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The current study evaluated the inclusion of Pancreatin enzyme on growth performance, intestinal morphology, endogenous enzyme activity, and immunological responses in cockerels. A total of 480 d-old-Hy-line cockerels were randomly divided into 5 treatments, with 6 replicates, 16 birds per cage. Birds were given a standard corn-soybean-based (CD) starter and grower diet. Exogenous Pancreatin enzyme was supplemented at 0: 250; 500; 750, and 1000 mg/kg. Results demonstrated that Pancreatin supplementation did not affect (P > 0.05) the growth performance and duodenal enzyme activity of birds. However, the addition of Pancreatin enzyme at 500 mg/kg increased (P < 0.05) jejunal villus height at 42 d; duodenal crypt depth and jejunal crypt depth at 70 d. Pancreatin supplementation except 1000 mg/kg increased (P < 0.05) serum IgM but not IgA and IgG. Furthermore, Pancreatin supplementation had the potential to decrease jejunal pH, spleen gene expression, and antibodies titers against NDV. In conclusion, Pancreatin enzyme inclusion had no effect on cockerels' growth performance despite the variation found on the gut morphology. Pancreatin enzyme at intermediary amounts (500 and 750 mg/kg) showed a satisfactory serum immunoglobulin result but had the potential to modulate differently on the antibody titers against NDV and gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Response surface methodology (with central composite rotatable design for k=3) was used to investigate the product properties of extruded rice-cowpea-groundnut blends in a single screw extruder. The combined effect of cowpea (0-20%), groundnut (0-10%), and feed moisture (14-48%) levels were used for formulation of the products. The product moisture, expansion ratio, bulk density and total colour change were studied using standard analytical methods. Well-expanded rice-legume blend extrudates of less bulk density and lower moisture content were produced at low feed moisture. Increasing legume addition affected the various shades of colour in the product. Models developed for the indices gave R(2) values ranging from 52.8% (for the b-value) to 86.5% (for bulk density). The models developed suggested that the optimal process variables for the production of a puffed snack with an enhanced nutrition and spongy structure from a rice-cowpea-groundnut blend are low feed moisture of 14-20% and maximum additions of 20% cowpea and 10% groundnut. A lack-of-fit test showed no significance, indicating that the models adequately fitted the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]