Prevalence of diseases among sheep and goats in Edo State, Nigeria

Clinical records of small ruminant (Sheep and Goat) diseases treated were collected from the veterinary clinics, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources of three Local Government areas in Edo state, for a period of five years (1997-2002). To identify the disease occurrence and prevalence as it militates against the growth of these animals in these sub- humid areas. The total numbers of small ruminants treated were 316 having 25 cases of Sheep and 291 cases of goats. Diarrhoea accounted for 20 & 12.4%; helminthiasis 20 & 13.4% and Pneumonia 16 & 20.3% for sheep and goat respectively. Pneumo-enteritis, mange, anorexia, wound and kata were common among goat while, pneumo-enteritis; helminthiasis and wound were among sheep. Goat diseases prevalence showed much occurrence of pneumonia, helminthiasis and diarrhoea. While, sheep was more of diarrhoea, helminthiasis and pneumonia respectively. The statistical analysis of the clinical treatment data using a three-factor analysis of variance revealed that animal type and disease were significant (

Seasonal distribution of major diseases among sheep and goats in selected sub humid areas in Nigeria

This study into the diseases responsible for the uneven distribution of goat and sheep in the sub humid areas in Nigeria as one of the major hinderances in sheep and goat production despite the potentiality of this region to sustain small ruminants. A survey of the types and causes of major diseases of small ruminants was carried out in Edo State of Nigeria which presents variants of climatic conditions that cut across the humid areas of Nigeria and Africa. The study covered a period of five years (1997‐2002) in three local government areas of the state. A total of 316 small ruminants’ cases of major diseases made up of 25 cases in sheep and 291 cases in goats were recorded. Pneumonia contacted by the ruminants was 17%, helminthosis was 10% and was 6% as the most predominated diseases that occurred during the wet seasons than the period of dry season. Mange was high during the dry seasons and seemed to be confined almost exclusively to goats. Statistical analysis using a three‐factor analysis of variance revealed that seasonal distribution of diseases was a significant factor (p<0.05), diseases and the type of the small ruminant that contacted the diseases were significant factor (p<0.05). Most of the major diseases were frequently contracted during the wet seasons. In the Humid areas, there is need to sensitize farmers about ruminants’ health care management programmes especially intensive feeding method during wet season and deworming during onset or immediately after the wet season against gastro intestinal parasites as well as the improvement of indigenous breed through semi intensive management system by the farmers.Key words: Diarrhoea related diseases, symptoms, seasons, sheep and goats, sub humid, veterinary records, Nigeri

Growth Response of Clarias Gariepinus Fingerlings To Different Dietary Protein Levels Of Toadmeal Inclusion

A ten-week nutritional study was carried out to evaluate the practical replacement of fishmeal with toad meal in different protein levels in the diet of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. One hundred and fifty (150) fingerlings with an average weight of 7.99 – 27.64g were stocked at the rate of ten (10) fish per experimental tank. The fingerlings were subjected to five different dietary feeds with varying levels of toad meal at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% respectively. Each treatment was replicated. Feeding was done at 3% body weight per day and records of weekly weight increase were kept. The feed conversion ratio, weight gain, survival rate revealed that the control (0% toadmeal inclusion) and diet 5 (100% toadmeal inclusion) were best in growth performance, unlike the mixed fishmeal and toadmeal that showed adequate growth performance Water quality parameters of the experiment measured constantly were within the normal optimum requirements that had no negative effects on the experimental fish. Finally based on biological and financial evaluation of the feeding trials diet 5 (100%) was recommended as the most economical and practically acceptable for large-scale intensive fish culture. Key word: Toadmeal, Clarias gariepinus, diet, replacements, growth performance DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/10-6-07 Publication date:March 31st 202

Academic Staff Disposition To Promotion Criteria In Nigerian Universities

This study aimed at determining academic staff satisfaction with promotion criteria and what, in their view, should be included in the promotion criteria. A researcher-designed questionnaire was utilized for data collection from a sample size of 349 academic staff. Findings show that the majority of the academic staff were dissatisfied with the promotion practices. Academic staff were satisfied with promotion criteria that had to do with required number of publications but dissatisfied with those related to computer literacy and international publication requirements. An oral interview before promotion was advocated for inclusion into the promotion criteria by academic staff.  Evolving a more holistic criterion for promotion of academic staff was recommended

THE EFFECTS OF PALM OIL ON THE PHYSICAL APPEARANCE OF Clarias gariepinus DURING TRANSPORTATION

ABSTRACT:The study on the rate of water quality deterioration, bacterial load, survival percentage and physical appearance of transported adult Clarias gariepinus was carried out using palm oil as water additive and anti-stress at different concentrations, 904mgL -1 ,1808 mgL -1 and 2712 mgL -1 and compared to salt at 0.4% over a six hour transportation period. The adult fish were transported in a container at 2kg /litre of water in an open van while the water samples were at zero, second, fourth and sixth hours of transportation. Water quality, physical appearance and the survival rate of the fish within the various treatments were assessed at the end of the transportation exercise. The pH of transport water containing oil at 904mgL -1 , 1808mgL -1 and 2712mgL -1 was maintained during the course of transportation in contrast to the treatment containing 0.4% salt and the control whose pH changed at the second hour of transportation but the dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, ammonium (NH 4 ), Nitrate (NO 3 ), Nitrite (NO 2 ) and chlorine (CI) of all the treatments followed the same trend while the bicarbonate (HCO 3 ) concentration of transport water containing 2712mgL -1 palm oil were maintained till the second hour before it changed at the fourth and sixth hours of transportation. The plate count agar (PCA) of all the treatments containing oil recorded more organisms than the treatment containing 0.4% salt and the control; but, the fish in all the treatments containing palm oil have an appearance not different from when freshly harvested in contrast to the control that had bruises and scars on the skin and the survival percentage of fish in all the treatments was between 95% -100%. It has been revealed that addition of palm oil at the varying concentrations kept the freshness of the fish during transportation thereby improving the market value of transported live catfish

