Thesis (MSc. Agriculture (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2014 / Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of moringa seed meal supplementation on productivity and carcass characteristics of Ross 308 broiler chickens. The first experiment determined the effect of moringa seed meal supplementation on productivity of Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Two hundred and fifty unsexed day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments, replicated five times, and each replication having 10 chickens. A completely randomized design was used. The chickens were fed on a grower diet supplemented with 0 (M0), 5 (M5), 10 (M10), 15 (M15) and 20 (M20) g of moringa seed meal/bird/day. Moringa seed meal supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on feed intake, metabolisable energy intake, nitrogen retention, feed conversion ratio and live weight of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens. Moringa seed meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) growth rates of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. A moringa seed meal supplementation level of 13.3 g/kg DM feed optimized growth rate of Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. The second experiment determined the effect of moringa seed meal supplementation on productivity and carcass characteristics of female Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. The chickens weighing 558 ± 10 g/bird were randomly allocated to five treatments with five replications having 10 birds. The chickens, aged 21 days, were allocated to the treatments in a completely randomized design. The chickens were fed on a grower diet supplemented with 0 (FM0), 5 (FM5), 10 (FM10), 15 (FM15) and 20 (FM20) g of moringa seed meal per kg DM. Moringa seed meal supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on feed intake, growth rate, feed conversion ratio, live weight, metabolisable energy intake, carcass weight, breast meat weight, abdominal fat pad weight, liver weight, heart weight, thigh weight, meat flavour, juiciness and tenderness of female Ross 308 broiler chickens. However, moringa seed meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) nitrogen retention and gizzard weights of female Ross 308 broiler chickens. vi It was concluded that moringa seed meal supplementation improved growth rate of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Similarly, moringa seed meal supplementation increased nitrogen retention and gizzard weights of female Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days.

Thesis (MSC. Agriculture (Animal Production)) --University of Limpopo, 2014 / Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of moringa seed meal supplementation on productivity and carcass characteristics of Ross 308 broiler chickens. The first experiment determined the effect of moringa seed meal supplementation on productivity of Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Two hundred and fifty unsexed day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments, replicated five times, and each replication having 10 chickens. A completely randomized design was used. The chickens were fed on a grower diet supplemented with 0 (M0), 5 (M5), 10 (M10), 15 (M15) and 20 (M20) g of moringa seed meal/bird/day. Moringa seed meal supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on feed intake, metabolisable energy intake, nitrogen retention, feed conversion ratio and live weight of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens. Moringa seed meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) growth rates of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. A moringa seed meal supplementation level of 13.3 g/kg DM feed optimized growth rate of Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. The second experiment determined the effect of moringa seed meal supplementation on productivity and carcass characteristics of female Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. The chickens weighing 558 ± 10 g/bird were randomly allocated to five treatments with five replications having 10 birds. The chickens, aged 21 days, were allocated to the treatments in a completely randomized design. The chickens were fed on a grower diet supplemented with 0 (FM0), 5 (FM5), 10 (FM10), 15 (FM15) and 20 (FM20) g of moringa seed meal per kg DM. Moringa seed meal supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on feed intake, growth rate, feed conversion ratio, live weight, metabolisable energy intake, carcass weight, breast meat weight, abdominal fat pad weight, liver weight, heart weight, thigh weight, meat flavour, juiciness and tenderness of female Ross 308 broiler chickens. However, moringa seed meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) nitrogen retention and gizzard weights of female Ross 308 broiler chickens. vi It was concluded that moringa seed meal supplementation improved growth rate of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Similarly, moringa seed meal supplementation increased nitrogen retention and gizzard weights of female Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days.

