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COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT FEEDING STRATEGIES ON FORAGING ABILITY AND NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY OF A SLOW GROWING ORGANIC BROILER

ABSTRACT

The organic poultry production in the world and Nigeria is increasing. The use of organic feed has been seen as one of the major constraint especially the protein sources, and efforts have been made to secure the future of this system. Access to different feeding strategies by organic chicken has been described as a means to partly compensate for their nutritional needs. This research was an experimental research conducted to examine the effects of different feeding strategies on the foraging ability and nutrient digestibility of slow growing organic broilers. A total number of ten broilers of both sexes was raised and treated with different feeding strategies to determine their growth and digestibility level which have access to two different diets control feed represented as (C, and the blended feed represented as F1). The diets used were formulated such that F1 diets had a lower protein and amino acid than the standard control diet (C). The results from the digestibility experiment showed variation in feeding strategies which was observed between dietary treatments analyzed as higher nitrogen retention was recorded for all F1 diets with access to supplement which is significantly different (P<0.05). The data collected were subjected to one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. Results from the analysis of variance have shown that there was a significant difference (P< 0.05) between weight gains for the experimental diets. Research findings of the study have revealed that Supplementary Feeds in broiler chickens gained significantly more weight than the compound meal.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the Study     –           –           –           –           –           –           1

1.2       Statement of the Problem     –           –           –           –           –           –           4

1.3       Purpose of the Study            –           –           –           –           –           –           5

1.4       Research Questions   –           –           –           –           –           –           –           5

1.5       Research Hypotheses            –           –           –           –           –           –           6

1.5       Significance of the study      –           –           –           –           –           –           6         

1.6       Scope and Delimitation of the Study           –           –           –           –           7

1.7       Operational Definition of Terms     –           –           –           –           –           7

CHAPTER TWO

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

CHAPTER THREE

MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1       Study Area     –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           27

3.2       Materials and Methods        –           –           –           –           –           –           29

3.3       Method of Data Collection   –           –           –           –           –           –           29

3.4       Data Analysis             –           –           –           –           –           –           –           30       

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.0       Introduction   –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           31       

4.1       Results            –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           31

4.2       Discussion of Findings          –           –           –           –           –           –           33

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATION, LIMITATION AND SUGGESTION FOR FURTHER STUDY

5.1       Summary of Findings           –           –           –           –           –           –           35

5.2       Conclusion     –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           36

5.3       Recommendation      –           –           –           –           –           –           –           36

5.4       Limitation of the Study                    –           –           –           –           –           37

5.5       Suggestion for Further Study          –           –           –           –           –           37

            REFERENCE           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           38

APPENDIX     –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           44

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the Study

For centuries chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) have been raised for the production of eggs and meat for human consumption. From indigenous, and less productive, double-purpose genotypes, modern breeding programmes have emphasized productivity: either layers for the production of eggs or broilers for the production of meat (Tixer-Boichard et al., 2012). As a result of intensive selection, the production of broilers has seen an extraordinary rise in the last 40 years, and in 2010 more than 86 million tonnes of chicken meat was produced worldwide (FAOstat, 2012a).

The organic poultry production has increased in Europe and other part of the world including Nigeria in the last few years but it is still relatively small. This positive tendency is as a result of increased consumer preferences for organic poultry meat that is perceived to be safe under the production system that minimize the use of antibiotics, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, growth promoters, additives and genetically modified crop, which tend to be associated with potentially adverse health effects. The guidelines for this system were developed in an attempt to elaborate an alternative to conventional production (Sundrum, 2001). This system of poultry production is more integrated, wholesome and environmentally friendly, the production forecast for organic products continue to increase following the trend in consumer demand with willingness to pay more. A key aim of organic farming is environmentally sustainability by enhancing environmental quality and natural resources, make the most efficient use of non-renewable resources and on-farm resource, and integrate where appropriate, natural biological cycles and control. In addition, it promotes biodiversity and soil biological activities (National Organic Standards Board Definition and USA, 1995).

