FEED STUFFS AVAILABILITY FOR FREE-RANGED CHICKENS IN LATE WET AND EARLY DRY SEASONS - S. D. Sudik

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovations         Volume 4, Number 2, 2016

© 2016 McEvans Publications

FEED STUFFS AVAILABILITY FOR FREE-RANGED CHICKENS IN LATE WET AND EARLY DRY SEASONS

S. D. Sudik

Department Of Animal Health and Production,

 Plateau State College Of Agriculture, Garkawa, Nigeria

E-mail: davidsudik@yahoo.com

           

ABSTRACT

The performance of free-ranged chickens ispoorer during dry season than in the wet season due to variability of available feed materials. Hence, this study sought to assess feed materialsavailable for free-ranged chickens in late wet and early dry seasons (August to December, 2016) by examining the crops of 15 onesslaughtered. Fifty (50) birds in all were stocked and out of which 3 were slaughtered per months through a 5 months experimental period. The results showed that grains, green grass, broad leaves, vegetables, kitchen wastes and broth were identified.  The Green grass, broad leaves,

vegetables and insects were significantly (p<0.05 and 0.001) dominant in the birds slaughtered in August and September, and were less in those slaughtered in November and December. In contrast, grains and kitchen wastes were the dominant in December and November, while the “broth” in September and less in October. The birds slaughtered in August, September and October had significantly (P < 0.001, 0.003 0.033) higher body weights, thigh muscles and abdominal fat than those slaughtered in November and December. Finally, the wet season offered varietal feed stuffs than in the dry season.  Hence,feed supplementation, particularly of protein origins was suggested for birds in the dry season.

Keyword: Feedstuffs, free-range chickens, wet season, dry season and supplementation

Introduction

The indigenous chickens are the predominant domestic birds raised in most rural societies in developing countries characterized with life of hardy self-reliance (i.e. scavenging for food in the day andminimal-care by unpaid family labour).However, during dry season feed materials in the fields are usually insufficient; hence the free-ranged birds hardly meet-up the maintenance and productive rations leading to poor performance. But during the wet periods, leaves, seeds, berries and nibbling; insects (termites, larvae/maggots, worms, ants, grasshoppers, spiders, mots, ticks) (Santos et al., 2005) and so many other things are plenty and the birds’performance is usually high. Smith (1990) and Sudiket al. (2009) stated that any attempt to supplement the foods of animal it is important to determine what the birds are eaten. Therefore it becomespertinent to examine the crops of free-ranged chickens to ascertain what they are eating.

Materials and methods

Study area

This study was conducted in Gidgidtown in KanamLocal Government Area of Plateau State Central Senatorial zone, Nigeria.  It lies between latitude 9.2351^o N a longitude 9.7233^o E and at about 240m above sea level. The atmospheric temperature usually ranged between 28⁰C and 39⁰C from November to March.The rainy season usually begins from April to October with mean annual rainfall usually around 1100mm and relative humidity is usually about 65-80% (Wikipaedia, 2016).

Experimental birds and management

Fifty (50) two-months-old local chickens previously managed inintensive systemwere allowed free-range. No feed supplement wasprovided;they were only given free clean drinking water and night shelters throughout the experiment which lasted for 5 months (August, 2015 to December, 2016).

Data collection

3 birds were randomly picked in the morning at day 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 weighed and slaughtered.Immediately the birds were killed, their cropswerecarefully excised and opened using

Feedstuffs Availability for Free-Ranged Chickens in Late Wet and Early Dry Seasons

razor blade. Thecontent for each was spread on cleaned tray. The feed materials observedwere separated, weighed and carefully labeled but the fluidly materials which could not easily were tagged “broth”. Also determined was the weight of the eviscerated carcass, abdominal fat and thighmuscle. The eviscerated carcass percentage was calculated as the ratio between the eviscerated carcass and live body weight. The weight percentage of thigh and abdominal fat were calculated as a percentage of eviscerated carcass weight

Data analysis

Data were analyzed by 1-way ANOVA (SPSS Inc. Chicago IL). The differences existed among the treatment means were compared by Duncan’s multiple range tests.

