The Supply and Utilisation of some Major Oilseeds and Oilseed Cakes in Nigeria

No Abstract available

Effect of cowpea seed processing on intestinal microfloral population of rats

No Abstract

Estimated daily Methionine + Cystine requirements of broiler chicken

No abstract

The nutrient composition of some cowpea varieties

Five varieties of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) were analysed for their proximate composition, ·major mineral elements and carbohydrate fractions. Values for crude protein ranged from 25.80% to 28.95% while the ether extract, crude fibre, total ash and total carbohydrate had the following values: 1.83 • 237%, 3.06 - 4.48%,  5.80 - 7 .10% and 50.46 - 55.76% respectively. The average values for phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium were 0.400%, 0.019%, 0.345%, 1.280% and 0.046% respectively. . Ethanol soluble sugars ranged between 4.78g/100g and 6.14/lOOg while starch contents varied between 32.97g/100g and 44.26g/100g. Raffinose and stachyose contents were 1.55 - 2.44g/100g and 3.33 - 4.35g/100g respectively.Keywords: Nutrients, macro elements, oligosaccharides, cowpea varieties

Comparative Physical Carcass Characteristics in the Indigenous Nigerian and Imported European Pigs

The Physical carcass characteristics of 100 indigenous Nigerian pigs (IND.) (50 gilts and 50 barrows), and 100 Large White x Landrace pigs with a similar sex ratio were compared. These were slaughtered at either one of five weights, 22.7, 34.0, 45.5, 56.8 or 68 kg live-weight, in such a way that 10 gilts and 10 barrows of each breed were slaughtered at each of the predetermined slaughter weights. For the purpose of comparing sexual influences on physical carcass traits in the indigenous pigs carcass data were obtained on an additional group of 50 indigenous boars during the same period as the above at similar slaughter weights involving similar numbers per slaughter weight. In a third experiment carcass data were collected on 40 pure Large White pigs (LW) (20 gilts and 20 barrows) and 40 indigenous x Large White pigs (IND.XLW) also made up of 20 gilts and 20 barrows. A comparison was made between these and the data on a similar number of indigenous barrows and gilts. The results indicated highly significantly different (P<0.01), proportions of lean and fat significantly (P<0.05) different proportions of bone and skin in the carcasses of IND and LWXLD pig. The LWXLD pigs had more lean, and bone, less fat and skin, than the indigenous pigs. Carcass conformation was also clearly different in both breeds. The indigenous pigs had lower proportion of lean cuts and greater proportion of the fat cuts than the LWXLD pigs at all slaughter weights. From 22.7 to 68 kg slaughter weights, the IND pigs were shorter, had thicker back fat, higher dressing percentage and smaller loin eye muscle area compared to the LWXLD pigs. Percentages lean, bone skin, ham, loin, shoulder and sum of four lean cuts decreased while percentages fat, fat cuts, trimmed fat and backfat thickness increased with increasing slaughter weights for both breeds. A comparison of carcass traits in the indigenous boars, barrows and gilts showed that the boars were leaner and had superior carcass conformation to the gilts which in turn were leaner than barrows. Crosses between the indigenous pigs and pure large White pigs were superior to the pure indigenous pigs in terms of lean to fat and thinner backfat measurements, while they were inferior to the pure Large White pigs in terms of these measurements

The effects of graded levels of brewers' dried grains and maize cobs in the diets of pigs on their performance characteristics and carcass quality

No abstract

The Composition, Nutrient Digestibility and Energy Value of Maize Cobs, Yam Peels and Plantain Peels for Three Weight Groups of Pigs

No abstract