Thesis (Ph. D. (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / A study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary crude (CF) levels of (3, 4, 5 and 7 %) on feed intake, digestibility, growth rate, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and live weight of male Ross 308 broiler and indigenous Venda chickens aged 1 to 42 days. The study, also, determined the effect of dietary CF level on the gastrointestinal morphology and digesta pH of gut organs of male Ross 308 broiler and indigenous Venda chickens aged 42 days. Dietary CF levels affected (P<0.05) feed intake, growth rate and live weight of male Ross 308 broiler and Venda chickens aged 1 to 21 days. A dietary CF level of 3.9 % optimized feed intake, while 4.5 % dietary CF optimized growth rate and live weight in male Ross 308 broiler chickens. However, dietary CF levels of 4.4, 4.8, 5.9 and 4.7 % optimized feed intake, growth rate, FCR and live weight, respectively, of male Venda chickens aged 1 to 21 days. Therefore, dietary CF level for optimal productivity depended on the breed of the chicken and production parameter of interest. Higher dietary CF levels decreased (P<0.05) crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) digestibility values in male Ross 308 broiler chickens. Dietary CF levels of 3.8, 3.7 and 4.1 % optimized dry matter (DM) digestibility, metabolizable energy (ME) intake and nitrogen retention, respectively, in male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 14 to 21 days. Increased dietary CF level, also, decreased (P<0.05) NDF and ADF digestibility values in male Venda chickens aged 14 to 21 days. Dry matter and CP digestibility values, ME intake and nitrogen retention of Venda chickens were optimized at dietary CF levels of 3.5, 3.7, 3.3 and 4.1 %, respectively. Feed intake of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days were affected (P<0.05) by dietary CF level; and it was optimized at a dietary CF level of 6.4 %. Increased dietary CF level resulted in poorer growth rate, FCR and live weight of male Ross 308 broiler chickens. However, dietary CF levels of 4.5, 5.8, 6.4 and 5.7 %, optimized feed intake, growth rate, FCR and live weight, respectively, of male Venda chickens aged 22 to 42 days. Dietary CF levels of 3.4, 4.4, 3.7 and 4.4 %, optimized DM, CP and NDF digestibility values, and nitrogen retention, respectively, in male Ross 308 broiler chickens. However, dietary CF levels of 5.1, 5.3, 4.9, 10.1 and 5.1 % optimized DM, CP, NDF and ADF digestibility values, and nitrogen retention, respectively, of male Venda chickens. Therefore, dietary CF level for v optimal response in the chickens depended on breed, age and production variable of interest. The GIT weight of male Ross 308 broiler chickens was optimized at a dietary CF level of 4.1 %. In increased dietary CF level in male Ross 308 broiler chickens increased gizzard weights and decreased small intestine weights (P<0.05). Dietary CF levels of 6.3, 5.9 and 8.0 % optimized GIT, gizzard and caecum weights, respectively, in male Venda chickens. The small intestine weight of male Venda chickens was not affected (P<0.05) by dietary CF level. Caecum weight of male Venda chickens increased (P<0.05) with higher dietary CF level. However, caecum weights of male Ross 308 broiler chickens were not affected (P>0.05) by dietary CF level. The GIT and small intestine lengths were affected (P<0.05) by dietary CF level in male Ross 308 broiler chickens. Dietary CF levels of 5.6 and 5.5 % optimized GIT and small intestine lengths, respectively. However, in male Venda chickens, GIT and small intestine lengths were not affected (P>0.05) by dietary CF level. Digesta pH of the proventriculus and gizzard were affected (P<0.05) by dietary CF level in male Ross 308 broiler and Venda chickens. Different dietary CF levels of 5.5 and 7.4 % optimized the proventriculus and gizzard digesta pH in male Ross 308 broiler chickens, respectively. However, dietary CF levels of 4.2 and 4.3 % optimized the proventriculus and gizzard digesta pH values, respectively, in male Venda chickens. The two breeds of chickens had similar digesta pH values of the crop, proventriculus, gizzard and large intestines. However, male Venda chickens had higher (P<0.05) small intestine digesta pH values than male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 42 days. Caecum digesta pH values of Ross 308 broiler chickens were higher (P<0.05) than those of Venda chickens aged 42 days. The second study was conducted to determine the effect of sodium bicarbonate supplementation level in the drinking water on feed intake, digestibility, FCR, growth rate, gut organ weight, length and digesta pH of male Ross 308 broiler and Venda chickens aged 22 to 42 days. The study, also, determined the effect of sodium bicarbonate supplementation level in drinking water on types of bacterial species in crop and gizzard digesta, as well as its effect on meat quality of male Ross 308 broiler and indigenous Venda chickens. Increased sodium bicarbonate vi supplementation level increased (P<0.05) water pH. Supplementation levels of 8.9, 2.04, 2.97 and 2.97 g of sodium bicarbonate per litre of drinking water optimized water intake, feed intake, growth rate and live weight of male Ross 308 broiler chickens, respectively. In male Venda chickens, there was a strong and positive relationship between sodium bicarbonate supplementation level and water intake of Venda chickens. A