Effect of aeration on selected water quality parameters in freshwater fish culture

This paper report findings of an investigation into the effect of aeration devices on some selected freshwater quality parameters. Three aeration columns, Upturned shower rose (USR), Downturned shower rose (DSR) and Perforated pipe (PEP) were experimented. Freshwater fish culture water was passed through the devices and analysed for Temperature, pH, Alkalinity and Dissolved oxygen (DO) in the morning, afternoon and evening. The percentage modification was used to measure the effect of aeration on the selected water quality parameters. Temperature modification ranged from -2.4% to 0% with equal value in all the aeration devices at all the period, Alkalinity ranged between -10.7% and 3.7% with least modification in DSR in the morning but highest in USR in the evening, The percentage modification in pH fell between -8.3% and -1.8% with the least modification in USR in the morning while the highest was recorded also in USR but in the evening. The DO ranged between 37.1% to 161.9% with the highest modification in DSR in the afternoon and the lowest in USR in the evening. The investigated aerating devices have little effect on all the selected water quality parameters, except for dissolved oxygen where the effect is very prominent.Keywords: Aeration columns, aquaculture, downturned shower rose, freshwater quality, perforated pipe, upturned shower rose

Use of probiotics for sustainable aquaculture production in Nigeria

Aquaculture is fast developing in Nigeria but to ensure a sustainable development there is need to address problem of diseases which is an important issue affecting the aquaculture production. Though the use of antimicrobial drugs has helped in some ways, the notorious effects of antibiotics has necessitated seeking an alternative that is environmental friendly and safe for the organisms and consumers. Probiotics has been established to be a good alternative and its use is now gaining acceptance. This review aims to define the concept of probiotics, highlights the process of isolation and methods of application as well as its current status, challenges and prospects in Nigeria. Probiotics are entire or components of microorganisms that are beneficial to the health of a host. They are naturally present in the organism and or the culture medium and have different mechanisms of action. They are usually isolated from the gill, skin or culture medium and pass through isolation processes to obtain the desired strains and applied in-vitro or in-vivo. Probiotics is a natural ingredient in finfish, shellfish and culture environment and its appropriate application will save Nigeria aquaculture from losses due to diseases. It will make available, aquaculture products that are safe for consumption as well ensuring a healthy aquatic environment. However research should be conducted to make available, products that suit the local species and environment in commercial forms. Also, safety issues should be considered at all time.Key words: sustainable production, fish culture, probiotics, antibiotics, diseases.

Investigation of biological condition of fish species in lower Ogun River wetlands, Lagos, Nigeria

The study was carried out to investigate the biological condition of fish species in lower Ogun River wetlands. A total of 175 individual fish belonging to 10 species were collected from artisanal fishermen usingdifferent types of fishing gears. Two biological indices; condition factor “K” and growth exponent “b” obtained from length-weight relationship were used to determine the biological condition of the fishes. The conditionfactor (K) recorded during the study ranged between 0.55 in Liza  grandisquamis and 5.61 in Oreochromis niloticus. The growth exponent (b) ranged from 1.48 in Penaus notialis to 5.67 in Gymnarchus niloticus. Theregression coefficient of determination was significant for some of the fish with highest value of R2=0.98 for Sardinella madarensis. The study showed that most of the fish species in the study area are in poor biologicalcondition and exhibit allometric growth.Keywords: Allometric growth, condition factor, growth exponent, length-weight relationship

Chemical Composition of Kapok (Ceibapentandra) Seed and Physicochemical Properties of its Oil

Determination of the chemical composition of Kapok (Ceibapentandra) seeds and physicochemical properties of its oil were carried out using standard methods. Mature dried fruits of Kapok from which seeds wereobtained were collected from in and around Basawa village, Sabon Gari Local Government Area, Kaduna State. Results of proximate analysis show crude fat (23.10%) and crude protein, (36.70%) while calcium (1212mg/kg) was most abundant among minerals analysed. Kapok seed oil had clear bright yellowish colour with offensive odour with iodine value, (76.80g I/100 g oil) and saponification value, (179.77mg KOH/g oil). Lignin content of the kapok fiber was 5.54%. We concluded that the kapok seeds, which are under-utilized and often discarded as an agrowaste in our environment, is rich in oil and protein therefore, has a reasonable economic potential which can be harnessed.Keywords: Kapok, Ceibapentandra, physicochemical properties, oil, iodine value, saponification valu

