Conversion of masonia tree sawdust and cotton plant by product into feed by white rot fungus (Pleurotus sajor caju)

The influence of fungus treatment on the biochemical composition and degradation patter of sawdust and cotton plant by-products (cotton burns and cotton gin trash) by Pleurotus sajor caju were evaluated. Lignin degradation increased as the incubation period progressed while the highest loss of hemicellulose, cellulose, acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre were recorded for treated cotton plant by-product. The nutrient availability was superior in the fungus treated cotton plant by-product substrate compared to the treated sawdust. The process efficiency was highest for the treated sawdust than the treated cotton plant by-product, while the loss of organic matter was similar in the cotton plant by-product and sawdust. Correlation between the dry matter of the treated sawdust and cotton plant by-product gave a positive response. It is concluded that such biodelignification and the concurrent percentages increase in nutrient availability indicate that culturing of P. sajor caju on cotton plant byproduct ands saw dust may in fact improve the nutritive value of such lignocellulosic waste.Key words: Sawdust, cotton plant, by-product, Pleurotus sajor caju biodelignification, nutrient availability

Lesser Known Seed: A Renewable Pathway for Sustainable Animal Production

ABSTRACT The study was conducted to compare the effect of soybean meal based diet and Mucuna pruriens seed meal on feed intake, digestibility, and body weight changes of West Africa dwarf sheep (WAD). Thirty sheep with a mean body weight of 12.30 kg (±1.45), were used in a completely randomized design model for a 112 day period. The three dietary treatments consisted of soybean meal alone (control diet, A) , 50% soybean meal +50% Mucuna seed meal (diet B) and 100% Mucuna seed meal (diet C) were randomly assigned to each sheep. The animals were fed and watered ad-libitum throughout the experimental period. The results revealed improvement (p<0.05) in the acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) , cellulose, and lignin intakes of animal fed diet B compared to diets A (control) and C. The dry matter intake (DMI), crude protein intake (CPI) and ether extract intake (EEI) were similar between diets A and B and the least was diet C. The apparent digestibility of Mucuna seed meal based diets, B and C, was significantly higher than that of the control diet A. Animals fed diet B had significantly higher body weight gain and feed efficiency. Additionally, the cost of feed per kg was cheaper in diet C, followed closely by diet B, and the least was diet A (control). It was concluded that 50% of the soybean meal can be replaced with 50% Mucuna seed meal without any detrimental effect on the animal

Genotoxic and Histopathological Effects of Chlorpyrifos on African Catfish, C. gariepinus and Ameliorative Potentials of Ackee Apple, blighia sapida Seed

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is a very toxic pesticide commonly used for controlling agriculturally important pests. The present study investigates DNA damaging effects of CPF on Clarias gariepinus was assessed using genetic assays. Fish were exposed to varying concentrations of CPF (100ppm, 200ppm and 300ppm) at 96 hours (acute exposure). LC50 of the pesticide was found to be 120ppm and one-tenth of the LC50 (12ppm) was taken for the chronic exposure. Distilled water and colchicine were used as negative and positive controls respectively. After 28 days of chronic exposure, fish were fed with inclusion of B. sapida seed (powder) for 14 days. Liver and gills of the fish were removed following 96h exposure, days 7, 14 and 28 of the chronic exposure as well as after the period of amelioration (14 days) for CA assay and histopathological analysis. The results of CA assay showed statistically significant (p ˂ 0.05) increase in CA in a dose-dependent manner for all the exposed groups after acute exposure and time dependent after chronic exposure. Also, this study showed that CPF can potentially induce genotoxic and histopathological changes in fish and other aquatic organisms

Nutritional and Rheological evaluation of West African Soft cheese made from plant coagulant (Calotropis procera) during storage