Replacement of Fishmeal Using Poultry Offal Meal in Practical Feeds for Fry of the African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

A 70-day feeding trial was conducted to test the effect of partial replacement of fishmeal by poultry offal in the diet for fry of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus. Four isonitrogenous rations containing replacement of 0 (control), 30%, 60%, or 90% fishmeal by poultry offal were fed to three replicate groups of C. gariepinus fingerlings (0.74 g). Growth performance and nutrient utilization of the fish were evaluated based on weight gain, protein intake, protein efficiency ratio, specific growth ratio, gross efficiency of food conversion, and carcass analysis. The average weight gains of fingerlings fed the control (2.43 g) and 30% replacement diet (2.31 g) were higher than in fish fed the 60% (2.09 g) and 90% (2.0 g) replacement diets. The feed conversion ratio (1.48-1.62) was lowest in fish fed the control diet and highest in fish fed the 90% replacement diet. The specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, and apparent net protein utilization significantly decreased (p<0.05) as the level of dietary poultry offal increased. It was concluded that replacement of up to 30% fishmeal by chicken offal meal enhances growth performance of C. gariepinus fry

The effects of heavy metals concentration on some commercial fish in Ogun River, Opeji, Ogun State, Nigeria

A study was conducted on commercially important fish species of heavy metals in water bodies. The primary objectives were to find out the amount of heavy metals concentration in the fish species, sediments and water samples at the deep and shallow part of the river, to determine the toxicity and relationship between the collected samples and the rate at which it pollutes the water. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) evaluates their wholesomeness for human consumption. Four heavy metals (lead, cadmium, copper and zinc) were analyzed and only copper and zinc were found to be present in the digested samples. The concentration of copper in the fish (flesh) was 0.09 mg/l and that of zinc was 0.25 mg/l. In the bone samples, copper was found to have 0.17 mg/l and zinc 0.22 mg/l. In the water samples analyzed, the concentration of copper is 0.035 mg/l while that of zinc is 0.047 mg/l. In the sediment sample, the amount of copper is 310.0 mg/kg while that of zinc is 2050.0 mg/kg. This however signifies that the fish species in the Ogun River as well as the water is suitable for consumption which was found to be less than the World Health Organization (WHO) maximum recommended acceptable limits in the food.Key words: Heavy metals, fish species, water samples, toxicit

Digestibility and Nutrient Utilization of Differently Processed Tropical Almond (Terminalia Catappa) Kernel Meal and Cake Based Diets by Clarias Gariepinus Juveniles

This study examined the nutrient digestibility and utilization indices of differently processed tropical almond (Terminalia catappa) kernel for&nbsp;Clarias gariepinus&nbsp;juveniles. A total of 420&nbsp;C. gariepinus&nbsp;stocked at 20 fish /65 litres plastic tank were allocated to seven dietary treatments in triplicates of differently processed almond kernel meal of Raw (RWAM), Boiled (BOAM), Soaked (SOAM), Roasted (ROAM), Mechanically Extracted cake (MEAC), Solvent Extracted cake (SEAC) and control (REFR) diet. Fish were fed at 3% of their body weight twice daily, the excess feed siphoned out after 45 minutes while faecal collection was done 8 hours after every feeding. Apparent digestibility co-efficient of crude protein (ADCP), Gross energy (ADCGE) and dry matter (ADCDM) were calculated from the results of proximate analysis of treatment diets and faeces. Nutrient utilization indices were calculated from records of feeds administered and weights of fish. ROAM had the highest ADCP and ADCGE with 89.03% and 88.51%, respectively, while the lowest were recorded in SEAC (87.06%) and REFR (86.80%) respectively. There were significant differences (p&lt;0.05) between SEAC’s ADCP value and all the other treatments’ values and between SOAM’s ADCP value and BOAM, REFR, ROAM and MEAC’s ADCP values. There were also significant differences (p&lt;0.05) between RWAM’s ADCP value and ADCP values of REFR, ROAM, and MEAC. All the treatments’ ADCGE values significantly (p&lt;0.05) differed from each other. ADCDM was highest in MEAC, 74.54% followed by ROAM, 74.43% and least in SEAC, 72.03%. All the treatments’ ADCDM values significantly (p&lt;0.05) differed from each other. The lowest Feed conversion ratio was observed in ROAM, 1.00 and highest in SEAC, 1.64. ROAM recorded the highest Protein intake (PI) 3.56/100g diet, Protein efficiency ratio (PER) 2.54, Net protein utilization (NPU) 30.74% and Nitrogen metabolism (NM) 210.09 and lowest in SOAM (3.03g/100g diet, 1.60, 27.81% and 176.67 respectively). There was no significant difference (p&gt;0.05) in the PI and NPU values while there were significant differences (p&lt;0.05) between ROAM and the other treatments for PER and NM.&nbsp;Clarias gariepinus&nbsp;can effectively digest and utilize raw and differently processed Almond kernel meal and cake with the roasted meal and mechanically extracted cake having better nutrient digestibility and utilization indices.&nbsp