Effect of Dietary Replacement of Maize with Yam and Irish potato peel meals on the Growth and Economic Performance of Growing Rabbits

An eight-week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding yam and irish potato peel meals on the growth performance and economic analysis of cross-bred (Dutch x New Zealand white) growing rabbits aged between five to seven weeks. Thirty rabbits were randomly allocated to six dietary treatments with five rabbits per treatment. Diets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 contained 100% maize, 50% maize and 50% yam peel meal, 50% maize and 50% irish potato peel meal, 50% yam peel meal and 50% irish potato peel meal, 100% yam peel meal and 100% irish potato peel meal, respectively. The response showed that the growth parameters were not significantly (P>0.05) different among the treatment groups except mean final body weight which was significantly (P>0.05) different. The mean final body weight of rabbits fed T3 diet (50% maize and 50% irish potato peel meal) was significantly (P< 0.05) higher than those fed T2 (50% maize and 50% yam peel meal) and T6 (100% irish potato peel meal) diets, but were similar (P>0.05) to other diets. However, the lowest mean final body weight was obtained in rabbits fed T6 (100% irish potato peel meal) diet. The cost per kg feed decreased progressively as the levels of yam and irish potato peel meals increased in the diets. The cost per kg gain also declined from  ₦ 249.59 in T1 (100% maize) to ₦ 181.95 in T4 (50% yam peel meal and 50% irish potato peel meal), which showed the best cost per kg weight gain. The study demonstrated that the yam and irish potato peel meals can replace maize up to 100% as energy source for growing rabbits without adverse effect on performance.Keywords: Growth Performance, Yam and Irish Potato peel meals, Economic Analysi

Effects of monosodium-L-glutamate administration on serum levels of reproductive hormones and cholesterol, epididymal sperm reserves and testicular histomorphology of male albino rats

This study investigated the effects of administration of monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) on serum gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH), luteinising hormone (LH), testosterone and total cholesterol (TC), cauda epididymal sperm reserves (CESR) and testicular histomorphology of adult male albino rats. Eighty-four rats, randomly assigned to 7 groups of 12 rats each, were used for the study. Varying low doses (0.25, 0.50 or 1.00 g/kg body weight) of MSG were administered orally or subcutaneously at 48-h intervals for six weeks. Serum GnRH, LH, testosterone and TC, and CESR were evaluated on days 14, 28 and 42 of MSG administration. Testicular histomorphology was evaluated on day 42. The results showed that the mean serum GnRH, LH and testosterone levels, and the CESR of all the treated groups were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of the untreated control on days 14, 28 and 42 of MSG administration. The mean serum TC levels of all the treated groups were also significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of the control group on days 14 and 28. No lesions were observed on sections of the testes. It was concluded that MSG administration for 14, 28 and 42 days led to significantly lower serum levels of GnRH, LH, testosterone and TC, and significantly lower CESR

Anatomija orofarinksa i jezika u afričke crnobijele vrane (Corvus albus)

An understanding of the anatomy of components of the digestive tract of the African pied crow would prove useful in relation to the medical, surgical and nutritional management of these birds, especially in captivity. The present study was designed to provide basic data on the morphology of the oropharynx and tongue of the African pied crow. Our results showed that the roof of the oropharyngeal cavity was formed by a cartilaginous hard palate, whose mucous membrane exhibited many caudally directed papillae. The tongue was located in the floor of the oropharyngeal cavity. The rostral and caudal parts of the tongue were demarcated by a transverse row of caudally pointed papillae. The histology of the caudal part of the tongue revealed the presence of many mucous glands that discharge their secretions onto the dorsal surface of the tongue via ducts. Whereas the papillae may serve principally as mechanical obstacles to the involuntary return of food that has passed over them, the secretions of the glands may aid in swallowing by lubricating the caudal part of the oropharyngeal cavity and probably, the initial part of the oesophagus. It was concluded that the anatomical features of the oropharyngeal cavity and tongue of the African pied crow may be adaptations to the bird’s mode of food acquisition and feeding habits.Proučavanje anatomije probavnoga sustava afričke crnobijele vrane potrebno je radi njezina liječenja, pravilnoga načina hranidbe i kirurških zahvata što je od posebnoga značenja kad se ona drži u zatočeništvu. Ovo istraživanje provedeno je u svrhu prikupljanja temeljnih podataka o morfologiji orofarinksa i jezika afričke crnobijele vrane. Polučeni rezultati pokazali da je krov njezine orofaringealne šupljine građen od tvrdoga hrskavičnoga nepca na čijoj se sluznici nalazi mnoštvo kaudalno usmjerenih papila. Jezik je smješten na dnu orofaringealne šupljine. Rostralni i kaudalni dijelovi jezika odijeljeni su poprječnim redom kaudalno usmjerenih papila. U kaudalnom dijelu jezika nalazi se mnoštvo sluznih žlijezda koje svoje sekrete izlučuju na dorzalnu površinu jezika putem kanalića. Dok papile prvenstveno služe kao mehanička prepreka za povratak hrane, lučevine žlijezda mogu pomoći pri gutanju podmazivanjem kaudalnoga dijela orofaringealne šupljine i, vjerojatno, početnoga dijela jednjaka. Može se zaključiti da je anatomska građa orofaringealne šupljine i jezika afričke crnobijele vrane prilagođena hranidbenim navikama i načinu uzimanja hrane

