Beyond COVID-19 pandemic period: Strategies for sustainable livestock feed and food production

Since the detection of first case in Nigeria on the 27th February, 2020, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has been risen exponentially. The prescribed guidelines to curb its spread including physical distancing, travel restrictions, partial or total closure of food production and market outlets further disrupt timely access to nutritious foods, thereby threatening food security. Achieving sustainable feed-food supply beyond this period calls for prompt implementation of reforms, policies and intervention responses across each sub-unit of feed-food production chain. Stern measures should be put in place to ensure that we produce what we consume while Nigerians should be willing to consume what we produce locally. Keywords: Agriculture, COVID-19, Food security, Livestock feeds, Supports, Welfar

ECONOMETRIC DETERMINATION OF CONTRIBUTION OF FAMILY POULTRY TO WOMEN’S INCOME IN NIGER-DELTA, NIGERIA

This study shows that family poultry husbandry, business activities and paid employment contribute 35%, 30% and 18% respectively to the household income of women in Niger Delta, Nigeria. The average income from family poultry is N16, 784.53 ($124.33), which is about 25% and 50% of national minimum wage and per capita income in Nigeria respectively. The major constraints to the family poultry in the study area are disease and pest, pilfering and lack of capital. The econometric analysis indicates that wage, business and family poultry income are significant determinants of income of women in the study area. The estimated regression coefficients are, 0.35, 0.32 and 0.19 for wage, business and family poultry income respectively. This suggests that if wage income, business income and family poultry income increase by 100%, total income of the women will increase by 35%, 32% and 19% respectively. This indicates that family poultry husbandry has third rating in potentially influencing women income in the study area. It is recommended from the study that the contribution of family poultry to total income of the women can be improved through proper medication and vaccination of their birds with vaccines that are stable under tropical environment. It is also imperative that semi intensive, if not intensive, rearing technology should be considered as a reasonable option if the problem of pilfering is to be addressed. Improving the capital base of the women through formation of cooperating and micro-credit schemes should also be a welcome development in addressing the problem of lack of capital

Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and extended spectrum β–lactamase producers among bacteria isolated from infected wounds in a tertiary hospital in Ibadan City

Wound colonization by microorganisms is most frequently polymicrobial and incidences of high level resistance among bacterial isolates from wounds have been reported. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and extendedspectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Gram-negative bacteria both constitute serious challenge to physician in their choice of antibiotic treatment of infections caused by these bacteria. This study determined the antibiotic susceptibility profiles and prevalence of MRSA and ESBL producers among wound bacterial isolates from a tertiary hospital in Ibadan City.Forty (40) clinical bacterial isolates from five wound sources were collected from the Microbiology unit of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan and were authenticated with standard bacteriological techniques. Antibiotic susceptibility test was done by disc-diffusion method using 19 antibiotics belonging to 12 classes. MRSA strains were detected by their resistance to cefoxitin and/or oxacillin antibiotics. Presumptive ESBL production was by double-disc synergy test using 30 μg cefotaxime and ceftazidime around 20/10 μg amoxicillin-clavulanic acid discs. ESBL confirmation was by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using agar-dilution method.The authenticated isolates include Proteus spp (47.5%), Staphylococcus aureus (27.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12.5%), Klebsiella spp (7.5%), Acinetobacter baumanii (2.5%) and E. coli (2.5%). Distribution of the isolates collected according to wound sources includes: acute soft tissue wounds (35%), leg ulcer (32.5%), surgical wounds (17.5%), burn wounds (12.5%) and diabetic foot ulcer (2.5%). Distributions according to patients’ gender are: male (65%), female (35%), and according to age-groups are: 0 – 19 years (22.5%), 20 – 39 years (35%), 40 – 59 years (32.5%) and ≥ 60 years (10%). All (100%) the isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR) being resistant to ≥ 3 classes of antibiotics. Percentages of isolates resistance to each of the antibiotic include: piperacillin, piperacillin tozobactam and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid were 100%, ceftazidime, cefuroxime, cefixime, aztreonam, sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim, erythromycin, chloramphenicol and doxycyclin were > 70%, cefoxitin (62.5%), Nitrofurantion (52.5%), ciprofloxacin (45%), ofloxacin (35%), perfloxacin (37.5%), gentamicin (32.5%) and imipenem (2.5%). Of the 11 Staphylococcus aureus collected, 54.5% were detected to be MRSA strains while ESBL production was detected in 55.2% of the Gram negative isolates.This study revealed 100% MDR phenotype constituting high level of MRSA strains (54.5%) and ESBL producers (55.2%) among Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial wound isolates respectively. Hence, this calls for caution in the use of extended spectrum antibiotics in treating patients with infected wounds

