Effect of different protein levels on the growth performance of African giant land snail (Achatina achatina) fed soybean meal based diets

The effect of different protein levels on the growth performance of African giant land snail (Achatina achatina) fed soybean meal based diets was investigated at the Snail Teaching and Research Unit of the Department of Animal Science Teaching and Research Farm, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Sixty four (64) snails of 4 weeks old African giant land snail (Achatina achatina) with initial average weight of 1.71-1.84g, were randomly divided into four groups of 16 snails each. The groups were randomly assigned to diets at four crude protein levels (16, 18, 20 and 22%) in a completely randomized design (CRD). Treatments were replicated twice with 8 snails per replicate placed in plastic baskets measuring 30cm in diameter and 13cm in height with hot water-treated loamy soil at 5cm depth. Feed andwater were provided ad libitum for 16 weeks. Results showed that there were significant (P<0.05) differences among treatments in feed intake, final body weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, average shell length and average shell width. Snails fed diets containing 16, 18, 20 and 22% crude protein had FBW of 8.35g, 8.36g, 8.98g and 10.04g, respectively; weight gain of 6.51g, 6.55g, 7.18g and 8.33g, respectively and feed intake of 12.61g, 12.14g, 8.09g and 14.16g, respectively. There were no significant differences (P.0.05) among treatments in initial body weight, protein efficiency ratio, average shell weight, average visceral weight, average edible weight and feed cost per kg weight gain. The results obtained in this study show that dietary protein level of about 22% is adequate for the growth of African giant land snails (Achatina achatina) in the humid tropics

Proposed Average Values of Some Engineering Properties of Palm Kernels

The need to know what values of engineering properties of palm kernels to use for rational design of handling and processing systems for palm kernels prompted a literature search for collation of published values. These values are presented in this work. And to manage the discrepancies observed among values published for same properties, the range of values are presented; and average values proposed for adoption in design problems pending the determination and establishment of standard values. The proposed average values include:  bulk density of 711kg/m3 and 589kg/m3 for dura or tenera and mixtures of dura, tenera, and pisifera varieties respectively; solid density of 1.17, 1.09, 1.10, and 1.14 g/cm3 for dura, tenera, pisifera, and their mixtures respectively; angle of repose of 33o, 32o, 29o, and 38o for dura, tenera, pisifera, and their mixtures respectively; compressive yield load of 492N and 374N for dura and tenera varieties respectively. Other proposed mean values include: sphericity of 76, 81, and 77% for dura/tenera, pisifera, and their mixtures respectively; geometric mean diameter of 12.56, 12.58, 8.84, and 13.06mm for dura, tenera, pisifera, and their mixtures respectively. The importance of determining and specifying the condition and history of experimental samples associated with published values is stressed. The need to develop or use existing standard methods and equipment for the determination of engineering properties of biological materials is recommended to reduce or limit the discrepancy among values being published for common properties

Response of haco-cockerels fed graded levels of toasted bambara nut offal and supplementary enzyme

Eighty 4 weeks old spotted cockerels (Harco strain) were used to determine the effect of toasted bambara nut offal (TBNO) and supplementary enzyme on growth performance, haematology and organ weights of birds. The birds were randomly divided into 8 groups of 10 birds each. The groups were randomly assigned to 8 energetic (11.30 MJ/kg Me) and nitrogenous (20.02 to 20.06% crude protein) diets in a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement involving four levels (0, 10, 15 and 20%) of TBNO and 2 enzyme levels (0 and 0.02%). Each treatment was replicated 2 times with 5 birds per replicate. Average final body weight (AFBW), average daily weight gain (ADWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and feed cost per kg weight gain were similar, while average daily feed intake (ADFI) was different (P<0.05) among treatments. Inclusion TBNO and supplementary enzyme in the diets of cockerels had significant (P < 0.05) effect on the apparent retentions of dry matter (DM), nitrogen, crude fibre (CF), ether extract (EE) and nitrogen-free extract (NFE). While there were significant interactions (P< 0.05) between TBNO and enzyme levels on DM, nitrogen, CF, EE and NFE retentions. Enzyme supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) increased DM, nitrogen, EE and NFE retentions at all the TBNO inclusion levels. Enzyme supplementation also increased (P < 0.05) CF retention at the 10, 15 and 20% TBNO inclusion levels. It is concluded that 20% TBNO can be included in the diet of growing cockerels without any deleterious effect on their growth performance.Keywords: Toasted bambara nut waste, enzyme, effect, cockerels, growth performanceAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(39), pp. 5784-578

