Influence of Xylopia aethiopica and Tetrapleura tetraptera Supplemented Feed on the Production and Quality of Layer Chicken Eggs in Response to Suspected Gumboro Disease
I. R. Igwe *
Department of Veterinary Biochemistry and Animal Production, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
C. C. Ogbu
Department of Veterinary Biochemistry and Animal Production, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
K. K. Igwe
Department of Veterinary Biochemistry and Animal Production, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
R. C. Unigwe
Department of Veterinary Biochemistry and Animal Production, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
L. U. Egwu
Department of Veterinary Biochemistry and Animal Production, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
M. U. Chima
Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
P. I. Otuh
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, Nigeria and Institute of Infectious Diseases, Biosecurity Research, David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, Nigeria.
J. I. Ukwueze
Institute of Infectious Diseases, Biosecurity Research, David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, Nigeria.
B. Nwajiobi
Department of Forestry and Environmental Management, College of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The effects of Xylopia aethiopica and Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit meals on egg production performance and egg quality in laying chickens following a suspected outbreak of Gumboro disease, or infectious bursal disease (IBD), were evaluated. A total of 450 day-old Isa Brown pullet chicks obtained from Agrited were used for the study. The birds were vaccinated against Newcastle disease on arrival and received an IBD vaccine on day 10. On day 18, before the second IBD vaccine dose was administered, high morbidity and some mortality were observed in the flock. Clinical signs and post-mortem findings were consistent with an IBD outbreak. Supportive therapy was instituted, and mortality ceased by day 24, after six days of clinical disease. A total of 138 birds (30.67%) died, and 300 surviving birds were enrolled in the experiment. The birds were randomly assigned to 10 treatment groups, each comprising three replicates of 10 chicks. Treatment 1 served as the control. Treatments 2, 3, and 4 received diets supplemented with 0.5, 1.5, and 2.5 g of X. aethiopica fruit meal per kilogram of feed, respectively. Treatments 5, 6, and 7 received corresponding levels of T. tetraptera fruit meal, whereas Treatments 8, 9, and 10 received paired combinations of the two fruit meals at the corresponding inclusion levels. The pullets were weighed weekly. Egg production performance was recorded at 32, 50, and 60 weeks of age (woa), while egg quality was assessed at 43 and 50 woa. The data were analysed using analysis of variance, and means were separated using Duncan's multiple range test. Most treated groups showed better egg production than the control, and birds receiving 0.5 or 1.5 g/kg X. aethiopica recorded hen-day egg production above 80%. Most egg-quality parameters did not differ significantly among the groups, except shell weight and shell thickness at 43 woa and yolk cholesterol at 43 and 50 woa. The findings indicate that lower inclusion levels of X. aethiopica may support laying performance after recovery from suspected IBD.
Keywords: Xylopia aethiopica, Tetrapleura tetraptera, infectious bursal disease, Gumboro disease, laying hens, hen-day egg production, egg mass, feed conversion ratio, egg quality, yolk cholesterol