Awareness and Use of Information Communication Technologies by Farmers in Oyo State,Nigeria

Due to inadequate personnel, information communication technologies (ICTs) have become an attractive option for delivery of extension information. This study examined awareness and use of ICTs by farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria. A total of 192 farmers were interviewed. Results indicate that most farmers had no formal education and small farm holdings. Awareness of older ICTs like radio and television was more prevalent among farmers as compared with newer ICTs such as Internet and cable television. However, use of modern ICTs like mobile phones and cable television was greater than that for older technologies such as fax machines. Farmers were constrained in ICT use by prohibitive cost and service failure. The Nigerian government should encourage a liberal policy for affordable prices for modern ICT products, especially mobile telephones.     

Investigation of African swine fever in slaughtered pigs,Plateau state,Nigeria, 2004-2006

The occurrence of African swine fever (ASF) DNA in slaughtered pigs in the major pig producing areas of Plateau state over a 2-year period was investigated. Three hundred fifty-nine pig tissue samples from five local government councils (LGCs) were analyzed by clinical signs (C/S), postmortem (PM) lesions and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results of diagnosis made by C/S and PM were compared to results obtained by PCR. Out of the 359 abattoir samples, 13 (3.62%) were positive by examination of C/S and PM lesions while 346 (96.38%) were negative. Jos-north LGC had the highest occurrence of PCR positive samples (31 samples); Panyam in Mangu LGC had no positive result. PCR analysis identified 53 positive samples (14.76%); more than 40 were identified on the field. Of the samples, 306 were PCR negative, thus giving a true ASF status of pigs in Plateau state. Analysis of the results, variables involved in the ASF spread and predictable effects of such findings in the pig industry in Plateau state and Nigeria as a whole is discussed.     

Entertainment-Education Strategy Utilization for Agricultural Information Dissemination: Congruency Among Researchers,Extension Agents,and Farmers in Southwestern Nigeria

Several congruency studies exist on agricultural-related issues, but studies on congruency for entertainment-education (EE) utilization for agricultural information dissemination is limited. Congruency among researchers, extension agents, and farmers on the use of EE for agricultural information dissemination was examined. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 161 respondents across respondent categories. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on respondents' perception and estimate of perception of other stakeholders to establish accuracy. Data were analyzed using Pearson product-moment correlation at p = 0.05. Results indicate congruence between researchers' perception and accuracy in establishing extension agents and farmers' opinion about media environment. A similar result was obtained for congruence between farmers' perception and other stakeholders' position on media environment. Congruence between extension agents, researchers, and farmers was accurate for infrastructural factors. Given the accurate predictions of each other's disposition to key variables, EE should be further exploited for agricultural information dissemination.     

Free range and deep litter poultry production systems: effect on performance, carcass yield and meat composition of cockerel chickens

This study was carried out on 150 cockerel chickens each of Harco Black and Novogen strains to determine their performance, carcass yield and meat composition on free range and deep litter production systems. The birds were brooded for 4 weeks and thereafter allotted to the different production systems for a period of 12 weeks. Each production system was allotted 150 chicks (75 chicks per strain) with three replicates of 25 chicks. The birds on deep litter production system were fed ad libitum while each bird on free range was fed 50 % of its daily feed requirement. On the 84th day, a total of 36 birds were randomly selected for analysis of the carcass yield and meat composition. The data generated were subjected to a two-way analysis of variance in a 2?×?2 factorial experimental arrangement. Novogen strain consumed less feed (P?<?0.05) on free range and had the best feed/gain (2.72). A higher (P?<?0.05) shear force value (3.74 N) was obtained in the thigh muscle for birds on free range. The tibia proximal length and breadth, and tibia distal length and breadth were significantly (P?<?0.05) affected by the production systems and strains. On free range, Harco black had more meat (85.69 g) than bone (18.07 g) in the breast while Novogen had the lowest meat/bone (2.38). Conclusively, Novogen strain should be raised on free range for a better performance in terms of feed/gain, but for higher meat composition, Harco black is a better strain.     

Assessment of Farmers’ Access to Agricultural Information on Selected Food Crops in Iddo District of Oyo State,Nigeria

This study focused on the use of combined media to minimize the time lag for both awareness and adoption of best practices for food crop production in Oyo State, Nigeria. One hundred and eighteen registered farmers in the Iddo District were sampled and interviewed. Results showed that the majority of the farmers were male (83.9%) and married (67.8%), and about one third (27.1%) completed elementary education. Fellow farmers (76.3%), extension agents (63.3%), friends (49.2%), and radio (48.3%) readily served as information sources for farmers. The quantum of agricultural information to which farmers had access was significantly related to varieties of information sources (r = .26, p = .05) used by farmers. The empowerment of elite farmers and capacity strengthening for extension agents are advocated for improved agricultural information dissemination.     

绵羊肌细胞生成素基因外显子1的PCR-SSCP分析

采用PCR-SSCP技术分析了肌细胞生成素(myogenin，MYOG)基因外显子1在小尾寒羊、湖羊、多赛特羊和萨福克羊4个绵羊品种中的多态性。结果表明在引物1中不存在多态性，在引物2中存在3种基因型(AA型、AB型和BB型)。对引物2扩增片段，4个绵羊品种都检测到AA基因型和．413基因型，BB基因型只在小尾寒羊、湖羊和萨福克羊中检测到，而在多赛特羊中没有发现；在4个绵羊品种中，AA基因型频率最高，A等位基因频率均明显高于B等位基因频率。对引物2的多态片段测序分析表明：位于MYOG基因cDNA第183处(GenBartk登录号U14331)发生了单碱基突变(C→T)，并导致了氨基酸由丙氨酸改变为缬氨酸。     

Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of Chasmanthera dependens leaf methanol extract.

A methanol extract of the dried leaves of Chasmanthera dependens was investigated for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. The extract (100--400 mg/kg, p.o.) produced dose-related inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw oedema and cotton pellet-induced granuloma in rats. Furthermore, an inhibition in the leakage of Evan's blue induced by acetic acid was observed in mice. At same doses, analgesic effect was also observed on writhing response induced by acetic acid as well as on the early and late phase of formalin-induced paw licking in mice.     

微卫星PCR扩增反应技术条件优化探讨

微卫星PCR扩增反应受诸多因素的影响，不同的Mg^2 浓度、退火温度、引物浓度、dNTP浓度、模板量、不同厂家的Taq DNA聚合酶、不同的PCR仪等都会对扩增反应结果有不同程度的影响，在进行PCR反应前，须对这些条件反复摸索优化，以获得最佳反应体系.     

OPAY02-C型标记与新扬州鸡早期增重关系的研究

随机选择新扬州鸡5个父系半同胞家系后代78只,用于分析RAPD标记与新扬州鸡早期增重的关系。RAPD标记是在21个随机引物中,经反复试验选出的稳定的,具有多态性的3个引物OPAY02,OPAY13,OPAY17扩增产物,统计分析表明:OPAY02引物扩增的1660bp和2326bp两条多态性条带的4种组合中,OPAY02-C型标记具有显著的增效作用(P<0.015),可作为标记进行辅助选择。     

Studies on the anti-inflammatory properties of Entada abyssinica.

The defatted methanolic extract of Entada abyssinica was evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity in acute and chronic models of inflammation. The extract (50--200 mg/kg, p.o.) exhibited dose-dependent and significant inhibition of both the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema and granuloma tissue formation in rats. The extract (50--200 mg/kg, p.o.) was also found to inhibit the acetic acid-induced vascular permeability in a dose-dependent fashion in mice. This study demonstrated the anti-inflammatory activity of Entada abyssinica.