Page 56 - UNAM Virtual Graduation 2020 e-Book

FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE &
NATURAL RESOURCES

DOCTOR OF AGRICULTURE - ANIMAL SCIENCE
(Poultry Nutrition)
CANDIDATE: HAFENI-SHIHEPO Sesilia

CURRICULUM VITAE

Sesilia Hafeni-Shihepo was born in Ohangwena Region. She completed her
high school education from Uukule Senior Secondary School in Oshikoto
Region. Her qualifications include Bachelor of Science in Animal Science;
and Masters of Science in Agriculture (Animal Nutrition), from the University
of Namibia. Her professional career includes working as a Laboratory Technologist, Senior Laboratory
Technologist and Part-time Lecturer at the University of Namibia. Her research interest involves the use of
local feeds for improved poultry nutrition.

CANDIDATE’S DISSERTATION

EFFECTS OF PELLETING PEARL MILLET-BASED DIETS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS

The doctoral study was undertaken and completed under the supervision of Prof. Irvin D.T. Mpofu of the
Chinhoyi University of Technology as Main-Supervisor and Dr. Petrus N.P. Patricia of the University of the
University of Namibia as Co-Supervisor.

The candidate evaluated the effects of pelleting and replacing maize with a Namibian pearl millet
(PM) cultivar (Okashana 2) on the production performance and cost efficiency of broiler chickens.
The experimental design used in this study was a Completely Randomized Design with a 2 x 3 factorial
arrangement of treatments (i.e. two processing methods (grinding and pelleting) and three replacement
levels of maize with pearl millet (50 %, 75 % and 100 %)). A commercial finisher pelleted diet was used as a
positive control. The effects of pelleting and replacement levels on crude protein (CP), fat, fibre, calcium,
essential amino acids, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), mortality rate, carcass
characteristics, gizzard and proventruculus weights as well as the cost efficiency of broiler production were
investigated. Pelleted diets had significantly higher CP contents compared to their respective mash diets.
Pelleting reduced crude fibre, calcium and fat contents of broiler diets at all replacement levels. Pelleting
had no significant effects on the feed intake, live weights, weight gain, carcass weight, feed conversion
ratio (FCR) and mortality rate of broiler chickens. Replacing maize with PM had no significant influence on
the feed intake, weight gain, FCR, carcass characteristics as well as the development of the gizzard and
proventriculus of broiler chickens. Replacing maize with PM had no significant effects on feed production
costs of broiler diets. Pelleting had no significant effects on the cost of feeds required per 1 kg of weight
gain. This study revealed that pearl millet based diets can successfully be pelleted and replace maize up
to 100 % without any adverse effects on growth performance, carcass characteristics and feeding costs.
The optimal replacement level in this study was found to be 50 % PM, which yielded better FCR and high
weight gain.

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