Thesis (Ph. D. (Animal Production )) -- University of Limpopo, 2013 / Eight experiments were conducted to determine the effect of dietary lysine to energy ratio on the productivity and carcass characteristics of indigenous Venda chickens aged one to thirteen weeks and raised in closed confinement. The eight experiments were based on four different energy levels of 11, 12, 13 and 14 MJ of ME/kg DM. Each dietary energy level had four different levels of dietary lysine (8, 9, 11 and 14 g lysine/kg DM). Thus, different dietary lysine to energy ratios were calculated. Experiments 1 to 4 determined the effect of dietary lysine to energy ratio on productivity of unsexed Venda chickens aged one to seven weeks. Each experiment commenced with 160 unsexed day-old indigenous Venda chicks with an initial live weight of 30 ± 3 g per bird and was carried out for seven weeks. In each experiment, the chicks were randomly assigned to four treatments with four replications, each having 10 chicks. A complete randomized design was used for each experiment. All data were analysed by one-way analysis of variance. Where there were significant differences, the Duncan test for multiple comparisons was used to test the significance of differences between treatment means. A quadratic regression model was used to determine the ratios for optimum productivity in each experiment while a linear model was used to determine the relationships between dietary lysine to energy ratio and optimal responses in the variables measured. Results indicated that dietary lysine to energy ratio for optimal responses depended on the variable of interest. In Experiment 1, feed intake, growth rate, live weight, ME intake and nitrogen retention were optimized at different dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.722, 0.719, 0.719, 0.670 and 0.712, respectively. There was a positive and strong relationship (r2 = 0.950) between dietary lysine to energy ratio and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Results from Experiment 2 indicated that feed intake, growth rate, FCR, live weight, ME intake and nitrogen retention were optimized at dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.719, 0.742, 0.788, 0.742, 0.734 and 0.789, respectively. In Experiment 3, dietary lysine to energy ratio did not have any effect (P>0.05) on all the parameters measured. However, quadratic analysis indicated that dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.817, 0.883, 0.920, 0.898, 0.895 and 0.955 optimized feed intake, growth rate, FCR, live weight, ME intake and nitrogen retention of the chickens, respectively. Experiment 4 results showed that feed intake, growth rate, FCR, live weight ME intake and nitrogen retention were v optimized at different dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.906, 0.964, 1.023, 0.966, 0.963 and 0.951, respectively. Experiments 5 to 8 determined the effect of dietary lysine to energy ratio on productivity, carcass characteristics, sensory attributes and haematological values of female indigenous Venda chickens aged eight to thirteen weeks. The layouts, treatments, design and execution were similar to those described for Experiments 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, except that Experiments 5 to 8 were for female indigenous Venda chickens aged eight to 13 weeks. These chickens were different from those used in Experiments 1 to 4. They were raised on a grower mash (16 % crude protein, 11 MJ of ME/kg DM and 180 g of lysine) prior to commencement of the study. Each experiment commenced with 120 eight weeks old female Venda chickens with an initial live weight of 412 ± 3 g per chicken. In each experiment, the chickens were randomly assigned to four treatments with five replicates, each having six chickens. Results obtained from Experiment 5 showed that feed intake, growth rate, FCR, live weight, ME intake, carcass weight, dressing percentage, breast meat, drumstick, wing weight, breast meat drip loss, juiciness, flavour, haemoglobin and pack cell volume were optimized at different dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.672, 0.646, 0639, 0.649, 0.655, 0.656, 0.664, 0.669, 0.665, 0.663, 0.631, 0.708, 0.623, 0.556 and 0.609, respectively. In Experiment 6, the diets were formulated to have higher lysine to energy ratios than those in Experiment 5 by using a dietary lysine level of 9 g lysine/kg DM. Results from this experiment showed that feed intake, FCR, nitrogen retention, carcass weight, dressing percentage, breast meat, gizzard weights and breast meat pH at 2, 12 and 24 hours after slaughter were optimized at dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.798, 0.613, 0.777, 0.742, 0.753, 0.729, 0.758, 0.752, 0.802 and 0.797, respectively. Red blood cell and haemoglobin values in this experiment were optimized at dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.480 and 0.624, respectively. In Experiment 7, dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.79, 0.85, 0.92 and 1.00 g lysine/ MJ of ME were used. Dietary treatments in this experiment had no effect (P>0.05) on all the production parameters measured except feed and apparent metabolisable energy intakes. Quadratic analysis of the results indicated that dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.964, 0.912, 0.900, 0.890, 0.910, 1.090, 0.934 and 0.895 optimized feed intake, apparent metabolisable energy, carcass, breast meat, drumstick weights and vi breast meat drip loss, juiciness and flavour, respectively. A positive and very strong relationship (r2 =0.998) was observed between dietary lysine to energy ratio and pack cell volume. Experiment 8 diets were formulated to have higher dietary lysine to energy ratios than the other experiments. Results of this experiment indicated that all the production parameters were influenced (P<0.05) by dietary lysine to energy ratio except mortality. Feed intake, growth rate, feed conversion ratio, live weight, apparent metabolisable energy and nitrogen retention were optimized at dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.996, 0.980, 0.991, 1.010, 0.957 and 0.993, respectively. Dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.992, 0.974, 0.991, 0.992, 1.023, 0.981, 0.979 and 0.815 optimized carcass weight, dressing percentage, breast meat, drumstick, liver weights and breast meat tenderness, juiciness and flavour, respectively. There were variations in the optimal lysine to energy ratios for different parameters investigated. In a diet containing 8 g of lysine per kg DM, 11.13 MJ of ME/kg DM and 150 g of CP/kg DM, dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.719 and 0.649 are recommended for optimal live weight of Venda chickens aged one to seven and eight to 13 weeks, respectively. In a diet containing 9 g of lysine per kg DM, 12.13 MJ of ME/kg DM and 180 g of CP/kg DM, dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.742 and 0.712 are recommended for optimal live weight of Venda chickens aged one to seven and eight to 13 weeks, respectively. In a diet containing 11 g of lysine per kg DM, 12.51 MJ of ME/kg DM and 220 g of CP/kg DM, dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.878 and 0.894 are recommended for optimal live weight of Venda chickens aged one to seven and eight to 13 weeks respectively. In a diet containing 12 g of lysine per kg DM, 12.05 MJ of ME/kg DM and 240 g of CP/kg DM, dietary lysine to energy ratios of 0.996 and 1.010 are recommended for optimal live weight of Venda chickens aged one to seven and eight to 13 weeks, respectively. The results obtained in this study showed that different production parameters of Venda chickens were optimized at different lysine to energy ratios. This implies that the nutritional requirements of these chickens are dynamic and thus, dietary lysine to energy for optimal production depends on the production parameter of interest. This has implications on ration formulation for indigenous chickens.

