2016 - Volume 11 Issue 3

Comparative Effects of Graded Levels of Moringa Leaf Meal on Haematological and Serum Biochemical Profile of Broiler Chickens

2021-01-08T08:34:42Z

Comparative Effects of Graded Levels of Moringa Leaf Meal on Haematological and Serum Biochemical Profile of Broiler Chickens Tijani, L.A; Akanji, A.M; Agbalaya, K; Onigemo, M This study was carried out to determine the effects of Moringa oleifera leaf meal on the haematological and serum biochemical profile of broiler chickens. Fresh Moringa leaves (FML) were shade – dried for four (04) days and milled into meal. A total of two hundred (200) unsexed broiler chickens (Anak strain) with a mean body weight of 49.16 g/bird ± 0.09 were allotted to five (05) treatments at forty (40) birds per each in a completely randomized design experiment. Each treatment group was further divided into five (05) replicates. Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) was incorporated into the broiler starter and finisher diets at 0%, 5%, 10% 15% and 20% levels respectively. The chemical composition of the MOLM showed higher values of crude protein, crude fibre, calcium, iron, tannin, phytic acid, saponin and oxalate contents than FML. The haematological profile in birds fed 5% and 15% MOLM showed higher (P<0.05) packed cell volume than those fed 20% MOLM. The haemoglobin values were similar (P>0.05) between birds fed 5%, 10% and 15% MOLM - based diets, but reduced significantly (P<0.05) in birds fed 20% MOLM. The white blood cell count was significantly (P<0.05) higher in birds fed 15% MOLM, while the lowest was obtained in those fed with 20% MOLM. The serum biochemical indices in birds fed 20% MOLM showed significant reductions (P<0.05) in albumin, total protein, uric acid, aspartate amino transferase and alanine amino transferase contents. The creatinine content was significantly (P<0.05) higher in birds fed 20% MOLM -based diet. The present study concluded that MOLM can be incorporated into broiler diets at 15% level without adverse effects on the haematological and serum biochemical indices of the broiler chickens.

Assessment of Awareness and Adoption of Fish Farming Technologies in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria

2021-01-08T08:30:41Z

Assessment of Awareness and Adoption of Fish Farming Technologies in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria Olatunji, S. O; Ogunremi, J. B Fish farming has great potentials for ameliorating the problems of youths unemployed, poverty and nutritional deficiencies because it has been found to be economically rewarding and capable of providing vast employment, augmenting farmers’ income and improving standards of living of the citizenry. The study assessed farmers’ awareness and adoption of fish farming technologies in Obi-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. A sample of 87 fish farmers was selected from the population of about 570 through multistage random sampling technique. Structured interview schedule was used to collect relevant research data. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics (percentage and ranking). It was found that cat fish was cultured by more than 81% of the respondents. More than 72% of the farmers were aware of the eight fish farming technologies under study. More than 71% adopted aerator, flow through system, float fish feed and ova-prim but adoption of pituitary gland and re-circulatory system were at very low ebbs. High cost of feed, erratic power supply, inadequate capital and untimely or unavailability of production information were the major constraints to adoption of fish farming technologies. It was recommended that farmers continue to culture catfish which is hardy, easier to rear and tolerant to stressful conditions. Intervention programmes should be implemented to ensure that farmers adopt technologies whose adoptions were at low ebbs. The Government should subsidize the prices of fish feeds and other inputs while improving the perennial poor power supply

Phenetic Variation and Preliminary Phytochemical Screening of Piper Species in Sri Lanka

2021-01-08T08:25:26Z

Phenetic Variation and Preliminary Phytochemical Screening of Piper Species in Sri Lanka Jayarathna, S.P.N.C; Senanayake, S.P; Rajapakse, S; Jayasekera, L.R The genus Piper has high commercial importance as it contains cultivated crops (black pepper and betel) and medicinal plants that are mostly used in traditional medicine. In Sri Lanka the genus Piper is represented by ten species including five wild species. It is necessary to examine their chemical composition and morphology as they have received little attention for utilizing their valuable traits for crop improvement. Piper nigrum L., P. betle L., P. longum L., P. chuvya (Miq.) C. DC., P. siriboa L., P. sylvestre Lam., P. zeylanicum Miq. P. walkeri Miq were subjected to morphological and phytochemical study using the specimens collected from natural habitats and from the cultivations. The air dried and powdered leaves were used for qualitative phytochemical screening. Qualitative phytochemical screening was carried out to identify the different chemical compounds in petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol and water. The study confirmed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, alkaloids and phenolic compounds. Anatomical studies were carried out by obtaining leaf epidermal peels and cross sections. Thirteen morphological and anatomical characters were subjected to cluster analysis using PAST software to infer their relationships. According to the phenogram (Single linkage, Euclidean distance) the taxa were divided into two main clusters; P. longum, P. zeylanicum, P. sylvestre, P. nigrum and P. walkeri formed one cluster whereas P. chuvya, P. betle, P. siriboa formed the other cluster sharing similarities. P. betle varieties were clustered together with P. siriboa and P. chuvya within the second cluster. Therefore, potential strengths in disease resistance of P. siriboa and P. chuvya can be used to develop improved varieties of betel to minimize economic losses due to epidemics in cultivations.

Interaction of Genotype x Sowing Date on Yield and Associated Traits of Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] over Two Cropping Seasons in a Humid Agro-ecological Zone of South-Eastern Nigeria

2021-01-08T08:23:15Z

Interaction of Genotype x Sowing Date on Yield and Associated Traits of Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] over Two Cropping Seasons in a Humid Agro-ecological Zone of South-Eastern Nigeria Nwofia, G. E; Edugbo, R. E; Mbah, E. U The study evaluated four soybean genotypes in 2012 and 2013 cropping seasons in the humid tropics for growth, seed yield and other reproductive characters. A split plot in randomised complete block design with four replications was used at National Cereals Research Institute, Amakanma sub-station, Abia State, Nigeria (latitude 05º 28´ N, longitude 07º 29´ E ,154.25 m asl). Sowing date was the main plot treatment while soybean genotypes were fitted into the subplots. Sowing date significantly affected soybean yield and yield components with the month of July pointing out as most appropriate sowing time for the crop in the humid tropics of southeast Nigeria. TGx1485-1D soybean genotype consistently exhibited high performance in seed yield and in most of the characters studied across both environments while TGx1987-10F had the least, hence can be tipped as good breeding material for development of high yielding soybean varieties that would have high adaptation to the agro-ecology. Correlation and path analysis revealed that number of pods plant-1 among other traits was the most important contributor to seed yield and demands close attention as selection index for crop improvement. TGx1485-1D though high yielding exhibited low yield stability across both environments in the GGE bi-plot ranking where it ranked closest to the ideal genotype, hence, can be recommended as suitable for cultivation in the humid tropics of southeast Nigeria. Also, the genotype could be exploited for future breeding programs aimed at boosting research in developing high yielding, adaptable, disease resistance and stable genotypes for the region.