Status of fisheries and aquaculture development in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Ekiti State has limited water surface area but blessed with some rivers and seven big reservoirs on which some artisanal fishery is being carried out by over 400 fisher folks. Fish farming in Ekiti state is largely dominated by Clarias gariepinus culture. Interest in fish farming is on the increase as farmers construct concrete fish tanks as small as 1.5m2 as well as series of contour earthen ponds or tanks as big as 30m2. The total number of ponds has grown numerically from 96 at the inception of the state in 1996 to about 2000 in 2008. The move towards private/public partnership in aquaculture development will improve the economic and nutritional status of the region

Fisheries and aquaculture development in Nigeria: an appraisal

Nigeria has a coastline of 853km and over 14 million hectares of inland waters and thus owns significant fisheries. The contribution of fisheries to the Nigerian economy is significant in terms of supply of high quality dietary protein, income generation, creation of employment and enhanced inflow of foreign exchange earnings through shrimp export. However, due over-exploitation of the natural resources, by-catch and discard problem, inadequate infrastructure and social amenities development, inadequate supply of fish feed, fish seeds and slow adoption of new technology and management strategies etc. The domestic fish production (0.55 million tons) has fallen short of the demand (1.5million metric tons). Aquaculture development is the solution to the unpredictable production through capture or artisanal/industrial fisheries

Effects of Soy-based allochthonous nutrient inputs on intensively cultured female Clarias gariepinus (Burchell) brooder’s growth performance and on the indwelling net microplanktonic populations

Portions of soybean meal autoclaved at 116°C and 1.2 kg/cm2 pressure for 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 min were used to compound 4 experimental diets appropriately labeled SB10, SB15, SB20, SB25 and SB30 respectively. The experimental diets were fed to Clarias gariepinus female broodstocks intensively for 84 days. During the experimental period, the female fish broodstock growth performance as well as the water and the in-dwelling net microplanktonic quality were monitored. The feed inputs into the different culture media ranged between 13,759 g (SB15) and 15, 649 g (SB10). The highest weight gain was recorded in the female broodfish fed diet SB25. The assayed water quality parameters for the different treatment culture media were not statistically different from each other (P > 0.05). Four (4) phytoplanktonic phyla containing 7 orders with 30 species were recorded in the various media receiving the different feed inputs. The richest floristic composition with 21 species and a Margalef’s Richness Index (R1) of 1.66 was obtained in the culture medium that received SB25 feed input. Twenty (20) microinvertebrate species belonging to 2 phyla and 4 orders were recorded in the various media during the period of study. The rotifers (Order: Ploima) with 16 species dominated the microinvertebrate fauna. Results also showed that the culture medium which received SB25 diet had the highest  microinvertebrate fauna with 19 species.Key words: Soybean, feed input, Clarias gariepinus, water quality, microplankton

Effect of operational parameters, characterization and antibacterial studies of green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Tithonia diversifolia