Poultry represent an important sector in livestock production because of its ability to provide high nutritious protein in terms of eggs and meat; and reach a market weight within a short period of time. It is consumed all over the world and continually receiving an attention on management, welfare and sustainability in order to satisfy both consumers and environmental interest. Apart from supporting quality nutrients in human diets, poultry are often essential for meeting important social and cultural needs and obligations. Furthermore, it aid in reducing poverty and malnutrition in developing country.

In the analysis of different feeding strategies on foraging ability and nutrient digestibility of a slow growing organic broiler being the focus of this study brings to line the main differences between organic and conventional broiler production relate to housing system, access to outdoor areas, genotype, range of feedstuffs available for dietary use and disease prevention measures. In organic feeding system, freedom of movement is an important part with an access to an outdoor area (at least 4m2 per bird). The flock size found in this system is often below the conventional system and the use of mobile house can be the best for smaller flocks which can be moved to a new pasture at regular intervals (Ciczuk & Sjelin 1996, Bassler et al. 1999). Feed, including pasture and forage, must be produced organically and health care treatments must fall within the range of accepted organic practices, the feed is generally more expensive than the conventional feed often resulting in eggs and meat being twice as costly as the conventional product (Blair, 2008). In general, organic food products are typically more expensive than conventional foods, costing at least 10 to 30 percent more (Lohr, 2001). This may be probably due to the fact that more slow growing genotypes live longer, move more and so need more feed, the raw materials used in feed costs more to grow, more labour is needed, and the capital cost per birds are higher because more space is given to each bird. Thus maximum reliance is placed on locally produce feed or farm derived renewable resources to reduce cost.

In conventional system, antimicrobial agents (a general term for drugs, chemicals or other substances which at certain concentration either kill or inhibit the growth of microbe e.g. antibacterial and antiviral drug) can be used for treatment, control and prevention of the diseases as well as for improvement of the growth and feed efficiency (Khachatourians, 1998; McEwen and Fedorka-Cray 2002). Organic system on the other hand, has restricted use of antimicrobial substances on the farm (El-Shibiny et al., 2005). Organic poultry production has been subject to a wide range of regulations and code of practices covering production, marketing, health and hygiene, welfare, killing and processing, which are laid down to guide such practice. This usually command high price premium compared to conventional chicken due to high cost of production and standard. The system provide the birds with a number of welfare advantages that birds are denied in the intensive and conventional systems which include sufficient space for exercise; access to daylight and fresh air; opportunity for natural behavior such as foraging, exploration and nesting; reducing the risk of frustration, stress and injuries (e.g. foot pad lesions) that can result from a higher bird density in modern stable systems. It is upon this background that the study aim to compare and analyze the different feeding strategies on foraging ability and nutrient digestibility of a slow growing organic broiler.

1.2       Statement of the Problem

Over the years, the aim to increase the production and market share for poultry farm products by farmers has been a greater challenge. This is as a result of lack of awareness and technical skills by the poultry farmers to effectively harnessed materials to arrive at chemical-free feed for the consumption of the chickens as well as healthy meat for the populace. Little did these farmers know that the use of only organic feed can pose a major constraint and contribute to high cost of production, thus the transition to 100% organic feeding can be difficult due to insufficient supply of organic protein sources since some of the available sources are expensive and most being imported. The increasing reliance on imported protein sources may also expose farmers feed mills to price fluctuation. As a result of this, owing to the growing demand of organic poultry meat, there is a risk that organic protein of high quality can be a limited resource within few years, and there is an urgent need to find alternative sources and feeding strategies. In an attempt to rectify this shortfall in the future, efforts are being made to consider alternative protein sources through access to forage in broiler production.

