\u3ci\u3eTheobroma cacao\u3c/i\u3e Pod Silage Diets; Effect on Mineral and Anti-Nutrients Utilization by Goats

A 63-day study was conducted to evaluate the mineral and anti-nutrients utilization and weight gain by west African dwarf goats fed Theobroma cacao pod silage diets. Cocoa pod husk used was collected, crushed to 2 cm particle size, divided into 4 equal portions, and ensiled differently with synthetic and non-synthetic fertilizer for 28 days under anaerobic conditions to increase the nutrients. Thereafter the ensiled products were dried and incorporated with other convectional feed ingredients at fixed amount to make four diets to feed twenty-four goats (six goats per treatment). Nutrient, mineral and anti-nutrient composition were assayed; sex effect on intake (nutrient, mineral and anti-nutrient), utilization, weight gain and feed conversion ratio were evaluated. From the results, the non-protein nitrogen sources proved to improve the nutritional values of the diets, and rich enough to support the growth of goats. The goat-does were observed to consume more of their feeds than the bucks. Anti-nutrients were tolerable and did not hinder utilization/depress weight gain. Goats fed diet D (5% urea ensiled CPH) had the highest weight gain and lowest feed conversion ratio. Hence, it could be recommended to ruminant farmers for adoption, to improve livelihoods in sub-Sahara Africa

Dry Matter, Protein and Fibre Digestibility by West African Dwarf Sheep Fed Varying Levels of \u3cem\u3eVernonia amygdalina\u3c/em\u3e Meal in Cassava Starch Residue-Based Diets

It is imperative to find alternative source(s) of feed for livestock in lieu of the limited availability of conventional concentrates and the competition for this resource by man. One plant with great potential for the livestock is bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina). It is wide spread with about 200 species, is edible, drought tolerant, nutritious and has been found to have medicinal qualities (John 1994). V. amygdalina has an astringent taste which affects its intake. Bitter leaf meal contains 20-34% crude protein (CP) and can be used as protein supplement (Aregheore et al. 1998). With the recent introduction of trees and shrubs into cropping and grazing systems to provide high protein fodder to supplement post harvest crop residues, it is conceivable that V. amygdalina could play a valuable role in ruminant feeding system. This study was conducted to assess the dry matter, protein and fibre digestibility by WAD sheep fed diets containing various levels of Vernonia amygdalina leaf meal

Yield gains in extra-early maize cultivars of three breeding eras under multiple environments

Open Access JournalAvailability of extra-early maize cultivars has facilitated the expansion of maize production into savannas of West and Central Africa (WCA). Fifty-six extra-early maize cultivars of three breeding eras;1995 to 2000, 2001 to 2006, and 2007 to 2012 were evaluated for 2 yr under 24 multiple-stress and 28 non-stress environments in WCA. Objectives of the study were to determine genetic improvement in grain yield of cultivars developed during the breeding eras, and identify high-yielding and s multiple-stress and non-stress environments. Yield gains from era 1 to era 3 under multiple stresses was associated with increased days to anthesis, reduced stalk lodging, and improved husk cover. Cultivars 2004 TZEE-Y Pop STR C4, TZEE-W Pop STR QPM C0, and TZEE-W Pop STR BC2 C0 of era 2; and TZEE-W STR 107 BC1, TZEE-W Pop STR C5, and 2012 TZEE-Y DT STR C5 of era 3 were high-yielding and stable across multiple-stress environments while 98 Syn EE-W from era 1, FERKE TZEE-W STR, TZEE-W Pop STR C3, and TZEE-Y Pop STR QPM C0 from era 2, and TZEE-W Pop STR C5, 2009 TZEE-OR2 STR QPM, 2009 TZEE-W STR, TZEE-Y STR 106, and TZEE-W DT C0 STR C5 from era 3 were outstanding across non-stress environments and should be tested extensively and commercialized. Considerable improvement has been made in breeding for multiple-stress tolerant extra-early maize cultivars