Background: There is a growing interest in the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using plant extract because the technique is cost effective, eco-friendly and environmentally benign. This is phasing out the use of toxic and hazardous chemical earlier reported. Tithonia diversifolia is a wild sunflower that grows widely in the western part of Nigeria with a proven medicinal benefit. However, several studies carried out have left doubts on the basic operational parameters needed for the green synthesis of AgNPs. The objective of this work was to carry out green synthesis of AgNPs using T. diversifolia extract via an eco-friendly route through optimization of various operational parameters, characterization, and antimicrobial studies. Method: Green synthesis of TD-AgNPs was done via bottom-up approach through wet chemistry technique using environmentally benign T. diversifolia plant extract as both reducing and stabilizing agent. Phytochemical Screening of the TD plant extract was carried out. Experimental optimization of various operational parameters—reaction time, concentration, volume ratio, and temperature was investigated. TD-AgNPs were characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR Spectroscopy, SEM/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Antimicrobial studies against multi drug resistant microorganisms (MDRM) were studied using the agar well diffusion method. Results: This study reveals the importance of various operational parameters in the synthesis of TD-AgNPs. Excellent surface plasmon resonance peaks (SPR) were obtained at optimum experimental factors of 90 min reaction time under room temperature at 0.001M concentration with the volume ratio of 1:9 (TD extract:Ag ion solution). The synthesis was monitored using UV– Vis and maximum wavelength obtained at 430 nm was due to SPR. The morphology and elemental constituents obtained by TEM, SEM, and EDX results revealed a spherical shape of AgNPs with prominent peak of Ag at 3.0 kV in EDX spectrum. The crystallinity nature was confi rmed by XRD studies. FTIR analysis proved presence of biomolecules functioning as reducing, stabilizing, and capping agents. These biomolecules were confi rmed to be fl avonoid, triterpenes, and saponin from phytochemical screening. The antimicrobial studies of TD-AgNPs were tested against MDRM— Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella enterica, and Bacillus subtilis. Discussion: The variation of reaction time, temperature, concentration, and volume ratio played substantive and fundamental roles in the synthesis of TD-AgNPs. A good dispersion of small spherical size between 10 and 26 nm was confirmed by TEM and SEM. A dual action mechanism of anti-microbial effects was provided by TD-AgNPs which are bactericidal and membrane-disruption. Based on the antimicrobial activity, the synthesized TD-AgNPs could find good application in medicine, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and food science

The Effect of Incubator Type on Hatchability and Chick Survival of Emu Dromaius Novae Hollandiae (Le Souef 1907)

The population of wildlife is declining due to unsustainable harvest for meat. There is need to increase animal protein to fill the gap between the demand and supply from conventional sources through production and management of non-conventional sources of meat like Dromaius Novae Hollandiae . In this study hatchability and chick survival due to the use of two different types of incubators examined. Sixteen birds aged 20 month were managed in eight pens (25m by 25m each) under semi intensive system at Ajanla farms, Ibadan at the rate of one male to one female per pen. They were fed with pelleted feed and Tridax procumbens. Eggs were collected daily for viability test before setting and hatching in two different types of incubators; electric cabinet and kerosene incubators. Both were maintained at a temperature of 40\ub0C and 25% relative humidity. Hatched chicks were monitored for the first six weeks of life to determine chick survival. Data obtained were analyzed using ANOVA. Proximate analysis of the diet revealed that it contained 45% crude protein. Average production for three years was 62 + 2.4 eggs, with a total average of 35 + 18.2 eggs per hen during the breeding period. The mean weight recorded for Emu eggs was 625 + 2.59g. Fertility percentage was 75.4%. Average hatchability of 60.4%, 70.1% and 65.4% observed for kerosene-operated incubator for 2002, 2003 and 2004 respectively were significantly higher (P<0.01) than 17.5%, 16.1% and 18.2% respectively for the electric incubators. For both incubators, incubation period was 50 days. The average weight of newly hatched chick was 414g. Mean weight of hatchings from kerosene and electric incubators were 418.5g; 409,6g respectively. Mortality recorded in hatchlings from electric incubator was 30% while that for kerosene incubator was 10%. There was low hatchability in electric incubator compared to kerosene incubator

Some Physiological Responses of Clarias gariepinus Fed Graded Levels of Cirina forda Larvae Based Diets

The study examined the growth performance, hematological and digestive enzymes of Clarias gariepinus juveniles fed Cirina forda meal (CFM) based diets in the laboratory for a period of 10weeks. Five iso-nitrogenous (30%) experimental diets were formulated at various levels of CFM inclusion levels of 0% (control), 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%, designated as diets Q, A10, B20, C30, D40 and E50 respectively. Fish fed the CFM based diets showed mean weight gain (MWG), specific growth rate (SGR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) comparable to the control diet. There was significant differences in the digestive enzyme activities of the fish as the CFM level in the experimental diets increased. Protease and maltase activities significantly increased, with diet C30 recording the highest maltase activity (4.37) while the cellulase and glucanase activities of the fish significantly (P0.05) between the PCV and RBC of the blood of the fish fed the various diets. Highest RBC (2.75 x106/µL) was obtained in fish fed the control diet while the lowest (2.55 x106/µL) was recorded in the fish fed diet E50. The White Blood Cell count and the Neutrophils of the fish fed the trial diets were not significantly higher (P>0.05) than those of the fish fed the control diets. From the results of this experiment, it is concluded that up to 50% inclusion level of Cirina forda meal in the diet of Clarias gariepinus was tolerable for good growth and physiological well-being of the fish

