Herbs and Spices: Options for Sustainable Animal Production

Herbs and spices and a host of other plant derivatives used in animal feeding as feed additives are referred to as phytogenic feed additives. This class of feed additives is increasingly gaining popularity in livestock production. A number of studies have demonstrated antioxidative and antimicrobial efficacy in vitro. Methane reducing effects of some herbs and spices in ruminants have also been reported. Studies show that some of these plant materials improved the palatability of feed. There are suggestions that they may specifically enhance activities of digestive enzymes and nutrient absorption. Experimental comparisons of these phytogenic additives with antibiotics and organic acids have suggested similar effects on the gut. This include reduced bacterial colony counts, fewer fermentation products, greater nutrient digestion and probably reflecting an overall improved gut equilibrium. In addition, some of the herbs and spices or their derivatives have been reported to promote intestinal mucus production. This effect may explain improved production performance after including these phytogenic feed additives. In general, available literature suggests that phytogenic feed additives such as herbs and spices may add to the set of non-antibiotic growth promoters for use in livestock like organic acids and probiotics. However, a systematic approach toward the efficacy and safety of phytogenic materials used as feed ingredients or additives is needed. There should also be studies to show the possible interaction of these plant materials with other feed ingredients in vivo. There is also the need to study herbs and spices which are indigenous to the tropics for their utilization in livestock production. Keywords: Herbs, Spices, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Phytogenic Feed Additive, Performance

Nanostructured Clay (NC) and the Stabilization of Lateritic Soil for Construction Purposes

The use of Nanostructured Clay additive in lateritic soil stabilization and their effect at different percentages on the natural soil was investigated. The preliminary tests on the soil showed it was an A-2-7 soil, according to AASHTO classification. The soil sample was also observed to be silty clayey sand and the general rating as a sub-grade material was ‘GOOD’. The consistency limits result shows that the value of the LL for the natural soil is 47% and 25.15% was recorded for the plastic limit (PL) and finally the PI was 21.85% i.e. highly plastic soil. Further, the effect of the addition of NC in the proportions of 3%, 6%, 9%, 12% and 15% by weight of the stabilized Umuntu Olokoro lateritic soil was investigated. The consistency limits results showed that the addition of variable proportions of NC considerably improved the plasticity of the stabilized soil which gave 13.8%; a medium plastic material at 15% NC addition, compared to the preliminary result of 0% by weight additive which gave 21.85%; a highly plastic material. The strength properties’ test showed significant improvements with the addition of NC; CBR test result recorded 29% at 15% by weight proportion of NC which satisfies the material condition for use as sub-base material and the UCS test results similarly improved consistently and recorded a maximum UCS of 340.18kN/m2 at 15% by weight proportion of NC addition which satisfies “very stiff” material consistency for use as sub-base material. With the foregoing, the addition of various proportions of NC to the stabilized lateritic soil has presented to be a Geotechnical solution to the varied environmental failures on the road pavements. Hence NC satisfies all the material conditions for use as a sub-base material for the stabilization and improvement of the strength characteristics of lateritic soils. Finally, we call on the relevant agencies to use NC as an additive in stabilizing weak lateritic soils for use as either sub-grade or sub-base materials to save both cost and the structural failures on the roads in south eastern Nigeria. Keywords: Environmental Geotechnics; Pavement Geotechnics; Soil Stabilization; Weak Lateritic Soil; South Eastern Nigeria

Effects of Household Waste Generation, Disposal and Management on Farmers’ Health in Owerri Metropolis of IMO State, Nigeria

The study investigated the effects of household waste generation, disposal and management on farmers' health in Owerri metropolis. It specifically ascertained the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, identified the types and sources of waste in the study area, examined the waste disposal and management methods in the study area examined the effects of inappropriate waste disposal and ascertained the appropriate waste disposal methods used in the study area. A multi stage sampling technique was used to select one hundred and eight farmers from the three Local Government Area in Owerri metropolis. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire and were analyzed using descriptive statistics tool such as mean, frequency, percentage, and mean scores. Results show that waste is majorly generated from markets and residential homes. Waste disposal methods were mainly burning, landfills and open dumping. Its effects includes destroys the beauty of the environment, blocks gutters and drainage system, pollutes the environment among others. Subsequently, appropriate waste disposal methods in the study area includes burning of waste (29.17%), placing of bins at appropriate places (16.07%). The study recommends amongst others that waste management environmental agency should make waste dumps or receptacles accessible to residents, public campaigns should be embarked upon to educate the citizens on ills of dirty environment

Influence of Household Factors on the Utilization of Improved Gari Processing Technology in Southeastern Nigeria