Effects of dietary oil blend on fatty acid composition, oxidative stability and physicochemical properties of Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle in goats

This study examined the effects of dietary blend of 80% canola oil and 20% palm oil (BCPO) on the physicochemical properties, antioxidant status, oxidative stability and fatty acid composition of Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle from goats during chill storage. Over a 14-week feeding trial, 24 Boer bucks were randomly assigned to and supplemented with diets containing 0, 4 or 8% BCPO on a dry matter basis, slaughtered and the LTL was subjected to a 7 day chill storage. Neither diet nor post mortem ageing influenced (P > 0.05) antioxidant enzyme activities, chemical composition and cholesterol. Diet had no effect on the carbonyl content, free thiol content, water-holding capacity, tenderness, pH and glycogen. Oil-supplemented goats had higher (P 0.05) changes were found in the proportion of individual fatty acids throughout storage. Total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) decreased while total saturated fatty acids increased as storage progressed. Dietary BCPO enhanced n-3 PUFA without compromising the quality attributes of chevon

A comparison of bleeding efficiency, microbiological quality and lipid oxidation in goats subjected to conscious halal slaughter and slaughter following minimal anesthesia

The study assessed the effect of conscious halal slaughter and slaughter following minimal anesthesia on bleeding efficiency of goats and keeping quality of goat meat. Ten Boer cross bucks were divided into two groups and subjected to either halal slaughter without stunning (HS) or minimal anesthesia prior to slaughter (AS). The blood lost during exsanguination was measured. Residual blood was further quantified by determination of hemoglobin and myoglobin content in longissimus lumborum muscle. Storage stability of the meat was evaluated by microbiological analysis and lipid oxidation. Blood loss at exsanguination, residual hemoglobin and lipid oxidation were not significantly different (p>0.05) between HS and AS. Lactic acid bacteria was the only microbe that was significantly elevated after 24h of storage at 4°C in the AS group. In conclusion, slaughtering goats under minimal anesthesia or fully conscious did not affect bleeding efficiency and keeping quality of goat meat

Fatty acid composition, cholesterol and antioxidant status of infraspinatus muscle, liver and kidney of goats fed blend of palm oil and canola oil

The study assessed the lipid profile, cholesterol and antioxidant status of infraspinatus muscle, kidney and liver from goats supplemented with increasing levels of blend of 20% palm oil and 80% canola oil. Twenty-four Boer bucks were randomly assigned to diets containing 0, 4 and 8% oil blend, fed for 100 d and slaughtered. The tissues were subjected to 7 d postmortem storage at 4 °C. Diet did not affect total lipid and cholesterol content in the tissues. The proportions of C14:0 in infraspinatus muscle and kidney, and C15:0 in all tissues were lower (p < 0.05) while the proportion of C18:3n:3 was greater in supplemented goats than the control goats. Proportion of C18:1n-9 in infraspinatus muscle was higher (p < 0.05) in goats fed oil blend than the control goats. The liver and the infraspinatus muscle of the control goats had higher C18:1 trans-10 but lower C18:1 trans-11 compared with those fed other diets. Diet had no effect on catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities, and the concentration of γ and δ-tocopherol and lipid oxidation in all tissues. The concentrations of α-tocopherol and total carotenoid were greater in the tissues of oil-fed goats compared with the control goats. Regardless of tissue, the catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were stable throughout storage. Lipid oxidative stability, glutathione peroxidase activity, tocopherol and carotenoid contents in the tissues decreased (p < 0.05) as postmortem storage progressed. Dietary 20% palm oil and 80% canola oil blend modified the fatty acids in goat meat and offal without compromising their oxidative stability

Physico-chemical characteristics of Longissimus lumborum muscle in goats subjected to halal slaughter and anesthesia (halothane) pre-slaughter

