Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Theses

Browse

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Efficacy of certain litter materials on broiler performance
    (Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1999) Sini Thomas; KAU; Amritha Viswanath
    An experiment was designed and conducted at the Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy to evaluate the efficacy of different litter materials on the performance of broilers under hot-humid conditions of Kerala. Two hundred and ten, one-day old straight-run commerical broiler chicks were reared for a period of eight weeks. The birds were allotted into five different litter treatment groups, viz., wood shavings (T,) which formed the control group, saw dust (T2), rice husk (T,), coir pith (TJ and paddy chaff (T5), each comprising of three replicates with fourteen birds each. Standard broiler starter and finisher rations were formulated as per BIS (1992) specifications for the broilers. The chicks were reared under standard managemental conditions upto eight weeks of age. Results of the study revealed that body weight and body weight gain were not influenced by different litter treatments throughout the experimental period. Eventhough feed consumption and feed efficiency were influenced by litter materials during the initial periods, there obsno impact for the rest of the experimental period. Processing yields and losses were not affected by different litter treatments. Litter quality parameters like weight of the litter at the beginning and end of the experiment, weekly moisture content, fortnightly ammonia-nitrogen content, nitrogen-phosphorus- potassium content, litter pH and proximate composition of the litter at the beginning, at sixth week and eighth week were significantly different (P<0.01) between different treatment groups. It was observed that eventhough there was significant difference (P<0.05) between treatment groups for mortality by fourth week of age, no significant difference was obtained for all other periods. Cost-benefit analysis revealed that net profit per bird by sixth week and eighth week of age was more for litter materials, viz., saw dust, rice husk, coir pith and paddy chaff than wood shavings. Based on the above findings, it can be concluded that different litter materials, viz., saw dust, rice husk, coir pith and paddy chaff are equally good for broiler raising as wood shavings during the month of January through March in Kerala.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Production performance of Austra-white and Rhode-white layers on litter floor
    (Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1998) Sridharan, E; KAU; Peethambaran, P A
    An experiment was conducted at Kerala Agricultural University Poultry Farm, Mannuthy in order to evaluate the production performance of Austra -white and Rhode -white hens on litter floor. The Australorp and Rhode Island Red formed the male lines and the 'F' strain of White Leghom formed the female line for the production of A W and RW progenies. One hundred and twenty (120) pullets each of Austra -white (A W) and Rhode -white (RW) at the age of 18 weeks were housed in identical pens in eight replicates each at the rate of 15 birds per replicate at random. Layer mash with BIS specifications was fed throughout the experimental period. Standard routine managemental practices were followed in the study. The production performance on deep litter for six periods of 28 days each were recorded during the period from December' 97 to June' 98. The objective of the study was to evaluate and compare the production performance of Austra-white and Rhode - white hens from 21 to 44 weeks of age under deep litter system of rearing. Body weight at 20 and 44 weeks of age in Austra-white and Rhode-white were recorded individually and the respective mean values were found to be 1181.50 and 1178.75 g at 20 weeks and 1477.45 and 1539.79 g at 44 weeks of age. The average age at first egg was 161.63 days in Austra-white and 159.75 days in Rhode-white hens. The mean ages at 10 and 50 per cent production were 166.25 and 179.13 days in Austra-white and 163 and 176.75 days in Rhode-white respectively. The mean egg production recorded was 82.98 with 49.39 per cent in Austra-white and 98.80 eggs with 58.81 per cent in Rhode-white on hen-housed basis and on hen-day basis 85.72 eggs with 51.02 per cent in Austra-white and 101.21 eggs with 60.24 per cent in Rhode-white. The highest production was obtained at 32 weeks in Austra-white and 31 weeks of age in Rhode-white birds on hen-housed and hen-day basis. The mean daily feed consumption was worked out to 113.22 g in AW and 113.66 gin RW. Feed efficiency on the basis of dozen eggs for Austra-white was 2.60 and 2.05 in Rhode-white hens. Egg weight at last three days in each period were individually recorded and the overall mean egg weight for 21 to 44 weeks of age was 48.02 g in Austra-white