Effects of feeding cattle manure on growth performance and carcass characteristics of large white pigs

Summary Thirty-six weaner Large White piglets were randomly assigned to 3 replicates of 3 treatments to determine the effects of feeding 0, 10 or 20% of cattle manure in partial replacement of ground maize in the diet. The trial lasted 15 weeks. Feed efficiency was not significantly affected. However, pigs fed on the control diet consumed significantly more feed than pigs on the experimental diets containing cattle manure, and although their higher daily weight gain was not statistically significant, at the end of the trial they were significantly heavier (P<0·05) than those fed the diet containing 20% cattle manure. Carcasses from pigs fed on the diets containing cattle manure were leaner than pigs fed on the control diet.

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Efectos De La Inclusion De Estiercol De Vaca En La Dieta De Cerdos De Engorde Sobre El Crecimiento Y La Caracteristicas De La Canal

Resumen Un total de 36 cerdos recién destetados de raza Large White fueros distribuídos al azar en 3 réplicas de 3 tratamientos que tuvieron como objetivo determinar los efectos de incluir en la dieta 0, 10 o 20% de estiércol de vaca en sustitución parcial de maiz. El ensayo duró 15 semanas. La eficiencia alimentaria no se vió afectada de forma significative. Sin embargo, los cerdos alimentados con la dieta control consumieron más alimento que los animales que recibieron dietas con estiercol de vaca. Además, si bien el creciemiento diario de los animales control no fue significativamente distinto, al final del ensayo su peso vivo fue significativamente superior (p<0·05) al de los animales que recibieron una dieta con un 20% de estiercol de vaca. Las canales de los cerdos que recibieron dietas con estiercol tuvieron un porcentaje de grasa inferior al de las canales de los animales control.

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Effets De l'Alimentation En Fumier Bovin Sur La Croissance Et Les Caracteristiques De La Carcasse Chez Les Porcs Large White

Résumé 36 porcelets sevrés de l'espèce Large White furent répartis sur 3 traitements (avec 3 replicats chacun) pour déterminer les effects for l'alimentation avec, 0, 10 ou 20% en fumier bovin en replacement partiel du maïs dans leur nourriture. L'expérience dura 15 semaines. L'efficacité de la nourriture ne fut pas affectée, de façon significative. Cependant, les porcs nourris par l'alimention de contrôle, consoemmèrent plus de nourriture que ceux, alimentés expérimentalement avec le fumier bovin, et bien que les gains journaliers furent plus élevés mais non de façon significative, les porcs de contrôle furent de façon significative plus lourds (P<0, 05) que ceux nourris avec 20% de fumier bovin. Les carcasses de porc nourrit avec du fumier bovin furent plus maigres que ceux issus du groupe de contrôle.

     

Assessment of biosecurity level in small-scale broiler farms in the Western highlands of Cameroon (Central Africa)

The recent outbreak of avian influenza in the poultry sector of Cameroon has raised a concern about the level of implementation of biosecurity measures (BM) on poultry farms. Therefore, a study using a questionnaire on 102 randomly selected poultry farms was undertaken. Some measures with high adoption levels (>?90%) included “protection of airing openings of poultry barns by a wire mesh,” “no external animal allowed to enter the farm,” “respect of all-in all-out principle,” “functional footbath,” “rodent control,” and “feedstuff protection from access to rodents.” The least implemented measures (less than 20%) were “wearing of dedicated clothing (clean coveralls and boots) by workers,” “disinfection of visitors,” and “presence of storage room for dead animals.” Only for “isolation” component of biosecurity, compliance with biosecurity measures was good, with more than 50% of farms having an adoption rate greater than 75%. The mean biosecurity score for the assessed farms was 19.29?±?1.89 for a maximum score of 38 points. The score was significantly and positively correlated (p?<?0.05) with the number of chicken and the geographic location of farms. The other results showed that the mean number of broiler per cycle was 550.82?±?76 for a stocking density of 27.20?±?6.64 birds per m². In conclusion, broiler production in the Western highland is dominated by small-scale units with low level of biosecurity practices positively and significantly (p?<?0.05) influenced by some production characteristics. To improve biosecurity practices in the area, efforts must focus on measures concerning “sanitation” and “traffic control” components of biosecurity.     

Growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with graded levels of charcoal from maize cob or seed of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Canarium schweinfurthii</Emphasis> Engl

Growth performances and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with graded levels of Canarium schweinfurthii Engl seed (charcoal A) or maize cob (charcoal B) were studied using a total of 110 3-week-old male chicks. 11 experimental diets including a control and other containing either 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 or 1% charcoal from C. schweinfurthii Engl seed (A_0.2, A_0.4, A_0.6, A_0.8, and A_1%, respectively) or from maize cob (B_0.2, B_0.4, B_0.6, B_0.8, and B_1%, respectively) supplements were used. Each of the diets was fed to ten individually birds caged in a completely randomized design. Results indicated that birds fed 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6% of either charcoal A or B had significantly (P < 0.05) higher final body weights as compared to control birds, while, above 0.6% slightly depressed average final body weights and weight gain. The best growth performance was achieved with 0.2% inclusion of charcoals. There was no significant (P > 0.05) influence of charcoal B on the overall feed intake. Only the B_0.6 feed significantly (P < 0.05) improved feed conversion ratio as compared with the control. Dressing percentage, liver weight and abdominal fat were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by charcoal. However, there was a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in gizzard weight with charcoal B. Charcoal had no significant (P > 0.05) influence on intestine length and weight. More than 0.6% of charcoal A significantly (P < 0.05) depressed intestine density. It was concluded that under the conditions of this study, charcoal from maize cob or Canarium seeds could be used to improve growth performances and some carcass traits in broiler chickens.     

The growth performances of broiler chickens as affected by diets containing common bean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaseolus vulgaris</Emphasis>) treated by different methods

The utilization of grain legumes as a protein source for poultry is limited by the presence of antinutritional factors. Various methods have been developed to eliminate them. One hundred and sixty 3-week-old birds of 622 g were used to evaluate the effect of feeding 15% of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) either soaked (R1), soaked and extruded (R2) or soaked and heated (R3) and a control (R0) in a completely randomized design. The protein content of the common bean decreased with all the treatments, while the other characteristics remained similar. Feed consumption was highest (p < 0.05) for the R0 birds and lowest for the R3; however, there was no significant difference between R1 and R2 in feed consumption. Body weight gain was comparable for R0 and R2 birds and significantly higher than that of R1 and R3 birds. The control and R2 birds recorded the best feed conversion ratio, while the R1 birds had the poorest (p < 0.05) as well as the highest feed cost for 1 kg body weight. However, there was no difference among the three other groups of birds with regard to cost. All the treatment groups were comparable (p > 0.05) for carcass yield and serum creatinine level. However, the R3 birds had the lowest proportions of liver (2.26%) and heart (1.07%) to body weight.     

Guinea-pig productivity under traditional management

Results of a 12 month study of traditional guinea-pig production in the western highlands of Cameroon are reported. The mean age of guinea-pigs (Cavia porcellus L.) at first parturition, kidding interval and litter size at birth were 126.30±10.40 d, 64.8±1.70 d and 1.63±0.26 kids respectively. The annual reproductive rate was 9.18 kids/breeding doe while the doe post-partum weight was 530 g. Mean body weights at birth, presumed weaning (21 d) and 15 weeks of age were 78.36±3.20, 147.51±8.10 and 418.88±32 g respectively. Type of birth and sex had a significant effect on body weight at all ages. Birth weight dropped significantly from 83.88±2.87 g for singles to 81.57±3.40 g for twins, 74.25±2.39 g for triplets and 73.75±4.12 g for quadruplets. These differences were maintained to maturity (15 weeks). Males were generally heavier than females. Mortality rates were relatively high among kids: 24% at birth, 39% at 3 weeks and 40% at 15 weeks. Productivity indices were 0.827 kg of young weaned per doe per year, 1560 g of young weaned per kg of doe per year and 2.52 kg of young weaned per kg metabolic weight (kg^0.75) of female per year.