Global Journal of Animal Scientific Research
Volume:8 Issue: 1, Winter 2020

The effects of dietary supplementation of a probiotic Toyocerinon performance and internal organs weight of broiler chicks were investigated. In a completely randomized block design, three hundred and fifteen of one-day-old broiler chicks (Rose) were assigned to seven treatments with three replicates of 15 chicks in the experimental unit. The experimental Toyocerin treatments were added to basal diets at different levels of 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 120 and 120 g/100Kg of diet and denoted as A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, and A7 respectively. Regarding performance parameters total body weight, daily body gain weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio. There was a significant difference between treatments for total body weight and daily gain weight. Although an improvement in the feed intake and feed conversion ratio was observed but failed to be statistically significant. In this study, the organs weights such as heart, liver, spleen, proventriculus, gizzard, bursa fabricius, small intestine, large intestine, pancreas, and duodenum were determined. Significant differences (p<0.01), in weight, were observed for all between groups supplemented with Tyocerin and the control group. Results indicated that consumption of Toyocerin had the most positive effect on performance and internal organs weight which indicates that Tyocerin can be used successfully as a supplement to the diet of broilers. It helps in improving the performance and health of the broiler chicks .

In chick hatcheries, males of laying hybrids are considered to be “waste” and the majority of these males are killed just after hatching. On the other hand, the interest of consumers in products from alternative systems (organic) is increasing. The idea was to evaluate the meat quality of these males when they have access to commercial feed because there is not much such a study available. The aim of this study was to compare the meat quality characteristics and chemical (proximate) results of the three meats of layer males at the same age when all had access to commercial feeds and when they were fed up to 16 weeks of age. Novo Brown, Lohman Brown and Dominant Sussex breed layer males were kept in intensive management conditions to evaluate carcass and meat quality at 16 weeks of age. Novo brown cockerels show significantly higher live weight and lower carcass yield performance in comparison with other breeds (P<0.05). The proportions of moisture in the breast meat were significantly lower (P<0.05) in Lohman brown cockerels. The value of protein was significantly higher in Lohman brown cockerels (P<0.05). The laying males are acceptable for an intensive system of poultry meat production from the aspect of meat quality.The quality was comparable in comparison with fast-growing chickens.

This study was conducted with the aimof morphometrical characterization and structural indices to assess type and function of indigenous goats reared in two production system in Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia. The study encompassed both qualitative and quantitative parameters which were taken from 780 head of adult goats of both sexes from age 1PPI to 4PPI. Age was estimated by dentition. The qualitative traits were assessed visually and recorded while; quantitative traits were assessed using self-devised equipment. Thirteen morphometrical measurements were taken per goat and from which also indices were calculated.Data collected by visual observation and linear measurements were analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version, 20) and the value was considered significance at P<0.05 and P<0.01. The qualitative data were assessedby chi–square test. The observed coat color patterns in studied area for both sexes across the districts were plain. Most frequently observed coat color type from sampled goats at Aroresa district were brown and black while, most frequently observed coat color type at Lokabaya district were white. The results of morphometrical measurements indicated that Does age group of 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 reared at Aroresa district had higher value for most measured traits. Bucks age group 1 and 2 reared at Lokabaya district had higher value for their body length, chest girth, rump length, horn length, body weight, rump height and chest depth except rump width, face length and head width which is higher for the Buck in age group 1 and 2 reared at Aroresa district. The Bucks reared at Lokabaya district had higher values for their neck circumference and body weight while, the Bucks reared at Aroresa district had higher value for their head width. In generally, most morphometric traits were different between the goats reared in the studied districts and these variations indicate thepossibilities for selection between the goats in the areas. The regression was done to regress body weight from linear body measurements for different age and sex groups separately. As a result, from multiple regressions, chest girth, body length, chest depth and neck circumference were the best fitted models to predict body weight for different age and sex groups separately.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of partialsubstitution of corn grains with culling dates as a source of energy at making sailage from corn stalk on silage quality and performance of lactating dairy cows. Sixteen crossbreeds (Balady X Friesian) lactating cows were assigned to four balanced groups and fed individually for 90 days on experimental rations whereas all the groups were received a basal diet with one of four kinds of silage as follows: 100 % GC (R1), 75 % GC + 25% CD (R2), 50 % GC + 50 % CD (R3) and 25 % GC + 75 % CD (R4) on gross energy-based, respectively. The NH3concentration slightly decreased with an increased CD level. There was a slight tendency to increase silage DM content by increasing the entry-level of CD. Silage with CD appeared identical contents of OM and ash nearly to those of the control diet. DM and OM digestibility were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the diets containing CD than in the control diet. Nevertheless, there was insignificant (P>0.05) increases in the CP, CF, ɑ-NDF, and ADF digestibility for dietary treatment T2, T3 and T4 compared to T1. Also, no significantly different (P>0.05) was found in dry matter intake among all dietary treatments. The highest yield of actual milk and 4% fat corrected milk was recorded with T4 (10.87 and 10.24, respectively), while the lowest values for these items were existing in T1 (10.06 and 8.56, respectively) with no significant differences. Regarding milk pH value, milk protein and ash contents have the same trend with no significant (P>0.05) difference among groups. There were significant differences in the milk fat, SNF, lactose and TS percentages between T1 (the lowest one) and each of T2, T3, and T4. Using CD to 75% as a source of energy alternative of corn grains in silage did not show any negative effect on silage quality, animal performance. It could be an optimal alternative to overcome the price increase of corn or shortage of markets.