Self-medication and Anti-malarial Drug Resistance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): A silent threat

Background Malaria is a global infectious (vector-borne: Anopheles mosquitoes) disease which is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Among all its parasitic (protozoan: Plasmodium sp.) variants, Plasmodium falciparum (PF) is the most virulent and responsible for above 90% of global malaria deaths hence making it a global public health threat. Main context Despite current front-line antimalarial treatments options especially allopathic medications and malaria prevention (and control) strategies especially governmental policies and community malaria intervention programs in SSA, PF infections remains prevalent due to increased antimicrobial/antimalarial drug resistance caused by several factors especially genetic mutations and auto(self)-medication practices in SSA. In this article, we focused on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as the largest SSA country by bringing perspective into the impact of self-medication and antimalarial drug resistance, and provided recommendation for long-term improvement and future analysis in malaria prevention and control in SSA. Conclusions Self-medication and anti-malarial drug resistance is a major challenge to malaria control in DRC and sub-Saharan Africa, and to achieve sustainable control, individual, community and governmental efforts must be aligned to stop self-medication, and strengthen the health systems against malaria

ASSESSMENT OF MINERAL STATUS OF TWICE-YEARLY LAMBING YANKASA EWES

Changes in the concentrations of sodium (Na) and potassium (K) in saliva were monitored in order to assess the status of these cations in twice-yearly lambing ewes. Five pregnant ewes in late gestation were sampled once per week for 8 weeks before lambing and 8 weeks post-partum. Values (meq/litre) obtained (187.4-190.5 and 8.7-9.3) for Na and K respectively in the saliva of both pregnant and lactating Yankasa ewes did not show any evidence of deficiency for the two cations. </jats:p

ASSESSMENT OF MINERAL STATUS OF TWICE-YEARLY LAMBING YANKASA EWES 1. APRAISAL OF MINERAL STATUS IN THE DIET AND BLOOD SERUM

An appraisal of mineral status of twice-yearly lambing Yankasa ewes was carried out in order to trace any evidence of mineral deficiency in the diet and to obtain baseline information of clinical, physiological and nutritional interest. A total of thirty pregnant and lactation ewes, weighing between 27 - 37kg was sampled for mineral profile in blood serum. The basal and supplemental diets were also analysed for chemical and mineral composition. Average daily dry matter intakes ranged from 0.92 to 1.5kg per head per day. Higher concentration of magnesium, iron, manganese and zinc were obtained in the serum of both pregnant and lactating ewes than values obtained for temperate breeds. Average calcium concentrations (mg/100ml) in the blood serum during gestation and lactation were 10.0 ± 1.7 and 6.1 æ 1.3respectively. The values were higher during gestation than lactation. The differences were significant (P 0.05). On the other hand, the mean concentration (mg/100ml) was 12.6 æ 2.2 during gestation and increased to 17.4 æ 3.2 during lactation. The differences were also significant. (P &lt; 0.01). The concentrations of calcium and phosphorus (mg/100ml) were observed to be influenced by parturition.</jats:p

Replacement value of white mulberry forage for pennisetum purpureum on nutrients digestibility, weight gain and blood profile of sheep

