Profiling Village Chickens Predators, Parasites and Medicinal Plants Used to Control the Parasites

ABSTRACT Rural communities rely heavily on chickens to meet their socio-economic needs. However, predators, diseases, and parasites deprive them of nutrients required for sustained growth and development. A cross-sectional survey and key informant interviews were conducted in selected villages of Limpopo Province, South Africa to find out the parasites and predators prevalent in indigenous chickens. Medicinal plants commonly used to control parasites as well as the household heads views on the preservation of indigenous chickens for sustained rural food security were investigated. Qualitative data gathered through interviews was analysed thematically using Atlas Ti version 8.1.4 while the IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 25.0 was used to compute descriptive statistics and carry out cross-tabulations of quantitative data. Approximately, 72 % of the respondents reported that predation affected chicks with hens at (67 %) and cocks (63 %) following in that respective order. Snakes such as the king cobra (phakhu phakhu), birds such as the martial eagle (Goni), and wild animals, especially the genet cat (tsimba) were the predominant predators. Among the commonest parasites, fleas [Dermanyssus gallinae (thatha)] and mites [Siphonaptera (magomani)] were predominant. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolour) and aloe (Aloe vera) were the most common medicinal plants that were used to control the parasites. It is, therefore, recommended that farmers and extension officers alike, consider the profile of major predators, parasites, medical plants, and preservation of indigenous knowledge for the sustainability of indigenous chickens and enhanced rural food security.

The response of laying hens fed fermented pineapple peel waste by indigenous microorganism from bamboo sprout / Resposta de galinhas poedeiras alimentadas com resíduos fermentados de casca de abacaxi por microorganismos indígenas do broto de bambu

The bromelain enzyme content in pineapple peel waste predicted to promote digestive tract health and a positive effect on egg quality. This research aimed to evaluate the use of fermented pineapple peel waste in laying hens diet on egg quality. A total of laying hens 200 birds with Isa Brown strain, egg production of 70%, The average egg weight and body weight were 58.58 g/egg, and 1.62 g/bird, respectively. A completely randomized design was used, 5 different levels of fermented pineapple peel waste as treatment (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%), and all treatments were repeated 4 times. Egg shell thickness, egg shell strength, haugh unit, egg yolk fat, and egg yolk color were measured. The use of fermented pineapple peel waste in the diet of laying hens up to 20% highly significant (P 0.01) on egg yolk color, and did not negative effect (P>0.05) on egg shell thickness, egg shell strength, haugh unit, and egg yolk fat. Fermented pineapple peel waste can be used as much as 20% in laying hens diet without disturbing egg quality and improve egg yolk color.(AU)

O conteúdo da enzima bromelina nos resíduos de casca de abacaxi previa promover a saúde do trato digestivo e um efeito positivo na qualidade dos ovos. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar o uso de resíduos de casca de abacaxi fermentado na dieta de galinhas poedeiras, investigando seu efeito na qualidade dos ovos. Um total de galinhas poedeiras 200 aves com cepa Isa Brown, 70% de produção de ovos. O peso médio dos ovos e o peso corporal foram 58,58 g / ovo e 1,62 g / ave, respectivamente. Utilizou-se um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com 5 níveis diferentes de resíduos de casca de abacaxi fermentado como tratamento (0, 5, 10, 15 e 20%) e todos os tratamentos foram repetidos 4 vezes. A espessura da casca do ovo, a força da casca do ovo, a unidade de haugh, a gordura da gema do ovo e a cor da gema do ovo foram medidas. O uso de resíduos de casca de abacaxi fermentado na dieta de galinhas poedeiras de até 20% de alta significância (P 0,01) na cor da gema de ovo e não teve efeito negativo (P> 0,05) na espessura da casca do ovo, na força da casca do ovo, na unidade de haugh e gordura de gema de ovo. O desperdício fermentado de casca de abacaxi pode ser usado em até 20% na dieta de galinhas poedeiras, sem prejudicar a qualidade dos ovos e melhorar a cor da gema.(AU)

The response of laying hens fed fermented pineapple peel waste by indigenous microorganism from bamboo sprout / Resposta de galinhas poedeiras alimentadas com resíduos fermentados de casca de abacaxi por microorganismos indígenas do broto de bambu

The bromelain enzyme content in pineapple peel waste predicted to promote digestive tract health and a positive effect on egg quality. This research aimed to evaluate the use of fermented pineapple peel waste in laying hens diet on egg quality. A total of laying hens 200 birds with Isa Brown strain, egg production of 70%, The average egg weight and body weight were 58.58 g/egg, and 1.62 g/bird, respectively. A completely randomized design was used, 5 different levels of fermented pineapple peel waste as treatment (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%), and all treatments were repeated 4 times. Egg shell thickness, egg shell strength, haugh unit, egg yolk fat, and egg yolk color were measured. The use of fermented pineapple peel waste in the diet of laying hens up to 20% highly significant (P 0.01) on egg yolk color, and did not negative effect (P>0.05) on egg shell thickness, egg shell strength, haugh unit, and egg yolk fat. Fermented pineapple peel waste can be used as much as 20% in laying hens diet without disturbing egg quality and improve egg yolk color.