Storage of West African soft cheese “Waranski” for up to 15 weeks in a refrigerator was examined for the composition, protein fractions (non casein nitrogen, non protein nitrogen, casein nitrogen, total nitrogen) hardness, cohesiveness gumminess, elasticity, chewiness, adhesiveness and pH. Whereas cheese hardness, gumminess, elasticity, chewiness and adhesiveness decreased as the storage day progressed, the protein fractions (NCN, NPN, CN, and total nitrogen) increased slightly. Each of the textural measurement correlated significantly (

Subject Review Article: Broiler litter as feed for ruminants - Potential and limitations under Nigerian Conditions

In Nigeria, ruminant livestock are often underfed mostly during the dry season of the year due to high environmental temperature, poor green forage production and high cost of feed. This has resulted in the inclusion of alternative feedstuffs in animal rations. Broiler litter plays a vital role in supplying and correcting nutrient deficiencies in animal nutrition. Generally, growth rate, milk production and feed efficiency were higher in animals (sheep, goats and cattle) fed broiler litter-based diet than in animals fed control diet (without broiler litter). This paper reviews the nutritional value, health hazard, processing techniques and factors affecting the acceptability of broiler litter as feed. (Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science, 1997, 30(1): 79-85

Comparison of the Mineral Content and Apparent Biological Value of Milk from Human, Cow and Goat

The mineral content and apparent biological value (ABV) of milk from Human (T1), White Fulani (Bunaji) cow (T2) and West African dwarf goats (T3) (n=10) were assessed following a completely randomised design model and covariance analysis respectively. Concentration per million (ppm) were 210, 150 and 52 Na, (goat, human and cow milk) while potassium content was similar (P>0.05) in human (1.60) and goat (1.55) milk compared to that of cow milk. Quantity of Ca, Mg, P, Fe, Cu and Mn were higher in goat and human milk. They were lowest in cow milk: 4.03, 0.92, 1.07, 0.25 and 1.59ppm respectively. In these three treatments, the respective ratios Ca.P-1 were 4.2:1 (T1), 4.4:1 (T2) and 4.6:1 (T3) while Ca.Mg-1 and P.Mg-1 were decreased from 3.9 (cow milk) to 1.9 (human milk) and 0.89 (cow milk) to 0.45 (human milk). In conclusion, the milk of goat (West African dwarf) which contained more of these mineral contents similar to that of human milk, is a pointer to the nutritional contribution of goat milk in a country like Nigeria where prevailing undernourishment and malnutrition are accompanied by low intake of some minerals and vitamins among the populace and most especially the vulnerable (pregnant, lactating mothers, infants and weanlings and the sick) groups. The Journal of Food Technology in Africa Volume 7 No.1, 2002, pp. 9-11 KEY WORDS: West African dwarf goat, White Fulani (Bunaji) cow, Mineral composition, Apparent Biological Value

Distribution of protein fraction in the milk of West African dwarf goat

Milks from lactating West African dwarf goat and white Fulani cow were analysed for total protein, casein, whey protein, non protein nitrogen, Globulin and albumin and proteose peptone contents. Milk samples were from healthy goats and cows (n=24) in mid-lactation. The data were grouped and analysed as treatment 1 (Goat milk) and treatment 2 (cow milk). The average casein nitrogen, globulin and albumin, non-protein in nitrogen, whey nitrogen and proteose peptone were o.4034, 0.0574, 0.0563, 0.0225 and 0.0225g/ 100ml for goat milk and 0.414, 0.0572, 0.030, 0.0212 and 0.0219 g/ 100ml for cow milk. In total nitrogen (g/100ml) goat milk ranked 0.56, 0.54 (cow milk). Goat milk also ranked higher in casein nitrogen, protein nitrogen and non-casein nitrogen. Milk differed also in the casein number with higher casein number reported for cow milk. This study revealed the protein fraction of West African dwarf goat milk with special attention on the whey nitrogen since milk supplied to the market in Nigeria is intended for fluid consumption due to little or no cheese industry. The Journal of Food Technology in Africa Volume 6 Number 1 (January-March 2001), pp. 8-10 KEY WORDS: Protein fraction, goat milk , cow milk