Browsing by Author "Muhammed, M.M."

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    Correlation and path coefficient analysis of body weight and morphometric traits of two exotic genetic groups of ducks in Nigeria
    (Department of Animal science,Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2015-01-01) Ari, Maikano Mohammed; Yakubu, A.; Muhammed, M.M.; Musa-Azara, Ibrahim Suleiman; Omeje, Jn
    The study aimed at describing objectively the interdependence between body weight (BWT) and morphometric traits in Khaki Campbell and Pekin ducks using multivariate path analysis technique. Measurements were taken on one hundred and ninety seven (197) randomly selected 10-week old Khaki Campbell and Pekin ducks, respectively in Plateau State, Nigeria. The birds were reared on deep litter in a semi-intensive system where they were kept in a fenced area provided with water ponds and locked up in the poultry house during the night. The body parts measured were, body length (BDL); thigh length (THL); thigh circumference (THC); breast circumference (BTC); bill length (BLL); neck length (NKL); neck circumference (NKC); shank length (SHL); shank width (SHW); total leg length (TLL) and wing length (WL). General linear model was used to study genotype and sex effects. Pekin ducks had a superior advantage (p<0.05) over their Khaki Campbell counterparts in all the body parameters estimated. Sexual dimorphism (p<0.05) was in favour of male ducks. Pairwise phenotype correlations between BWT and morphometric traits were positive and significant (p<0.01), ranging from 0.38-0.95 and 0.35-0.92 for Khaki Campbell and Pekin ducks, respectively. Path analysis revealed that BDL was the variable of utmost importance directly influencing BWT in male Khaki Campbell and Pekin ducks (path coefficient=0.535 and 0.508, respectively; p<0.01) while BTC and SHL were the most responsible parameters affecting BWT in female Khaki Campbell and Pekin ducks [path coefficient=0.594 (P<0.01) and 1.197 (p<0.05), respectively]. The optimum regression models for the prediction of BWT in Khaki Campbell ducks included BDL, SHL, BTC and NKC (male) and BDL, WNL and BTC (female); while in their Pekin counterparts, BDL, BLL and BTC (male) and BDL and SHL (female) were incorporated.
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    UTILIZATION OF GARLIC (ALLIUM SATIVUM L) AS ASUPPLEMENTARY PHYTOGENIC FEED ADDITIVE FOR BROILERS FED COMMERCIAL FEEDS
    (Department of Animal science,Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2012-01-26) Ari, Maikano Mohammed; Barde, R.E.; Ogah, D.M.; Agade, Y.I.; Yusuf, N.D.; Hassan, I.D.; Muhammed, M.M.
    The study examines the effects of garlic (Allium sativum L) as a supplementary phytogenic feed additive for broilers using one hundred and twenty (120) Lohman broilers that were randomly divided into four (4) experimental groups of two replicates each. Dietary treatments were as follows: T (control), T1, T2 and T3 representing 0, 10, 15 and 20% daily supplementation of garlic per Kilogram of feed at both starter and finisher diets. There were no significant (P>0.05) differences in all performance parameters of experimental birds at both starter and finisher phases except in average body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) at starter phase which showed significant (P<0.05) differences. There were significant (P<0.05) differences in all serum indices measured as Hb %, PCV, Hb g/dl and the garlic supplementation were all negatively correlated (P<0.05) with cholesterol, while PCV, Hb g/dl and garlic supplementation were significantly (P> 0.01) positively correlated with cholesterol, indicating that with increasing in garlic supplementation there was a corresponding increase in other serum metabolites except for cholesterol which was decreased with increase in garlic supplementation. Supplementation with 15% of garlic per kilogram of feed will reduce cholesterol deposition and support performance of broilers.