Growth promoting and health enhancing effects of aged palm sap-enriched activated biochar in broiler nutrition

This study aimed to assess the impact of aged palm sap-enriched activated biochar (AC+APS) supplementation on the growth performance, carcass yield, haematological parameters and biochemical indices of broilers. Two hundred and forty (240) male day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were assigned to five dietary treatment groups with six (6) replicates in a completely randomized design (CRD). The control group was fed a basal diet (A0) containing no additives. Groups A1 and A2 were fed a basal diet containing activated biochar (AC) at 0.50 and 1.00%, respectively, while groups A3 and A4 were fed a basal diet containing 0.50 and 1.00% activated biochar enriched with aged palm sap (AC+APS), respectively during an experimental period of 6 weeks.  The results revealed significant (p0.05) improvements in growth performance in 0.50% AC+APS-supplemented broilers compared to those in the AC-supplemented or control group during the finisher and overall production stages. The effect of AC and AC+APS inclusion on average daily feed intake was pronounced (p0.05) only during the finisher (22-42 days) period. All the test groups exhibited similar (p0.05) carcass traits to those of the control group and the treatments had no deleterious effects on organ development. Moreover, the AC+APS additive improved (p0.05) haematopoietic processes / parameters, serum protein profiles, glucose synthesis, and decreased serum enzyme activities while increasing mineral retention in broilers compared to those in the control or AC-supplemented broilers. The 0.50% AC+APS therefore proved to be the most beneficial additive for improving productive and physiological functions in broilers and could be a useful substitute for antibiotic growth-promoting additives in poultry diets

A review of climate-smart agriculture in Asia: Critical achievements, key challenges, and potential prospects

Climate change is posing a risk to rural communities and smallholders in Asia, whose livelihoods traditionally depend on farming. To address this, climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is widely encouraged for sustainable development. Despite global recognition of CSA, there is currently limited evidence to generalise and evaluate the practical implementation of CSA in this region. Given various agro-climate conditions, institutional settings, and socioeconomic backgrounds, this paper conducted a systematic review of the achievements, challenges, and prospects of CSA in Asian countries. We classified nine groups of CSA practices: conservation agriculture, water management, climate-resilient varieties, agricultural diversification, integrated pest management, nutrient management, precision farming, agrivoltaics, and livestock management. The linkages of enabling policies, knowledge transfer, market conditions, financial mechanisms, and socioeconomic background are crucial in supporting the performance and sustainability of CSA. In addition to the achievements in distinct criteria (productivity, adaptation, and mitigation), key challenges include the lack of enforcing guidelines, the shortage of learning platforms, the limitation of financial support, and the weakness of coordination among partnerships in the long term. To promote CSA in Asia, the engagement of multi-stakeholders at multi-levels should be increased to enhance the capacities of farming households and help them adopt responsive actions to local conditions

Genetic structure and diversity of dairy cows in commercial herds in Burkina Faso using microsatellite markers

The present study provides knowledge about the genetic diversity and population structure of cows in peri-urban cattle herds that are urgently needed for the planning of systematic selection programs. We considered 21 microsatellite markers to identify genetic clusters for 112 dairy cows from Burkina Faso and a reference dataset of European cattle breeds (n = 179). Unsupervised clustering and a model-based approach were used for identification of latent classes and inference of genetic diversity within classes. Overall, the genetic diversity of cows in commercial dairy herds in Burkina Faso was high. Clustering results suggest four genetic clusters. Almost all cows from Burkina Faso shared the same ancestry and were grouped together in cluster 3. The highest expected heterozygosity (HE = 0.74) and inbreeding coefficient (FIS = 0.08) were obtained for this cluster. The other genetic clusters included Original Braunvieh and Tarentaise (cluster 1), Red Holstein (cluster 2) and Fleckvieh (cluster 4). The genetic distances of cluster 3 to the other clusters were large. In conclusion, the poor population structuring, and the low genetic contribution of European cattle breeds underline the need for effective (cross-)breeding strategies for optimal exploitation of heterosis effects and maintaining genetic diversity in dairy cows in Burkina Faso.

