EGG CHOLESTEROL LEVEL AND BLOOD BIOCHEMICAL PROFILE OF SIX SPECIES OF POULTRY UNDER EXTENSIVE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Thesis Overview

<p> </p><h3><br></h3><h3><strong>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; </strong>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<strong>INTRODUCTION</strong></h3><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The poultry industry is a highly profitable <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.projectwriters.ng/impact-of-microfinance-bank-in-growth-of-small-and-medium-scale-business-in-nigeria-a-case-study-of-selected-business-in-owerri-urban/">business in Nigeria</a>&nbsp;(Adebambo <em>et al.,</em>&nbsp;1999) and it is one area of animal production with significant contribution to human food production in egg and meat. Poultry products provide protein of high biological value (Epstein, 1990). Nigeria is endowed with many poultry species which are indigenous to the country and includes: the domestic fowl, pheasant, quail, guinea fowl, pigeon, turkey, goose and Muscovy ducks (Oluyemi and Roberts, 2007). These have lived, adapted and reproduced for several years in the Nigeria environment. Food and Agriculture Organization (2001) estimated poultry population in Nigeria to be about 33million.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>With the ever growing population and improvement in the living standard of Nigerians, the demand for egg and other poultry products will continue to grow. As this increase continues, the quality of food, a substantial part of which is formed by the poultry and other agricultural animals becomes increasingly important with growing consumer awareness for healthy aspect of food. The health concerns include not only pathogens or traces of contaminations but also the compositions and nutritional values of the products (Mennicken <em>et al.,</em>&nbsp;2005).</p><p>Egg is the only complete food material because it contains all of the six classes of food. Its nutritive quality for both man and for the transformation of a fertile egg into a living organism makes it a perfect biological composition (Trziszka, 2000). As a complete food, eggs are inexpensive and low calorie source of nutrients such as folate, riboflavin, selenium, choline vitamin-12 and vitamin A, K and D. The lipid matrix of the egg yolk serves to enhance the bio-availability of nutrients such as lutein and zeaxanthin (Herron and Fernadez, 2004).</p><p>The physiology and chemistry of blood are being used daily as indicators for various diseases in birds (Harr, 2002; Hauptmanova <em>et al.,</em>&nbsp;2006). However; these values are affected by different factors such as nutrition, age and sex and presence or absence of disease (Fudge 2000; Kececi and Col, 2011).</p><p>In many species of birds, normal values for biochemical factors have been measured and a comprehensive data base was established as their blood profiles (Albokhadaim <em>et al.,</em>&nbsp;2012). However, there is no sufficient information about the egg cholesterol levels and blood biochemical profile of the six poultry species in Nigeria.</p><h4><br></h4><p><strong>1.1</strong>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<strong>Statement of the Research Problems</strong></p><p>Some disease populations such as type II diabetics and hyperlipidemics (those with high blood triglycerides) are at greater chance for low density lipoprotein (LDL) increases in these populations relative to eggs consumption. No studies have currently shown an increase in risk of coronary heart disease, suggesting that measuring circulating cholesterol levels may be poorly indicative of heart disease from egg intake. Most <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.projectwriters.ng/research-topic-incidences-nepotism-nigerias-political-system/">dietary deficiency diseases</a>&nbsp;are caused by a lack of protein, vitamins, or minerals. Cholesterol</p><p>content of <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.projectwriters.ng/project-topic-evaluation-ethnicity-issue-political-development-nigeria-case-study-delta-state/">chicken eggs continues</a>&nbsp;to receive considerable attention since the cholesterol levels in eggs are concern to humans who are trying to lower the intake of dietary cholesterol through other sources. Though many authors have examined the relationships and possible differences amongst the poultry species, conclusions from such studies has not been agreed on and comparisons between the poultry species under extensive system of management has not been made with respect to the blood chemistry and egg cholesterol status. Therefore this study was undertaken to investigate the cholesterol levels and blood biochemical profile of</p><p>the six poultry species under extensive management system.</p><p><strong>1.2</strong>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<strong>Justification</strong></p><p>In Nigeria, more emphasis is laid on the production of <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.projectwriters.ng/project-material-on-problems-and-prospects-of-small-industries-in-nigeria/">domestic fowl</a>&nbsp;to the neglect of other species of poultry. As a result, domestic fowl constitutes 91% while guinea fowl, duck, turkey and others constitute 4, 3 and 2% respectively (Adenowo <em>et al.,</em>&nbsp;1999). There are no any social or religious stigmas attached to the use of poultry meat in human diet. Hence the demand is high for live birds from local markets either for home consumption or as gifts at the time of festivities such as Christmas, New Year, Easter, Id El-Fitri, etc. Restaurants, hotels and supermarkets in Nigeria are noted for fast food business that involves the sale of products like chicken burger, egg rolls among others. Besides, fowl meat has good potential for export worldwide while exportation of eggs into some West African countries is a lucrative business</p><p>Samuel (2007).</p><p>The household poultry production system is based on scavenging indigenous domestic chickens accompanied by local chickens, pigeons, guinea fowls, ducks or turkeys (Elagib <em>et al</em>., 2012). The haematological and serum biochemical parameters provide valuable information on the immune status of animals (Kral and Suchy, 2000). Such information, apart from being useful for diagnostic and management purposes, could equally be incorporated into breeding programmes for the genetic improvement of indigenous chickens. It is desirable to know the normal physiological values under local conditions for proper management, feeding, breeding, prevention and treatment of diseases.</p><p><strong>1.3</strong>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<strong>Aim</strong></p><p>To evaluate the internal and external egg parameters, haematological and blood profiles of six different poultry species reared extensively.</p><p><strong>1.4</strong>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<strong>Objectives</strong></p><ol><li>To compare the egg morphometric parameters of the six different poultry species reared extensively.</li><li>To determine the biochemical parameters (blood profile) of the six different poultry species</li></ol><ul><li>To determine the egg quality of six different species of poultry reared extensively</li></ul><ol><li>egg weight,</li><li>egg length,</li><li>egg breadth,</li><li>egg shape index,</li><li>shell thickness,</li><li>yolk width,</li><li>yolk height and</li><li>yolk index.</li><li>To determine the haematological parameters of the six different poultry species reared extensively.</li></ol><p><strong>1.5</strong>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<strong>Hypotheses</strong></p><ol><li>There is no difference in the egg morphometric parameters of the six poultry species under extensive management system.</li><li>The biochemical parameters (blood profile) of the six different poultry species does not differ significantly (p&lt;0.05).</li></ol><ul><li>The egg quality parameters of the six different bird species are the same.</li></ul><ol><li>There is no difference in the haematological parameters of the six poultry species</li></ol><p>under extensive management system.</p> <br><p></p>