Assessing the Success of “Cocoa na Chocolate” Musical Intervention in Mobilizing the Youth for Agriculture in Oyo State,Southwestern Nigeria

The study assessed the success of “Cocoa na Chocolate” musical intervention for agricultural mobilization in Oyo State, Nigeria. Responses from 160 randomly selected students on awareness, exposure, retention, perception, and constraints to utilizing its message using structured questionnaires were analyzed. Most respondents (88.8%) had contact with the album, many (55.6%) were aware of its agricultural content, heard it six times, and most (76.1%) retained the contents. More (54.9%) had an unfavorable perception of its mobilization potential, and were constrained to utilize its message by credit facilities (M = 1.0938). Workable agricultural credit schemes are needed to complement future mobilization efforts.     

Whole pearl millet feeding does not impair performance and nutrient digestibility in 28-day-old broiler chickens

The effects of varying inclusion levels of whole grain millet in millet–soya bean-based diets on growth performance, gizzard development, digesta characteristics and nutrient digestion in broiler chicken were investigated. Starter (0–14 days) and grower (15–28 days) broiler chicken diets containing pearl millet at 500 and 540 g/kg diet, respectively, were formulated. The diets comprised of 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% of millet incorporated as whole grain. One-day-old unsexed Arbor Acres Plus chicks (n = 540) were allotted to the experimental diets in a completely randomized design with the diets and water provided ad libitum for 28 days. Each treatment was replicated seven times, and each replicate had 12 chicks. Results showed that daily live weight gain and feed conversion ratio of chickens on the whole millet grain diets compared favourably with chicken on the control in both starter and grower phases, while feed intake reduced quadratically (p < .05) with increased whole grain millet levels in the starter phase. Morphological and structural characteristics of the gizzard and small intestine and intestinal digesta pH and viscosity were also unaffected (p > .05) by whole grain millet inclusion levels. However, the weight of intact millet grain in gizzard increased linearly (p < .001) with whole grain millet inclusion in the diets. Dietary whole grain millet inclusion also consistently lowered (p < .05) jejunal and ileal maltase and sucrase activities, but did not influence (p > .05) pancreatic amylase activity. Ileal crude protein and starch digestibility increased, while ileal energy digestibility decreased significantly (p < .05) with whole grain millet inclusion. Whole grain millet inclusion in broiler starter and grower diets up to 500–540 g/kg did not negatively impact on broiler chicken performance.     

Nutrient stability in mould-infested feed and mitigating effect of dietary supplemental vitamins in brown laying hens

Tropical Animal Health and Production - A 10-week study was conducted to assess the impact of mould infestation on nutrient stability of feed and the mitigating effect of supplemental tocopherol,...     

Comparative Utilization of Different Fibre Feedstuffs by Weaning/Growing Pigs in the Tropics

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding different fibre feedstuffs on the performance, nutrient utilization and economics of production of weaning/growing pigs. Five fibre feedstuffs--palm kernel cake （PKC）, wheat offal （WO）, corn bran （CB）, rice bran （RB） and brewers＇ dried grain （BDG） were used at 25% in each of the five experimental diets that were formulated in this study. Twenty weaner pigs （12.75 ± 0.6 kg） were used for the growth study while 15 pigs （14.95 ± 0.57 kg） were used for the digestibility study. The design of the experiment was completely randomized. The results of the study showed that the performance of the experimental animals were significantly influenced （P 〈 0.05） by the dietary treatments. The apparent digestibility of the crude protein, crude fiber and ether extract showed significant differences （P 〈 0.05） while there was no significant difference （P 〉 0.05） in the apparent digestibility of their dry matter, ash and nitrogen free extract. The diet that contained WO had the best growth response and apparent nutrient digestibility. Results of economics of production also showed that diet with WO gave the best （P 〈 0.05） value in feed cost/＇kg gain and net profit/animal. It can be concluded from this study that although all the animals fed the different fibre feedstuffs performed satisfactorily on all the parameters monitored, but for optimum growth, apparent nutrients digestibility and economics of production. WO should be used as a fibre feedstuff in the diets of weaning/growing pigs in the tropics.     

Pattern of damage to early and late maize in southwestern Nigeria by the village weaverbird (Ploceus cucullatus)

Abstract

Village weaverbirds (Ploceus cucullatus Muller) normally feed on early maize in the morning (0800 to 1100 h) and evening (1600 to 1800 h) in southwestern Nigeria. However, when disturbed the birds feed during all the hours of daylight, and to be effective bird scaring would have to persist throughout the day. Developing grains are eaten, but rarely dry grains. The period of active bird scaring can therefore be reduced to about two weeks. In 1977 the mean percentage damage varied from 2.2 ± 0.3% in plots with dry ears to 34.1 ± 12.7% in plots with fresh ears, but in 1978 the situation was reversed with 17.7 ± 3.1% damage in plots with dry ears to 1.1 ± 0.2% in plots with fresh ears. The pattern of damage to early maize is associated with the annual rainfall, which determines the occurrence of lepidopterous larvae and wild sorghum (Sorghum arundicearum Stapf) which form alternative food items for the birds. Less than 2% of late maize ears was damaged since alternative food resources were abundant. Only early maize may need protecting from bird damage, but there was no definite relationship between time of planting and amount of damage caused.     