The objective of the study was to measure the effect of dietary inclusion of different levels of raw and processed tamarind seeds on broiler performance and carcass characteristics. The processing implemented for seeds in this trial was boiling. A total of 300 unsexed one-day broiler chicks (Ross 308) were distributed to 25 pens that were randomly assigned to five treatments. Each treatment was replicated five times (12 birds per pen). In a completely randomized design, the dietary treatments consisted of 5 and 10% raw (TRS), 5 and 10% processed (TBS) and 0% tamarind seeds (control). The experimental diets were formulated iso-nitrogenous and iso-energetic to meet or exceed the requirementsof finisher period for broilers. At day 42, the carcass and organs relative weights were recorded. The results showed that tamarind seeds contained 15.98% protein, 3.77% fat, 0.27% ash, 11.4% fibre, 2.41% tannin (dry matter) and 13.06 MJ/kg metabolizable energy. Boiling processing decreased tannin content by 31%. All birds fed with diets contained tamarind seeds were better in weight gain and feed conversion ratio than those fed control diets (p≤0.01). There were no significant differences (p≥0.05) among different treatments in gizzard, abdominal fat, drumstick and last body weights. The greatest carcass weight was observed with control treatment followed by TBS 5% treatment (p≤0.01). The heaviest and the lightest weights of breast were recorded with control and TRS 5% treatments, respectively. Birds fed on TBS and control treatments had the biggest thigh weights (p≤0.01). The current study indicated that TRS and TBS scored the best results for broiler growth performance. So, tamarind seeds could be used as alternative feedstuff for poultry when treated with boiling.

The study was conducted in Abuna Gindeberet district, west Shewa zone of Oromia region to evaluate milk handling, processing practices and physiochemical and microbial quality. Six PAs were purposively selected in proportion to the size of PAs, dairy cattle potential and accessibility from highland, midland and lowland agro-ecologies. Households who owned at least one lactating dairy cow and producing milk and milk products during the study period were the targeted population. A total of 155 smallholder dairy producers were randomly selected based on proportional from each PAs and interviewed individually using semi-structured questionnaire. For milk quality evaluation, 30 samples of raw cow milk were collected from producers during milking and transported to laboratory. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software version 24.0. The result showed that hand milking was entirely the milking system practiced in the study area. In the area, 88%, 10% and 2% of the respondent have experience of using “Okole” in Afan Oromo made from woven grass, plastic buckets and metal bucket for milking, respectively. Whereas Clay Pot “Buchuma” in Afan Oromo (51.6%), Calabash/Gourd “Qabee Aannanii” in Afan Oromo (34.2%) and Plastic (14.2%), were the major utensils used for milk storage. The overall mean (±SD) of raw cow’s milk for moisture, fat, SNF, Lactose, protein, ash and total solid were 86.04±1.10, 4.19±0.70, 9.77±0.58, 5.39±0.31, 3.53±0.26, 0.78±0.09 and 13.96±1.10, respectively. The results differ significantly (p>0.05) among the three agro-ecologies. Alcohol test result indicated that of the total samples, 60%, 23.3% and 16.7% were normal milk, curd forming milk and slightly precipitated milk and the results did not differ(p>0.05) among the three agro-ecologies. The overall mean (±SD) of total bacteria count (TBC), Coliform Count (CC), and Yeast & Mold of sampled raw milk were 5.99±0.35log10cfu/ml, 8.13±0.31log10cfu/ml, 7.24±0.21log10cfu/ml, respectively. The results did not differ (p>0.05) among the three agro-ecologies. Based on the result of the present study, it is evident that poor milk handling and processing practices undertaken in the study area that need urgent intervention by concerned stakeholders. Furthermore, it is recommended to conduct research in multidisciplinary and controlled experiments.

