Basal endogenous losses of amino acids in protein nutrition research for swine and poultry

AbstractIn this review, the definition and terminology of amino acid (AA) digestibility and ileal endogenous losses of AA (IAAend) in poultry and swine nutrition are discussed. Compared with apparent (AID) and true (TID) ileal digestibility, standardised ileal digestibility (SID) of AA is recommended for the expression of digestible AA contents of feed ingredients and for describing nutritional requirements of poultry and swine. To determine the SID of AA, total ileal flow of AA should be corrected for basal IAAend. Therefore, the measurement of basal IAAend is of great importance for the accuracy of the SID estimation in feed ingredients. The techniques for measuring basal IAAend in poultry and swine include the use of a nitrogen-free diet (NFD), a highly digestible or enzyme hydrolyzed protein diet, and the regression method. The classic method for basal IAAend determination involves the feeding of a NFD to experimental animals and measuring the ileal AA flow. This IAAend output is considered as basal IAAend, and it is assumed that the excretion of basal IAAend depends only on DM intake, regardless of dietary composition. There are criticisms with the NFD method about the abnormal physiological state induced by severe AA deficiency. Although this AA deficiency may affect the estimate of basal IAAend for dispensable AA, especially proline and glycine because of the degradation of body protein, the NFD method is still the most widely used method for basal IAAend measurements. According to the definition of basal IAAend, the NFD should be the preferred methodology in SID determination, because the basal IAAend should be only related to dry matter intake. Additionally, the SID coefficients in feed ingredients generated by NFD method are considered to be additive in a complete diet. However, the results generated from NFD method can vary among studies due to the variance in the experimental animals and diet composition. To improve the accuracy of estimating the SID of AA in feed ingredients, it is suggested that a mandatory NFD be included in individual studies to generate basal IAAend for correcting total ileal amino acid flow in determining SID of AA. In addition, research is needed to investigate the standard diet formulation of NFD

Effects of Different Processing Methods on Nutrient and Anti-Nutrient Compositions of Entada aricana Seed

Entada africana belongs to the family Fabaceae which is popularly known as Legumes and third largest order of seed-plants. The study investigated the effects of different processing methods on the nutritional and anti-nutritional properties of Entada africana. Entada africana seed were collected from New-Bussa in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria. Entada africana were subjected to different processing methods; boiling and toasting, the processed seed were milled into powdered for proximate and photochemical analysis. All determinations were done in triplicates. All data collected was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), while significant means was separated using Duncan multiple range test. The results of the finding indicate that all the processed seed reduced the contents of phytochemicals; tannin was reduced by 62.12%, saponin 76.67%, phytate 60.69%, oxalate 76.40% and trypsin inhibitor by 29.79%. The study concludes that the processing methods have a significant effect on the nutrient and anti-nutrient composition of Entada africana seed by increasing the nutrient content and reducing the anti-nutrient composition of the seed. The study therefore, recommends that Etanda africana seed should be boiled before roasting in order to reduce anti-nutritional factors to a tolerable level before being used as animal feed

Assessment of minerals composition of natural salt licks, in Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria

The study was carried out to determine the quantities of essential elements composition of natural salt lick, at the three (3) different horizons in Oli range, Borgu sector of Kainji lake national park. Field survey and focus group discussion were used through the help of experienced park rangers to locate the commonly utilized saltlick spots. Nine (9) samples of soil were collected from three (3) different spots, two (2) saltlick spots and one (1) control spot each from three horizons (O, A, & E).Mineral element were determined for soil pH., potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, organic carbon, organic matter nitrogen were used respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan Multiple Range test was used to compare themeans. Results indicated that calcium content of the saltlick at second horizon (A layer) was (15.13± 0.81b) differs significantly (p<0.05) from calcium content of the saltlick at first and third horizon (O layer) (4.03±0.81a) and E layers (1.53 ± 0.81a) respectively. Magnesium content followed the same trend. Layer (A) was where high concentration of salt-licking was observed in all the spots sampled. The study also revealed that natural licks had higher level of essential elements than the control samples. Keywords: Salt lick, Mineral elements, Horizon and Soil Profil

Seasonal variation in plants consumption pattern by foraging Olive Baboons ( Papio anubis . Lesson, 1827) inside Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria

