Carcass traits of broiler chickens as influenced by stocking density, calorie: protein ratio and season

This study was carried out to assess the effect of stocking density, protein and energy levels, and season on the carcass traits of broiler chickens. In a 6x3x2 factorial arrangement using completely randomized design, six diets with three metabolisable energy(ME kcal;/kg) and two crude  protein(%) levels combination: 3106.00 and 23.00(control, diet 1); 3112.00 and 21.70(Diet 2); 2928.00 and 23.40(Diet 3); 2933.00 and 21.90(Diet 4); 3227.00 and 23.10(Diet 5); 3230.00 and 21.80(Diet6),were formulated. Three stocking densities(birds per m2):10,Low SD(LSD);12,Recommended SD(RSD); and 14,High SD(HSD),were used in Late Wet Season(LWS),August-November) and Late Dry Season(LDS,February-April). In a seven-week feeding trial, 576 one-week old broilers were assigned to the respective diets and stocking densities. The percentage prima cuts(Dressed  weight(DW),Breast(BR), Drum Stick(DS), Thigh(TH),Wing(WG), Back(BK), and abdominal fat(AF) was determined.Season significantly affects  percentage BR, DS, WG, and BK with LDS having higher values for BR, WG and BK. Stocking density had significant effect on % DW, WG and BK with HSD and RSD having higher and similar DW and BK. Diets 1-5 had higher and similar %DS while diets 5 and 6 had higher and similar %AF. Late dry season, stocking 14birds/m2 and diet with 3045ME/kg and 20.24% crude protein optimised the prima cuts and abdominal fat. Key Words: Broiler chickens, Stocking density, Season, Protein: Energy, Carcass traits

CRUDE OIL PRICE, STOCK PRICE AND SOME SELECTED MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS: AN IMPLICATION ON THE GROWTH OF NIGERIAN ECONOMY

Since the first oil price oscillation in 1973s, macroeconomists have viewed sharp measures in the price of oil are generally as an important source of economic vacillations. The go-slow of economic activities has important implications for economic agents and markets. Therefore, this paper models and forecasts the crude oil price, stock price and selected macroeconomic variables in Nigeria. A model predicated on the Keynesian model using yearly data between 1986 and 2016 and analysed using VECM and GARCH approaches. The findings showed that there is long run relationship through Vector Error Correction Model which was achieved well in forecasting the selected macroeconomic variables while the volatility in crude oil price and stock price causes by external and internal forces also captured by General Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskadasticity. The long run negative effect of macroeconomic variable on economy growth can be controlled by making strong fiscal and monetary policies. The 2016 recession was reinforced by all share index and exchange rate as the path of growth declined over the forecast horizon. Further checks carried out using normality test validated the choice of this work. The paper concludes that monetary and exchange rate policy consistency are decisive for smoothening business rotation vacillations and promoting market stability. JEL: L10; E30 Article visualizations

Multi-Stage Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis for Siting Electric Vehicle Charging Stations within and across Border Regions

Electric Vehicles (EVs) replace fossil fuel vehicles in effort towards having more sustainable transport systems. The battery of an EV is recharged at a charging point using electricity. While some recharging will be required at locations where vehicles are normally parked, other recharging could be necessary at strategic locations of vehicular travel. Certain locations are suitable for EV charging station deployment, others are not. A multi-stage decision analysis methodology for selecting suitable locations for installing EV charging station is presented. The multi-stage approach makes it possible to select critical criteria with respect to any defined objectives of the EV charging station and techno-physio-socio-economic factors without which the EV charging station could not be deployed or would not serve its designated purpose. In a case, the type of charging station is specified, and a purpose is defined: rapid EV charging stations intended for public use within and across border regions. Applied in siting real EV charging stations at optimal locations, stages in the methodology present additional techno-physio-socio-economic factors in deploying the type of EV charging stations at optimal locations and keep the EV charging stations operating within acceptable standards. Some locations were dropped at the critical analysis stage; others were dropped at the site-specific analysis stage and replacement sites were required in certain instances. Final locations included most optimal, less optimal, least optimal, and strategic or special need locations. The average distances between contiguous recharging locations were less than 60 miles. Using any specified separation standard, the number of additional EV charging stations required between EV charging stations were determinable with the Pool Box. The Overall Charging Station Availability quadrants suggest that the overall user experience could get worse as less-standardized additional EV charging stations are deployed

Prognostic factors affecting outcome of intrauterine insemination procedures at a fertility center in Ondo, South West Nigeria

Background: There is a recent resurgence in the use of intrauterine insemination (IUI) in Nigeria. However, there is a need for a rational use of the procedure so that couples do not waste time and money on ineffective therapy if it is not indicated.Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the possible prognostic factors affecting outcome of IUI among patients undergoing the procedure.Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective review of the case files and treatment protocols of fifty consecutive couples who had IUI procedure following the established diagnosis of Infertility at the Paramount Fertility Center of Paramount Specialist Hospital Ondo, Nigeria, over a period of 1 year (February 2016 to January 2017).Results: There were ten (20.0%) pregnancies recorded, of which three (6%) clients had first‑trimester miscarriages (between the 5th and 13th weeks), one (2%) had an ectopic pregnancy, whereas six (12%) were carried to the age of viability and delivered. Forty (80%) clients did not achieve pregnancy. The postwash concentration of sperm was noticed to be the only parameter significantly affecting the rate of pregnancy in our treatment cycles with P < 0.05. There was also a trend toward a reduction in pregnancy after the age of 40.Conclusion: This study shows that the postwash sperm count and age of the female have the most predictive value for IUI clinical pregnancy outcome in our center.Keywords: Infertility; intrauterine insemination; prognostic factor