Effect of storage conditions on soybean seed quality produced by smallholder farmers within two districts of Gauteng, South Africa

Seed quality comprises of physical, physiological, and health attributes. Moreover, significant aspects of seed quality include seed viability and vigour. Maintaining good seed quality under sub-optimal storage conditions is one of the major challenges smallholder soybean farmers face. Hence, this study aimed to determine the effect of on-farm storage conditions on the seed quality of soybeans from smallholder farmers within the Gauteng Province, South Africa. The objectives of this study were to i) evaluate and compare the viability and vigour of farm-saved soybean seeds, and ii) evaluate the effect of seed moisture and simulated storage period on the rate of deterioration of the seeds. Farm-saved seed samples collected from the twenty-two smallholder farmers from two districts within the Gauteng Province showed significant variations in terms of seed moisture, viability, vigour [accelerated aging (Aa) and conductivity], and in the rate of deterioration. The seed moisture content ranged from 7.8-30.8 %. The majority of the farm-saved seed samples had a germination percentage significantly higher than 75 %, irrespective of the storage conditions. On the other hand, seeds subjected to Aa and to the controlled deterioration test resulted in less vigourous seedlings. Seeds that were subjected to 24 hr Aa had a significantly (p 0.05) higher germination than those subjected to 72 hr Aa. The 72 hr Aa results verified the reduction of seed vigour as the storage period increased. A similar declining germination trend was observed on seeds subjected to deterioration tests under high moisture content levels. The study gives an indication of how the sub-optimal storage facilities used by smallholder soybean farmers affect seed quality. Based on the vigour tests, it can be assumed that storing seeds with high SMC under high relative humidity coupled together with high temperatures for prolonged periods tends to deteriorate the seeds rapidly and thus reduce seed vigour

Assessment of the presence of antibiotic residues in meat from small-scale broiler farms in the Pwani region of Tanzania

The unregulated use of veterinary drugs, particularly antibiotics, on Tanzanian broiler farms is widespread. Still, little attention has been paid to the factors that promote the presence of antibiotic residues in broiler meat. This study aimed to identify rearing practices likely to favour the presence of antibiotic residues and to determine the presence of residues of commonly used antibiotics in broiler meat. The length of the rearing period, poultry pathologies and the type of veterinary medicines used were studied on 78 farms in the Pwani region (Tanzania). The results showed that infectious coryza, coccidiosis, chronic respiratory diseases, salmonellosis and omphalitis were the most common diseases. Of the veterinary medicines used to treat these diseases, antibiotics were the most widely used (69%), mainly enrofloxacin (ENO), limoxin (LX), oxytetracycline (OTC), tylosin (TS) and tylodox (TDX). Eight farms were selected to take broiler meat samples for laboratory analysis of residues of these five antibiotics. These analyses revealed that all but one of the samples were negative. Samples taken from four-week-old birds tested positive for another antibiotic, sulfamethazine (SF), which was not initially one of the five antibiotics selected for this study. This study highlighted the significant use of veterinary drugs in response to various diseases. The absence of antibiotic residues can be attributed to the age of the animals sampled, as at over 5 weeks, they would have had time to eliminate the drugs. A rearing period of four weeks is insufficient and would be a factor favouring the presence of drug residues in broiler meat

Influence of season and phytochemicals on the elemental composition of kobs’ diets in Old Oyo National Park, Nigeria

Phytochemicals or plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) are known to counteract mineral nutrients (MNs) utilisation in herbivorous wildlife, yet studies on the interactions between PSMs and MNs in relation to herbivory, particularly for kobs (Kobus kob) are scarce. Composite samples of each of five major forage plants of kobs’ (Grewia mollis, Afzelia africana, Gardenia aqualla, Maranthes polyandra and Andropogon gayanus) were randomly collected in and around feeding sites of kobs in both dry and wet season. Using standard procedures, samples were analysed for PSMs (alkaloids, phenols, saponins and tannins) and MNs [copper (Cu2+), iron (Fe2+), manganese (Mn2+), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), zinc (Zn2+), sulphur (S2-), sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+)]. With appropriate statistical tools, data obtained were analysed, compared and correlated. Almost all plants were significantly higher in all the tested MNs and PMSs in the wet season, except for Maranthes polyandra which showed the inverse trend for Cu2+, Mn2+, S2-, Na+ and K+. Apart from tannins that were absent, the concentration of other PSMs (in Grewia mollis) and Ca2+ (in Gardenia aqualla and Andropogon gayanus) were significantly higher in the dry season. In conclusion, the concentration of Na+, K+, S2-, Fe2+ and Zn2+ in selected forage plants of kobs were highly influenced by the presence of PSMs