and 46.50 g in Rhode-white. The overall mean egg mass per day was 3.32 kg in A W and 3.56 kg in RW. The mean percentages of shell, albumen and yolk were 10.86,60.11 and 28.75 in Austra-white and 11.10, 59.39 and 29.47 in Rhode-white eggs respectively. The mean shell thickness were 0.42 mm in AW and 0.41 mm in RW eggs. The livability per cent from 21 to 44 weeks of age was 89.17 in Austra- white and 95.83 per cent in Rhode-white. The feed cost per egg was 15291 paise in AW and 130.95 paise in RW. Based on the above findings, it is evident that the body weight at 44 weeks of age, overall HHN, HDN and its percentages, per cent livability and per cent yolk in eggs were Significantly higher (P < 0.05) in Rhode -white birds. Whereas the overall mean egg weight and per cent albumen were significantly higher in Austra - white eggs. The differences in body weight at 20 weeks, age at sexual maturity, overall feed consumption, per cent shell, shell thickness and egg mass per day were non- significant between Austra - white and Rhode - white. Therefore it was concluded that Austra-white birds have an edge over Rhode-white birds in the overall mean egg weight and per cent albumen. Rhode-white birds are superior to Austra-White birds in body weight at 44 weeks, egg production, feed efficiency, livability and per cent yolk in eggs under deep litter system of rearing. Further studies using A W and RW birds are warranted under backyard conditions for exploiting the above traits advantageously.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of Sodium Sulphate supplementation in layer diet
    (Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1998) Vidhyadharan, P; KAU; Amritha, Viswanath
    An investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of supplementation of sodium sulphate in White Leghorn layer diets devoid of animal protein sources. White Leghorn 'Ft strain pullets of 20 weeks of age were wing banded and randomly distributed to five different dietary treatment groups, each with eight replicates of four birds each. The dietary treatment consisted of control ration (T1) prepared using unsalted dried fish as animal protein source, all vegetable protein diet with the addition of 300 g DL-methionine (T2), all vegetable protein diet with the addition of anhydrous sodium sulphate at the levels of 200 g (T3), 300 g (T4) and 400 g (Ts) in every 100 kg of diet. All the rations were formulated as per BIS (1992) specification of nutrients for layer chicken. Soyabean cake, groundnut cake and gingelly oil cake were used as protein sources in vegetable protein diet. Body weight at 20 and 48 weeks of age, age at sexual maturity, egg production, feed intake, feed efficiency, egg weight, livability and cost-benefit analysis were the major criteria considered for the evaluation. The data were recorded for seven, 28 day periods. There was significant difference in body weight at 48 weeks of age (Player ration (T1) and birds fed with 0.4 per cent sodium sulphate were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those birds fed with 0.3 per cent sodium supplemented diet. But body weight of birds fed with standard layer ration (T1) was comparable with body weight of birds fed with vegetable protein diet having 0.4 per cent sodium sulphate (Ts). Similar trend was followed in egg weight also, with significantly higher egg weight in treatment group fed with 0.4 per cent sodium sulphate (Ts). Egg weight of birds fed with standard layer ration (T1) was comparable with T, (Pand hen-housed egg production and feed efficiency were not affected by the supplementation of Sodium Sulphate. Feed intake showed significant (Ptreatments. The group fed with 0.3 per cent methionine (T2) had significantly lower feed intake in comparison with 0.2 per cent (T3) and 0.3 per cent sodium sulphate (T4) supplemented group. Feed intake of birds fed with control diet (T1) was statistically comparable with all treatment groups except those birds fed with vegetable protein diet with 0.4 per cent sodium sulphate (Ts). Mortality pattern showed no difference among the five dietary treatments tested. All vegetable protein ration prepared with the addition of either methionine or sodium sulphate had higher price when compared with standard layer ration. Based on this study it was surmised that sodium sulphate supplementation did not have any deleterious effect on production performance of White Leghorn layers. So methionine or sodium sulphate can be effectively utilized in formulation of all vegetable layer ration when scarcity of fish occurs.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Assessment of the quality of tenderized chicken meat pickle
    (Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1998) Murugan, M; KAU; Narayanankutty, K
