ABSTRACT
The present study was carried out to examine the effect of organic chromium yeast supplementation in feedlot diets of growing male cows on growth efficiency and carcass characteristics. The experiment was conducted in Ibadan (7.380 N and 3.930 E), in the South Western region of Nigeria. The study lasted six months (180 days). A total of seventy-five Ndama Ndama growing male cows with average weights ranging between 280 and 284kg were kept outdoors in feedlot pens of 15 cows per treatment. The different treatment groups received organic chromium yeast mix of 9%, 18%, 27% and 36%, representing 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 ppm organic chromium yeast respectively. Each cow was replicated 3 times with 5 cows per replicate. Parameters recorded during the experimental period include average daily gain, feed: gain ratio and feed consumption. Carcass characteristics studied at the end of the experiment include final yield grade, marbling scores, dressing percentage, quality grade and longissimus muscle area. Statistical analysis revealed significant (P<0.05) differences between the means. Cows fed diets supplemented with 0.3 ppm organic chromium yeast showed higher performance characteristics than cows fed the control diet and the other experimental diets. Treatment with 0.3 ppm organic chromium yeast in the diet of the cows significantly (P<0.05) increased carcass characteristics and these values were higher than the values obtained from cows fed the control diet and the other experimental diets.
ABSTRACT
In an experiment to determine the effects of feed-borne fusarium mycotoxins on metabolism and reproduction in first parity gilts, a total of 36 first parity Yorkshire gilts (3 diets with 12 gilts per diet) were housed in individual stalls for 21 days before farrowing and 21 days after farrowing in the first experiment and a total of 32 first parity gilts (4 diets with 8 gilts per diet) were used in the 2nd experiment. Experimental conditions were similar in the 2 experiments. Diets included a control diet, a diet with contaminated grains and a diet with contaminated grains + 0.2% mycotoxin binder in the 1st experiment. In the 2nd experiment a 4th diet was included. There were no significant (P>0.05) effects of diet on average daily feed intake of gilts during gestation. Weight gain and feed: gain ratios however were reduced by contaminated grains. The percentage of stillbirths was higher and total piglets born were lower for gilts fed contaminated grains compared with those fed contaminated grains plus mycotoxin binders. During lactation, feed intake and weight gain were reduced by diets containing contaminated grains. Blood chemistry, milk composition and piglet weights at weaning were not affected by diet.
ABSTRACT
This study compares the proximate composition, mineral composition and the presence of antinutritional elements of Zea mays with the seeds of four selected tropical plants which include Gmelina arborea, Terminalia catappa, Dacroydes edulis and Delonix regia. The matured fruits of the test materials were collected from farmlands in Asaba, Delta State Nigeria (6014’N and 6049’E). The seeds were carefully removed from the matured fruits and proximate analysis carried out to determine the levels of crude protein, crude fiber, energy, total ash and ether extract. The presence of the following mineral elements: calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, iron and zinc was determined. The presence of alkaloids and oxalate, which are anti-nutritional elements, was also determined. Significantly different means were separated using Duncan’s multiple range procedure. Significance was reported at 5% level of probability. Significant differences between the test materials were observed for all parameters measured.