single supplementation level of 3.8 g of sodium bicarbonate per litre of drinking water optimized growth and live weight of male Venda chickens. There was a negative relationship between sodium bicarbonate supplementation level in the drinking water and NDF digestibility of male Ross 308 broiler chickens. Supplementation levels of 2.63, 6.67 and 7.0 g of sodium bicarbonate per litre of drinking water optimized DM and CP digestibility values, and nitrogen retention, respectively, in male Ross 308 broiler chickens. However, supplementation levels of 3.2 and 4.52 g of sodium bicarbonate per litre of drinking water optimized DM and NDF digestibility values, respectively, in male Venda chickens. There were negative relationships between sodium bicarbonate supplementation level in the drinking water and CP digestibility and nitrogen retention of male Venda chickens. Supplementation levels of 5.7, 2.2, 3.8, 7.6 and 7.2 g of sodium bicarbonate per litre of drinking water optimized proventriculus, gizzard and small intestinal weights, and GIT and small intestines lengths, respectively, in male Ross 308 broiler chickens. However, a sodium bicarbonate supplementation level of 2.8 % optimized proventriculus weights of male Venda chickens; the other digestive organ weights and lengths of Venda chickens were not affected (P>0.05) by sodium bicarbonate supplementation level. Sodium bicarbonate supplementation in the drinking water affected bacterial species found in the crops and gizzards of the chickens. There were different bacterial species found in the crop and gizzard digesta of male Ross 308 broiler and Venda chickens. Meat colour (L*, a* and b*) of the breasts and thighs of both breeds of chickens were not affected (P>0.05) by sodium bicarbonate supplementation. However, the redness (a*) values of the breast meat of male indigenous Venda chickens were higher (P<0.05) than those of breast meat from male Ross 308 broiler chickens. Sodium bicarbonate supplementation level did not affect (P>0.05) breast meat tenderness, juiciness, flavour and overall acceptability values and meat pH of Ross 308 broiler chickens. Supplementation levels of 3.6, 3.2 and 4.7 g of vii sodium bicarbonate per litre of drinking water optimized meat juiciness, flavour and shear force of male Venda chickens, respectively. It was concluded that sodium bicarbonate supplementation in the drinking water affected growth, NDF digestibility and bacterial species composition of male Ross and Venda chickens. Sodium bicarbonate supplementation level for optimal response in chickens depended on the breed and production variables of interest. / VLIROUS

Thesis (M.Sc. (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2014 / Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of supplementing diets with effective microorganisms on intake, growth and carcass characteristics of Ross 308 broiler chickens. The first experiment determined the effect of supplementing diets with effective microorganisms on performance of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to three weeks. Two hundred unsexed day-old chicks were randomly assigned to five treatments with four replications, each replication having ten birds. A complete randomized design was used. The chickens were fed a grower diet supplemented with 0 (EM0), 30 (EM30), 50 (EM50), 70 (EM70) or 100 (EM100) ml of effective microorganisms per litre of water. Effective microorganism supplementation did not improve (P>0.05) diet and metabolisable energy intakes of the chickens. Effective microorganism supplementation reduced (P<0.05) growth rate and live weight of the chickens. Poorer (P<0.05) feed conversion ratios were observed in chickens supplemented with effective microorganisms. However, effective microorganism supplementation improved (P<0.05) crude protein retention of the chickens. Supplementation with effective microorganisms reduced (P<0.05) mortality rate of the chickens from 10 to 0 %. The second experiment determined the effect of supplementing diets with effective microorganisms on performance of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. The chickens were randomly allocated to five treatments with four replications, each replication having 10 birds. The chickens aged 21 days, weighing 474 ± 2g, were allocated to the treatments in a complete randomized design. The chickens were fed a grower diet supplemented with 0 (EMM0), 30 (EMM30), 50 (EMM50, 70 (EMM70) or 100 (EMM100) ml of effective microorganisms per litre of water. Effective microorganism supplementation did not improve (P>0.05) intake, DM digestibility, metabolisable energy, feed conversion ratio, fat pad weight and meat sensory attributes of the chickens. Effective microorganism supplementation reduced (P<0.05) growth rate, live weight and carcass weight of the chickens. However, effective microorganism supplementation improved (P<0.05) crude protein retention and crude protein content of meat of the chickens. Supplementation with effective microorganisms reduced (P<0.05) mortality of the chickens from 5 to 0 %. v It is concluded that effective microorganism supplementation to the diets of Ross 308 broiler chickens reduced growth rate and live weight of the chickens. However, effective microorganism supplementation improved crude protein retention and crude protein content of the meat of broiler chickens. Supplementation with effective microorganisms reduced mortality of the chickens to zero.

