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The researcher has undertaken this study on comparative evaluation of swine production with other domestic livestock in Mbaitolu Local Government Council of Imo State, Nigeria to proffer some solution to the problems hindering the rearing of swine in the study areas (Mbieri, Ogwa, Orodo, Ogbaku, Eziama –Obiato, Umunoha, Ifakala, Ubomiri and Afara). The researcher used descriptive survey design to carry out the study. The population for the study was 10,450 respondents drawn from nine towns of Mbaitolu Local Government Council. 600 respondents were proportionally and randomly selected as sample size for the study. General objective was formulated from which five specific objectives were formulated. Among these – is to compare swine prolificacy over the prolificacy of other domestic livestock. Five research questions were formulated to guide this study, among these is – what importance has the prolificacy of swine over other domestic livestocks like goats, sheep, horse and cattle? Five null hypotheses were formulated for the study among these is – there is no significant relationship between the prolificacy of swine over the prolificacy of other domestic livestock in Imo State. Pilot study was conducted at Umuagwo community using 20 respondents that reared domestic livestocks. This area was not part of the study location. Questionnaires were used as a medium for data collection. One sample T-test was used to test five null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance and all the null hypotheses were rejected meaning that there were significant differences between pig productions over the production of other domestic livestock. The analysis yielded the following results: swine production was accepted to be more prolific than other domestic livestocks like goats, sheep, horse and cattle. It was also agreed that swine were more adapted to wide varieties of feeds which made them to grow more quickly than other domestic livestocks. It was concluded that swine production was more economically important than the rearing of other domestic livestock. It was recommended that National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) in Imo State should enlighten the respondents on the economic importance of swine production over the rearing of other domestic livestock. Piglets should be made available to farmers who wish to embark on swine production at affordable price by Anambra – Imo River Basin Development Authority (AMRBDA).Keywords: Swine Production, Domestic Livestock, Mbaitolu Local Government Council.

The study assessed constraints to increased layers production among small-scale poultry farmers in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State. Data were collected using a multistage sampling technique to select 120 small-scale poultry farmers. Descriptive statistics (frequencies counts, percentages) were used to describe the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents. The result shows that the mean age of the respondents was 48 years and majority (77.5%) of the farmers had higher education. Majority of the respondents (73%) practiced sweeping and packing of dirt in the poultry house as the daily routine management on their farms. The major constraint faced by the respondents was disease and pest attack (76.7%) followed by difficulty in credit and loan procurement processes (73.3%). The study therefore recommends that Government should tackle the problem of loan/credit procurement, market price instability, disease and pest as well as proper funding of small-scale layers poultry business so as to enhance the commercialization of poultry industry in Nigeria.Keywords: Poultry Farms, Layer Production, Socio-Economic Characteristics, Constraints.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different protein levels on growth of guinea fowl keets (Numidia meagris) of the same age under intensive system in a typical poultry house from 6th week to 12th week of age. They were fed commercial broiler starter for two weeks and maintained on same diet of 18% crude protein for 5 weeks of age and given water ad libitum. The birds were separated into three pens. One hundred and twenty old guinea fowls were assigned at grower period on 3 dietary protein levels of 14, 16 and 18% crude protein (CP) on same metabolizable energy level of 2800 kcal/ kg. The study conducted at the Poultry Unit of Teaching and Research Farm, Imo State Polytechnic was used to test the performance of the guinea fowl layer birds. The birds were killed at the owner’s farm by cutting the neck through the jugular vein. There was significant difference (P

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of egg size on hatchability of Guinea fowl keets. Three different egg size groups (treatments): small (42 g)] were used in the experiment. Each treatment had three replicates of 10 eggs each. A complete randomized design was used for the experiment. Eggs were incubated with their sharp ends pointing downwards at 37.5 - 37.8oC and 60% relative humidity for 28 days. Thereafter, incubation parameters including hatchability (number of eggs that successfully hatched), dead in shells (DIS), clears, pips and keets with deformities evaluated. Data were analyzed using General Linear Model (GLM) of SAS. Medium sized eggs had significantly (P

The present work was on the extraction of the oil from the Moringa (Moringa oleifera) kernel as a source for biodiesel and biogas production. Moringa is an indigenous tree in India. Several extraction methods are used to determine the extraction yields, solvent extraction (n-hexane and ethanol), and supercritical extraction (Sc-CO2) respectively. Supercritical extraction pressures of 200 to 400 bar and temperatures of 40°C and 60°C were tested. Gas Chromatography analysis revealed that the main fatty acids in Moringa oil are oleic acid (69%), palmitic acid (10%) and stearic acid (8%).

