Microbial approach to improving aerobic stability of silage

Aerobic deterioration of silage is a major challenge in the feed value chain. This review discusses microbial mitigations to improving aerobic stability of silages. Early detection of silage deterioration at the face of the silo is important to reduce further ingress of spoilage organisms into deeper layers of the silage. The traditional use of thermocouples to measure spot-temperature in aerobically-exposed silages is laborious. Thermal cameras are now used to instantly visualize heat distribution over the silo face by examining thermographs generated in real-time. Microbial mitigation of aerobic silage deterioration remains the safest and most reliable strategy of reducing losses during feed-out. Three generations of microbial additives that have been used to improve the aerobic stability of silages include first generation (1 G), second generation (2 G) and third generation (3 G) silage inoculants. Homolactic fermentation by 1 G produces the highest concentration of lactic acid but 1 G are less capable of reducing aerobic spoilage. Second generation and 3 G both have a dual benefit of improving aerobic stability, and ruminal fibre digestion and growth performance. Although heterolactic fermentation by 2 G and 3 G may cause minimal dry matter losses, improvements in fibre hydrolysis during ensiling and reduction in aerobic spoilage may outweigh these losses. Treatment of tropical forages which have higher concentrations of recalcitrant fibres, with 3 G inoculants could have benefits on ruminal fibre digestion. Development of fourth generation inoculants, possessing 3 G properties but capable of thriving intra-ruminally should be the focus of future research on silage inoculants

Demographic and fertility transition in Nigeria; the progress made so far: a literature review

Background: Nigeria, since its inception as a sovereign nation, has been plagued by population explosion. This may be due to factors that need to be addressed by the government and individuals alike such as fertility desires. Main body: In the course of this review, we drew our resource information from the Nigerian Demographic and Health survey of 2018, PubMed, and African Journals Online (AJOL, Scholarly publications on sub-Saharan Africa and Nigeria in particular that dwell on the area under review. The total fertility rate (TFR) meaning the number of children a woman would bear in her lifetime is high, at a rate of 5.3 Children per woman. Population explosion is also a consequence of the low contraceptive use in Nigeria which stands at a rate of 17 % amongst married couples. Other factors that could be responsible for this population explosion include a lack of good population policies and few or non-existent national family planning programs.  These negative effects on the Nigerian population made it grow at an annual rate of 2 %.  Fifty percent (50%) of the Nigerian age distribution is under 19 years. This means that the Nigerian demography may not transit (change) readily. Conclusion: A community or country is said to undergo demographic transition when the death rate and fertility rate balance each other, and the age distribution is made of working-class people against the young and the aged who are dependent on others for a living. The economy of such a country is industrialized, with good health systems and a long life span for its citizens. Fertility transition on the other hand means a situation where a community or national fertility rate shows a substantial decline compared to industrialized countries of Europe, The USA, and Latin America in the contemporary world

Caesarean delivery in urban second tier missionary hospital in Nigeria

Objective: To determine the current trend of Caesarean and highlight the role of a major operative obstetric practice in materno-foetal medicine.Design: Descriptive case study.Setting: St Philomena Catholic Hospital (SPCH), an urban second tier missionary hospital.Subjects: One thousand and fourteen (1014) Caesarean deliveries that took place at the centre between January 2009 and December 2013. Main outcome measures: These were Caesarean section rates, the trend, indications and materno-foetal complications.Results: The rate of Caesarean birth in this study was 1014(21.0%), EMCS constituted 816(80.5%) and elective CS 198(19.5%).The leading indications for EMCS were cephalopelvic disproportion(CPD)323 (39.6%) and obstructed labor 135(16.5) while previous caesarean section 102(51.5%) and breech presentation 41(20.6%) were the leading indications for elective CS. The major maternal complications were postpartum haemorrhage 7.2% and post-partum anaemia 47.7% for EMCS and the values for ELCS were 6.6% and 36.9% respectively. The perinatal complications were Apgar score <7 at 5 minute 5.1% vs. 1.5% Odd ratio (OR) 3.5, P-value (P) 0.021 and SCBU admission 7.1% vs. 2.6% OR 2.9, P 0.014 respectively for EMCS and ELCS. The composite perinatal complications were 15.2% vs. 7.6%, OR 2.2, P 0.0039.Conclusion: To the obstetric world, we proffer quality prenatal care, quality labuor supervision and strict case selection based on medical and obstetric merits for Caesarean births

Effects of restricted feeding and re-alimentation of dietary protein or energy on compensatory growth of sheep