Results

Table 1 summarizes the feed materials in the crops of the slaughtered chickens. The feed materials identified included grains, green grass, broad leaves, vegetables, insects/other preys, kitchen wastes and broth. The quantity of these feed materials in the crops varied significantly(p<0.05 and 0.001) in the months under consideration. Green grass, broad leaves, vegetables and insects/ werehigher in August followed September and less in November and December. Grains and kitchen wastes were higher in December followed by November, but both were less inAugust and September. The feed material tagged broth was high in September and low in October.  Table 2 shows live weight and carcass performance of the slaughtered chickens.  Body weight, thigh yield and abdominal fat were significantly affected (P < 0.001, 0.003 0.033)by months while percent dressed weight was not affected. The birds slaughtered in August, September and October had similar body weights and higher than those killed in November and December, the thigh muscles and abdominal fat were also higher in birds slaughtered in August, September and October thanthose slaughtered in November and December.

Discussion

Thefeed materials observed in the crops of the slaughtered: included grains (cereals, legumes, weed and plant seeds); green grass, broad vegetables, insects (termites, larvae/maggots, worms, ants, grasshoppers, spiders, mots, ticks etc.), and kitchen wastes were similarly reported by Santos et al. (2005).Sudiket al. (2009) added sands as crops constituents. The availabilities of green grass, broad vegetables, and insects in August and September (Table 1) were attributed to the wet condition favouring plant growth and insects multiplication. This implies that birds would have access varietal feedsin the wet season. The dominant grain was observed in November and Decemberwas as resultsof harvest time. This findingcorroborated with the of reported by Santos et al. (2005) and (Castelliniet al., 2002)that Protein supply may be critical especially, during drier months, whereas energy is critical at all time. The body weight of birds slaughtered in August and September was higher and was similar to one another.This implies that birds are better fed in August and September. This agreed with the report of Sudik (2016) who ascribed body weight gain to the quality of feed consumed.The higher thigh muscles and abdominal fat in the birds slaughtered in August and September appeared to correlate withthe body weight.The lower abdominal fat in the birds slaughtered in November and December may be due to the long roaming resulting to burning of body fat than storing it.

Conclusion

It was generally observed that free range birds are access to more varietal feed materials during wet season than dry season. Therefore, supplementation of feed in the dry season is suggested.

References

Castellini, C., Mugnai., C. and Dal Bosc, A. (2002). Effects of organic production system on broiler cascass and meat quality.meat science, 60:219-225.

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovations         Volume 4, Number 2, 2016

© 2016 McEvans Publications

Santos, A. L., Sakomura, N. K. Freitas, E. R., Fortes, C. M. S. and  Carrilho, E.N. (2005). Comparison of free range broiler chicken strains raised in confirmed and semi-confined systems.Brazilian Poultry Science, 7:85-92.

Smith, A. J. (1990). Poultry.CTA/Macmillan pulications, 123.

Sudik, S. D. (2016). Nutrient distribution and biochemical study of fonio (Digitariaspp) in infant weaning foods and poultry diets. A Ph. D Thesis submitted to the School of Postgraduate Studies, the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria PP, 306.

Sudik, S. D., Yibis, G. G., Rose, N. G. and Dadyip, I. Y. (2009). Food particles in the crops of free ranged chickens. Proceedings of the 43^rd Annual Conference of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria, Abuja, (addendum).

Wikipedia (2016).www.wikipedia.org/wiki/jos

Table: 1:        Weights of feed materials/month in the crop of slaughtered free-ranges                                chickens

Month	Grains	Green  grass	Broad Leaves	Vegetables	insects	Kitchen wastes	Broth
August	4.18c	5.27a	5.88a	5.72a	9.75a	3.96c	3.23ab
September	4.82c	4.19b	5.15b	5.04b	11.68b	3.43c	3.42a
October	5.22c	4.11b	4.21c	4.18c	8.88c	3.92c	2.59c
November	9.81b	3.96b	3.07d	2.78d	6.25d	5.10b	3.00abc
December	11.59a	3.03c	2.46e	2.03e	3.09e	5.73a	2.78bc
Mean	7.19	4.12	4.15	3.95	7.93	4.43	3.01
SD	3.06	0.76	1.32	1.43	3.12	0.92	0.38
P-value	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.018

Values are averages of 3 birds; SD = standard deviation.

Table 2:         Live weight and carcass performance/month in the crop of slaughtered free-rangeschickens.

Month	Body weight (g)	Carcass yield (%)	Thigh yield (%)	Abdominal fat (%)
August	1.60a	69.12	27.00ab	5.33a
September	1.61a	68.54	28.39a	5.67a
October	1.59a	64.94	26.00bc	5.00ab
November	1.47b	65.38	24.33c	3.00b
December	1.31c	64.67	24.00c	3.33b
Mean	1.52	66.54	25.93	4.47
SD	1.27	2.60	1.91	1.06
P-value	0.001	0.351	0.003	0.033

Values are averages of 3 birds; SD = standard deviation.