Fatty acid composition, lipid profile and oxidative stability of meat of broiler chickens fed diet containing bird eye pepper of varying inclusion level and sieve size.

Nutritional modifications to improve meat quality is targeted by farmers. Bird eye pepper (BEP) contains bio-compounds of physiological significance. The potency of BEP of varying inclusion level and sieve size on meat quality [fatty acid (FA), lipid profile and oxidative stability] of broiler chickens was investigated.

Early-age thermal manipulation and supplemental antioxidants on physiological, biochemical and productive performance of broiler chickens in hot-tropical environments.

Heat stress has been ranked as a critical environmental issue confronting chicken farmers worldwide because of its detrimental effect on the growth, performance and health of the birds. This study evaluated the effects of early-age thermal manipulation (EATC) and supplemental antioxidants on the physiological responses of broilers in a hot tropical environment. A total of 300 day-old Ross broiler chicks were allocated to five thermal and dietary treatments, having 5 replicates of twelve birds each.

Research Note: Effect of egg storage length on spread of hatch window, chick quality, and organ development in Transylvanian naked neck chickens.

Two hundred and twenty eggs from Transylvanian naked neck (TNN) chickens aged 30 wk were used to determine the effect of storage length on hatch window, chick quality, and organ development. Forty-four eggs (11 eggs in 4 replicates) were stored in cold room (16±1.5°C) in batches for 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 d before setting in incubator.

Environmental stress and livestock productivity in hot-humid tropics: Alleviation and future perspectives.

Tropical environments are characterized by persistently high temperature and relative humidity and the harsh environmental conditions pose a serious limitation on the optimal performance of the animals raised in this region. Heat stress causes deleterious effects on welfare, immunology and physiology of farm animals with a resultant impact on their productivity as the use of body resources is re-organized and the metabolic priorities of animals shift away from production, growth, health and reproduction. It is imperative to understand the mechanisms involved in the thermoregulation of animals under tropical conditions in order to develop appropriate strategies for their improvement.

Effect of storage duration on egg quality, embryo mortality and hatchability in FUNAAB-ɑ chickens.

Effect of extended storage on egg quality, embryo mortality and hatchability in FUNAAB-ɑ chickens was determined. Hatchable eggs (n = 288; weighing 53.2 ± 4.

Blastodermal development, hatchability and chick quality of Marshall broiler breeders of different flock ages during egg storage.

The blastoderm, which represents the fertilized germinal disc, undergoes cellular events of division, differentiation and organization to achieve embryonic development in chickens. In this study, blastodermal cell counts and hatching performance of Marshall broiler breeders as influenced by flock age and egg storage were investigated. A total of 1,520 eggs from the flock ages, 43 weeks (younger) and 65 weeks (older), under similar management and nutritional regime were incubated after storage at 16°C with 75% relative humidity for duration of 0 (fresh eggs), 4, 7 and 10 days.

Comparative study of adaptation in three chicken genotypes under humid tropical conditions of Nigeria.

Adaptation of Nigerian indigenous chickens (NIC), FUNAAB-α (F-α) and Transylvanian naked neck chickens (TNN) raised during hot-dry season under humid tropical environment was compared during a 4-week period. A well-adapted NIC (n = 12; 6 males and 6 females), a newly developed F-α (n = 12; 6 male and 6 females) and a newly introduced TNN (n = 12; 6 male and 6 females) chickens aged 36 weeks were used for this experiment. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT) and skin temperature on comb (COM), wattle (WAT), breast (BRE) and under wings (WIN) were monitored between 13.

Performance and blood biochemistry profile of broiler chickens fed dietary turmeric () powder and cayenne pepper () powders as antioxidants.

A 56-day experimental trial was conducted to investigate the performance and blood biochemistry profile of broiler chickens fed dietary turmeric () powder (t) and cayenne pepper () powder (c) as antioxidants. Two hundred and forty three (two-week old) broiler chicks were randomly allotted into nine treatment groups consisting of 27 selected chicks and three replicates of nine birds each. Three levels of t - (0, 200 and 400 g/ 100 kg basal diet) and three levels of c - (0, 100 and 200 g/ 100 kg basal diet) were used to formulate nine dietary treatments (basal diet (B) inclusive) and fed to each groupin two phases, starter (3-4 weeks) and finisher (5-8 weeks) phases in a randomized design.

Comparative evaluation of haemagglutination potential of haemolymph from two species of giant African land snails (Archachatina marginata and Achatina achatina).

A comparative study was conducted to evaluate haemagglutination potential in the haemolymph of two species of giant African land snails (Archachatina marginata and Achatina achatina). Three liveweight groups of snails (<100 g, 101-150 g and >150 g) were used with 4 replicates per liveweight per species for haemagglutination assay (HA). The effect of aestivation on haemagglutination potential was also evaluated.