Effects of raw bambara nut (Voandzeia subterranea l) waste and enzyme complex on growth performance and apparent nutrient retention in broiler chickens

The effects of graded levels of raw bambara nut (Voandzeia subterranea L) waste and supplementary enzyme (Roxayzme G) on performance of broiler chicks were investigated. One hundred and twenty 14-day old unsexed commercial broiler chicks (Anak strain) were randomly divided into eight groups of 15 birds each. The groups were randomly assigned to eight energetic (9.24 to 11.68 MJ of ME/kg) and nitrogenous (21.12 to 22.12% crude protein) diets in a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement involving four levels (0, 10, 15 and 20%) of raw bambara nut waste and 2 enzyme levels (0 and 0.02%). Each treatment was replicated three times with five birds per replicate. Results show that increasing levels of raw bambara nut waste in the diets increased (P < 0.05) average daily feed intake and feed cost per kg weight gain, but decreased (P < 0.05) final body weight, average daily weight gain, feed conversion efficiency and protein efficiency ratio. Increasing raw bambara nut waste levels also depressed (P < 0.05) nutrient absorption as evidenced by significant reduction in the retention of dry matter, nitrogen, crude fibre, ether extract, nitrogen-free extract and gross energy. However, supplementation with enzyme improved (P < 0.05) final body weight and average daily weight gain at 0% raw bambara nut waste level, feed conversion ratio at the 10, 15 and 20% raw bambara nut waste levels, and reduced average daily feed intake and feed cost per kg weight gain at all the raw bambara nut waste (RBW) inclusion levels. Enzyme supplementation also improved (P < 0.05) the retention of dry matter at the 0, 15 and 20% raw bambara nut waste levels, nitrogen at 0% raw bambara nut waste level, ether extract and nitrogen-free extract at 0 and 20% raw bambara nut waste levels, and gross energy at 10 and 20% raw bambara nut waste levels. There was no incidence of chicks’ mortality in all the treatments. The results of the study indicate that 10% raw bambara nut waste can be included in enzyme supplemented broiler starter diet without adverse effects on broiler chicks and also to reduce cost of production.Keywords: Raw bambara nut waste, enzyme, diets, broiler chicks, growth performanc

Tractability Conditions for Disc Ploughing on a Loamy Sand Soil in the Ilorin Agro-Ecological Zone

For agricultural field operations such as tillage and planting, an agricultural soil is considered tractable if it can develop adequate shear resistance to minimize tyre slip and soil damage and can produce required soil tilth without undue soil pulverization or the formation of large clods. Furthermore, the soil must be devoid of physical obstructions like stones, stumps, ant-hills, etc and be of a light vegetative cover. Tractability conditions for disc ploughing on a loamy sand soil based on soil moisture have been determined for Ilorin agro-ecological zone, which fall within the Guinea Savannah zone of Nigeria. This was achieved by carrying out disc ploughing on an experimental plot at thirteen different soil moisture levels ranging from 8.90 to 91.74% of field capacity. The tyre slip and wheel sinkage measured at each soil moisture level, were used to judge whether the soil was tractable or not. Soil is adjudged tractable if the observed tyre slip is either 15% or less. The corresponding soil moisture range was selected as the soil moisture condition at which the soil is tractable. It was found that the loamy sand soil of Ilorin agro- ecological zone was tractable between soil moisture levels of 8.90 and 60.08% of field capacity. Results showed that differences in soil moisture distribution along the slope of the land had no significant (P< 0.05) effect on the towing force and the drawbar pull of the tractor. However, differences in soil moisture levels had significant effect on them. Furthermore, data such as towing force, drawbar pull, soil cone index and tyre slip generated and analyzed using regression analysis, were used to establish empirical trafficability prediction equations; which are useful in studies of soil-machine interactions

Design, Construction and Evaluation of Motorized Okra Slicer

A motorized okra slicer was designed, constructed and tested. It has a capacity of 42.8 kg/hr and efficiency of 95% when compared with the manually operated machine and hand slicing methods. It produces slices of uniform thickness with standard deviation and variance of 0.13 and 0.14, respectively