Responses of different poultry manure levels on the growth and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus linn.) in Ibadan, Nigeria

The experiment was conducted at the research Farm, Federal College of Forestry Technology, Ibadan, Nigeria, to determine the Effect of Organic Manure (Poultry Manure) levels on the Growth and Yield of Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus Linn.) in Ibadan, Nigeria. Cucumis sativus seed purchased from Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) Ibadan, were planted on 5m by 3m pieces of land comprising of (15) beds which were divided into five columns and three rows consisting of two treatments and five replicates, treatment of 10g and 15g of poultry manure was applied per replicate. The experiment was laid out in a randomized completely block design (RCBD) comprising two treatments (including control) and each replicated five times making a total of fifteen. Both treatments showed significant variations in growth and yield parameters. The results showed that cucumber plant treated with poultry manure at 15g had highest numbers of leaves (62.28), vine length (44.04 cm), vine diameter (4.86 cm), numbers of branches (4.5 cm), which eventually resulted into bountiful fruit production with fruit length (18.1 cm/ha), fruit diameter (4.5 cm/ha), number of fruits (4.8 ), average fruit weight (169.5 g/ha) and yield (31.9 t/ ha) on the average, The increase in vine diameters and leaves production was significant at (p<0.1 and p<0.05) respective. The interactions of all other parameters were found non-significant except on average fruit weight.  The application of poultry manures at 15 t/ha is thereby recommended for commercially production of cucumber plants in lbadan for rapid growth and yield. Keywords: Manure, levels, growth, yield, cucumber

Performance characteristics, nutrient digestibility and blood profile of rabbits fed diets containing graded levels of Moringa oleifera seed powder

A ten-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the performance, nutrient digestibility and blood profile of rabbits fed diets containing graded levels of Moringa oleifera seed powder (MSP). Twenty-four male growing rabbits of mixed breeds were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments. Each treatment group was further sub-divided into three (3) replicates of two (2) rabbits each in a completely randomized design (CRD). Four diets were formulated to include MSP at varying inclusion levels of 0, 0.5, 1 and 2% for treatments T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively, which were pelletized. Feed and water were provided ad-libitum. Data were collected on growth performance and nutrient digestibility of rabbits fed the experimental diet while at the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected to determine the effect of different inclusion levels of MSP on haematological and serum biochemical indices of rabbits. Result revealed that the average daily feed intake (68.76-78.93g) decreased significantly (p<0.05) across the dietary treatments as the MSP inclusion levels increased but a rise was noticed at the highest inclusion level of MSP (T4). The weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not significantly influenced (p >0.05) by the dietary treatments. No significant differences (P>0.05) among treatments were observed on all the blood profile except the lymphocyte, monocytes, total protein and globulin. Rabbits on T4 recorded the highest values in total protein (6.91 g/dl) and globulin (3.03 g/dl). Digestibility studies however showed that all the parameters were significantly affected (p<0.05) by dietary treatments in which rabbits on T2 had the highest dry matter (82.03%), crude protein (62.23%) and ash (89.48%) digestibility values. It can be concluded that Moringa oleifera seed powder (MSP) can be supplemented in growing rabbit’s diet without any deleterious effects on performance, blood profile and nutrient digestibility.Keywords: Moringa oleifera, Performance, Blood profile, Nutrient digestibility, Rabbit