This study which lasted for eight (8) months in 2011, covering the period of dry and wet seasons examined seasonal plant species consumed by foraging Olive baboon ( Papio anubis ) inside Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria. Data were collected in the morning between 8.00am - 12.00pm and in the evening between 2.00pm - 6:00pm. Plant species and their parts eaten were monitored and identified through direct observation and faecal analysis. It was observed that seven plants species ( Andropogon gayanus , Strychnos spinosa , Nuclear latifiora, Vitelaria paradoxa , Ficus sycomorus , Annona senegalensis and Tamarindus indica ) were consumed in the wet season with 303 feeding events while ten plants species ( Detarium macrocarpum , Gardenia sotoemsis, Parkia biglobosa , Piliostigma thonningii , Pterocarpus erinaceus , Prosopis africana , Ficus sycomorus , Xamenia americana, Annona senegalensis and Vitex doniana) were consumed during the dry season with 315 feeding events. The feeding pattern shows that plants with higher nutritional quality were often consumed. Seasonal variation showed slight disparity in the nutrient composition of the identified plants. It was concluded that seasonal variations do affect the plants consumption pattern of foraging Olive baboon and that exsitu conservation of these plants is imperative for sustainable captive management of Olive baboon

Elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (eMTCT) in Western Nigeria: how far have we gone?

Background: HIV pandemic has continued to be a huge challenge in Nigeria, with the problem of stigmatization reducing the chances of early determination of the HIV status of pregnant women, which may increase the chances of transmission to the child from the mother. Hypotheses tested were the influence of maternal antiretroviral therapy (ART) use and infant’s feeding option on baby’s final early infant diagnosis (EID) outcome. The study was aimed at determining the trend as well as diagnosis of HIV infection in exposed infants. It will also determine among infants the factors associated with the transmission of the infection from their mothers.Methods: This study was a prospective cohort study of HIV-exposed infants conducted in Ekiti State, South Western Nigeria, between June 2015 and June 2017. Dried Blood Spots (DBS) were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction technique. All data were statistically analyzed, using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) and statistical test of significance was performed with Chi-Square test.Results: A total of 200 infants were included in the study, 91 (45.5%) female and 109 (54.5%) male. Three (1.5%) babies were confirmed positive after cessation of all exposures. Maternal antiretroviral therapy (ART) use has significant effect on baby early infant diagnosis (EID) outcome (χ² = 65.40, df = 2, P = 0.001). Infant feeding option has significant effect on baby early infant diagnosis (EID) outcome (χ² = 132.67, df = 2, P = 0.001). Baby’s mode of delivery have higher association with the final EID outcome of the baby (OR: 1.018, 95% CI: 0.998 – 1.038).Conclusion: ART administration to both HIV-infected mothers and their babies has demonstrated an effective mechanism in the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (eMTCT), as this is evident in the very low positivity outcome. However, the degree to which Cuba, Armenia, Belarus, and Thailand have eliminated HIV transmission from mother-to-baby is achievable in Nigeria through provision of universal access to health care.Key words: infant, mother, dried blood spot, polymerase chain reactio

Population status and habitat preferences of common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) in Kainji Lake National Park, Niger State Nigeria

This study assessed the population status and habitat preference of common Warthog in Kainji Lake National Park using direct sighting and line transect method using the existing jeep tracks. Data were analysed using the Paleontological Statistics Software (PAST) for scientific data analysis. Population estimates for the common warthog across various habitats were compared using one-way ANOVA and t- test for wet and dry seasons. A total number of 318 individuals were recorded in both seasons in the study area. Wet season recorded 244 individuals while dry season recorded 74 individuals. The findings also showed that the mean population estimates of the warthog were 175.17 ± 58.18 and 106.25 ± 17.23. The mean age structure and sex ratio of the observed warthog population during dry and wet seasons in the study area showed that juveniles had the highest mean of 18.50 ± 1.04 during the wet season and adult females and juveniles had the highest mean of 5.25 ± 1.25 respectively during the dry season. The seasonal distribution and habitat preference of common warthog showed that during the wet season, the species were commonly sighted in Terminalia macroptera tree savannah as 76 individuals was recorded during the study period and During the dry season, Oli complex habitat had the highest observation with 23 individuals. The study recommends that more aspect of the ecology of the animal should be studied in details and emphasis should be placed on the habitat requirements.Keywords: Population status, Habitat Preference, Warthog, Kainji Lake National Par

