COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE EFFICACY OF COMMERCIAL AND LOCALLY FORMULATED VITAMIN – MINERAL PREMIXES IN THE DIETS OF EGG – TYPE CHICKENS

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COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE EFFICACY OF COMMERCIAL AND LOCALLY FORMULATED VITAMIN – MINERAL PREMIXES IN THE DIETS OF EGG – TYPE CHICKENS

Abstract:

A comparative study on the evaluation of the efficacy of commercial vitamin – mineral premix (CVMP) and two locally formulated vitamins – mineral premixes 1 and 2 (LFVMP1 and LFVMP2) in egg – type chicken diets was investigated. Locally and naturally sourced feedstuffs were used in formulating locally produced vitamins – mineral premix 1 and 2, where locally formulated vitamins – mineral premix 1 was used as a template. Proximate compositions of the premixes were carried out in the Biochemistry laboratory of Department of Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and the Central laboratory of National Animal Production Research Institute, Shika – Zaria. Samples of the premixes were analyzed for vitamins and minerals using Ultraviolet Visible Spectrophotometer (UV-S 6405) and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AA240FS) in the laboratory of National Research Institute of Chemical Technology (NARICT) Basawa, Zaria. Results obtained, showed that commercial vitamin – mineral premix was richer than locally formulated vitamin – mineral premixes in terms of proximate, vitamins and minerals compositions. Vitamins analyzed were vitamins A, B2, B6, B9 and E while the minerals analyzed were calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, copper, zinc, iron and manganese. The feeding trials were conducted using Lohman Brown Pullets at day old in a Completely Randomized Design (C.R.D). Seven diets were formulated containing CVMP, LFVMP1 and LFVMP2 at 0.00, 0.125, 0.25, 2.30, 4.60, 2.30 and 4.60% respectively. Reasons for these levels of inclusion are: recommended level of inclusion of CVMP by the manufacturer is 0.25% (full dose). The study tested 0.125% (half dose) inclusion level to see whether it will not be detrimental to the production parameters and also minimize costs in order to maximize profit. For LFVMP1which was used as a template for LFVMP2, the producer recommended 4.60% and was also tested at half dose. The appropriate diets were fed to the pullets from 0 – 8, 9 – 20, 20 – 32 and 32 – 56 weeks of age. In the chick phase, results obtained indicate that in terms of final weight and weight gain chicks fed on CVMP diets were significantly (P < 0.05) better than chicks on LFVMP based diets. The addition of premixes at half or full doses resulted in better growth performance than the control. Growth performance on full dose was significantly (P < 0.05) better than on half dose for all the premixes. Growth performance was best for CVMP followed by LFVMP 2 and LFVMP 1. The feed cost per kg gain was better on CVMP 0.25% followed by LFVMP 2 (4.60%). During the grower phase, performance in terms of final weight, weight gain of birds fed CVMP based diets were significantly (P < 0.05) better than those of LFVMP2 and LFVMP1 based diets respectively. Feed consumption was higher at full doses of premixes diets than half dose premixes diets for all the treatments, except treatment 1. Feed to gain ratio improved in chicks fed CVMP based diets than those on LFVMP2 and LFVMP1 respectively. At the early laying phase of the birds, results indicate that the final weight and weight gain increased as the levels of the premixes increased to full doses across the treatments. Chicks fed on CVMP based diets performed better than those on LFVMP2 and LFVMP1 respectively. CVMP based diets had significant (P < 0.05) effects on feed cost / dozen, hen egg – day and hen egg – housed production, percentage production at peak and income above feed expenses. At the laying phase, appropriate diets were fed to the birds from 32 – 56 weeks of age. Final weight, percent change in body weight and feed intake were significantly (P < 0.05) different across the treatments. Feed cost/kg, feed cost/dozen eggs, hen egg day and hen housed egg productions, percentage production at peak of lay and income above feed expenses were significantly (P < 0.05) different across the treatments. Laying hens on full doses of CVMP premixes diets had higher profit margin than those on half doses and control diets. Performance on half dose of CVMP was similar to full dose of CVMP and full doses of LFVMP 1 and 2. Therefore, performance was same on full dose for all the three premixes which means that for laying hens any of the premixes can be used in the absence of CVMP. CVMP diets fed to laying hens produced eggs with superior external and internal qualities than the LFVMP1 and control diets. LFVMP2 diets fed to laying hens produced eggs that compares favourably with CVMP diets. All premixes resulted in eggs that had better quality than the control diet even at half dose. All premixes at full dose gave rise to eggs of higher quality than half dose. Egg weight, shell thickness and Haugh unit were best for all eggs from hens fed CVMP, followed by LFVMP 2 and LFVMP 1. The final study was on the determination of cholesterol in egg yolk of eggs laid based on the different treatments on subsequent performance of layers and at the laying phase was investigated. CVMP fed hens laid eggs with higher total cholesterol than LFVMP. Eggs from hens fed the control diet also had high levels of total cholesterol; this is because of the importance of cholesterol which is use in synthesing steroid hormones, body membranes and other important structures in the body.The animal body produces cholesterol daily to meet minimum requirements. A standard egg had 186 milligrammes of cholesterol and the standard blood cholesterol in humans is 200 milligrammes per deciliter or 2.2 millimole per liter. CVMP fed hens tended to have higher triglycerides.Normal triglyceride in the blood is less than 1.7 millimole per liter, eggs laid by hens on CVMP and LFVMP 1 diets had higher triglycerides than that of the control and LFVMP 2 but within the desirable levels. However, eggs from CVMP fed hens had higher high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol but less low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol than eggs from LFVMP fed hens, which is desirable. The levels are comparable to the standard of 1.6 millimole per liter in the blood. Hens fed diets with 0.00, 0.125 and 0.25% CVMP producedeggs with low cholesterol while hens fed diets with LFVMP1 and LFVMP2 at 2.30 and 4.60% levels of inclusion produced eggs with high low density lipoprotein cholesterol at the early laying and laying phases based on the National Cholesterol Education Programme ranking. The values are not as high as 2.6 – 3.3 millimole per liter for the level near ideal in human blood. The probable reasons were because blood meal and whole hard eggs which are known to be high in cholesterol were used as ingredients in formulating LFVMP1 and LFVMP2. CVMP at 0.25% and LFVMP2at 4.60% compared favourably in terms of laying performance, internal egg quality characteristics, feed cost per kg, income above feed expenses, egg production characteristics, egg yolk cholesterol and triglycerides values. It is concluded that in the absence of CVMP, LFVMP2 may be used as an alternative.

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE EFFICACY OF COMMERCIAL AND LOCALLY FORMULATED VITAMIN – MINERAL PREMIXES IN THE DIETS OF EGG – TYPE CHICKENS

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