A sixty-three day study that involved twenty (20) West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep aged 8 - 9 months with average live-weight of 7.44 ± 0.18 kgW0.75 was carried out to evaluate nutrients intake, nitrogen metabolism, weight gain and blood profile of sheep fed Pennisetum purpureum was substituted with white mulberry leaves. The sheep were divided into 5 groups of four sheep per group and allotted to individual pens in a Completely Randomized Design. Five diets fed to the sheep were formulated thus: diets A (100 % P. purpureum), B (75 % P. purpureum + 25 % mulberry leaves), C (50 % P. purpureum + 50 % mulberry leaves), D (25 % P. purpureum + 75 % mulberry) and E (100 % mulberry leaves). Dry matter ranged 89.03 - 90.16 % and the highest (21.05 %) crude protein was obtained in diet E. Nutrients intake, daily weight gain and feed to gain ratio were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by the treatments. The highest DM (250.38 gW0.75/day) and CP (52.70 gW0.75/day) intake were observed in sheep fed diet E. The diets were adequately digested, highest nitrogen balance (5.75 gW0.75) was obtained in sheep fed diet E. Consequently, the best daily weight gain (16.10 gW0.75g/day) and least feed conversion ratio (15.55). Haematological and serum biochemical indices were within normal range for WAD sheep. Thus, sole feeding of white mulberry leave could offer a reliable source of protein for improved nutrients digestibility and nitrogen utilization by WAD sheep without detrimental effects on their wellbeing.Se llevó a cabo un estudio de sesenta y tres días en el que participaron veinte ovejas enanas de África Occidental (WAD) de 8 a 9 meses con un peso vivo promedio de 7,44 ± 0,18 kgW0,75 para evaluar la ingesta de nutrientes, el metabolismo del nitrógeno, el aumento de peso y el perfil sanguíneo de las ovejas alimentadas con Pennisetum purpureum se sustituyó con hojas de morera blanca. Las ovejas se dividieron en 5 grupos de cuatro ovejas por grupo y se asignaron a corrales individuales en un diseño completamente aleatorio. Se formularon cinco dietas: dietas A (100 % P. purpureum), B (75 % P. purpureum + 25 % hojas de morera), C (50 % P. purpureum + 50 % hojas de morera), D (25 % P. purpureum + 75 % morera) y E (100 % hojas de morera). La materia seca varió 89,03 - 90,16 % y la proteína bruta más alta (21,05 %) se obtuvo en la dieta E. La ingesta de nutrientes, el aumento de peso diario y la relación alimentación-ganancia fueron significativamente influenciados (p<0,05) por los tratamientos. La mayor ingesta de DM (250,38 gW0,75/día) y PC (52,70 gW0,75/día) se observó en ovejas alimentadas con dieta E. Las dietas fueron digeridas adecuadamente, se obtuvo el mayor balance de nitrógeno (5.75 gW0.75) en ovejas alimentadas con dieta E. En consecuencia, la mejor ganancia de peso diaria (16.10 gW0.75g / día) y la menor relación de conversión alimenticia (15.55). Los índices hematológicos y bioquímicos séricos estaban dentro del rango normal para las ovejas (WAD). Por lo tanto, la alimentación exclusiva de hojas de morera blanca podría ofrecer una fuente confiable de proteínas para mejorar la digestibilidad de los nutrientes y la utilización de nitrógeno por parte de las ovejas (WAD) sin efectos perjudiciales para su bienesta

Replacement value of white mulberry forage for elephant grass on nutrients digestibility, weight gain and blood profile of sheep

Abstract A 63-day study that involved 20 growing West African Dwarf sheep with average live bodyweight of 7.44 ± 0.18 kgW0.75 was carried out to evaluate nutrients intake, nitrogen metabolism, weight gain and blood profile of sheep fed Pennisetum purpureum (PP) substituted with white morus alba leaves (ML). The sheep were allotted to 5 treatments of 4 sheep per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design experiment. Five diets fed to the sheep were formulated designated as T1 (100 % PP), T2 (75 % PP: 25 % ML), T3 (50 % PP: 50 % ML), T4 (25 % PP: 75 % ML) and T5 (100 % ML). DM ranged 89.03 - 90.16 % and highest (21.05 %CP) was obtained in T5. Nutrients intake, DWG and FGR were significantly (p&lt;0.05) influenced. Highest DMI (250.38 gW0.75/day) and CPI (52.70 gW0.75/day) were observed in sheep fed T5. Highest N-balance (5.75 gW0.75) was obtained in sheep fed T5. Consequently, the best DWG (16.10 gW0.75g/day) and least FCR (15.55). Haematological and serum biochemical indices were within normal range for WAD sheep. Thus, sole feeding of white mulberry leave could offer a reliable source of protein for sheep.</jats:p