This study assessed the effect of halal slaughter and anesthesia pre-slaughter followed by bleeding on meat quality characteristics of goats. Eleven male Boer cross goats were divided into two groups and subjected to either halal slaughter (HS) or anesthesia with halothane and propofol pre-slaughter (AS). At pre-rigor, HS had significantly lower (P < 0.05) muscle pH and glycogen than AS. However, no significant difference was observed in the pH and glycogen content between the treatments on 1, 3 and 7 days post mortem. The drip loss of HS was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than that of AS at all aging periods. Treatment had no effect on sarcomere length, myofibrillar fragmentation index and shear force values, loss of thiol groups and degradation of major myofibrillar proteins. It can be concluded that HS did not have deleterious effect on meat quality traits of goat when compared to AS

Dietary supplementation of different parts of Andrographis paniculata affects the fatty acids, lipid oxidation, microbiota, and quality attributes of longissimus muscle in goats

The effects of dietary supplementation of different parts of Andrographis paniculata on fatty acids, lipid oxidation, microbiota and quality attributes of Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle in goats were assessed. Twenty four, entire Boer bucks (4 months old; 20.18 ± 0.19 kg BW) were randomly allotted to either a basal diet without additive (AP0), a basal diet + 1.5% Andrographis paniculata leaves (APL) or a basal diet + 1.5% Andrographis paniculata whole plant (APW). The bucks were fed the diets for 100 d and slaughtered. The LTL muscle was subjected to a 7 d chill storage. The AP0 meat had higher (p  .05) on muscle glycogen, pH, drip loss, chemical composition and lactic acid bacteria count. Cooking loss, shear force, and TBARS values were lower (p < .05) in APL (23.98%, 0.76 kg, 0.12 mg MDA/kg) and APW (24.53%, 0.80 kg, 0.15 mg MDA/kg) meat compared with AP0 (26.49%, 1.13 kg, 0.23 mg MDA/kg) meat. Meat redness was higher (p < .05) in APL (13.49) and APW (12.98) than AP0 (10.86). Sensory scores for juiciness, tenderness, and overall acceptability of APL (7.92, 7.88, 7.89) and APW (7.90, 7.08, 7.77) meat were higher (p < .05) than that of the AP0 (5.38, 5.95, 5.41) meat. Total viable counts and populations of Pseudomonas spp, Escherichia coli and Enterobacteriacea were higher (p < .05) in AP0 meat than in APL and APW meat. The APL exhibited higher (p < .05) antimicrobial potential than the APW. Chill storage affected (p < .05) the physicochemical properties, lipid oxidation and microbial counts in chevon. Dietary APL and APW enhanced the beneficial fatty acids, quality attributes and oxidative stability, and reduced microbial counts in chevon

Effects of blend of canola oil and palm oil on nutrient intake and digestibility, growth performance, rumen fermentation and fatty acids in goats

The study examined the effects of blend of 80% canola oil and 20% palm oil (BCPO) on nutrient intake and digestibility, growth performance, rumen fermentation and fatty acids (FA) in goats. Twenty-four Boer bucks were randomly assigned to diets containing 0, 4 and 8% BCPO on a dry matter basis, fed for 100 days and slaughtered. Diet did not affect feed efficiency, growth performance, intake and digestibility of all nutrients except ether extract. Intakes and digestibilities of ether extract, unsaturated fatty acids (FA) and total FA were higher (P < 0.05) while digestibility of C18:0 was lower (P < 0.05) in oil-fed goats than the control goats. Total volatile FA, acetate, butyrate, acetate/propionate ratio and methane decreased (P < 0.05) with increasing BCPO but propionate, NH3-N and rumen pH did not differ between diets. Ruminal concentration of C18:0, n-3 FA and total FA increased (P < 0.05) while C12:0, C14:0, C15:0 and n-6 FA decreased with increasing BCPO. Analysis of the FA composition of Triceps brachii muscle showed that concentrations of C16:0, C14:0 and C18:2n-6 were lower (P < 0.05) while C18:1n-9, C18:3n-3 and C20:5n-3 were higher in oil-fed goats compared with control goats. Dietary BCPO altered muscle lipids without having detrimental effects on nutrient intake and digestibility and growth performance in goats