The influence of household faocftors on the use of improved gari processing technology developed by National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike in collaboration with International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan was appraised amongfarmers in southeastern Nigeria. Three hundred and twenty farmers were selected and inten’iewed wit the aid of structured questionnaire. The findings showed that only 42.50% of the farmers utilized all practices that constituted the technology. Results of probit model analysis revealed that marital status, educational status, household size, number of household members assisting in gari processing, participation of all household members in decision making andfarmers’ years of experience in gariprocessing were the significant householdfactors influencing the use of the technology. There thus the need to promote and popularize thisose practices in the technology, which are not yet common amongfarmers. Again extension agents need to choose contact farmfamilies which are headed by married, educated andmiddle-agedfarmersfor quicker technology adoption anddissemination

Utilization Status of Improved Garri Processing Technology in South Eastern Nigeria

The improved garriprocessing technology collaboratively developed by International Institute Tropical Agriculture (Ibadan), andNational Root Crops Research Institute Umudike has been withfarmers South eastern Nigeriafor over two decades. This paper seeks to investigate the status of utilization of this technology which appears to be popular among farmers Nigeria. Thrionugh structured questionnaires, data were collected from 320 farmers randomly sampled from five out nine states that consotiftute the South east agro ecological zone. Data were analyzed with descriptive and Product-moment co-relation statistics. Analysis ofdata collected showed that the technology was in the medium level inofthuetilsiztuadtiyoanrea withmost farmers using two out offivepractices in the technology. Again, while majority offarmers utilized the grating machine (79.37%) and de-watering press (65.31%), less than halfof the farmers utilized the recommendedfermentationperiod(39.38%) whilefew utilized garri sieving machine (15.62%) and garrifrying tray (12.81%). Also a strong relationship existed between grating machine and de-watering press as well as between sieving machine and garrifrying tray. It was thus recommended that efforts should be made by extension agencies in the zone to promote andpopularize the advantage of processing technology over the traditional method as well as sensitize thefarmers on the dangers of inadequatefermentation ofgarri. Also Governments and non¬governmental organisations canfacilitate the adoption of the improved garriprocessing technology by establishing of prototypeprocessing centresforfarmers co-operative societies in the,rural areas. This will encouragefarmers to utilize the technology as recommended

Influence of Household Factors on the Utilization of Improved Gari Processing Technology in Southeastern Nigeria

The influence of household faocftors on the use of improved gari processing technology developed by National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike in collaboration with International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan was appraised amongfarmers in southeastern Nigeria. Three hundred and twenty farmers were selected and inten’iewed wit the aid of structured questionnaire. The findings showed that only 42.50% of the farmers utilized all practices that constituted the technology. Results of probit model analysis revealed that marital status, educational status, household size, number of household members assisting in gari processing, participation of all household members in decision making andfarmers’ years of experience in gariprocessing were the significant householdfactors influencing the use of the technology. There thus the need to promote and popularize thisose practices in the technology, which are not yet common amongfarmers. Again extension agents need to choose contact farmfamilies which are headed by married, educated andmiddle-agedfarmersfor quicker technology adoption anddissemination

Utilization Status of Improved Garri Processing Technology in South Eastern Nigeria

The improved garriprocessing technology collaboratively developed by International Institute Tropical Agriculture (Ibadan), andNational Root Crops Research Institute Umudike has been withfarmers South eastern Nigeriafor over two decades. This paper seeks to investigate the status of utilization of this technology which appears to be popular among farmers Nigeria. Thrionugh structured questionnaires, data were collected from 320 farmers randomly sampled from five out nine states that consotiftute the South east agro ecological zone. Data were analyzed with descriptive and Product-moment co-relation statistics. Analysis ofdata collected showed that the technology was in the medium level inofthuetilsiztuadtiyoanrea withmost farmers using two out offivepractices in the technology. Again, while majority offarmers utilized the grating machine (79.37%) and de-watering press (65.31%), less than halfof the farmers utilized the recommendedfermentationperiod(39.38%) whilefew utilized garri sieving machine (15.62%) and garrifrying tray (12.81%). Also a strong relationship existed between grating machine and de-watering press as well as between sieving machine and garrifrying tray. It was thus recommended that efforts should be made by extension agencies in the zone to promote andpopularize the advantage of processing technology over the traditional method as well as sensitize thefarmers on the dangers of inadequatefermentation ofgarri. Also Governments and non¬governmental organisations canfacilitate the adoption of the improved garriprocessing technology by establishing of prototypeprocessing centresforfarmers co-operative societies in the,rural areas. This will encouragefarmers to utilize the technology as recommended

Participation of Extension Agents in Research-Extension-Farmer-Input Linkages System (REFILS) Activities in Abia State.

