New Oligocene to Early Miocene Palynomorph Zonation of GZ-1 Well, Onshore Western Niger Delta, Nigeria

Palynological studies was carried out on GZ-1 well from the onshore western Niger Delta in order to recognized a new detected developments in the varieties of key pollen and spore taxa that have shorter and more distinguished interval zones to advance stratigraphical delineation. Palynological analysis was carried out using the conventional maceration technique for recovering acid insoluble organic-walled microfossils from sediments. The result yielded rich and diversified palynomorphs. The main assemblage were dominated by angiosperm pollen grain (dominant global flora from Late Cretaceous onwards) followed by pteridophytes/bryophyte spore. Dinoflagellate cysts, on the contrast, were less diverse while the Gymnosperm pollen were scarce. The identified palynomorph were used to establish seven main zones - AF1 Psilatricolporites crassus zone, AF2 Verrucatosporites usmensis zone, AF3 Triplochiton scleroxylon zone, AF4 Crassoretitriletes vanraadshooveni zone, AF5 Acrostichum aureum zone, AF6 Gemmatriporites ogwashiensis zone and AF7 Retitricolporites irregularis zone in this study. Established on quantitative events, the zones were also divided into seven subzones with some having finer subdivisions into (a) and (b) ranging in age from Early Oligocene to Early Miocene. Previous unfiled event trends of important indicator taxa of spores and pollen accredited to Pelliceria, Caesalapinoideae, Stenochlaena palustris, Polypodiaceae, Lygodium microphyllum, Polypodiaceae, Adiantaceae and Amanoa (Euphorbiaceae) have assisted improvement of formerly used palynological zonation schemes in the Niger Delta. It is anticipated that this quantitative zonation scheme erected, will help with imminent palynostratigraphical studies in the onshore Niger delta area

Farm risks and management strategies among arable crop farmers in Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria

This study examines farm risk and management strategies adopted by arable crop farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria. A two-stage sampling procedure was employed to select 120 respondents for the study with the aid of questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Likert scale and logit regression model. Results revealed that erratic rainfall, pest and diseases were the major production risks faced by the farmers. Ill-health (69.2%) and low produce price (92.5%) were the major personal risk and marketing risk experienced by the farmers respectively. The major financial risks were insurance (86.7%) and lack of access to loan (83.3%) while the major institutional risk was lack of agricultural loan and subsidies (100%) from government. The major preventive strategy adopted by the arable crop farmers were use of agrochemicals and selling at reduced price. The most employed mitigation strategies were diversification (82.5%), on-farm sales (78.3%), esusu (77.5%), cooperative society membership (71.7%) and self-medication (70%). The prominent coping strategies employed were hired labour (77.5%), off-farm activities (73.3%) and borrowing (60%). The significant factors influencing the attitude of arable crop farmers to risk were sex, educational level of the farmers, household size, farming experience, membership of cooperative association, access to bank loan, farming system and off farm income The study concluded that the arable crop farmers were risk averse and recommended that efforts should be geared towards training the farmers on the appropriate management strategies with emphasis on the need for the farmers to adopt innovations that will enhance improved farm practices in the study area.Keywords: Arable crop, farm risk, management strategies, logi

Preweaning performance of Yankasa sheep under semi-intensive management

Preweaning growth traits and weaning rate of Yankasa sheep under a semi-intensive management system with twice-yearly lambings were studied for nine years at Shika, in the subhumid zone of Nigeria. Least squares means for birth weight (BW), 90-day weaning weight (WW), average daily gain to weaning (ADG) and weaning rate (WR) were 2.5± 0.01 kg, 10.87±0.08 kg, 91.86± 0.91 g/day and 77.8±1.0 per cent, respectively. BW, WW and ADG were significantly affected by parity and the lamb's litter size, sex, month and year of birth. WR was significantly affected by parity, litter size, month and year of birth but not by sex of lamb. Preweaning growth performance was generally better in the wet seasons than in the dry seasons while the reverse was true for weaning rate

Growth performance and nutrient digestibility of broiler finishers fed fermented Mucuna pruriens Seed Meal

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of fermented Mucuna Seed Meal (FMSM) on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and haematological parameters of broiler finisher chicks. In a four-week feeding trial, four hundred and fifty (450) 4-week old broiler chicks were randomly allocated to five experimental diets in a completely randomized design (CRD). Each treatment was replicated thrice having thirty (30) birds per pen. Fermented Mucuna seed meal was prepared and fed in graded levels of 0.0% (control diet), 5.0%, 10.0%, 15.0%, and 20.0%FMSM. Feed and water were given to the birds ad libitum. The parameters measured and include final weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed to gain ratio and feed cost per kilogram gain. Digestibility of dry matter, crude protein; crude fibre, ash, nitrogen free extract and ether extract were also deter-mined. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA).The results showed that dietary levels of FMSM had significant (P<0.05) effect on these parameters. The final weight, the weight gain and feed intake of the birds fed 0.0%, 5.0%% 10% and 15.0% FMSM were statistically (P>0.05) similar but significantly (P<0.05) higher than those of 20%FMSM. Cost of feed per bird and feed cost per kilogram weight gain were lower for all FMSM diets. Digestibility of nutrients was better for the birds fed the control, 5.0, 10.0 and 15.0%FMSM based diets. There were no sig-nificant differences (P>0.05) between the treatment means for packed cell volume (PCV), heamoglobin (Hb) and total protein (Tp).It was concluded that inclusion of FMSM in the diets of broiler finisher chicks up to15% has no deleterious effect on growth performance, haematological parameters and nutrient digestibility of the birds

Haematological Parameters of Patients Attending the Geriatric Clinic of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria

Normal aging process is related to a decline in the functional reserve of multiple organ systems which increases the probability of disease. Full blood count (or complete blood count) is one of the commonest laboratory investigations requested worldwide, and has numerous uses in the diagnosis and monitoring of different morbidities. Available literature suggest that an inverse relationship exists between most haematological parameters and age. It has been documented that aging leads to a decline in haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cells (WBC) and platelet (PLT); and this suggest a reduction in bone marrow reserves. The aim of this study was to estimate the reference ranges for commonly used haematological parameters in patients attending the geriatric clinic in a Nigeria tertiary hospital. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 100 geriatric patients with mean age of 71.3 + 74 years attending the Geriatric clinic of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. All participants' blood samples were collected and their full blood count was determined. The mean Hb concentration for the entire group was 11.43 ± 1.79g/dl with a mean of 11.84 ± 2.08 g/dl in males and 11.17 ± 1.54 g/dlin females. All these values were below the accepted reference ranges. However, the WBC and PLT counts were all within normal reference values. The mean Hb was higher in males than females and this difference was statistically significant (P= 0.01). In conclusion, evidence of lowered Hb level and normal WBC and PLT levels in the geriatrics population suggests aging may not affect all haematological indices production