Furthermore, with access to nutritious forage and knowledge of different feed items eaten by broilers on attractive outdoor area can be beneficial and increase the level of self-sufficiency in organic broiler production. Also, more conclusive comparative inferences regarding the potentials of alternative sources and feeding strategies, such as protein sources through access to forage in broiler production, if any is available, is quite scanty. This necessitated the study to provide answers to following questions; To what extent does foraging capability contribute to the nutritional need of chickens depending on feeding strategies involving diets differing in protein and amino acid content? To what extent does feed items blended from maize, soyabeans and fish affects the growth rate of chickens?

1.3       Purpose of the Study

The general aim and objectives of this study is a comparative analysis of different feeding strategies on foraging ability and nutrient digestibility of a slow growing organic broiler. Specifically, the study seeks to:

• Analyze different feeding strategies on foraging capability and nutrient digestibility of a slow growing organic broiler
• Access the benefits of foraging to the nutritional need of chickens depending on feeding strategies involving diets differing in protein and amino acid content.
• Determine the effect of different feed products on the growth rate of broilers chickens

1.4       Research Questions

The following research questions guided the conduct of this study;

1. What are the different feeding strategies on foraging capability and nutrient digestibility of a slow growing organic broiler?
2. What are the benefits of foraging to the nutritional need of chickens depending on feeding strategies involving diets differing in protein and amino acid content?
3. To what extent does the different feed products affects growth rate of broilers chickens?

1.5       Research Hypotheses

Ho: There is no significant effect between feeding strategies on foraging capability and nutrient digestibility of a slow growing organic broiler

Ha: There is a significant effect between feeding strategies on foraging capability and nutrient digestibility of a slow growing organic broiler.

1.5       Significance of the study

            This study will be of immense importance to agriculturist most especially the poultry farmers by creating awareness and technical skills to effectively harnessed materials to arrive at chemical-free feed for the consumption of the chickens as well as healthy meat for the populace.

To the government, the study findings will provide information on how to create awareness to the poultry farmers on harnessing materials from within to arrive at chemical-free feed for the consumption of the chickens and also providing them with funds to purchased equipment needed in the production process which will significantly increase growth rate of slow growing broilers in tackling food insecurity. To educational institution, the findings of the study will increase the sphere of knowledge of researchers, teachers as well as students to take advantage of this study by using it as a reference for further investigation on other educational contexts.

Finally, the research will be of immense importance to the public most especially those who in no time are ready to vendor in to chickens production by creating awareness on how to arrive at chemical-free feed for the consumption of broiler chickens to significantly tackle food insecurity.

1.6       Scope and Delimitation of the Study

The researcher has limited the study to the comparative analysis of different feeding strategies on foraging ability and nutrient digestibility of a slow growing organic broiler.

            Due to financial constraint, the researcher is unable to use many broiler chickens for experimentation as it will require capital for feeding supplementation. Also the researcher being students is involved in other academic endeavours and hereby left with limited time to use more broiler chickens than the previous. These factors therefore, delimit the research work to only ten broiler chickens of both sexes to determine their foraging ability and nutrient digestibility treated under different feeding strategies.

1.7       Operational Definition of Terms

Terms that are related to the study are defined below in order to remove somatic ambiguity in their usage.

Comparative Analysis:                     Comparative analysis refers to the comparison of two or more processes, documents, data sets or other objects. In this study, it refers to utilizing of two feeding strategies to determine foraging ability and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens.

Feeding Strategies:                           Literally, it refers to Methods of giving food to humans or animals. In this study, it implies those strategies used in feeding the experimental chickens under-study.

Foraging Ability:                              Literally, it implies the act of hunting or gathering

food. In this study, it refers to the important role in an animal’s ability to survive and reproduce.

Nutrient Digestibility:                      Literally, it refers to the fitness of something for digestion. In this study, it refers to the amount of nutrient absorbed by the broiler chickens.

Slow Growing organic Broiler:                   It refers to those broilers with the “genetic potential growth rate equal to or less than 50 grams per day averaged over the growth cycle (roughly 23% slower growth than conventional chickens).