This study investigated the status of participation of the frontline field Extension staff of Abia State Agricultural Development Programme (ABIADEP) in the activities of Research-Extension-Farmer-Input Linkage System (REFILS) of the organization. Forty respondents were successively sampledfrom lists of extension agents (EAs) in each of the three agricultural zones of the State - Aba, Umuahia and Ohafia. Thus, a toted of120 respondents were sampledfor the study. Structured questionnaires were used to elicit datafrom the respondents while simple descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data collected. Results emergingfrom analyzed data indicated that EAs’ participation was high in three REFILS activities viz - training offarmers '{2.41), attendance tofortnightly training (2.30) and conduct ofonfarm adaptive research (2.06). However, their participation was low in activities such as target and research (2.06). However, their participation was low in such activities as target and research area selection (0.28), onfarm applied research (0.02), annual zonal workshop (0.00), monthly technology review meeting (0.00), stabilization offarmers’ adoption (0.55). There was generally low level participation of EAs in REFILS activities. This was largely attributed to constraints such as logistic/mobility problems (1st), paucity of resources (2nd), poor status of service (3rd), weak communication linkages (4th), among others. It was thus recommended that the ABIADEP management should restructure the mode of operation of REFILS to accommodate more participation of EAs in many other activities. Again EAs should endeavor to improve their skill and technical competence to be able to cope with the challenging tasks in some of the activities. Also communication linkage between Headquarter staffand extension agents should be enhancedfor easy andprompt contacts

Participation of Extension Agents in Research-Extension-Farmer-Input Linkages System (REFILS) Activities in Abia State.

This study investigated the status of participation of the frontline field Extension staff of Abia State Agricultural Development Programme (ABIADEP) in the activities of Research-Extension-Farmer-Input Linkage System (REFILS) of the organization. Forty respondents were successively sampledfrom lists of extension agents (EAs) in each of the three agricultural zones of the State - Aba, Umuahia and Ohafia. Thus, a toted of120 respondents were sampledfor the study. Structured questionnaires were used to elicit datafrom the respondents while simple descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data collected. Results emergingfrom analyzed data indicated that EAs’ participation was high in three REFILS activities viz - training offarmers '{2.41), attendance tofortnightly training (2.30) and conduct ofonfarm adaptive research (2.06). However, their participation was low in activities such as target and research (2.06). However, their participation was low in such activities as target and research area selection (0.28), onfarm applied research (0.02), annual zonal workshop (0.00), monthly technology review meeting (0.00), stabilization offarmers’ adoption (0.55). There was generally low level participation of EAs in REFILS activities. This was largely attributed to constraints such as logistic/mobility problems (1st), paucity of resources (2nd), poor status of service (3rd), weak communication linkages (4th), among others. It was thus recommended that the ABIADEP management should restructure the mode of operation of REFILS to accommodate more participation of EAs in many other activities. Again EAs should endeavor to improve their skill and technical competence to be able to cope with the challenging tasks in some of the activities. Also communication linkage between Headquarter staffand extension agents should be enhancedfor easy andprompt contacts

Application of crossplot and prestack seismic-based impedance inversion for discrimination of lithofacies and fluid prediction in an old producing field, Eastern Niger Delta Basin

Abstract Lithofacies distributions and continuity are very important for proper reservoir development; and predicting the fluid types will also help in reducing uncertainties associated with characterizing hydrocarbon reservoirs. This study used Poisson impedance attributes and crossplots from prestack seismic inversion and well logs to discriminate and predict hydrocarbon-filled reservoirs in the Bumma Field, Greater Ughelli Depobelt, Niger Delta Basin. Seismic inversion and well log data were integrated to image and characterize lithofacies at reservoir zones of interest. A supervised model-based simultaneous inversion of Poisson impedance (PI) and crossplot was carried out on the prestack seismic data to understand the lithofacies classification and fluid types. Four classifications of lithofacies (clean sand, sandyshale, shaly-sand and shale) were discriminated based on the well log crossplot between gamma ray and Poisson impedance. The sand lithofacies shows low values of gamma ray ( 65 API) and PI (>− 100 ft/s*g/cc). Also, well log and inverted results from PI showed that values with less than − 100 ft/s*g/cc represent hydrocarbon-filled sand, whereas greater values represent brine and shale. These classifications provide better decision in predicting and discriminating lithofacies accurately. Furthermore, generated map revealed the presence of hydrocarbon-filled reservoirs in a northeast–southwest trending meandering channel. The successful application of crossplot and seismic-based impedance inversion will be helpful in discriminating lithofacies and predicts fluids for accurate location of new wells for optimum production from the field