Morfologija testisa i zalihe sperme u epididimisu štakora nakon prestanka davanja nigerijske sirove nafte Qua Iboe Brent

The reversibility of crude oil-induced male reproductive abnormalities was studied in fifi fty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats. Exposure to crude oil was achieved by oral administration of increasing doses (165mg/kg body mass, 330mg/kg body mass, and 660mg/kg body mass) of Nigerian Qua Iboe Brent crude oil to male rats every 48 hours for 4 weeks. Thereafter, the crude oil was withdrawn from some of the rats for a period of 8 weeks. The results showed signififi cant reduction in the cauda epididymal sperm reserves of the rats that received the crude oil (P<0.05) and the rats from which the crude oil was withdrawn (P<0.05), relative to the control group. The testes of the rats that received crude oil showed reduced spermatogenic activity in the seminiferous tubules, as well as hyperaemia and oedema of the interstices. The testes of the rats from which crude oil was withdrawn showed evidence of recovery and the restoration of active spermatogenesis in the seminiferous tubules. The indication is that the withdrawal of Nigerian Qua Iboe Brent crude oil from male rats over a period of 8 weeks reversed the testicular pathology, but not the cauda epididymal oligospermia associated with this environmental pollutant.Reverzibilnost reprodukcijskih poremećaja uzrokovanih sirovom naftom istraživana je na 56 štakora Sprague-Dawley. Peroralno su štakorima bile davane sve veće doze (165 mg/kg tjelesne mase, 330 mg/kg tjelesne mase i 660 mg/kg tjelesne mase) nigerijske Qua Iboe Brent sirove nafte svakih 48 sati tijekom četiri tjedna. Nakon toga neki od štakora više nisu dobivali sirovu naftu u razdoblju od osam tjedana. Rezultati su pokazali značajno smanjenje rezervi sperme u epididimisu štakora koji su dobivali sirovu naftu (P<0,05) i u štakora kojima se prestalo davati sirovu naftu (P<0,05) u odnosu na kontrolnu skupinu. Testisi štakora koji su dobivali sirovu naftu pokazivali su smanjenu sposobnost spermatogeneze u sjemenskim tubulima, a dokazana je bila hiperemija i edem intersticija. Nakon prestanka davanja sirove nafte testisi su se oporavili te je ponovo došlo do aktivne spermatogeneze u seminifernim tubulima. Aktivnost testisa vratila se na normalu osam tjedana nakon prestanka davanja nigerijske sirove nafte Qua Iboe Brent, ali ne i oligospermija repa epididimisa povezana sa zagađenjem okoliša

Evaluation of yam - sweet potato peels mixture as source of energy in broiler chickens diets

In the search for alternative energy sources for poultry feeding, a 9-week experiment was conducted to ascertain the replacement value of yam-sweet potato peels mixture (YSPPM) for maize in broiler chickens diets. One hundred and eighty (180) Anak-2000 broiler chicks aged 6 days were randomly assigned to 12 floor pens containing 15 birds each. Four diets, based on 23 and 20% crude protein in the starter and finisher respectively, were formulated to contain 0, 15, 30, and 45% YSPPM as replacement for maize grain. Each of the diets was fed to 3 pens of 15 birds in a completely randomized design. Data were collected on growth indices, haematological profile, and carcass measurements and organs weights. During the starter period (7-28 days), daily feed intake and feed cost/kg gain were not adversely affected by feeding the test ingredient, but weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were depressed above 15% replacement of maize with the test material. In the finisher phase (28-63 days), feed intake was significantly increased on the 45% replacement diet compared to the control but did not differ statistically amongst the YSPPM-based diets as well as amongst the control, 15 and 30% replacement diets. The highest daily gain was recorded on the 15% replacement diet, but its values did not differ markedly amongst the control, 30 and 45% diets. Feed conversion ratio was significantly increased above 15% replacement of maize with YSPPM. Feed cost per kg gain was significantly reduced on the 15 and 45% replacement diets. The results of haematology did not show any depressive effect of feeding YSPPM. Similarly, the results of carcass measurements and organs weights did not show any disadvantage of feeding YSPPM, but there were beneficial effects of its feeding over the control maize-based diet with respect to breast meat and abdominal fat deposition. It was concluded that YSPPM can replace maize up to 15 and 45% in broiler starter and finisher diets respectively without adverse effects on the growth, haematological profile and carcass measurements