Asian Journal of Research in Animal and Veterinary Sciences

Maize Meal Replacement Value of Air-Dried Irish Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Peel Meal in Broiler Chicken Diets

S. Qobolo — 2026-06-17

Background: Rapid urbanisation and changing dietary patterns in Lesotho have increased reliance on expensive maize-based livestock feeds, creating interest in locally available agricultural by-products, including potato peels, as low-cost feed resources for broiler production.

Aims: This study investigated the effect of air-dried Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum) peel meal used as a maize meal replacement feedstuff on broiler chicken performance during the starter and grower phases. Study Design: Completely randomised design.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Department of Animal Science, National University of Lesotho, between August 2023 and December 2024.

Methodology: One hundred and ninety-five day-old Cobb 500 broiler chicks were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments (D0, D5, D10, D15 and D20), with 39 birds per treatment and three replicates of 13 birds each. Five diets were formulated for a 28-day feeding trial. The control diet (D0) contained maize meal as the main energy source, whereas D5, D10, D15 and D20 contained Irish potato peel meal replacing maize meal at 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%, respectively. Data collected included the proximate and mineral composition of Irish potato peel meal, nutrient composition of the experimental diets and growth performance indices. Growth performance data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance, and significant means were separated using Duncan’s multiple range test.

Results: Irish potato peel meal contained 3069.50 Kcal/kg metabolisable energy, 15.44% crude protein and 8.23% crude fibre. Feed intake, protein intake and body weight gain differed significantly during the starter phase, whereas no significant differences were observed for these indices during the grower phase.

Conclusion: Irish potato peel meal can replace maize meal in broiler diets during the grower phase up to 15%, but its crude fibre content limits its replacement value during the starter phase.

Mitigating Effects of Ficus spp. Leaf Powder on Haematology, Reproductive Health and Serum Biomarkers in Response to Aflatoxin B1-Contaminated Diet in Isa Brown and Rhode Island Red Cocks

Oluwaseyi Titilope Ewegbemi — 2026-06-22

This study evaluated the effects of composite Ficus spp. leaf powder on haematological indices, testicular sperm reserve and selected serum biomarkers in Isa Brown and Rhode Island Red cocks fed aflatoxin B1-contaminated diets. One hundred and fifty sexually mature cocks, comprising 75 Isa Brown and 75 Rhode Island Red birds aged 20 weeks, were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments in a completely randomised design with three replicates of five birds each. The dietary treatments contained graded levels of composite Ficus spp. leaf powder prepared from Ficus exasperata, Ficus carica and Ficus thonningii, with or without 500 ppb aflatoxin B1, over an eight-week experimental period. Aflatoxin B1 exposure significantly reduced red blood cell count from 4.00 to 3.85 × 10⁶/µL, mean corpuscular volume from 143.24 to 142.90 fL, mean corpuscular haemoglobin from 47.78 to 47.66 pg and lymphocyte percentage from 88.05 to 82.57%, while increasing granulocyte percentage from 12.05 to 16.58%. Supplementation with Ficus spp. leaf powder significantly influenced several haematological parameters, with the 500 g/kg inclusion level producing the highest mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin values. Ficus supplementation also significantly affected left testicular sperm reserve, with the highest value recorded at 500 g/kg. Aflatoxin B1 increased serum heat shock protein 70 concentration, while Ficus supplementation significantly modulated heat shock protein 70, leptin and deoxyribonucleic acid damage biomarker concentrations. Breed effects were significant for serum biomarkers and testicular sperm reserve but not for most haematological indices. No significant interaction effects were observed among breed, aflatoxin B1 and Ficus supplementation. The findings indicate that composite Ficus spp. leaf powder, particularly at 500 g/kg, may help moderate some haematological and reproductive biomarker changes associated with aflatoxin B1 exposure in cocks.

Ficus spp. Composite Leaf Powder as a Dietary Supplement Mitigates Aflatoxin B1-Induced Alterations in Serum Biochemistry, Antioxidant Status, and Organ Weights of Two Broiler Breeds

Oluwaseyi Titilope Ewegbemi — 2026-06-24

This study evaluated the effects of a composite Ficus spp. leaf powder, prepared from Ficus exasperata, Ficus carica, and Ficus thonningii, on serum biochemical indices, muscle antioxidant status, and organ weights of broiler chickens exposed to dietary aflatoxin B1. A total of 200 day-old broiler chicks from two commercial breeds, Arbor Acre and Cobb 500, were assigned to five dietary treatments in a completely randomised factorial arrangement for 42 days. The treatments comprised a control diet without aflatoxin B1 or Ficus supplementation, an aflatoxin B1-challenged diet, and aflatoxin B1-challenged diets supplemented with graded levels of the composite Ficus leaf powder. At the end of the feeding trial, blood samples and selected organs were collected for biochemical, antioxidant, and organ-weight assessments. Aflatoxin B1 exposure altered serum biochemical responses, including reductions in total protein and globulin and increases in cholesterol and albumin. It also affected muscle antioxidant indices by increasing lipid peroxidation and reducing superoxide dismutase activity. Organ-weight responses showed reduced gizzard and liver weights and increased spleen weight in aflatoxin B1-challenged birds. Supplementation with the composite Ficus leaf powder, particularly at the higher inclusion level, improved several altered biochemical and antioxidant responses and moderated some organ-weight changes. No significant breed effect or breed by treatment interaction was observed for the measured parameters, suggesting similar responses in Arbor Acre and Cobb 500 broilers under the conditions of this study. The findings indicate that composite Ficus spp. leaf powder may help reduce some adverse biochemical and oxidative effects associated with aflatoxin B1 exposure in broiler chickens. Further verification under broader experimental and field conditions is recommended.

Comparative Antibacterial Efficacies of Four Natural Spices Used as Growth Enhancers in Cockerel Production in Northern Ghana

A. Mohammed — 2026-07-07

This study evaluated the effects of four natural spices used as dietary additives on selected gut microbial populations in cockerels. A total of 126 Isa Brown cockerels, aged 8 weeks, were assigned to seven dietary treatments in a completely randomised design, with three replicates per treatment and six birds per replicate. The treatments comprised a control diet without spice supplementation and diets supplemented with 2 g/kg feed of black pepper, Negro pepper, black pepper plus Negro pepper, African nutmeg, clove, or African nutmeg plus clove. The feeding trial lasted 8 weeks. At 16 weeks of age, one bird from each replicate was selected for microbial assessment. Caecal samples were collected aseptically and cultured using Salmonella-Shigella agar for Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp., and De Man Rogosa Sharpe agar for Lactobacillus spp. Microbial counts were expressed as log colony-forming units and analysed using one-way analysis of variance. Dietary supplementation significantly affected Salmonella spp., Shigella spp. and Lactobacillus spp. counts. The control group recorded higher Salmonella and Shigella counts than the supplemented groups. Among the tested additives, clove recorded the lowest Salmonella count, while African nutmeg recorded the lowest Shigella count. For Lactobacillus spp., the control and Negro pepper groups recorded higher counts than the other supplemented groups, whereas black pepper and clove showed complete inhibition in the reported results. The findings indicate that the tested spices influenced caecal microbial populations in cockerels, with variable effects on pathogenic and beneficial bacteria. Although the spices showed potential for reducing Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp., their inhibitory effects on Lactobacillus spp. suggest that their use as feed additives should be considered cautiously and requires further evaluation.