. During fourth and fifth passages, clear and consistent CPE were observed within 50 to 60 hours of infection. CPE was characterized by formation of syncytium, giant cell, dendritic-shaped cell and finally plaque. The titer of passage 5 (P5) virus was 10-3.9TCID50, whose purity was tested by serum neutralization test (SNT) and the result was 1.6 × 104 units/ml. |