Thesis (M. Sc. Agriculture (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2018 / Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of replacing maize meal with a low tannin sorghum meal (Macia) on productivity, gut morphology, carcass characteristics and bone morphometrics of Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 42 days. In each experiment, a total of 160 Ross 308 broiler chickens were assigned to a complete randomized design with 5 treatments, replicated 4 times with 8 chickens per replicate. Five diets were formulated to contain sorghum replacement levels at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% to meet the nutrient requirements of Ross 308 broiler chickens. Data was analysed using statistical analysis of variance. The first experiment determined the effect of replacing maize meal with a low tannin white sorghum meal on productivity and gut morphology of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 1 to 21 days. Feed intake, growth rate, feed conversion ratio, live weight, N-retention, caecum and large intestine digesta pH, large intestine lengths, crop, gizzard, caecum and large intestine weights, gut intestinal villi height, crypt depth and villi height to crypt depth ratio of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens were not affected (P>0.05) by the treatment effects. However, replacement of maize meal with sorghum meal improved (P<0.05) metabolisable energy intake and small intestine digesta pH values. It was concluded that maize meal can be replaced by a low tannin white sorghum meal in the diet without adverse effects on unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. The second experiment determined the effect of replacing maize meal with sorghum meal on productivity, gut morphology, carcass characteristics and bone morphometrics of Ross 308 male broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. Replacing maize meal with sorghum meal had no effect (P>0.05) on feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), live weight and nitrogen retention (N-retention) of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. Replacing maize meal with sorghum meal improved (P<0.05) ME intake and growth rate of the chickens. Caecum and large intestine digesta pH, GIT, caecum and large intestine lengths, small intestine, caecum and large intestine weights, gut intestinal villi height, crypt depth and villi height to crypt depth ratio, drumstick, thigh and wing weights, drumstick, thigh and wing colour, meat sensory evaluation, meat pH and bone morphometrics of male Ross 308 broiler chickens were not affected (P>0.05) by replacement of maize meal with sorghum vii meal. It was concluded that maize meal can be replaced by a low tannin white sorghum meal at 25, 50, 75 and 100% levels without causing adverse effects on productivity and carcass characteristics of male broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. Key words: Low tannin sorghum meal, Maize meal, Broiler chickens, Growth rate, Carcass characteristics. / National Research Foundation (NRF)

Thesis (M. Sc. Agriculture (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of dietary methionine level on productivity and carcass characteristics of Ross 308 broiler chickens. In each experiment, the diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous but with different dietary methionine levels. Five diets were formulated to contain dietary methionine levels of 4, 5, 6, 8 or 9g/kg DM. The first experiment commenced with 300 unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens with initial average live weights of 42 ± 2g per chicken. The chickens were randomly assigned to five treatments with five replications, resulting in 25-floor pens with 12 chickens per replicate. The second experiment commenced with 150 male Ross 308 broiler chickens with initial average live weight of 637 ± 12g per chicken. The chickens were randomly assigned to five treatments with three replications, resulting in 15-floor pens with 10 chickens per replicate. A complete randomized design was used in each experiment. Data was analysed using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedures of the statistical analysis of variance, Version 9.3.1 software program. Where there were significant differences, mean separation was done using the Tukey test at the 5% level of significance. A quadratic regression model was used to determine the optimal productivity of the chickens while a linear model was used to determine the relationships between dietary methionine level and responses by the chickens in the variables measured. The treatments for the first experiment were UM4 (4g methionine/kg DM), UM5 (5g