Roles of age and gender in the attainment of sustainable governance in Africa

The study set out to investigate how gender and age influence democratic governance in selected Sub-Saharan African countries. How well age and gender influence democratic governance in Africa has remained grossly understudied in extant literature of public sector and welfare economics. Based on panel data and illustrations from seven Sub-Sahara nations (Cameroun, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania), this paper discussed the need for full participation of women in democratic governance in Africa. The findings advocated that gender and age have significant effects on democratic governance in Africa. While there is the need for more qualitative research on gender and age indicators for good governance on more countries in Africa, this paper suggested that African governments must continuously introduce gender-friendly policies that will enhance women participation in economic activities for a more equitable and egalitarian society that has eluded us years gone.Keywords: Democratic Governance, Age, Gender, Panel Estimation, Sub-Saharan Afric

RELATIVE ECONOMIC VALUE OF MAIZE - OKRA INTERCROPS IN RAINFOREST ZONE, NIGERIA

This study determined the relative economic value of maize- okra intercrops in Edo State, Nigeria. The results of analysis show Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) of 0.82, Relative Value Total (RVT) of 0.99 and Relative Value of Intercropping (RVI) of 1.10. Although LER and RVT show that monocrops of maize and okra have advantage over intercrops, RVI shows that the profi t from intercrop is 10% higher than monocrops. This is because of the attendant reduction in variable costs of labour and fertilizer that are associated with intercrops. The economic implication of this study is that any strategy that reduces cost of production in maize/ okra intercrops will increase its profi tability and attractiveness to farmers

Determination of stature from cephalic indices among Okun and Ebira ethnic groups of Kogi State in Nigeria

Cephalic index is an important feature that characterizes different races. The study aimed at comparing the cephalic indices between the two genders and to determine the stature among Okun and Ebira ethnic groups in Nigeria. The subjects were measured for cephalic length, breadth and subject height and the cephalic indices were calculated by dividing the cephalic breadth by cephalic length, and then multiply by 100. 844 subjects of Okun and Ebira origin of Kogi state were measured, 211 males and 211 females for each tribe were measured. Fischer’s formula was used to determine the sample size because the population size is > 10,000. The cephalic breadth and length was measured using a spreading caliper and the subject height was measured with a stadiometer. The data was analyzed using Pearson’s Chisquare analysis test for association, trends and distribution difference of the pattern (confidence level at 95%). The mean cephalic indices of both Okun and Ebira ethnic group were >75 and >70 which belongs to mesocephalic and doliocephalic group respectively. There were significant differences in cephalic indices between both ethnic groups (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in cephalic indices between males and females of each ethnic group. Stature was better predicted from cephalic indices for Ebira males (r= 0.386) when compared to the Ebira females (r= 0.127), Okun males (r= 0.296) and Okun females (r = 0.268). All predictions were significant except for Ebira females.Keywords: mesocephalic, doliocephalic, cephalic indices, stature, se

Morphometric study of the jugular foramen and sexual dimorphism using dried skull obtained in two Nigerian States

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the morphometric variation between male and female jugular foramen using dried human skulls obtained in two Nigerian states.'Methods: A total of ninety-three (93) dry human skulls were obtained from the osteology collection of the Department of Anatomy, University of Ilorin, Kwara state and Ladoke Akintola University Ogbomosho, Oyo state, Nigeria for this study. Using a digital Vernier caliper various morphometric features were measured.Results: The mean right lateromedial distance was 14.69 (±2.31) mm and 13.78 (±1.95) mm for male and females respectively, the mean left lateromedial distance was 14.40 (±2.34) mm and 14.52 (±2.40) mm. Complete septa in males and females were 31.7% and 9.1% while incomplete septa in males and females 35.0% and 39.4% respectively.Conclusion: There was no significant difference between the jugular foramen of both male and female skulls. The presence of complete septa is more in males while females has more of incomplete septa. The presence of dome, septa and dome height in both sexes were not sexually different from each other.Keywords: Jugular foramen, morphometric, dome, septa, vernier caliper

Effect of dietary supplementation with arginine on haematological indices, serum chemistry, carcass yield, gut microflora, and lymphoid organs of growing turkeys

