A. B. Mandal

Deriving nutrient requirements of growing Indian sheep under tropical condition using performance and intake data emanated from feeding trials conducted in different research institutes

Data from 24 feeding trials conducted on lactating cattle from different institutes across India were subjected to regression analysis to derive requirements of ME, TDN, CP and DCP for maintenance, milk production and body weight gain. Maintenance requirements for ME, TDN, CP and DCP were 598 KJ, 39.5 g, 6.27 g and 2.90 g/kg W 0.75 , respectively and the corresponding requirements for production of 1 kg 4% FCM were 5,023 KJ, 332 g, 82 g and 58 g. The corresponding requirements for one g gain in BW were 27 KJ, 1.78 g, 0.44 g and 0.19 g. Regression equations had high R 2 values (0.67 to 0.90) and the equations (F value) as well as coefficients were highly significant (p<0.001). Regressed values were used to develop feeding standards. Derived values matched well with the actual intake versus performance of animals under diverse feeding conditions. The new standards so derived predicted requirements and intake of nutrients for different production levels better than existing feeding standards; as these are based on a more thorough analysis of a larger database, the new feeding standards will be appropriate for wide use in India. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2004. Vol 17, No. 6 : 769-776)

Effect of high moisture storage of pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides) with or without feed enzymes on growth and nutrient utilization in broiler chickens

Effect of reconstitution of pearl millet with or without enzymes on its utilization in broiler chickens was studied. The pearl millet grains were reconstituted by adding water to raise the moisture level to 30%, followed by storage in sealed plastic buckets with or without feed enzymes (0.5 g/kg) for 21 days at room temperature (25 degrees C). Subsequently, the grains were sun-dried to reduce the moisture content up to 10% to avoid mould growth. Nine dietary treatments were formulated incorporating pearl millet either raw with or without enzymes or reconstituted with or without enzymes in maize-soya based control diet replacing maize at 50 and 75% levels. The birds fed on diets containing enzyme reconstituted pearl millet accrued higher body weight than maize based control diet. Addition of enzymes to raw pearl-millet based diet improved the body weight gain significantly. The reconstitution of pearl millet with or without enzymes increased (P < 0.01) the dietary nitrogen corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) values and the highest improvement (6.11%) was recorded in diets containing pearl millet reconstituted with enzymes at 75% level of maize replacement. The percent nitrogen retention in pearl millet based diets was comparable to maize based control diet. It may be concluded that the supplementation of the feed enzymes or reconstitution of pearl millet may improve the utilization of pearl millet in broiler chickens.

Effect of dietary level of methionine on growth performance and immune response in Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

BACKGROUND Methionine (Met) being the first limiting amino acid in maize/soybean-based quail diets, its supplementation provides scope for improvement of protein quality and reduction of dietary protein concentration. The question remains to what extent it can be incorporated in the diet of genetically improved quails. Therefore the effect of dietary Met level was assessed on growth performance and immune response in growing Japanese quails (n = 400) divided equally into 20 groups. Five dietary treatments (approximately 230 g kg(-1) crude protein and 12.14 MJ kg(-1) metabolisable energy) were formulated with 3.5, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0 g kg(-1) Met respectively, and each was offered to four groups of birds from 0 to 35 days of age. RESULTS Live weight at day 35 increased (P < 0.0001) up to 5.0 g kg(-1) dietary Met level but did not improve further at higher Met levels (5.5 and 6.0 g kg(-1)). Improved (P < 0.039) feed conversion ratio was achieved at 5.5 g kg(-1) Met level, which was statistically similar to that at 5.0 g kg(-1) Met level during 0-14 days of age. Cellular (phytohaemagglutinin from Phaseolus vulgaris) immune response increased (P < 0.0001) with increasing dietary Met concentration, whereas humoral (sheep red blood cells) immune response did not differ. CONCLUSION The optimal requirement of Met was 5.0 g kg(-1) for growth and 5.5 g kg(-1) for maximum cellular immune response.

