Plant Tannins- Their Role in Forage Legume Quality

Forage legumes, especially browse plants, are important in the maintenance and survival of ruminant animals. However many browse species contain high levels of polyphenolic compounds including tannins. The effects of tannins on the quality of forages are reviewed. These include reduction in palatability and intake of feeds, growth rate, digestion of fibre fractions and nitrogen utilization by animals

Effects of roxazyme-G on growth indices and haematological variables of broilers fed maize offal-based diets

Influence of roxazyme–G on the utilization of maize offal was investigated using 420 broiler chicks and 210 (5-week old) growing broilers at starter and finisher phases, respectively. A basal diet that met the nutrient requirement for each phase was formulated and used for the trial. Basal diet meant for starter phase contained 529 g kg-1 maize while basal diet for finisher phase contained 569 g kg-1 maize. For each phase, 25% or 50% maize component of each basal diet were replaced with maize offal. Thereafter, the maize offal-based diets were divided into 3 equal parts and designated diets 2, 3 and 4 for diets in which its 25% maize component was replaced with maize offal and diets 5,6 and 7 for those with their 50% maize components replaced with maize offal. Roxazyme-G was added to the diets at levels of 100, 200 and 300 mg kg-1 in diets 2 & 5, 3 & 6 and 4 &7, respectively. The birds were fed their respective diets for 21 days. At the close of the starter (2-4 weeks of age) and finisher (5-8 weeks of age) phases 10 chicks and 10 chickens per replicate, respectively were sacrificed conventionally and their blood collected for blood analysis. Of the growth indices measured only the final weight of chicks was significantly (P≤0.05) influenced by the dietary treatment. The entire haematological indices measured were not significantly (P≥0.05) influenced by dietary treatment in both starter and finisher birds. At starter phase, the optimum level of maize offal inclusion could be achieved at 132.3 g kg-1 + 200 mg kg-1 roxazyme–G while 142.3 g kg-1 maize offal + 200 mg kg-1 roxazyme-G was for finishers. Conclusively, the use of maize offal and roxazyme -G at these optimal levels could lead to more of maize offal being included in broiler diets in tropical countries.Keywords: Finisher, maize offal, starter, roxazyme-

Growth Performance and Bio-Economics of Growing Pigs Fed Diets Containing Separately Fermented and Unfermented Cassava Tuber Wastes

A feeding trial was conducted to investigate the performance, haematology, nutrient digestibility and economics of production of growing pigs fed diets containing differently fermented cassava starch residue (CSR) and cassava peels (CP) altogether referred to as cassava tuber wastes (CTW). The CSR and CP were each divided into three parts and processed as dry unfermented (UFCRS Diet 2; UFCP Diet 5), naturally fermented (NFCSR Diet 3; NFCP Diet 6) and microbial fermentation by inoculation (MFCSR Diet 4; MFCP Diet 7). Each part was included in a control diet (Diet 1) to replace maize at 20% dietary level to make a total of seven treatments. The final live weight (FLW), total live weight gain (TLG) and total feed consumption (TFC) of pigs fed the control diet were not significantly (p>0.05) different from those fed the test diets. However, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of pigs fed the control was consistently lower (3.93) than those fed CSR (3.68-3.30) and CP (3.75-3.36)-based diets. The response of RBC, WBC, Hb and PCV to the dietary treatment varied significantly (p<0.05) with the CTW-product incorporated into the diets vizs: RBC 106/mm3: 7.53 vs CSR (5.71-6.26) and CP (4.71-5.75); WBC 103/mm3:14.84 vs CSR (9.06-10.06) and CP (8.53-10.90), and PCV%: 36.75 vs CSR (35.75-36.00) and CP (32.5-37.00) while the MCHC and differential counts were not significantly (P>0.05) affected. Varied effects on the digestibility of major ingredients in the diets were observed with the digestibility of dry matter (DM) been enhanced: 0.49-8.68% and 3.10-7.48%, organic matter (OM): 1.60-9.37% and 3.41-8.43%, crude protein: 3.33-6.17% and 1.18-4.10%, and crude fibre (CF): 24.37-30.52% and 2.34-28.80% by CSR and CP, respectively, over the control diet. The Mean Apparent Digestibility (MAD) for NFE (CSR 65.07%; CP 69.33%) was higher than that of the control diet (61.49%). The cost of feed intake per pig decreased: 11.92-12.76% and 8.38-14.95%, cost of feed per kg body weight gain: 14.84-22.66% and 14.84-21.88% with enhanced gross profit increase of 19.66-29.02% and 14.37-26.50% in CSR- and CP-based diets, respectively. It can, therefore, be concluded that CTW products could be included in pig’s diet as an alternative to maize.Key words: Bio-economics, cassava wastes, performance, pig

New Media, E- Publishing and the Fearful Realities: Implications for the Survival of Traditional Print Media in Nigeria