A 8-wk feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with Arg on haematological indices, serum chemistry, carcass yield, gut microflora, and lymphoid organ weights of growing turkeys. A total of one hundred and eighty 56-d-old male grower turkeys were weighed individually and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments with 6 replicate pens, and 10 turkeys per pen in a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments consisted of basal diets supplemented with 0, 0.5, and 1.0 g Arg/kg. Haematological indices and serum chemistry were measured at 84 and 112 d of study. Carcass yield, relative weights of retail cuts, organ weights, and gut microflora were measured at d 112. Except eosinophil, no effect of Arg supplementation was obtained on haematological indices at d 84. At d 112, finisher turkeys fed the diet supplemented with 0.5 g Arg/kg had the greatest red blood cell (quadratic, P<0.001), lymphocyte (linear, P=0.011; quadratic, P<0.001), and basophil counts (quadratic, P<0.001). In grower turkeys at d 84, total serum protein (quadratic, P=0.030), and serum globulin concentrations (quadratic, P=0.043) increased initially as Arg supplementation increased from 0 to 0.5 g/kg, but decreased with the 1.0 g Arg/kg. Uric acid concentration and alanine aminotransferase activity reduced as Arg supplementation increased from 0 to 0.5 g/kg, but increased with the 1.0 g Arg/kg (quadratic, P=0.002). In finisher turkeys at d 112, total serum protein (linear, P=0.004; quadratic, P=0.002), serum globulin (linear, P=0.008; quadratic, P=0.030), serum albumin (linear, P=0.012; quadratic, P=0.040), and triodosterine concentrations (linear, P=0.025; quadratic, P=0.033) increased with increasing Arg supplementation. At d 112, spleen weights increased linearly (P=0.006), while thymus weights increased quadratically (P=0.003) with increasing dietary Arg supplementation. Salmonella counts in the small intestinal content of turkeys at d 112 reduced quadratically as Arg supplementation increased from 0 to 1.0 g/kg (P=0.029). In conclusion, Arg supplementation increased packed cell volume of finisher turkeys, improved serum chemistry of grower, and finisher turkeys as indicated by increased total serum protein, and reduced serum enzymes with appreciable improvement obtained when included at 0.5 g Arg/kg. Arginine supplementation enhanced the relative weights of thymus, spleen, and reduced Salmonella counts in small intestine of turkeys

Growth performance, nutrient digestibility, metabolizable energy, and intestinal morphology of growing turkeys fed diet supplemented with arginine

A 8-wk feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with Arg on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, metabolizable energy, and intestinal morphology of growing turkeys. A total of one hundred and eighty 56-d-old male grower turkeys were weighed individually and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments with 6 replicate pens and 10 turkeys per pen in a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments consisted of basal diets supplemented with 0, 0.5, and 1.0 g Arg/kg. Growth response was measured during the grower (d 56–84) and finisher (d 84–112) phases, while nutrient digestibility, metabolizable energy, and intestinal morphology were measured at d 84 and 112. Arginine supplementation had no effect on growth response during the grower phase. During the finisher phase, feed conversion ratio decreased initially as Arg supplementation increased from 0 to 0.5 g/kg, but it increased with the 1.0 g Arg/kg (quadratic, P=0.028). At d 84, grower turkeys fed diets supplemented with 1.0 g Arg/kg had greater (linear, P<0.001) apparent dry matter, crude protein, and ether extract digestibility. At d 84, greatest apparent metabolizable energy, nitrogen corrected apparent metabolizable energy, and true metabolizable energy values were obtained with grower turkeys fed diet supplemented with 0.5 g Arg/kg (quadratic, P<0.001). At d 84, duodenum, and ileum villus height in grower turkeys increased linearly, and quadratically (P<0.001) with increasing Arg supplementation. Dietary supplementation with Arg reduced the apical widths in duodenum (linear, P=0.003; quadratic, P<0.001), jejunum (linear and quadratic, P<0.001), and ileum (linear, P=0.010; quadratic, P=0.004) of grower turkeys. At d 112, jejunum villus height (quadratic, P=0.042), and ileum villus height (linear, P=0.022; quadratic, P=0.042) of finisher turkeys increased, while duodenum apical widths reduced (quadratic, P=0.033) with increasing Arg supplementation. In conclusion, Arg supplementation showed a linear improvement in nutrient digestibility of grower turkeys at d 84, increased nutrient absorption in grower, and finisher turkeys as indicated by increased intestinal villus height at d 84, and 112. Furthermore, dietary supplementation with 0.5 g Arg/kg promoted a quadratic improvement in feed conversion ratio of finisher turkeys, and metabolizable energy values of grower turkeys at d 84

Evaluation of Indigenous Poultry Improvement Project in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State

The study assessed an indigenous poultry improvement project carried out at Irepodun LGA of Kwara State. The focal objective of the project was to facilitate traditional backyard poultry development through improved chicks’ survivability. Ten (10) indigenous backyard poultry farmers were selected based on willingness to participate in the project from Rore Village of Irepodun LGA and were trained on the rudiments of the projects and improved poultry management practices. Baseline data were collected at the onset of the project on the level of chick survivability and other parameters. Cages, feeds, medication were supplied while each farmer was to provide five laying hens. Upon hatching, the chicks were reared in cages for six weeks without the mother hen. The project was found to yield 70 – 90% chick survival up to 6 weeks of age. Bird mortality was noticed to decline considerably after 6 weeks of age when the birds are turned to scavengers. It is concluded that the innovation is result-oriented and therefore recommended for extension dissemination and farmers` trials