Replacement Value of fermented millet (Pennisetum americanum) for maize in the diets of African Cat fish (Clarias gariepinus) fingerlings

The replacement value of fermented millet for maize in the diets of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings reared in a recirculation system was determined. Five isonitrogenous diets were formulated to contain graded levels of fermented millet meal replacing 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80% of maize and fed to triplicate groups of fingerlings weighing 1.28± 0.2g. The feeding lasted for 12 weeks. Although, the feeds containing fermented millet were acceptable to the fish, the results showed that the diets significantly P<0.05 affected fish performance. There were significant reductions in feed conversion ratio and nutrient utilization efficiency with increasing fermented millet meals. However, highest percentage weight gain and lowest feed conversion ratio were observed on fish fed 20% replacement level, even though, growth depression occurred with increasing dietary levels of fermented millet (P>0.05)

Nutrient composition, energy value and residual antinutritional factors in differently processed breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) meal

The proximate composition, carbohydrate fraction, minerals and residual anti-nutritional factors in peeled and unpeeled raw, cooked and soaked breadfruit meal were determined. Results indicated that breadfruit meals processed in various ways contained 4.31 - 4.85% crude protein, 5.00 - 5.38% crude fibre, 2.11 - 2.90% ether extract, 68.38 - 69.20% starch and 2.56 - 2.90 ash which can enhance its nutritional status. Residual anti-nutritional factors that were detected in the meals were oxalate (2.70 -3.30 mg/kg), phytic acid (0.58 - 0.75 g/100 g), tannin (6.06 - 6.70 mg/kg, trypsin inhibitor (0.00 - 21.30 TIU/mg) and haemagglutinin (0.00 - 12.30 HU/mg). The meals also had high gross energy (16.00 - 16.20Mj/kg) and metabolizable energy (13.01 - 13.74 Mj/Kg). Cooking completely eliminated trypsin inhibitor and haemagglutinin and reduced the concentration of oxalate and tannin while phytic acid was unaffected. Soaking in water reduced (P < 0.05) oxalate, phytic acid, tannin, trypsin inhibitor and haemagglutinin. Peeling, cooking and soaking improved the metabolizable energy of breadfruit meal significantly (P < 0.05). It was concluded that breadfruit meal can be a substitute for maize in poultrydiet if properly processed

Effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in the nutrition of african catfish-A cholesterol reducer and fertility enhancer

A twelve weeks nutritional study was carried out to study the effect Zingiber officinale on the growth performance, blood profiles, eggs and sperm quality of juvenile African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). in which juvenile African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) were fed Five diets containing 35% CP were formulated having varying inclusion levels (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 %) of ginger (Zingiber officinale) for Diet 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. One hundred (100) juvenile African catfish (94.24±0.02g) were randomly selected, divided into five dietary treatments and stocked at the rate of 10 juveniles per tank (120L) and replicated two times. The fish were fed add libitum twice daily and weight changes were recorded every two weeks. At the end of the feeding trials, blood samples were taken, the sperm and egg sacs were excised from the fish samples selected and the sperm and eggs were collected for analysis. Data collected on weight changes, feed-intake, blood parameters and sperm volume, percentage motility, sperm density, percentage livability and death percentage were subjected to one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Completely Randomized Design (CRD).&nbsp;The results revealed that fish increased significantly in weight (P &lt; 0.05) as the level of ginger inclusion increases in diets and utilized the feed efficiently than the control. Significant differences (P &lt; 0.05) were observed in all the growth parameters. Treatment4 (fish fed 15% ginger based diet) had the highest mean weight gain (166.71g), percentage weight gain (176.90%), specific growth rate (0.54%), protein efficiency ratio (1.64) and red blood cells (3.86cmm). Also, fish fed 15% ginger based diet (T4) recorded least alkaline phosphate (13.62u/l), alanine transaminase (67.73otu/l), ALT (22.36u/l) and Creatinine (0.18mg/dl). However, fish fed 20% ginger based diet (T5) had higher sperm motility (67.50%), sperm livability (180.85%), egg volume (40ml), egg weight(36.50g) and egg number (25600) while the least sperm motility and livability(45.00%, 92.05% ) respectively were obtained in T4. Although, the least values of egg volume, weight and number (25ml, 24g, 16500) respectively were recorded in control (T1).Therefore, it can be concluded that 15% ginger can be included in the diet of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) to enhance growth, good heamatological and reduced antinutrients although, greater success were recorded for reproductive performance using higher level of ginger(20%) without detrimental effect.</p