This study was conducted with the objective of phenotypic characterization of indigenous goats in East Arsi Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. The study was conducted based on visual observation and field measurements on which randomly selected 600 adult goats of both sexes from age 1PPI to 4PPI in three agro-ecologies (lowland, midland and highland). Age was estimated by dentation. Visually assessed qualitative traits data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 and then described by descriptive statistics. However, quantitative trait data were analyzed using the GLM procedures of SAS 9.3. (2014). Majority (58.1%) of the goats in this study area had uniform coat color pattern, black with white, white, brown and red with white coat color types. The dominant goat populations were horned with most horns backward orientation and straight. Agro-ecology had highly significant (p<0.01) effect on body weight and most of linear body measurements except for ear length, cannon bone length, cannon bone circumference and rump length. Age group had highly significant difference (P<0.01) on all of linear body measurements and body weight. Sex of goats had significant effect (p<0.05) on body weight and most of the body measurements. Body weight was significantly (P<0.01) correlated with most of continuous traits for both sexes. The most important variable for predicting body weight was chest girth in both sexes (81%) for does and (93%) for bucks. The goat population in the study area showed phenotypic variation. Characterization which is done only at phenotypic level is not enough to clearly sate the variation; so that, characterizing at molecular level is important to provide sufficient information and to identify the existing goat breeds in this study area.

The study was conducted in Bedele district, Bunno Bedele Zone of Oromia regional state from December to February aimed to assess livestock production system and available major livestock feed resource. Single-visit-multiple-subjects formal survey technique was used to collect data with the use of pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaires prepared in the local language. The collected data was managed and organized with MS-Excels (2007) and was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) (version 20). The major livestock production constraints in the study area were feed shortage followed by disease, water scarcity and low genetic potential. Natural pasture and crop residue were the main livestock feed resource in Bedele district. An average of 12.44 tons of feed dry matter was produced per household from the major available feed resources, in which 83.58% was obtained from crop residue. The total annual feed dry matter produced in the study area was significantly higher (P<0.05) in rural (14.84 tons) than in the peri-urban (5.96 tons) kebeles. Overall livestock feed balance in terms of dry matter yield showed that a total of 1492.4 tons of DM (tDM) per annum was produced for a total TLU value of 796.49 and 1816.8 tDM is required with a negative balance of 324 DM. Hence, the study indicates that the available feed DM satisfy 82.16% of DM requirement for both rural and peri-urban kebeles.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of partial substitution of Soybean meal by AzollaPinnata (AZM) in the performances of layer chicken and also to determine the cost benefit analysis. One hundred eight Potchefstroom koekoek layer were randomly allocated to 4 treatment diets with 3 replications, each replicate consisted nine chickens. Experimental diets were prepared with control diet (treatment 1, T1) contained soybean meal as the major protein source without AZM and diets containing AZM at the levels of 50 g/kg (treatment 2, T2), 100 g/kg (treatment 3, T3), and 150 g/kg (treatment 4, T4) by partially substituting the soybean meal in the control diet. All production and economic data in the experiment were collected. The results obtained from the current study showed that substitution of AZM up to 150 g/kg did not significantly alter feed intake, feed conversion efficiency and egg production performance of the birds. However, higher (P<0.05) Hough units score, egg, albumen and yolk weight was observed at T2 and T3. Moreover, a significantly higher intense yolk color index was recorded as the level of AZM inclusion increased. The lowest marginal rate of return was recorded in control group while the highest revenue was recorded at T2 substitution of AZM. In conclusion, utilization of AZM might be cost effective protein source that can partially substitute soybean meal.

Aromatic plants such as thyme have been shown promising results as a natural feed additive in livestock feed due to the presence of bioactive compound in the herb. Carvacrol and thymol are among essential oil extracted from thyme with high phenolic contents used for commercial interest. Essential oil components extracted from thymus plants are used widely in pharmaceutical application and exhibit antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-carcinogenesis, anti-inflammatory and used as immunostimulants without residual effect like synthetic antibiotics. Thyme essential oil had also the ability to inhibit methanogenic microbes; addition of essential oil to the rumen can reduce methane emitted from ruminant animals. The aerial part of thyme contains a high amount of carbohydrates and a low concentration of tannin. Incorporation of thyme in animal nutrition as a powder or essential oil extract form can promote growth, productive and reproductive performance, increase feed intake, improve digestion and absorption of nutrients, increase carcass quality, reduce morbidity and mortality rate. This paper aims to review the beneficial application and recent finding of thyme in livestock feed