The study examined New Media, E-publishing and the Fearful Realities; Implications for the Survival of Traditional Print Media in Nigeria with particular focus on news media consumption patterns of university students in Ado Ekiti, South-west, Nigeria. Anchored on the Uses and Gratification and Diffusion of Innovations Theories, the survey research design was applied for the study. Questionnaire was administered on 200 respondents but 192 of them adequately responded and were analyzed. Stratified and convenience sampling techniques were employed to draw samples. Findings from the study revealed that new media in journalism practice poses a threat to the readership of traditional print media. A total of 93% of the respondents have very high access to online news sources, 3% of them have high access to online news sources, while 2%) of the respondents have average access to online news sources. The other 2% of the respondents have low access to online news sources. Majority of the respondents read online newspapers more than they read traditional newspapers which shows that there is a drastic downward  trend of the readership figures of traditional print media. The study recommends that print media publishers in Nigeria should re-strategize to improve readership among students of tertiary institutions because they form a large percentage of newspaper readers in the country. Keywords: New Media, online news sources, print medi

Nutritive evaluation of Telfairia occidentalis leaf protein concentrate in infant foods

Leaf meal (LM), leaf proteins concentrate (LPC) and LPC residues from Telfairia occidentalis were produced, chemically characterized and the protein quality of the LPC evaluated using rats. Five infant weaning foods were formulated using varying combinations of T. occidentalis LPC and soybean meal. These foods were compared with three coded commercial infant weaning foods (CFF, CFN and CFC) currently in trade in a 28-day performance study. Though fractionation increased crude protein in LPC by 34.8%, the amino acid values were in most cases lower than the FAO/WHO/UNU recommendation. Fractionation led to increase in the gross energy by 22.0% and decrease in the phytate and tannin contents by 60 and 81.3%, respectively in LPC. The LPC, when fed as sole protein source, led to weight loss in rats. The highest final weight was observed in rats fed 100% LPC + 0% soybean meal-basedfood (105.4 ± 16.4 g) and least in CFN (50.0 ± 4.2 g), a commercial food. The formulated foods had significant (

Performance and Meat Quality of Growing Pigs Fed Composite Leaf Meal Premix as an Alternative to Commercial Premix

This trial was designed to study the effects of using composite leaf meal produced from five (5) different leaves: Cassava, Moringa, fluted pumpkin, African basil and bitter leaves as a premix in the diets of growing pigs. Twenty four large white weaner-pigs were used for this trial comprising six treatments and four replicates with one pig per replicate. Six diets were formulated in which composite leaf meal was fed at 0 (2.5% premix), 10 (2.0% premix), 20 (1.5% premix), 30 (1.0% premix), 40 (0.5% premix) and 50 (0.0% premix) g/kg at the expense of a commercial premix and designated diets I, II, III, IV, V and VI. The pigs were then assigned to these 6 dietary treatments which were fed to the pigs at 5% of their body weight for 8 weeks experimental period. Water was supplied ad libitum throughout the experimental period. All data were subjected to analysis of variance. Results showed that, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the final weights of the pigs. Highest final live weight (41.67 ± 0.84 kg) and highest feed intake (75.92 ± 0.06) were recorded in animals fed diet II, while the lowest final live weight (37.67 ± 0.84kg) and lowest feed intake (75.57 ± 0.06) were recorded in animals fed diets V and I, respectively. The eye muscle width of carcass was significantly higher (

“We have been working overnight without sleeping”: traditional birth attendants’ practices and perceptions of post-partum care services in rural Tanzania

Background: In many low-income countries, formal post-partum care utilization is much lower than that of skilled delivery and antenatal care. While Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) might play a role in post-partum care, research exploring their attitudes and practices during this period is scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore TBAs’ practices and perceptions in post-partum care in rural Tanzania. Methods: Qualitative in-depth interview data were collected from eight untrained and three trained TBAs. Additionally, five multiparous women who were clients of untrained TBAs were also interviewed. Interviews were conducted in February 2013. Data were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze data. Results: Our study found that TBAs take care of women during post-partum with rituals appreciated by women. They report lacking formal post-partum care training, which makes them ill-equipped to detect and handle post-partum complications. Despite their lack of preparation, they try to provide care for some post-partum complications which could put the health of the woman at risk. TBAs perceive that utilization of hospital-based post-partum services among women was only important for the baby and for managing complications which they cannot handle. They are poorly linked with the health system. Conclusions: This study found that the TBAs conducted close follow-ups and some of their practices were appreciated by women. However, the fact that they were trying to manage certain post-partum complications can put women at risk. These findings point out the need to enhance the communication between TBAs and the formal health system and to increase the quality of the TBA services, especially in terms of prompt referral, through provision of training, mentoring, monitoring and supervision of the TBA servic