Master of Science / Department of Agricultural Economics / Vincent R. Amanor-Boadu / This study assessed the farm and farmer characteristics influencing the profitability of broiler chicken farms in Ghana. It used data obtained from the 2015 census of the poultry industry conducted by USAID-METSS in collaboration with Ghana's Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers. Results show that broiler production in Ghana is operated on a small scale basis with an average number of 1,410 birds. Broiler chicken production is profitable in Ghana with national average gross margin/bird of GHS 9.22 and standard deviation of 8.40. Regression analysis was carried out using Ordinary Least Square method to estimate the effect of farm and farmer characteristics on profitability and also explore regional differences. Results shows that farm income and feed were negative and statistically significant such that a farmer with primary income from broiler chicken production had a decrease in gross margin of GHS 1.24 per bird compared to a farmer with other sources of income; a farmer that increases one unit of own feed production will have a decrease in gross margin of GHS 0.06 per bird. Additionally, regional differences exist such that farms situated in Ashanti, Central, and Eastern had higher gross margin per bird of GHS 3.21, GHS 6.10 and GHS 6.26 respectively compared to farms situated in Brong Ahafo Region. In conclusion, the study shows that both farmer (primary source of income) and farm characteristics (such as regional location and the extent to which feed was prepared on the farm) were important in explaining broiler chicken profitability. Finally, continuous research is recommended to examine the robustness of these factors in explaining profitability.

No description available.

A thesis submitted the Department of Science and Agriculture in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science in the Faculty of Science and agriculture at the University of Zululand,2018 / Indigenous chicken genetic resources play a major role in rural communities. There is therefore a need for their sustainable use and conservation. Conservation requires knowledge of production systems, phenotypic and genetic characteristics. The aim of this study was to understand the production systems and phenotypic variation among indigenous chickens in some areas of KwaZulu-Natal. A survey was conducted in six districts of KwaZulu-Natal to characterise indigenous chicken production systems;, predict body weight from linear body measurements of indigenous chickens using principal component analysis, and identify the morphological variation among indigenous chicken populations. Small flock sizes ranging from 2 to 80 indigenous chickens were observed in households. The majority of farmers started rearing a few indigenous chickens sourced from related stock through inheritance, gifts and buying. Indigenous chickens were reared as a source of meat, eggs and income. Most farmers (72%), were not aware of the importance of conserving indigenous chickens. The most common constraints raised by farmers were diseases, predators and theft. The most commonly practised production systems were extensive and semi-intensive. Poor management in terms of feeding, watering and health was reported in all surveyed areas. Principal component analysis of linear body measurements extracted two principal components with a total variance of 63.94%. Principal component one, related to body size, had the largest share of breast circumference, body length and shank circumference. Principal component two, related to body shape, had high loadings on toe length, shank length and back length. The use of principal components was more appropriate than the use of original correlated variables in predicting the weight of indigenous chickens. Variation in morphological traits was observed; 10 plumage colours were realised from different locations, and variation was also observed in skin colour, eye colour, shank colour and comb type. Variation in phenotypes may reflect variation in the genome of the indigenous chickens. Discriminant analysis identified body weight as the most discriminating variable in differentiating indigenous chickens. Two major clusters were formed: the first by Newcastle, Port Shepstone and Cedara; the second by Pietermaritzburg and Ladysmith. Empangeni and Jozini individually joined the two clusters. Although Jozini showed itself to be more distant to the others, 51.1% of indigenous chickens were correctly assigned to their population. It was concluded that with the existing variation improvement in size and aesthetic characteristics of the indigenous chickens can be achieved through selection according to the needs of the farmers. Farmers require assistance on husbandry and management of indigenous chickens.