The study investigated the effects of re-alimenting dietary protein or energy on growth, carcass characteristics and meat eating quality parameters of sheep. Twenty-seven intact rams (~9 months; 11.3 ± 0.5 kg) were randomly divided into three groups. Each group was fed a maintenance diet (MT) containing, on dry matter (DM) basis, 105 g/kg crude protein (CP) and 8.4 MJ/kg DM metabolizable energy (ME) for 30 days. Thereafter, they were continually fed the same MT or re-alimented with a high protein diet (HP) containing 169 g/kg DM CP and 9.3 MJ/kg ME or a high energy diet (HE) containing 123 g/kg DM CP and 10.6 MJ/kg ME for an additional 30 days to determine the effects of re-alimentation of protein or energy on their growth performance and carcass characteristics. During the initial 30-day period, DM intake (DMI) and growth performance were similar among the three groups. However, upon re-alimentation, average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency of sheep re-alimented with HP were greater than those maintained continually on MT or re-alimented with HE. Sheep on HP had higher feed efficiency, ADG and heavier carcasses than those fed MT or re-alimented with HE during the whole 60-day period. Growth of most viscera was less responsive to the restriction-re-alimentation feeding regimen except for the weights of the lungs, heart and intestines. Meat from sheep re-alimented with HE had a more intense ‘sheepy’ flavour than those fed MT or re-alimented with HP, but juiciness and tenderness were not affected. The higher ADG of sheep re-alimented with protein may be related more to enhanced efficiency of feed utilization than to higher DMI.Keywords: average daily gain, feed restriction, nutrient utilization efficiency, visceral organ

Impact Of Ethnic Conflicts On Livestock Production In Africa: The Case Of The Northern Region Of Ghana

Rampant ethnic conflicts and civil wars in the northern parts of most African countries have destroyed and continue to destroy the economies of such regions which are usually pastoral and dependent on livestock. This has resulted in a vicious cycle of poverty and under-development among the people of such regions. This study assessed the effects of the guinea fowl war (1994 – 1995) on household livestock holding sizes and other support services of the livestock industry in the northern region of Ghana. Before the conflict, every household owned livestock however during the conflict most feed and water resources were poisoned or destroyed, livestock stolen or indiscriminately killed or starved to death. After the conflict had subsided, 23%, 16%, 12% and 21% of households could not own any cattle, sheep, goats and poultry respectively. Commercial household holding sizes (>100) of cattle also declined from 12% before the conflict to 0% after the conflict and even a decade after the conflict had ended, it only increased by 0.7% per annum. The cumulative percentages of households who still kept more than 50 sheep, goats and poultry after the conflict also declined after the conflict. The conflict also destroyed other allied livestock support services and infrastructure culminating into sporadic outbreaks of livestock diseases. A postconflict recovery assessment indicates that only 23% of households had some surviving livestock left after the conflict that could be used for breeding to restock their farms. A relief package worth US$ 650,000 was implemented by the Government of Ghana through the MoFA to help ameliorate the livestock sector in the region but a decade after the conflict, most farmers have not yet fully recovered from the losses they suffered; household holding sizes have since remained small and subsistent. The effect of the conflict on livestock production was particularly severe because livestock production in northern Ghana is customarily the domain of males who unfortunately were the main victims of the conflict Keywords: conflict, guinea fowl war, livestock, recovery rateJournal of Agriculture and Social Research Vol. 8 (1) 2008: pp. 45-5

Effects of ensiling cassava peels on some fermentation characteristics and growth performance of sheep on-farm

This study determined the effect of drying or ensiling cassava peels on some conservation characteristics and growth performance of sheep. Fresh peels were either sun-dried to a DM of 904 g/kg or ensiled for 45 days for determination of some chemical and microbial characteristics, and growth performance of sheep. 45 Djallonké sheep were randomly assigned to three supplementary dietary treatments (Control and dried or ensiled) and fed for 70 days. Ensiling reduced the pH from 5.65 in the fresh peel to 4.15 compared to 6.15 in the dried peel. Crude protein (CP) increased from 45±0.44 g/kg DM in the fresh peel to 46±0.48 and 52±0.88 g/kg DM in the dried and ensiled peel, respectively. Reduction in neutral detergent fibre concentration was greater by ensiling than by drying. However, a greater (P = 0.001) reduction in HCN concentration was achieved by drying than by ensiling. Moulds were greater (P = 0.011) in the ensiled than dry peels. Average daily weight gain was higher (P = 0.031) for sheep offered the ensiled than the dried or Control diet. In conclusion, sun-drying was more effective at reducing HCN concentration whereas ensiling improved the CP content of cassava peels and growth performance of sheep

Assessing the timpacts of galamsey operations on the socioeconomic activities of Ghanaian rural mining communities: A case study of Ayanfuri