    A study was carried out to examine the feasibility of preparing chicken pickle using untenderized and tenderized (papain treated) boned spent hen meat, and to evaluate its shelf-life. The ready-to-cook yield and total loss averaged 70. 5±0. 34 per cent and 29. 5±0. 07 per cent respectively for broiler breeder spent hens (72 weeks of age) used for the study. The cooking yields of control (untenderized) and treatment (tenderized) groups were 76.70 and 71.70 per cent respectively. The chicken meat pickle prepared were kept at ambient temperature upto 60 days. Analysis for qualitative assessment on the representative samples was conducted qualitatively and evaluated organoleptically by a taste panel at zero, eight, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56 and 64 days of storage. It was observed that during different periods of storage, the proximate components viz., moisture, protein, fat and total ash of the product significantly altered. As the storage period increased the 2-thiobarbituric acid number (TBA) was also increased significantly (P<0.0l). The total bacterial count increased significantly (P<0.0l) with the increase in the duration of storage. In case of organoleptic evaluation scores no significant difference was found between control and treatment groups. However, tenderized meat group had numerically higher tenderness values than untenderized meat group during all the periods of storage. Based on the cost structure it was observed that the cost of production of one kilogram of chicken meat pickle using untenderized and tenderized spent hen meat were Rs.60.27 and 60.45 respectively. From the above findings it was concluded that, a highly acceptable, nutritious, ready-to-cook chicken meat pickle could be prepared using untenderized and tenderized spent hen meat. The product could be stored upto 64 days at ambient temperature without any quality deterioration.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Influence of phytase on phosphorus utilization in broilers
    (Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1998) Kanagaraju, P; KAU; Jalaludheen, A
    An investigation was carried out utilizing 216 commercial day-old broiler chicks to evaluate the influence of supplementation of phytase enzyme on phosphorus utilization and subsequent performance. The birds were divided into six dietary treatment groups viz., standard broiler ration (T1) I broiler ration with 0.3 per cent available phosphorus (AP) (T2) I broiler ration with 0.4 per cent AP (T3) I standard broiler ration with 750 units of phytase per kg of feed (T4) I broiler ration with 0.3 per cent AP supplemented with 750 units of phytase per kg of feed (T5) and broiler ration ,with 0.4 per cent AP supplemented with 750 units of phytase per kg of feed (T6). Standard broiler ration was formulated as per BIS (1992) ) specifications. Initially, the ration with 0.3 per cent AP was formulated. By the addition of appropriate levels of dicalcium phosphate to this ration, diets with 0.4 and 0.5 per cent AP were formulated. The groups fed standard broiler starter and finisher rations with and without phytase and those fed rations containing an AP of 0.4 per cent supplemented with phytase had significantly (P<0. 01) higher body weights and body weight gain than other treatments. All enzyme supplemented treatments consumed significantly (P<0.0l) more feed (g/bird/day) than their respective unsupplemented groups except in the group offered 0.4 per cent AP. Significantly (P<0.01) superior feed efficiency was recorded in groups fed a diet having 0.4 per cent AP supplemented with 750 units of phytase per kg of feed. Phytase supplementation had a positive effect on tibial ash. Serum calcium and inorganic phosphorus (mg per cent) were significantly (P<0.0l) higher in enzYme supplemented groups than their respective counterparts at sixth week of age but were not influenced at eighth week of age. Bioavailability of calcium and phosphorus was significantly (P<0. 01) more in enzyme supplemented groups than their corresponding unsupplemented groups. Phosphorus excretion in the droppings I' (g/kg DM intake) was significantly (P<0. 01) reduced in enzyme supplemented groups. The per cent dressed yield and ready-to-cook yield were significantly (P<0. 01) higher in groups fed a diet having 0.4 per cent AP supplemented with phytase than other groups. The per cent giblet yield was significantly (P<0. 01) more in group fed a standard diet supplemented with phytase than other groups. The per cent livability was better with enzyme supplemented groups. The cost of production per kg live weight (when feed cost alone was considered) was cheaper in groups fed with 0.4 per cent AP supplemented with phytase. The net profit per kg live weight was 13 paise higher in groups maintained on 0.4 per cent AP supplemented with phytase compared to standard broiler ration. Based on the above findings it can be concluded that by the addition of 750 units of phytase per kg of diet I the available phosphorus level in broiler rations can be reduced by 0,1 per cent without affecting the overall performance.