Nutritive value of fermented and amino acid-supplemented malted sorghum sprouts for growing pigs

Two experiments were carried out to determine the effects of diets containing fermented and amino acid (AA)-supplemented malted sorghum sprout (MSP) on performance, nutrient utilisation and feed cost analysis of growing pigs. In experiment 1 (digestibility trial), 12 pigs were individually housed in metabolic crates, equipped with feeding and watering troughs which also allow for separate collection of faeces and urine. Data collection lasted for 7 days during which feed intake and faecal output were weighed, with daily storage of collected faeces at ?4 °C. Four diets, a basal diet, basal plus malted sorghum sprout (B?+?MSP), basal plus fermented malted sorghum sprout (B?+?FMSP) and basal plus amino acids plus malted sorghum sprout (B?+?AA?+?MSP), were tested. Samples of test ingredients, feed and faeces were analysed for their gross energy and proximate compositions. In experiment 2, 18 weaner pigs were used in a completely randomised design for 63 days to determine the performance and cost analysis of feeding malted sorghum sprout at 0, 100 and 200 g/kg in pig’s diet, six pigs per diet with each pig representing a replicate. Daily feed intake and weekly weight gain were determined. The prevailing cost of each feed ingredient was used to compute the feed cost and, subsequently, the feed cost analysis. Results of digestibility trial showed that there was no difference in the utilisation of the chemical constituents of B?+?MSP and B?+?AA?+?MSP diets, which were also similar to the basal diet, except the crude protein (CP) in amino acid-supplemented malted sorghum sprout diet, which was lower compared to the basal diet. B?+?FMSP was lower (P?<?0.05) in the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and CP compared to the basal diet. The digestible energy (DE) and the fraction of gross energy utilised as DE of each diet also were not affected by fermentation and supplementation with AA. In experiment 2, the levels of MSP used did not affect (P?>?0.05) the performance and feed cost indices measured. It was concluded that MSP can be used in growing pig’s diet, without the need for fermentation and AA supplementation, at 200 g/kg level with no adverse effect on the nutritive value of the diet.     

A review of nutritional and toxicological implications of castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) meal in animal feeding systems

The nutrient‐rich defatted castor meal has been tested as a potential source of protein in diets of many livestock species but has limitation due to challenges of toxins. This review was conducted to compile the relevant research information on advances in the use of raw and differently processed castor seed meal in animal feed. In this article, distribution and uses of castor and its products were identified. Research findings on the nutrients profile, principal toxins, various detoxification strategies, nutritional value and toxicity on common livestock species were compiled and reviewed. The defatted seed meal had crude protein range of 32–48%, gross energy of about 3200 kcal/kg. Ricin content was 9.3 mg/g seed, and the average RCA content was 9.9 mg/g. The meal had high activity of lectin, which produced agglutination at about 4.70 mg/ml minimum assays. Reports of detoxification strategies showed varying degrees of success but high pH, moist heating and microbial techniques appeared to exert greater effect on deactivating ricin. Detoxification strategy for the allergen component is inconclusive. Tannins and the phenolic contents were present at trace level and did not constitute notable threat. It was concluded that castor seed holds great potential as feedstuff when upgraded but such upgrading must be safe, cost‐effective and labour efficient for commercial acceptability.     

Dietary combination of pawpaw seed and onion peel powder: Impact on growth,haematology, biochemical and antioxidant status of Clarias gariepinus

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of pawpaw–onion powder (POP) mixture on the growth, and haemato‐biochemical and antioxidant responses of Clarias gariepinus (4.02 ± 0.01g/fish) for 60 days. Five trial diets were formulated as control (without POP or antimicrobial growth promoter (AGP)), AGP (basal diet + 10ml AGP/kg diet), POP 2.5 (basal diet + 2.5g POP/kg diet), POP 5.0 (basal diet + 5.0g POP/kg diet) and POP 10 (basal diet + 10g POP/kg diet). Two hundred and twenty‐five fish were equally distributed into five groups in triplicate and fed twice daily. The results indicate that AGP or POP supplementation exerted no effects on the growth and blood profile among the various groups, but a significantly higher lymphocyte count was observed in POP 10g/kg. The highest whole‐body protein and lipid contents were noticed in fish fed the control diet (p < .05), whereas POP 5.0g/kg group recorded the highest hepatosomatic value. Furthermore, the cholesterol level was found to be lower in the AGP‐ and POP‐fed fish compared with the higher level recorded in the control. The glucose concentration and superoxide dismutase enzyme activity were found to be higher in POP 2.5‐fed fish, whereas POP 10‐fed fish showed higher catalase activities compared with other groups (p < .05). Based on the result obtained, this study showed that dietary POP had no significant impact on the growth performance but has direct effects on the whole‐body lipid content, lymphocyte count, cholesterol level, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and antioxidant response of Clarias gariepinus.     

Determining the effect of salt-induced soil on paddy rice development and yield using GIS mapping

The effect of salt-induced soil on growth and yield development of paddy rice in Akure, Nigeria was determined. This was to ascertain effect of various salt-inducing parameters on rice yield. Fifteen soil samples were collected and 13 parameters were analysed using standard procedures. The parameters include electrical conductivity (EC), pH, particle size, cation exchange capacity (CEC), exchangeable acidity (EA), organic matter (OM), organic carbon (OC), phosphorus, sodium, calcium (Ca), potassium (K), and magnesium. Geographic information System (GIS) mapping was also carried out on the affected areas and results compared with the international standards. From the results, predominant soil class was clay loam which is excellent for rice growth while salinity levels were not in excess to lead to stress or low rice yield although very low values of N and K were recorded. EC, CEC and EA were well below critical levels in the soil and with the exception of OM, OC, MC and pH which were statistically significant at P < 0.05, other parameters were statistically non-significant. GIS mapping also showed traces of salt but not in high concentration levels as to result in crop stress.