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Chemical composition and in vitro ruminal degradation of diets containing Vachellia karro leaf meal and their effect on physiological responses of indigenous Xhosa lop-eared goats

- Mfisi, Khanyisa

Authors: Mfisi, Khanyisa
Date: 2021-09
Subjects: Ruminants--Feeding and feeds , Animal nutrition
Language: English
Type: Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20719 , vital:46460
Description: The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition and in vitro ruminal dry matter degradation (DMD) of Vachellia karro leaf meal-containing diets and their effect on feed intake and physiological responses of indigenous Xhosa lop-eared goats. Experimental diets containing 0 percent (Treatment 1), 15 percent (Treatment 2) and 30 percent (Treatment 3) Vachellia karroo leaf meal were mixed with grass hay and crushed maize. Samples of each diet were analysed for chemical composition and in vitro ruminal DM degradability. A total of 18 eight-month-old indigenous Xhosa lop-eared goats, initially weighing 20.81 ± 1.83 kg were randomly assigned to each diet in a Completely Randomized Design. The goats were confined in individual well-ventilated roofed pens and each dietary treatment had a total of 6 goats. The feed was offered at a rate of 3 percent of live weight twice a day, at 08:00 in the morning and at 16:00 in the afternoon. The experimental feeding trial lasted for 80 days, where 10 days was allowed for adaptation. Goat live weight, Average daily feed intake (ADFI), and Body condition scores (BCS) were recorded weekly FAMACHA scores and fecal eggs counts were also determined weekly. Blood samples were collected via vein puncture on the last day of the feeding trial for determination of glucose, total cholesterol, albumin and blood urea. Significantly higher (P < 0.05) crude protein (CP) and condensed tannins (CT) levels were observed in Vachellia karroo containing diets., while acid detergent fibre (ADF) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the control diet. During early hours of incubation, DMD was similar (P > 0.05) across all dietary treatments. At 12 to 72 hours, the DMD was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in Vachellia karroo containing diets except at 48 hours. Correlation between DMD and NDF, ADF and fat was only visible at 24 hours. Fibre (ADF and NDF) were negatively related to DMD, while fat was positively related. A positive correlation was observed between DMD and DM, CP and ADFI. The body weight and BCS of goats was similar (P > 0.05) in all dietary treatments (P > 0.05). The ADFI was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in Vachellia karroo supplemented goats. Faecal egg count and FAMACHA scores were significantly higher (P< 0.05) in the control group compared to the Vachellia karroo supplemented treatments; while glucose levels were significantly higher in goats supplemented with Vachellia karroo compared to non-supplemented goats. Cholesterol levels were similar (P > 0.05) across all experimental groups. Goats consuming 30 percent of Vachellia karroo leaf meal had higher (P < 0.05) creatinine levels than the non-supplemented treatment. Urea levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in goats fed 30 percent of Vachellia karroo leaf meal than other treatments. It was concluded that the inclusion of Vachellia karroo leaves improves diet quality, diet degradability, average daily feed intake and physiological responses. , Thesis (MSc) (Animal Science) -- University of Fort Hare, 2021
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How phase feeding manipulation affects growth, performance, feed cost, carcass characteristics and the quality of meat from broilers

- Sokanyile, Sanda

Authors: Sokanyile, Sanda
Date: 2017
Subjects: Animal nutrition , Feeds , Broilers (Chickens)
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5565 , vital:29334
Description: The main objective of the study was to determine how phase feeding manipulation affects growth performance, feed cost, carcass characteristics and quality of meat from broiler chickens. A total of 180 day old un-sexed broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were separated into 3 dietary treatments of 60 birds per treatment and each treatment was replicated 3 times with 20 birds per replicate. The dietary treatments were as follows: T1 (starter 1-7 days; grower 8-21 days; finisher 22-35 days), T2 (starter 1-14 days; grower 15-21 days, finisher 22-35 days) and T3 (starter 1-14 days; grower 15-28 days; finisher 29-35 days). Feed intake and body weight gains were recorded weekly in kilograms. Average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were computed weekly. At day 35, the chickens were slaughtered and 12 representative breast muscles from each treatment were used for the determination of muscle pH (pH1, pH24 and pH48) and colour coordinates (Lightness – L*, redness – a* and yellowness – b*) in triplicate at 1 hour, 24 hours and 48 hours post-mortem.Feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), average daily gain (ADG) and average body weight at slaughter (ABW) were not significant (P>0.05) amongst the treatments. The most cost efficient feed (which accumulated the cheapest cost feed per kg were) T1 (R11.32) and T3 (R11.32) although there was a slight difference in the gross profit of these treatments T1 (R45.71) and T3 (R44.48). Carcass characteristics were the same (P > 0.05) across the treatments except for the wing, thigh, drumstick and the breast (P < 0.05). T2 had the highest wing weight (166.63±8.60), T1 (113.03±8.60) and the lowest in T3 (74.46±8.60). The thigh weight were greater (P<0.05) in T2 (185.69±4.34); T1 (185.54±4.34) compared to T3 (166.97±4.34) which was lower. Treatments 1 (204.17±6.57), T2 (197±6.57) had heavier (P<0.05) breast weights than T3 (186.06±6.57). Dietary treatments had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on pH of the breast meat. No differences were observed in colour during the 1 hour period after slaughter. At 24 hours after slaughter, the L* values were different (P < 0.05) in T1 and T2 (44.3 ± 0.37; 43.7 ± 0.37), respectively, T1 and T3 were the same. The a*-values were different (P < 0.05) at 48 hours after slaughter for T1 and T3 (4.5 ± 0.27; 3.4 ± 0.27), T2 was the same as T1. It was therefore, concluded that since manipulation of starter phase did not have adverse effects on growth performance, gross profit, slight statistical difference in meat quality attributes and carcass characteristics. Therefore, the manipulation of starter diet has the potential to be used in broiler production.
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