Thesis submitted to the Department of Business Administration, Ashesi University College, in partial fulfillment of Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, April 2014Ghana is a destination for mining gold, one of the precious metals in the world. This has attracted both legal and illegal prospectors to Ghana from far and near. In an attempt to regulate mining activities, the government issues licenses to determine who mines what, where and how. The gold industry is divided into two: large-scale and small-scale mining. Small-scale mining is reserved for Ghanaian citizens only. This way, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minerals Commission monitors and keeps mining companies in check. However, some people operate without the approved licences from these authorities. Thus, their activities are deemed illegal, which is locally referred to as 'galamsey'. The aim of this research was therefore to investigate the socioeconomic impacts of galamsey operations on a typical rural mining community like Ayanfuri. Galamsey has been an issue for most Ghanaians and ending it or reducing its negative effects is one of the government's top priorities. This research employed mainly qualitative techniques like interviews and questionnaires to collect data. Content, descriptive and graphical analyses were then used to analyse the data. Research findings suggest that galamsey is a reliable lucrative and crucial source of employment for the people of Ayanfuri. It also facilitates economic activities such as trading and the creation and expansion of businesses in the community. On the negative side, galamsey promotes child labour, inflation of prices, loss of farmlands, and depletion of the environment amongst other negative impacts. Recommendations from the research include, encouraging farming cooperatives in the community as an alternative source of livelihood. Perseus Mining (Ghana) Limited, the resident mining company can also sustain this by purchasing all food crop requirements from the local farmers. Children in the community should go through mentorship programmes where they will learn to appreciate education and the value of staying in school. Children who cannot afford education should be awarded scholarships, which will keep them from engaging in galamsey. These recommendations should help control some of the negative socioeconomic impacts that galamsey presents

Perception of prenatal services by antenatal clinic attendees in a tertiary health facility in Nigeria

Background: Antenatal patronage is very low in most sub-Saharan African countries, Nigeria inclusive. It has also been recognised that most women who registered for antenatal care in a particular health institution, do not go back to the same centre to deliver when in labour. Skilled attendant delivery is very low in Nigeria. While many reasons can be adduced for this health seeking behaviour, antenatal care satisfaction is one of them. We decided to study how satisfied are the antenatal subjects at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa.Objective: The objective of this study is to determine antenatal mothers’ perception of prenatal services at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Nigeria.Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional observational study conducted at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Nigeria between 1st of June 2015 and 30th of September, 2015. A pretested questionnaire was administered to 198 consecutive antenatal attendees at the centre by two Interns serving in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.Results: The mean number of antenatal visits was 4.2 ± 2.52 and the median was 4.0. One hundred and eightyseven (94.5%) said the antenatal health talks were very educative, 103(52%) think the antenatal care visits should be made more frequent, 43 (21.7%) think they should reduce the frequency of visits, 183(92.4%) rated services at the centre from being good to excellent. One hundred and twenty-five (56.6%) respondents were generally dissatisfied with long waiting time to see doctors.Conclusion: The majority of mothers were happy with services and interventions rendered at the institution, measures that have been known to improve women’s health in pregnancy and also improve perinatal outcomes. However, a sizeable proportion of subjects were unhappy with long waiting time to see a doctor, an issue that had dogged obstetric practice in sub-Saharan Africa. This issue needs to be tackled by caregivers and stakeholders alike.Keywords: Antenatal care services, Patients satisfaction, Antenatal visits, Perinatal mortalit

Pattern of Complicated Unsafe Abortions in Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital Okolobiri, Nigeria: A 4 Year Review.

Background: Abortions performed by persons lacking the requisite skills or in environments lacking minimal medical standards or both are considered unsafe. It is estimated that over 20 million unsafe abortions are performed annually and about 70,000 women die globally as a result, with majority occurring in the developing world. This study aims to determine the pattern of complicated unsafe abortions in Niger delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH) Okolobiri.Methods: The study is a four-year retrospective analysis of cases of complicated unsafe abortion managed at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital Okolobiri, Bayelsa state.Results: The prevalence of complicated unsafe abortion during the study period was 4.1% of all deliveries and 14.0% of all gynaecological admissions. Majority (55.6%) of the patients had secondary education, while 31.8% were teenagers. Two thirds had a history of previous termination of pregnancy and 87.3% of the patients had never used any form of modern contraceptive. 'Quacks' accounted for 47.6% of the abortions and 53.9% of the abortions were performed late in the first trimester. Genital sepsis, retained products of conception, pelvic abscess and septicaemia were the most frequent complications occurring in 88.9%, 82.5%, 22.2% and 19.1% respectively. Surgical management was employed in 87.3% of the patients. The case fatality ratio was 4.8%, contributing 17.6% of all maternal deaths during the study period. The commonest cause of death was septicaemia (66.7%).Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of unsafe abortions in our environment. It continues to be a major contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality in the Niger Delta. Most of its victims are single adolescent school girls. Efforts directed at reducing unintended pregnancy by comprehensive family planning programs and effective post abortal care services will reduce the problem.Keywords: Unsafe abortion, morbidities, outcome