Pn Mbugua

The feeding value of Kenyan sorghum, sunflower seed cake and sesame seed cake for broilers and layers

The feeding value of Kenyan sorghum, sunflower seed cake (SFC) and sesame seed cake (SSC) was studied in an 8 week broiler trial and a 24 week layer trial. In both trials the diets were either white maize (Hb25) or brown sorghum (Serena) based and contained either imported soybean meal (SBM), a combination of SFC and SBM, or SSC as the main protein source. In the broiler trial, mean weekly body weights were significantly higher for chicks fed the maize based diets, starting as early as the second week. At the end of the 8 week trial, however, the difference between the mean body weights for the two groups of broilers was not significantly different (2136 g vs. 2023 g for broilers on the maize and sorghum diets, respectively). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was not significantly affected by grain type (2.72 vs. 2.76 for broilers on the maize and sorghum diets, respectively). In the last 4 weeks of the broiler trial, mean weekly body weights were significantly higher for chicks fed SSC diets than for those receiving SBM diets. By the end of the 8 week trial the mean body weight of the broilers receiving the SSC diets was 12.1% higher (2212 g vs. 1972 g for broilers receiving the SSC and SBM diets, respectively) than that of the broilers receiving the SBM diets. FCR was significantly lower for chicks receiving the SSC diets (2.52) as compared to those receiving either the SBM or SFC/SBM diet (2.86 and 2.88, respectively). In the layer trial, egg production and feed efficiency were significantly lower for the hens receiving the sorghum based diets (64.7%) as compared to those receiving the maize based diets (70.9%), but average egg weight was not significantly affected by grain type. Egg production, feed efficiency and egg weight were significantly lower for those hens receiving either the SFC/SBM or SSC diet than for those receiving the SBM diets. There was no effect of grain type or protein source on the incidence or severity of yolk mottling.

The effect of substituting Kenyan Serena sorghum for maize in broiler starter diets with different dietary crude protein and methionine levels

Abstract Currently there is interest in many parts of Africa in developing crops which can be grown in the semi-arid regions to help alleviate a feed and food shortage. Sorghum is well suited to cultivation in areas that are too dry or too hot for the production of other cereals. Although sorghum is similar in composition to maize, brown sorghum contains the anti-nutritive factor tannin. The possibility of overcoming any detrimental effects of sorghum tannin on the growth rate and feed efficiency of broiler chicks by supplementing the diet with intact crude protein (CP) or D,L-methionine (Met) was studied in two 4-week feeding trials of 280 chicks each. In each trial the effects of feeding maize or brown sorghum were compared under three dietary specifications (control, increased CP, increased Met). In both trials, the tannin content of the control brown sorghum diet was 1.3% catechin equivalents (dry matter basis). A seventh diet, with dietary specifications similar to the control diets, was included in each trial for comparison with the six main diets. In Trial 1 the seventh diet contained a combination of white and brown ( w b ) sorghum ( 50 50 , w w ) as the main energy source while in Trial 2 the main energy source of the seventh diet was white sorghum alone. In both trials there were no significant differences in final body weight among the three control diets (770.2, 759.0, and 753.0 g for the broilers on the maize, brown sorghum, and w b sorghum diets in Trial 1; and 822.7, 764.8, and 827.2 g for the broilers on the maize, brown sorghum, and white sorghum diets in Trial 2). In addition, there were no significant differences in feed conversion ratio (FCR) between the maize and brown sorghum fed broilers (2.01 vs. 2.03 in Trial 1; and 1.82 vs. 1.94 in Trial 2). In Trial 2, however, the FCR for the broilers receiving the white sorghum diet (1.73) was significantly lower than for those receiving the brown sorghum control diet (1.94), but not significantly different from those receiving the maize control diet (1.82). There was no effect of Met supplementation on final body weight or FCR in either trial. In Trial 1, increasing dietary CP content had no effect on final body weight or FCR for both the maize and brown sorghum fed broilers. In Trial 2, however, increasing the dietary CP content resulted in significantly lower final body weights (708.2 vs. 822.7 g) and higher FCR (2.06 vs. 1.82) for the maize fed broilers. The results of this study suggest that high tannin sorghum can be substituted for white maize in broiler starter diets with no significant adverse effects on growth or feed efficiency. The dietary treatments of increased CP or Met levels, which have been reported to be successful at overcoming the detrimental effects of sorghum tannins, were not required. A leg abnormality previously reported by other sorghum researchers was observed in both trials but the incidence and severity were low. Broilers receiving maize based diets with increased Met were most affected suggesting that the abnormality is related to increased Met and not to tannins.