O conteúdo da enzima bromelina nos resíduos de casca de abacaxi previa promover a saúde do trato digestivo e um efeito positivo na qualidade dos ovos. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar o uso de resíduos de casca de abacaxi fermentado na dieta de galinhas poedeiras, investigando seu efeito na qualidade dos ovos. Um total de galinhas poedeiras 200 aves com cepa Isa Brown, 70% de produção de ovos. O peso médio dos ovos e o peso corporal foram 58,58 g / ovo e 1,62 g / ave, respectivamente. Utilizou-se um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com 5 níveis diferentes de resíduos de casca de abacaxi fermentado como tratamento (0, 5, 10, 15 e 20%) e todos os tratamentos foram repetidos 4 vezes. A espessura da casca do ovo, a força da casca do ovo, a unidade de haugh, a gordura da gema do ovo e a cor da gema do ovo foram medidas. O uso de resíduos de casca de abacaxi fermentado na dieta de galinhas poedeiras de até 20% de alta significância (P 0,01) na cor da gema de ovo e não teve efeito negativo (P> 0,05) na espessura da casca do ovo, na força da casca do ovo, na unidade de haugh e gordura de gema de ovo. O desperdício fermentado de casca de abacaxi pode ser usado em até 20% na dieta de galinhas poedeiras, sem prejudicar a qualidade dos ovos e melhorar a cor da gema.

Haematological and Serum Biochemical Responses of Ovambo Chickens Fed Provitamin A Biofortified Maize

ABSTRACT The current study was conducted to investigate the influence of provitamin A biofortified maize (PABM) diet, sex and age of birds on the haematological and serum biochemistry parameters of indigenous chickens. A total of ninety-six 13 week old male and female Ovambo chickens were reared and fed on either white maize (WM) a low vitamin A diet or a PABM based diet for eight weeks. Each diet was replicated four times. Packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), erythrocyte concentration (RBC), leucocytes concentration (WBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were measured. Albumin (ALB), globulin (GLOB), total proteins (TP), triglycerides (TRI), cholesterol (CHOLES), uric acid (UA) and creatinine (CREAT) concentrations were assessed. The activity of alanine transaminase (ALT) alkaline phosphate (ALP) and aspartate transaminanse (AST) were also assayed. The PABM diet increased (p 0.05) PCV and WBC of female birds. All mean values for the haematological parameters regardless of the age, sex and diets were within the normal range. Age had an effect (p 0.05) on ALT, TP, GLOB, TRI and UA. Sex of the birds significantly influenced the TP, GLOB, ALB, CREAT and TRI levels. There was significant interaction of diet and age of bird on ALP, ALT, and GLOB concentrations. The cholesterol level in 18 weeks old male birds fed on the WM diet was above the normal range. In conclusion, feeding PABM diet to female and male indigenous chickens will not negatively impact on the health status of indigenous chickens.

Haematological and Serum Biochemical Responses of Ovambo Chickens Fed Provitamin A Biofortified Maize

The current study was conducted to investigate the influence of provitamin A biofortified maize (PABM) diet, sex and age of birds on the haematological and serum biochemistry parameters of indigenous chickens. A total of ninety-six 13 week old male and female Ovambo chickens were reared and fed on either white maize (WM) a low vitamin A diet or a PABM based diet for eight weeks. Each diet was replicated four times. Packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), erythrocyte concentration (RBC), leucocytes concentration (WBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were measured. Albumin (ALB), globulin (GLOB), total proteins (TP), triglycerides (TRI), cholesterol (CHOLES), uric acid (UA) and creatinine (CREAT) concentrations were assessed. The activity of alanine transaminase (ALT) alkaline phosphate (ALP) and aspartate transaminanse (AST) were also assayed. The PABM diet increased (p 0.05) PCV and WBC of female birds. All mean values for the haematological parameters regardless of the age, sex and diets were within the normal range. Age had an effect (p 0.05) on ALT, TP, GLOB, TRI and UA. Sex of the birds significantly influenced the TP, GLOB, ALB, CREAT and TRI levels. There was significant interaction of diet and age of bird on ALP, ALT, and GLOB concentrations. The cholesterol level in 18 weeks old male birds fed on the WM diet was above the normal range. In conclusion, feeding PABM diet to female and male indigenous chickens will not negatively impact on the health status of indigenous chickens.(AU)

Haematological and Serum Biochemical Responses of Ovambo Chickens Fed Provitamin A Biofortified Maize

The current study was conducted to investigate the influence of provitamin A biofortified maize (PABM) diet, sex and age of birds on the haematological and serum biochemistry parameters of indigenous chickens. A total of ninety-six 13 week old male and female Ovambo chickens were reared and fed on either white maize (WM) a low vitamin A diet or a PABM based diet for eight weeks. Each diet was replicated four times. Packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), erythrocyte concentration (RBC), leucocytes concentration (WBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were measured. Albumin (ALB), globulin (GLOB), total proteins (TP), triglycerides (TRI), cholesterol (CHOLES), uric acid (UA) and creatinine (CREAT) concentrations were assessed. The activity of alanine transaminase (ALT) alkaline phosphate (ALP) and aspartate transaminanse (AST) were also assayed. The PABM diet increased (p 0.05) PCV and WBC of female birds. All mean values for the haematological parameters regardless of the age, sex and diets were within the normal range. Age had an effect (p 0.05) on ALT, TP, GLOB, TRI and UA. Sex of the birds significantly influenced the TP, GLOB, ALB, CREAT and TRI levels. There was significant interaction of diet and age of bird on ALP, ALT, and GLOB concentrations. The cholesterol level in 18 weeks old male birds fed on the WM diet was above the normal range. In conclusion, feeding PABM diet to female and male indigenous chickens will not negatively impact on the health status of indigenous chickens.