Determinants of Working Capital Management: Case of Nigerian Manufacturing Firms

This study explored the factors determining the working capitalwith the view to providing information on empirical tests that constitutes the determinants of working capital management in the listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The study used secondary data sources which were collected from the Annual Report and Accounts of sixty purposively selected non-financial quoted companies in the Nigerian Stock Exchange Fact book. Data on financial variables such as sales, purchases, inventory, creditors, debtors and total assets were extracted from the Annual Reports of these non-financial quoted companies between the periods 2000-2009. This was when the country started to experience financial policies for the banking sector under the democratic dispensation. Macroeconomic data on the annual growth rate of the Gross Domestic Product was obtained from the Statistical Bulletin of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that the significant factors determining working capital included sales growth, size of the firm, gross domestic product, leverage. The proportion of fixed assets to total assets and the net trading cycle, also determined working capital but were not significant at the five percent level. Keywords: working capital management, purposive, non-financial quoted companies, financial policies, democratic dispensation

Haemoglobin polymorphism in selected farm animals: A review

Biochemical diversity or polymorphism is the occurrence of varieties attributed to biochemical differences which are under genetic control. It has created a leeway for the genetic improvement of farm animals. This is because it can be used as a useful tool for the characterization of livestock breeds and population. This way, the degree of similarity or differences within and between breeds can be ascertained and this differences or similarity are important raw materials for genetic improvement of animals. Data obtained on gene frequencies and genotypes through polymorphism study makes it not only possible to compare the gene stocks of animals, the possible effects of the genes on reproductive and performance traits, but also study genetic variability under different environmental conditions of selection. This study was carried out to review haemoglobin (Hb) polymorphism in selected farm animals with the view of finding out the type of polymorphism observed by starch gel electrophoresis due to variation in the amino acid sequence in the polypeptide chains of Hb. The review showed clearly that there is a gene-controlled diversity in the different farm animals considered. This could serve as a reference point for future studies earmarked for the improvement of the animals possibly via marker-assisted selection

Effects of sex, morphological characteristics and haemoglobin type on the growth traits of red sokoto goats in semi-arid region of Nigeria

The experiment was conducted to determine effects of sex, morphological characteristics and haemoglobin type on the growth traits of Red Sokoto goat. A total of 321 Red Sokoto goats were used for the study. The population of Red Sokoto goats was studied in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The frequencies of observed morphological characteristics such as coat type, hair type, tail shape, tassels and sex were recorded. The body mensuration characteristics of the goats were identified and their effects on the performance were also assessed. Four haemoglobin types were discovered, namely; HbAA, HbAB, HbBB and HbAC. Only two (2) animals sampled had the rare pre-adult haemoglobin type (HbAC). The distribution of all the parameters were determined using Chi-square analysis and the Haemoglobin types were expressed as homozygous (HbAA and HbBB) and heterozygous (HbAB and HbAC). Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of SAS. The Red Sokoto goats within 8 months of age had the highest frequencies (24.61 %) while the least (3.12 %) was obtained in those that are within 48 months. The highest coat type, hair type and tail shape were found in Brown (B), Short-smooth (SS) and Curled up (CU) respectively. The Red Sokoto goats without tassels (308) were more than those with tassel (13). Sex significantly (P<0.05; P<0.01) affected the body mensuration traits except body length with the does having superior performance compared to the bucks. Tassel had no significant (P>0.05) effect on all body mensuration traits. Hair type significantly (P<0.05; P<0.01) influenced body mensuration traits of Red Sokoto goats. The long-curly and short-smooth were superior to short-rough hair typed goats in all the body mensuration traits. Tail shape had no significant (P>0.05) effect on body mensuration traits in Red Sokoto goats except on body length (P<0.01). Goats with curled up tails were superior to those with curled down and straight tails. Hb type significantly (P<0.05; P<0.01) influenced the body mensuration characteristics except body depth. The HbBB typed goats were superior in performance compared to HbAA typed goats; while the HbAB typed goats were the intermediates. The HbAC typed goats were the least in performance compared to HbBB, HbAA and HbAB variants in Red Sokoto goats. In essence, the haemoglobin genotype HbAB in Red Sokoto goats seems to be favoured by natural selection with preponderance for the HbAA allele. Goats with the SS and LC hair type and BWS coat type recorded greater production performance in terms of the mensuration traits. In conclusion, the significant effect of Hb type and all other physical indicators for production show that with careful genetic studies and proper documentation of records, variation in our goat herd could be drastically improved within a short time. Keywords: Goat, Red Sokoto, Semi-arid, Haemoglobin types, Morphological Characteristic

