Thesis (M.Sc. (Animal Production)) --University of Limpopo, 2010 / A study was conducted to determine the effect of vitamin E supplementation to
the diets of Venda hens on egg production, hatchability and chick productivity.
The first part of the study determined the effect of vitamin E supplementation to
the diets of Venda hens on feed intake, number of eggs, egg weight, egg
content, egg hatchability and chick hatch-weight. Supplementation levels of 0,
200, 400, 800 and 1000 mg of vitamin E per kg DM feed were used in a
completely randomized design having five replications with two birds per
replicate. Vitamin E supplementation did not have any effect (P<0.05) on number
of eggs and feed intake of Venda hens. However, egg weight, egg content,
hatchability and chick hatch-weight of Venda chickens improved (P<0.05) with
vitamin E supplementation.
Dietary vitamin E supplementation values for optimal egg white weight, egg yolk
nitrogen content, egg white nitrogen content, egg hatchability and number of
eggs were 476 (r2 = 0.756), 750 (r2 = 0.170), 750 (r2 = 0.182), 445 (r2 = 0.670)
and 113 (r2=0.966) mg of vitamin E per kg DM feed, respectively.
The second part of the study determined the effect of vitamin E supplementation
to the diets of Venda hens on performance of their progenies between one and
seven weeks old. A completely randomized design was used. All the chickens
were fed the same commercial grower diet. Dietary vitamin E supplementation to
the diets of Venda hens had no effect (P<0.05) on growth rate and mortality of
their progenies between one and seven weeks. Feed intake, feed conversion
ratio and live weight of progenies improved (P<0.05) with supplementation of
vitamin E to the diets of Venda hens. Dietary vitamin E supplementation to the
diets of Venda hens did not have any effect (P<0.05) on dry matter intake, dry
matter digestibility, nitrogen retention and metabolisable energy of their
progenies at seven weeks old.
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The third part of the study determined the effect of vitamin E supplementation to
the diets of Venda hens on performance of their male progenies aged between
eight and 13 weeks. A completely randomized design was used. All the chickens
were fed the same commercial grower diet. Vitamin E supplementation to the
diets of Venda hens did not improve (P<0.05) feed intake, growth rate, feed
conversion ratio, live weight and mortality of their male progenies between eight
and 13 weeks old. However, Venda hens supplemented with vitamin E produced
male progenies with improved (P<0.05) dry matter intake, digestibility, nitrogen
retention metabolisable energy, breast meat nitrogen content, gizzard weight,
liver weight and heart weight at 13 weeks old. Carcass weight, breast meat yield,
drum stick, thigh and wing weight of chickens at 13 weeks old were not affected
(P>0.05) by vitamin E supplementation to the diets of the hens
It is concluded that supplementation of vitamin E to the diets of indigenous
Venda hens improved (P<0.05) egg weight, egg content and chick hatch-weight
during the laying period. Vitamin E supplementation to the diets of Venda hens
improved (P<0.05) feed intake, live weight, feed conversion ratio, gizzard and
liver weight of their progenies. Production variables were optimized at different
levels of vitamin E supplementation. Thus, this study provided new information
on the effect of vitamin E supplementation to the diets of indigenous Venda hens
on chick productivity and carcass characteristics of their progenies.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ul/oai:ulspace.ul.ac.za:10386/549 |
| Date | January 2010 |
| Creators | Monyamane, Moeti Mochaki |
| Contributors | Ng'ambi, J.W., Norris, D. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xi, 63 leaves : ill |
| Relation |
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