Dietary effect of rice milling waste and supplementary enzyme on performance of broiler chicks

A four- week study was conducted to determine the effects of feeding rice milling waste (RMW) and supplementary enzyme (Roxazyme G2®) on the performance of broiler chicks. One hundred and twenty (120) 7-day old broiler chicks of Anak strain were randomly divided into eight groups of 15 birds each. The groups were randomly assigned to 8 isocaloric (2.85 Mcal of ME/kg) and isonitrogenous (22.00% crude protein) diets in a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement involving a control (0%), three levels (10, 15 and 20%) of RMW and two enzyme levels (0 and 0.02%). Each treatment was replicated three times with five birds per replicate. Results show that feed intake, average daily weight gain, protein efficiency ratio, costs of daily feed intake and feed cost per kg weight gain were significantly (P<0.05) different among the treatment diets. Haematological values such as Haemoglobin concentration (Hb), mean cellular volume (MCH), mean cellular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and mean cell volume (MCV) were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the treatments. Enzyme supplementation resulted in a significant (P<0.05) reduction in feed intake and enhanced significantly (P<0.05), the performance of birds that consumed such enzyme supplemented diets. It was concluded that up to 20% RMW can be included in broiler starter diet without any adverse effect on growth performance of birds. However, the significant increase in feed cost per kg weight gain emanating from the inclusion of enzyme in some of the diets may negate the positive effect that Roxazyme G2®enzyme had on growth performance of the broiler chicks.Keywords: Rice milling waste, enzyme, diets, broiler chicks, growth performance.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(34), pp. 5326-533

Clinical Usefulness of Measuring Red Blood Cell Distribution Width in Patients with Hepatitis B

BACKGROUND: Red blood cell distribution width (RDW), an automated measure of red blood cell size heterogeneity (e.g., anisocytosis) that is largely overlooked, is a newly recognized risk marker in patients with cardiovascular diseases, but its role in persistent viral infection has not been well-defined. The present study was designed to investigate the association between RDW values and different disease states in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients. In addition, we analyzed whether RDW is associated with mortality in the HBV-infected patients. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: One hundred and twenty-three patients, including 16 with acute hepatitis B (AHB), 61 with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and 46 with chronic severe hepatitis B (CSHB), and 48 healthy controls were enrolled. In all subjects, a blood sample was collected at admission to examine liver function, renal function, international normalized ratio and routine hematological testing. All patients were followed up for at least 4 months. A total of 10 clinical chemistry, hematology, and biochemical variables were analyzed for possible association with outcomes by using Cox proportional hazards and multiple regression models. RDW values at admission in patients with CSHB (18.30±3.11%, P<0.001), CHB (16.37±2.43%, P<0.001) and AHB (14.38±1.72%, P<0.05) were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (13.03±1.33%). Increased RDW values were clinically associated with severe liver disease and increased 3-month mortality rate. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that RDW values and the model for end-stage liver disease score were independent predictors for mortality (both P<0.001). CONCLUSION: RDW values are significantly increased in patients with hepatitis B and associated with its severity. Moreover, RDW values are an independent predicting factor for the 3-month mortality rate in patients with hepatitis B

A Molecular Epidemiological and Genetic Diversity Study of Tuberculosis in Ibadan, Nnewi and Abuja, Nigeria

Background Nigeria has the tenth highest burden of tuberculosis (TB) among the 22 TB high-burden countries in the world. This study describes the biodiversity and epidemiology of drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB in Ibadan, Nnewi and Abuja, using 409 DNAs extracted from culture positive TB isolates. Methodology/Principal Findings DNAs extracted from clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex were studied by spoligotyping and 24 VNTR typing. The Cameroon clade (CAM) was predominant followed by the M. africanum (West African 1) and T (mainly T2) clades. By using a smooth definition of clusters, 32 likely epi-linked clusters related to the Cameroon genotype family and 15 likely epi-linked clusters related to other “modern” genotypes were detected. Eight clusters concerned M. africanum West African 1. The recent transmission rate of TB was 38%. This large study shows that the recent transmission of TB in Nigeria is high, without major regional differences, with MDR-TB clusters. Improvement in the TB control programme is imperative to address the TB control problem in Nigeria