Modeling growth of Nigerian indigenous and tropically adapted chicken genotypes using developmental parameters

The possibility of modeling growth with the aim of visualizing growth patterns over time, and generating equations that can be used to predict the expected weight of the animal at specific age could be an impetus for optimization of farmer’s livelihood. The weekly body weight of 993 off-springs of seven genotypes of chicken, consisting of Nera Black-NB, White Leghorn-WL, Giriraja-GR, Naked Neck-NN, Frizzle Feather-FF, Normal Feather-NF and FUNAAB Alpha chicken-BA, were fitted to Logistic, Gompertz, Richards and Bertalanffy growth model using the procedure of NLIN (Marquart algorithm) based on Restricted Maximum Likelihood approach (ReML). The study revealed that GR chickens performed better than other genotypes, while BA had superior performance compared to the indigenous and the WL chickens. However, among the indigenous, the performance of NN chickens was best. There was a negative correlated relationship observed between asymptotic weight (A) and maturing rate (k). Gompertz model best fit the chicken data according to Akaike Information Criteria (AIC) and Bayesian Information Criteria (BIC) for FF, NF, and GR while Richards model on the other hand, had better fit for NN, NB and WL. Bertalanffy model was the best for BA chicken. The study concludes that high k will produce smaller A. Furthermore, mixing of improved exotic genes with the indigenous produces improved and better adapted genotypes in BA. AIC and BIC with ReML approach presented Gompertz model with wide applicability among the indigenous chickens while Richards model fit well for the locally adapted exotic chickens. &nbsp

Description of body conformation of Nigerian Indigenous Turkeys using exploratory factor analysis

Body dimensions are used to characterise livestock species. Factor analysis is a multivariate technique for examining the interrelationship among a set of variables that are correlated. Factor analysis was used to describe body conformation of Nigerian indigenous turkeys in this study. The biometric traits of Nigerian indigenous turkeys were measured at 20th week of age and subjected to PROC FACTOR of SAS using varimax criterion of orthogonal rotation method. The highest Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.94 was observed between wing length and wing span. Three factors accounted for 87.41% of the total variance. The first factor accounted for 50.23% of the total variance, the second factor accounted for 24.39% while the third factor accounted for 12.79% of the total variance. The communality ranged from 0.77 in body weight to 0.98 in breast girth. All the biometric traits studied were very effective in explaining body conformation in Nigerian indigenous turkeys. Three factors explained all the biometric traits of Nigerian indigenous turkeys. The first factor explained body weight, body length, shank length, thigh length and keel length. The second factor explained wing parts while the third factor explained only the breast girth. It can therefore be concluded that the three factors obtained in this study described body conformation of Nigerian indigenous turkeys.Keywords: Turkey; Body dimension; Communality; Unique facto

Degradation of polystyrene by tropical bacterial and fungal isolates

Plastic waste is one of the major contributing factors to the growth of municipal solid wastes globally. It is a threat to public health and negatively impact the aquatic and terrestrial animals due to its persistence in the environment. Bacterial and fungal isolates were tested for their ability to degrade polystyrene. The cultures were grown on mineral salts medium supplemented with polystyrene as the sole carbon source in 250 mL conical flasks. The polystyrene reduced from 1 g (week 0) to 0.7g (week 7). Statistical analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) shows a significant difference between the reduction in weight of polystyrene in the experimental flask compared to the control (P<0.05). Gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis of biodegradation products shows that some toxic polystyrene constituents such as O-xylene, cis-9-hexadecenal and 3-phenol pentadecyl were removed

ECONOMIC RETURNS AND TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY IN CASSAVA-BASED FARMING SYSTEMS IN YEWA COMMUNITIES OF OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

This study analyzed the economic returns and technical efficiency in cassava-based farming systems in selected communities in the Yewa axis of Ogun State. Data were collected from 120 cassava farmers in a two-stage sampling technique. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, budgetary technique, and the stochastic frontier model. The study showed majority of the cassava farmers in the study area to be male, ageing, less formally educated but well experienced in farming. Result of the enterprise’s budgetary analysis showed that cassava sole-cropping generated a total gross margin (GM) of N236,051 and net farm income (NFI) of N233,862 as against the values of N474,084 and N470,168 respectively, for cassava intercrop program during the same production year. From the findings, sole cropping has total factor productivity (TFC) value of 0.46, producing more cassava yield from each unit of the input used than in intercrop program with a TFC value of 0.1.  Land and labour inputs were critical determinants of cassava output in the study area, while the involvement of younger folks in the cassava farming enterprise and attainment of higher education will significantly improve the technical efficiency of the cassava farmers. An average technical efficiency level of 79 percent was obtain for cassava production systems, implying a 21% gap for it to reach maximum production potentials. It was recommended that the policy formulation that will enhance access of the cassava farmers to more cultivable land, improved educational opportunities (through adult literacy education) and labour saving device/technology will assist to rapidly transform the cassava production systems in the study area. This will also help them increase their profitability and efficiency level in cassava production.     &nbsp

Agricultural biotechnology R&D and innovations in Nigeria

This study examined the nature and extent of the agricultural biotechnology R&D and innovations in Nigeria. Data were collected from the Directors, Heads of Crop Units and Research Scientists in the agricultural research institutes using structured and unstructured questionnaires and interview schedules. The data collected were analysed using frequencies, means and percentages. The study revealed that there were 48 researchers engaged in the various aspects of agricultural biotechnology R&D, in the research institutes considered. About 32.9% were females, 67.1% were males with mean ages of 38 and 39.5 years, respectively. The majority, 53.2% of the researchers, possessed MSc qualifications with 46.6% specialising in conventional biotechnology. A total of 308 research outputs were recorded in all the research institutes. The most important motivation for embarking on these research projects was the need of the market (72.1%) and the existence of facilities (27.9%). The various bodies responsible for commercialisation of research results were the research institutes (83.3%), entrepreneurs (6.7%), the financial institutions, cooperative farmers and the National Seed Service (3.3%). Only two scientists possessed intellectual property rights and received royalties regularly. However, the majority did not patent their research results because of the lack of interest (45.4%), ignorance (32.0%) and the rigours of the procedure (32.3%).agricultural biotechnology; R&D; innovation; motivation; R&D commercialisation; intellectual property rights; patents; royalties; policy implications; Nigeria; research and development.