Non-traditional small poultry species: An approach to food sustainability

Limited food supply and huge demand have necessitated the researchers to find out the new food sources. In this context, non-traditional small poultry species can play a major role in it amongst muscle foods. By rearing in a proper manner, slaughtering at proper age, good quality meat can be produced. Moreover, economic status and livelihood standards can be raised. However, many challenges act as a barrier to their production and harvesting which need to be taken care off. Therefore, the non-traditional poultry species may get focus as a supplementary muscle food source in a view to food sustainability.

Feeding value of rice gluten meal as an alternate protein source in broiler chickens

* Correspondence: nasirakbar129@gmail.com

Effect of maternal dietary manipulation and in ovo injection of nutrients on the hatchability indices, post-hatch growth, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio and immunocompetence traits of turkey poults

ABSTRACT Two hundred turkey breeder hens and 24 viable toms of 30-35 weeks (wk) old of small white variety were distributed into 2 treatment groups having 4 replicates First four replicates were offered diet A [National Research Council. 1994. Nutrient requirements of poultry. 8th ed. Washington, DC: National Academy Press] and other four replicates were maintained on a higher plane of nutrition – diet B for 8 wk. Five hundred and fortyeight fertile eggs on 21st embryonic day were in ovo injected with nutrients (essential amino acids - INA; linolenic acid, linoleic acid, retinol and DL-alpha-tocopherol-INFV; INA + INFV-INAFV, sham control – S and un-injected control – C). INAFV poults had significantly (P < .01) higher body weight compared to other treatment groups till 8 wk of age. Total immunoglobulins in response to 1% sheep red blood cells were significantly higher (P < .01) in the INA group compared to the C group. Cell-mediated immune response was significantly higher (P < .01) in the diet B group compared to diet A group. Thus, INAFV treatment may be carried out for better posthatch growth and breeders may be maintained on higher plane of nutrition along with INA treatment to elicit better post-hatch immunity.

Effect of Acidified Sodium Chlorite Treatment of Feedstuffs on Nitrogen and Amino Acid Digestibility in Poultry

The present study was conducted to study the effect of Acidified sodium chlorite (ASC) treatment on nitrogen utilization and amino acid digestibility in caecectomised white leghorn cockerels. Feed ingredients viz. soybean meal, meat cum bone meal and sunflower meal were treated with 80 ppm of ASC either in dry or wet form and 30 g of these ingredients were forced fed to caecectomised white leghorn cockerels, maintained in individual cages. Fecal material was collected (up to 24 h) and analyzed for dry matter, nitrogen, uric acid and amino acid content. Results revealed that ASC treatment of feedstuffs numerically improved their dry matter metabolizability without any appreciable variation in nitrogen and amino acids bioavailability. Thus it may be concluded that ASC treatment (80 ppm) of feedstuffs has no apparent effect on nitrogen and amino acid digestibility in poultry.

Effect of Vegetable and Animal Protein Meal Combinations on The Mineral Utilization Pattern of Multicoloured Broilers

The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of source of protein in the diet of broilers on the pattern of mineral utilization. Day-old multicolored broiler chicks were distributed into 12 groups of 10 chicks each and allotted equally to three dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. The chicks were reared up to 6 weeks of age, and fed diets based on three different diets varying in source of protein viz., soybean (D1), fish meal (D2) and meat-cum-bone meal (MBM; D3). After 17 (starter phase) and 38 (finisher phase) days of experimental feeding, retention study of 4-d durations were conducted to determine the retention of minerals. During starter phase, the retention of calcium and copper was significantly (P<0.05) higher in D3 diet. On the other hand, the retention of manganese and phosphorus were significantly (P<0.05) higher in D1 diet. During finishing phase, no significant difference was observed in calcium and manganese utilization among the dietary treatments. The retention of copper, however was significantly (P<0.05) higher in MBM (D3) based diet. On the contrary, the phosphorus utilization was markedly (P<0.05) higher in D1 and D2 treatments. It is concluded that dietary formulations based on animal protein supplements such as fish meal and meat-cum-bone meal could minimize the excreta load of copper to a greater extent thereby averting the threat of possible environmental pollution.