Carcass trait, meat lipid profile and meat quality of broiler chickens fed diets containing high inclusion level of high quality cassava (Manihot esculenta) peel meal

The current hike in price of conventional energy feedstuff warrants an intensified effort for a sustainable alternative that would not compromise performance and meat quality of poultry birds. The study evaluated the carcass trait and meat quality of finisher broiler chickens fed diets containing highly processed cassava peel meal at 50% inclusion level in replacement of maize. Three hundred and twenty  Cobb500 broiler chickens were allocated to 4 dietary treatments on a weight equalisation basis. Diet 1 = control diet (corn-soybean meal based diet) containing 4.0 g kg-1 digestible methionine (MET), 0.96 g kg-1 digestible lysine, diet 2 =  diet containing 50% replacement of maize in diet 1 with high quality cassava peel meal and containing 4.0 g kg-1  digestible MET, 0.96 g kg-1  digestible lysine, diets 3 and 4 are similar to diet 2 except with higher MET and lysine concentrations. Diet 3 contains 4.4 g kg-1 digestible MET, 1.02 g kg-1 digestible lysine, and diet 4 contains 4.8 g kg-1 digestible MET, 1.08 g kg-1 digestible lysine. The study lasted for 3 weeks (finisher phase). The highest slaughtered, carcass, and small intestinal weight were recorded in birds fed diet 2 while the birds fed diet 3 had the least abdominal fat value (p 0.05). The water holding capacity and cooking loss percentage was highest in the meat of the chickens fed diet 4. The meat colour (redness, yellowness, and lightness) of chickens fed diet 4 recorded the highest value. The very low density of lipoprotein and triglyceride concentrations were least in the meat of chickens fed diet 2 (p0.05). It can be concluded that supplementation of methionine/lysine to high quality cassava peel meal improved the carcass trait and meat quality of the broiler chickens.

Price dispersion and domestic banana market response in the Philippines

This study investigated the vertical price transmission of banana in the domestic market of the Philippines. Banana, as one of the governments’ priority crops under the Department of Agriculture’s ‘High-value Crops Development Program’, has given priority to sustainability and global competitiveness. However, the domestic banana market consists of several marketing channels. Such complex characteristics of marketing channels can negatively affect market efficiency. In addition to such issues within a banana market, there are other issues that arise outside the market that can also affect market efficiency. This study considered both internal and external factors affecting market efficiency and analysed the price transmission of upstream and downstream banana markets in the Philippines. The nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) model is used to estimate asymmetric relationships among vertical banana markets. Following the NARDL model, the Granger causality test is applied to determine the direction between market prices. Results showed that the price dispersion and response depend on varieties of banana such as Lakatan and Saba, and market levels from farmgate, wholesale and retail. Lakatan banana is less inefficient than Saba banana in the Philippine domestic market. Based on the findings of the study, it is suggested that banana market stakeholders need to develop different strategies depending on the banana variety in order to improve the efficiency of the domestic banana market. To improve the complex distribution structure, the government needs to design medium- and long-term projects

Weighing benefits in cocoa farming systems: An analysis of profitability in certified and non-certified cocoa farming schemes in Cameroon

The environmental and economic benefits of certified cocoa production are well documented in the current literature. Yet, adoption rates remain largely suboptimal, at least partially due to insufficiently documented empirical evidence on comparative advantage of certified cocoa schemes over conventional production systems.  This study estimates profits in certified and non-certified cocoa farming systems in Meme Division in Cameroon. Mixed methods research design and the multistage sampling technique were applied to collect and analyse data, and comparatively estimate profits by applying the gross margins (GM), net farm income (NFI), net present value (NPV), benefit cost ratio (BCR) and internal rate of return (IRR) analyses on 460 individual cocoa farmers. The results showed that GM, NFI, NPV and BCR were significantly higher for certified cocoa farmers compared to non-certified cocoa farmers (p=0.000). The study concludes that certified cocoa production is more profitable than non-certified cocoa production, and therefore has a significant positive impact on the livelihoods of those involved. It is recommended that farmers in the study area be encouraged to adopt certified cocoa production, for example by facilitating access to relevant resources for certified cocoa production, such as access to credit and other policies and programmes designed to motivate participation