Effect of supplementing napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) with sunflower meal or poultry litter-based concentrates on feed intake, live-weight changes and economics of milk production in Friesian cows

A study was conducted using a randomized complete block design to determine feed intake, live-weight changes, milk yield and cost of milk production in Friesian cows fed napier grass (NG) at 10 weeks (MNG) or 15 weeks (ONG) of maturity. The MNG or ONG was supplemented with equal amounts of sunflower (SFBC) or poultry litter (PLBC) based concentrates in experiment 1, while in experiment 2, the MNG was supplemented with graded levels of the PLBC. In 0.75 experiment 1, the intakes of total organic matter (TOMI) was lower (135.9 vs. 137.7 g kg W ) while intake of total crude 0.75 protein (TCPI) was greater (16.6 vs. 12.0 g kg W ) for MNG than ONG diets (P , 0.001). The TOMI (137.8 vs. 135.8 0.75 0.75 W ) and TCPI (14.3 vs. 14.2 W ) were higher for SFBC than PLBC diets (P , 0.05). The yield of milk corrected for 21 21 butter fat (FCM) was higher (11.0 vs. 5.7 kg cow day ) for MNG than ONG diets (P , 0.001). In experiment 2, the 0.75 0.75 TOMI (112.8 vs. 130.6 g kg W ) and the TCPI (12.2 vs. 16.1 g kg W ) were lower for MNG only diet than the mean of 21 21 the supplemented MNG (P , 0.001). The MNG only diet supported lower yields of FCM (7.7 vs. 10.7 kg cow day ) than the mean of the supplemented MNG (P , 0.001). Although supplemented cows fed MNG diets gained weight, those fed supplemented ONG diets or MNG only diet lost weight. Feeding of supplemented ONG resulted in loss of revenue while supplementing with PLBC had higher profits than SFBC. We concluded that use of the PLBC would lower costs and improve milk production in dairy cows fed NG-based diets.

Effect of supplementing napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) with poultry litter and sunflower meal based concentrates on feed intake and rumen fermentation in Friesian steers

Intake of nutrients and rumen fermentation values were determined in a 4 x 4 Latin square design using four rumen fistulated Friesian steers. In Trial 1, steers were fed medium (MNG) or old (ONG) maturity napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) supplemented with 3.65 kg of DM of sunflower seed meal based concentrate (SFBC) or poultry litter based concentrate (PLBC) while in Trial 2, steers were fed MNG only or MNG supplemented with 0.91, 3.65 or 6.35 kg of DM of the PLBC. In Trial 1, intakes of crude protein (CP) (15.3 vs 11.1 g kg -1 W 0.75 ) and organic matter (OM) (127.1 vs 124.7 g kg -1 W 0.75 ) were higher on MNG vs ONG diets while intakes of CP and OM were 3% higher on SFBC vs PLBC diets. Rumen pH was higher (7.1 vs 6.7) on ONG vs MNG (P 0.05). Concentrations of ammonia (NH 3 -N) were higher on MNG vs ONG (101.0 vs 51.2 mg l -1 ) but 12.5% lower on SFBC vs PLBC diets while concentrations of VFA were higher on MNG vs ONG (123.8 vs 101.8 mmol 1 -1 ) and 2.5% higher on SFBC vs PLBC diets (P < 0.05). Supplementing ONG with PLBC resulted in suboptimal feed intake and digestion. In Trial 2, the substitution rate of MNG was negative at 0.91 kg/ day of PLBC but positive, and higher (P < 0.05) at higher levels of supplementation. Intakes of OM were 100.8, 111.6, 128.6 and 132.3 g kg - W 0.75 while intakes of CP were 10.6, 12.2, 15.6 and 17.5 g kg -1 W 0.75 for treatments 0, 0.91, 3.65 and 6.35 kg/day of PLBC, respectively, (P < 0.05). Although rumen concentrations of NH 3 -N increased to 6.35 kg/day of PLBC (P < 0.05), optimal feed intake and digestion were obtained at 3.65 kg/day.