A stone age conduct of unsafe abortion in adolescent: Complicated by gangrenous uterus and bowel

Unsafe abortion in adolescents is of great public health challenge and it occupies a large armamentarium in contemporary adolescent reproductive health issues. This case report was that of induced unsafe abortion, done without analgesia and inside a sitting room, in a 15‑year‑old, secondary school girl, nullipara; complicated by gangrenous uterus and bowel for which she had subtotal hysterectomy, bowel resection, and anastomosis. Primary preventive strategies should be the cornerstone of prevention with more emphasis on advocacy for adolescent sexuality and  reproductive health education, information, and family planning/emergency contraception.Keywords: Adolescent; complication; unsafe abortio

Single nucleotide polymorphism in the insulin-like growth factor-1 gene and its effects on growth traits in Yankasa sheep

A study was conducted to determine single nucleotide polymorphism of the IGF-1 gene and its effect on some growth traits in Yankasa breed of Sheep. Random samples of 100 sheep (50 males and 50 females) were selected for the molecular study and the phenotypic evaluation. Animals were measured for growth traits namely: birth weight, average daily gain, weaning weight, weights at 6, 8 and 12 months, chest girth and height at withers. Blood samples were collected from the animal’s neck region through the jugular veins into 0.5ml EDTA vacutainer tubes and transferred to the laboratory for DNA extraction. Total DNA extraction was made with ZR-96 Genomic DNA miniprep. Frequency of alleles were calculated according to Hardy-Weinberg’s equation and also subjected to Chi-Square analysis to test for Mendelian inheritance ratio for band. Genotypes, growth traits, sex and interaction were determined through statistical analysis. Both genotypic and allelic calculated χ2 values (9.07 and 16.94) for Mendelian inherited ratio were greater than the tabulated values of 5.99 and 3.84 at 5% level of significance. All growth traits (birth weight, weaning weight, average daily gain, weight at 6 months, weight at 12 months, height at withers and chest girth) with the exception of body weight (Kg) at 8 months showed significant (P<0.05) variations. With the exception of average daily gain (g/day), which was non-significant (P>0.05) across the sexes, all other growth characteristics differed significantly (P<0.05) across sexes with the highest traits in the male compared to the females. Observed trend showed significant (P<0.05) interactions among the measured traits with the exception of average daily gain. Male Sheep with AA and AB genotype were similar in performance across all traits (birth weight, average daily gain, weaning weight, weight at 6 months, weight at 8 months, weight at 12 months and height at withers) with the exception of chest girth (cm). It can be concluded that Yankasa sheep with AA genotype had significant higher propensity for growth than those with genotype AB and BB.Yankasa sheep with AA genotype could be used for genetic improvement programs targeted to growth traits in Nigeria. It is recommended that polymorphism of the IGF-I gene may be a potential molecular marker for growth traits in Yankasa sheep.Keywords: Yankasa sheep, Single nucleotide polymorphism, Insulin-like growth factor, Growth traits

Influence of genotype on post-weaning growth performance of domestic rabbits

Data on 48 weaned New Zealand White (NZ), Chinchilla (CH) and Dutch (DU) breeds of rabbits and their crosses obtained from 6 to 14 weeks were used for this study. The genotypes were New Zealand White × New Zealand White (NZ×NZ), Chinchilla×Chinchilla (CH×CH), Dutch×Dutch (DU×DU), New Zealand White × Chinchilla (NZ×CH), New Zealand White × Dutch (NZ×DU) and Chinchilla × Dutch (CH×DU). Traits studied were body weight (BW), body length (BL), chest girth (CG), head-to-shoulder (HS), shoulder-to-tail drop (ST), length of hind leg (LHL), ear length (EL) and, height at withers (HTW). There were significant (P<0.05) differences among the genotypes at different ages. CH×CH was superior over other genotypes for most of the post-weaning growth traits studied at different ages (480.0g, 650.0g, 941.3g, 1206.0g and 1401.8g mean body weights at week 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14, respectively). This was followed by CH×DU (476.3g, 601.3g, 751.0g, 910.0g and 1086.3g for the same parameters. The results indicated that CH×CH and CH×DU genotypes could be most suitable for optimum genetic improvement. It can be concluded that CH×CH genotype performed better in most of the post-weaning growth traits. Therefore, CH×CH is recommended for higher body weight and linear body measurement after weaning.Keywords: Genotype, Post-weaning, Growth performance, Domestic rabbit