Thirty (30) weaner New Zealand white rabbits of both sexes, made up of fifteen (15) males and fifteen (15) females were used for the experiment to investigate, the performance characteristics and carcass characteristics of weaner rabbits fed five (5) dietary levels ofTalinum triangulareshoot meal (TTSM). Treatments 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 received 0, 10, 15, 20 and 25% TTSM, respectively. Results obtained showed that rabbits on T2diet achieved the corresponding weight gain (1876.00) while T1, T3,T4and T5recorded weight gains of (1925.00, 1799, 1743 and 1655), respectively. Rabbits on T2diets also recorded a corresponding daily weight gain (74g) than those on T3, T4and T5(73g, 68g and 55g), respectively. There was also significant difference (P< 0.05) on the feed cost per kg gain as T2feed was cheaper (N191.20), than T3, T4and T5whose feed costs were N176.20, N151.10 and N119.70 respectively. Feed intake and initial live weight had no significant difference (P > 0.05) across the treatments. Results of organ weights showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) on the weight of intestine (g), heart weight (g), liver weight (g) and kidney weight (g) respectively. This investigation therefore suggests that New Zealand white rabbits can tolerateTalinum triangulareshoot meal (TTSM) up to 20% level for optimal performance. Higher levels of incorporation resulted in decreased performance and should be discouraged.

Two-hundred (200) four weeks old broiler chickens of Anak 2000 breed from Imo State Polytechnic Research farm were used to investigate the effect of sweet orange peel meal in broiler rations. The birds were fed on 0%, 2.50%, 5.00%, 7.50% and 10.00% dietary inclusion of sweet orange peel meal as replacement for wheat offals in a 28 day feeding trial. Significant difference between dietary levels of sweet orange peel meal and wheat offals were observed on feed efficiency and weight gain (p

The study was undertaken on utilization of farm animal organic waste as feeds for livestock and poultry. Increasing feed costs and international concern for the conservation of resources have focused attention on the nutrients in animal wastes that have in the past been used largely as fertilizer or as a major source of fuel for villagers in a number of countries. Animal wastes represent a vast reservoir of cheap nutrients, particularly for ruminants. The limitation in using animal waste as feed is that it needs processing. Dehydration, ensiling, chemical and physical treatments can be used to maintain the nutrient composition and increase the palatability and feeding values of the waste. Animal waste can potentially be used not only to maintain animals in the dry time but also to encourage performance quite satisfactorily. Feeding cattle manure in poultry and pigs promotes meat and egg productivity respectively. Pig waste, when processed and properly balanced with other ingredients, may become a potential feed substitute for cattle at levels up to 30%. No differences in the quality of meat from animals fed waste have been detected, nor has there been a problem of consumer acceptance in animal products.Keywords: Black Nera Laying Birds, Pig Dung Meal, Diets, Feed Cost, Organic Waste.

A total of 250 Anak broiler chicks were used in a 28 days feeding trial in a completely randomized design, in a deep litter house to assess the effect of replacing feather meal (FEM) for fish meal (FM) on the performance of broiler chicks. Five replacement levels of the formulated feed: 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10% of FEM were used for treatments 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively with 0% FEM as control. Treatments were replicated thrice. The broiler chicks were fed the experimental birds four weeks after one-week stabilization period. Feeding and water supply were ad libitum, while medication and vaccinations were appropriately applied. The deep litter house was provided with standard brooding facilities. Measurement of initial weights and final weights of birds were taken with a sensitive weighing balance (Salter brand) while mean daily weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and feed cost per kg gain were calculated. Results showed that final live weights 865.00g, 855.00g, 842.00g, 833.70g and 756.75g for birds fed 0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5% and 10.0% FEM respectively varied significantly (p were observed in daily feed intake, daily weight gain and feed cost/kg weight gain. Considering the results of final live weight and daily weight gain, it appeared that the 7.5% level of FEM is the optimal replacement level for FM. Keywords: Feather meal, fishmeal, poultry feed, broiler chick

A four-week feeding trial on the simultaneous replacement of 0 to 50% of soybean meal and 0 to 100% of soybean oil on the growth performance, carcass composition and profitability was conducted using 45 randomly chosen one-week-old growing Japanese quail. The five experimental diets were; D0= Diet containing 20% soybean meal and 4% soybean oil (control diet), D1= Diet, where 12.5% of soybean meal and 25% of soybean oil has been replaced by RSC; T2 = Diet, where 25% of soybean meal and 50% of soybean oil has been replaced by RSC; T3 = Diet, where 37.5% of soybean meal and 75% of soybean oil has been replaced by RSC; T4 = Diet, where 50% of soybean meal and 100% of soybean oil has been replaced by RSC. Results demonstrated that in raw rubber seed the proportion of kernel to hull is 64: 36. Proximate components of the boiled and sundried full fat rubber seed kernel (RS) were, moisture = 96.6%, ME = 5305 kcal / kg DM, CP = 17.6%, EE = 51.05%, CF = 8.5%, NFE = 18.25% and Ash = 4.6%. The body weights of the birds at 35 days of age in all dietary treatments were statistically similar. The feed intake of the quail among different dietary groups was varied significantly (p < 0.05) and there was a tendency of decreasing the feed intake at 25% and above inclusion level of RSC. The body weight gain and FCR were also statistically similar in all dietary groups. The feed cost and total production cost /kg BW of quail was also found to become steadily higher (p> 0.05) at higher RSC inclusion level. The muscle development was found to better at lower (%) RSC level, whereas the organs were enlarged at higher RSC inclusion. Results on the majority of the production parameters, and economics and carcass yield parameters suggested that the simultaneous replacement of maximum 50% soybean oil 25% soybean meal by processed RSC might be suggested, particularly, there will be a crisis in the availability of these two ingredients.