2016 - Volume 11 Issue 3
http://repo.lib.sab.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/661
2024-03-26T02:34:10ZComparative Effects of Graded Levels of Moringa Leaf Meal on Haematological and Serum Biochemical Profile of Broiler Chickens
http://repo.lib.sab.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/1026
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.
2016-09-01T00:00:00ZAssessment of Awareness and Adoption of Fish Farming Technologies in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria
http://repo.lib.sab.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/1024
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
2016-09-01T00:00:00ZPhenetic Variation and Preliminary Phytochemical Screening of Piper Species in Sri Lanka
http://repo.lib.sab.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/1022
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.
2016-09-01T00:00:00ZInteraction 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
http://repo.lib.sab.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/1021
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.
2016-09-01T00:00:00Z