Nutrition and reproductive performance of African catfish fed bitter kola (Garcinia kolal)

A ten weeks feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of bitter kola on the growth performance, hematology and sperm quality of juvenile African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Six diets of 40% crude protein were formulated with different inclusion levels of bitter kola seed meal. Diet1 (control) has 0g/kg of the seed meal while Diet2, Diet3, Diet4, Diet5 and Diet6 contained 50g/kg, 100g/kg, 150g/kg, 200g/kg, 250g/kg bitter kola seed meal(BKSM) respectively. A total of sixty (60) healthy juvenile Clarias gariepinus were randomly selected and distributed in into twelve (12) plastic tanks at stocking rate of five (5) fish per tank and the experiment was replicated twice. Fish were fed twice a day, morning (8;00hr) and evening (17:00hrs) for ten weeks, At the end of the feeding period, blood samples were collected from the fish samples for haematological analysis and growth rate were determined.FMW, MWG, PWG, SGR, AFI, FCR PI and PER were significantly different across the treatment groups (p&lt;0.05). Fish fed dietary treatment T2 (100g/kg BKSM), has the highest values of PWG (83.40%) and PER (0.22) while the lowest values of PWG (11.00%) and PER (0.04) were obtained in dietary treatment T6 (250g/kg BKSM) However, the least value of FCR (0.74) was recorded in fish fed dietary treatment T2 (100g/kg BKSM) while dietary treatment T6 (250g/kg BKSM) had the highest FCR value (1.01).Haematology of African catfish ranging from HB, PVC, WBC, RBC, MCH, MCHC to lymphocyte were not significantly affected by varying levels of Kola in the diets.It has been found that fish growth reduced while sperm quality increased with increased levels of bitter kola. Therefore, it can be concluded that bitter kola can be included in the diet of African catfish at the rate of 150g/kg BKSM (T4) for improving the sperm quality and 50g/kg BKSM (T2) for optimum growth performance.</p

Bid or no-bid decision factors of indigenous contractors in Nigeria

© 2017 Emerald Publishing Limited. Purpose: The decision to bid or not to bid for new projects determines contractors' propensity for business success or failure. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that affect the decision of indigenous construction contractors to bid or not to bid in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach: Analysis was conducted on data from questionnaires received from 64 engineering management employees of leading construction companies which are members of Nigeria' s Federation of Construction Industry. The study identified 41 significant decision factors often considered by Nigerian indigenous contractors before the bid. Mean item scores were obtained for each of the factors. Principal component analysis was used to point out the most significant decision factors. Findings: Results revealed significant orthogonal relationships between the factors. Only 11 of the 41 factors are statistically significant to influence contractors' decision to bid or not to bid. Most of the significant items were amongst the least rated items by the participants. The post hoc decision factors include consultant' s interpretation of project specifications, previous relationship between the intending bidder and client, availability of other projects at the time of bidding, technological complexity of the project under consideration and prequalification requirements. Others include the propensity for resource price fluctuation, business capacity of partners, amount of own work vs subcontracted work, required rate of return on investment and difficulty in obtaining finance. Originality/value: The practical implication of these findings are as follows: the orthogonal relationship between the decision factors implies non-linear relationship between the factors and actual decision to bid or not to bid, and that bid success is often not predictable by bid behaviour; many of the bid decision factors rated highest by indigenous contractors seldom impact the contractors' actual bid decisions; local and international players can adopt the significant decision factors elicited in this study for managing their structures for inter-organizational partnerships