Mineralogical and geochemical trends in lateritic weathering profiles on basement rocks in Awa-Oru Ijebu and its environ, southwestern Nigeria

Three soil profiles on the basement rocks in Awa-Oru-Ijebu Igbo area of  southwestern Nigeria were investigated for the formation secondary minerals and the comparison of the mineralogical and geochemical patterns in the weathering profiles overlying the  rocks during the humid tropical weathering. X-ray data showed that the primary mineral constituents of the rocks such as feldspar, biotite,  hornblende have altered to kaolinite and hematite. In soil horizon, kaolinite and quartz are the dominant minerals. The concentration of hematite in the laterite indicated that most of the iron oxides generated in the soil horizon have been leached into the underlying laterite layer. Kaolinite is the dominant mineral in the clayey horizon and its presence suggests that some of the iron bearing  ferromagnesian minerals have altered into the kaolinite. Geochemical data further revealed significant enrichment of Al2O3 and Fe2O3 in the laterite profile compared with the parent rock, while, CaO, Na2O, K2O, P2O5 and MnO show strong depletion up the profiles. The removal of mobile elements by meteoric water and subsequent concentration of stable weathering  products results in lateritization. The absence of bauxite minerals like gibbsite and diaspora in the profiles shows that the trend of weathering is towards iron enrichment (ferralitization) and not aluminum accumulation (bauxitization). The CIA values of the lateritic layers shows that the weathering process is matured and has reached advanced stage.Keywords: Basement rocks, weathering, lateritization, kaolinite, Hematite

Comparative study of gastrointestinal parasites from captive and wild olive baboon (Papio anubis)

This study compared the gastrointestinal parasites of captive and wild Olive Baboon (Papio anubis). A total of 15 and 50 fresh faecal samples were collected in both Federal College of Wildlife Management Mini Zoo and Kainji Lake National Park (Borgu Sector). The study covered a period of 5 months (January to May, 2018), the faecal sample were taken to the laboratory for examination using floatation method to determine the prevalence of gastro-intestinal parasites. Out of 65 samples collected, 51(78.46%) were infected with one or more gastrointestinal parasite. The highest prevalence was recorded amongst Baboons in captivity (100%). All the parasites encountered in the different samples were nematodes for both captivity and wild Olive baboons. Parasite ova recovered in captive Baboons are Trichuris trichuria, Ascaris lumbricoides and Haemonchus contortus while that of the wild includes Hookworm spp, A. lumbricoides and Strongyle stercolaris. The study advocates periodic monitoring of the health status of the animals in order to reduce the high prevalence of parasites observed.Keywords: Comparative; olive baboon; gastrointestinal parasites; wild; captive

Conservation Status and Habitat Preferences of Common Warthog (Phacochoerus Africanus) in Old Oyo National Park, Nigeria

This study assessed the conservation status and habitat preference of Common warthog in Old Oyo National Park, Nigeria using direct sighting and line transect method. The abundance estimate and encounter rate of common Warthog in the study area from 2018-2019 showed that year 2018 recorded 213 individuals at an encounter rate of 0.38/km while year 2019 recorded 184 individuals at an encounter rate of 0.32/km while the mean abundance estimate of common Warthog are 4.65±0.64 and 1.71±0.48 which represents 156 and 58 individuals at encounter rate of 0.55/km and 0.20/km in the wet season and dry season of year 2018 compared to year 2019 with average abundance estimate value of 4.00±0.85 and 1.41±0.61 which represents 135 and 48 individuals at an encounter rate of 0.47/km and 0.17/km for wet and dry season respectively. The mean age structure and sex ratio of the observed warthog population during dry and wet seasons revealed that juveniles had highest mean of age structures among the populations observed across the seasons. The habitat preference of common warthog revealed that they are mostly found in mixed woodland and open savanna with 112 observation and the lowest was recorded in the outcrop vegetation and open savanna with 21 individuals.in the wet season. During the dry season, mixed woodland/open savanna and Riparian grassland had the highest sightings of 45 and 33 individuals each. The outcrop vegetation/open savanna had the lowest observation of 1 individuals only. The study also recommends that more aspect of the ecology of the animal should be studied in details and emphasis should be placed on the habitat requirements. Keywords: Conservation, Estimate, Status, Wartho