methionine/kg DM), UM6 (6g methionine/kg DM), UM8 (8g methionine/kg DM) and UM9 (9g methionine/kg DM). Feed intake, growth rate, feed conversion ratio (FCR), metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days were not affected (P>0.05) by dietary methionine level. Similarly, dietary methionine level did not have any effect (P>0.05) on diet crude protein (CP), acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and fat digestibilities in unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 14 to 21 days. Dietary methionine level did not have any effect on live weights of broiler chickens at 21 days. Live weights of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 7 or 14 days were not improved (P>0.05) by increasing dietary methionine level from 4 to 9g/kg DM. Crop, gizzard and small intestine weights and crop, proventriculus and gizzard digesta pH values of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 21 days were not affected v (P>0.05) by dietary methionine level. Similarly, dietary methionine level did not improve (P>0.05) caecum and large intestine lengths of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 21 days. However, dietary methionine level affected (P<0.05) dry matter (DM) and ash digestibilities of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 14 to 21 days. Proventriculus and large intestine weights, gastrointestinal tract and small intestine lengths of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 21 days were improved (P<0.05) by increasing dietary methionine level. In addition, increasing dietary methionine level increased (P<0.05) small and large intestine digesta pH values of broiler chickens aged 21 days. Thus, dry matter digestibility, live weights at day 7 ad 14, caecum length, large intestine length and digesta pH were optimized at different dietary methionine levels of 7.26, 5.29, 4.99, 6.80, 4.84 and 6.37g/kg DM feed, respectively. The treatments for the second experiment were MM4 (4g methionine/kg DM), MM5 (5g methionine/kg DM), MM6 (6g methionine/kg DM), MM8 (8g methionine/kg DM) and MM9 (9g methionine/kg DM). Dietary methionine level did not have effect (P>0.05) on feed intake of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 6 weeks. However, dietary methionine level improved (P<0.05) feed intake of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 4 or 5 weeks. Live weights of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 28 days were not affected (P>0.05) by dietary methionine level. However, live weights of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 35 and 42 days were affected (P<0.05) by dietary methionine level. Similarly, dietary methionine level affected (P<0.05) DM, CP, ADF, NDF, fat and ash digestibilities of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 35 to 42 days. Thus, dietary methionine levels of 6.93, 7.70, 6.85 and 11.27g/kg DM optimized dry matter, CP and fat digestibilities, and live weight of male broiler chickens aged 42 days. Dietary methionine level did not affect (P>0.05) FCR, growth rate and metabolisable energy intakes of male Ross 308 broiler chickens. Increasing dietary methionine level from 4 to 9g/kg DM improved (P<0.05) nitrogen retention of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. Dietary methionine level did not have any effect (P>0.05) on proventriculus, gizzard, caecum and large intestine weights, caecum, small and large intestine lengths, and crop, gizzard, caecum and large intestine digesta pH values of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 42 days. Crop and small vi intestine weights and gastrointestinal tract lengths of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 42 days were improved (P<0.05) by dietary methionine level. Similarly, dietary methionine level affected (P<0.05) proventriculus and small intestine digesta pH values of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 42 days. Thus, dietary methionine levels of 6.558 and 7.851g/kg DM optimized broiler chicken crop weight and GIT length. Dietary methionine level affected (P<0.05) carcass organ weights of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 42 days. Increasing dietary methionine level increased chicken breast meat weight. However, there was no clear trend for the other carcass organs. Meat flavour and shear force values of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 42 days were not affected (P>0.05) by dietary methionine level. However, dietary methionine level affected meat tenderness and juiciness. Thus, dietary methionine levels of 10.09 and 13.32g/kg DM optimized broiler chicken meat tenderness and juiciness. . / National Research Foundation (NRF) and VLIROUS