Effects of Crude Oil contaminated Water on the reproductive system of Female Wistar Rats

The rising level of infertility in the females have been associated with environmental pollutants and one such pollutants is crude oil. Crude oil pollution occurs in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria and interaction with this toxicant by both humans and animals may adversely the female reproductive system. This study was designed to investigate the effect of crude oil contaminated water on reproductive functions in female Wistar rats. Fifteen (15) female rats weighing between 140g-230g were used for this study and the rats were divided into three (3) groups (1, 2 and 3) and each group had five rats. Group 1 was the control group while group 2 and 3 were the test groups receiving 2.5mls and 5mls of crude oil contaminated water twice daily for four weeks. The stages of Oestrus cycle of the rats were checked daily. The rats were sacrificed after four weeks and the blood collected were used for hormonal assays (Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), Luteinizing hormone (LH), Testosterone). The uterus and ovaries were used for histology (Haematoxylin and Eosin staining), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. The results were analyzed using GraphPad Prism software for windows and data were expressed as mean±standard error of mean. Statistical significance was accepted at p<0.05. There was no significant changes (p>0.05) in the weights and relative reproductive organ weights (uterus and ovary) of among the three groups. FSH and LH in the test group of rats fed with crude oil contaminated water when compared with the control were not statistically significant (p<0.05). Oestradiol was significantly lower (p<0.05) in the test group whereas progesterone and progesterone-oestradiol ratio was significantly elevated (p<0.05) in the test groups when compared with the control. There were degenerative changes in the ovaries and uterus of rats fed with crude oil contaminated water when compared with the control. SOD was significantly reduced (p<0.05) in the test group while MDA was elevated in the ovaries and uterus of the test group. The oestrus cycle was irregular in the test groups.   Crude oil contaminated water has endocrine disrupting effects on the female reproductive system as well as inducing oxidative stress and this may adversely affect female reproductive functions and fertility. KEY WORDS: Crude oil contaminated water, Endocrine disruptor, Female reproductive functions, Oxidative stress DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/72-05 Publication date: June 30th 202

Technical Efficiency of Poultry Egg Production in Ibadan Metropolis, Oyo State, Nigeria

This study investigates the technical efficiency of poultry egg farmers in Ibadan metropolis, Oyo state, Nigeria. The data for the study were collected from 107 poultry egg farmers with the aid of structured questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics based on the objectives of the study. The results show that the mean age of the respondents was 49 years, about 89% of them were married and the majority of them are well educated. A higher percentage of them (87%) were members of cooperative society; stock their farms with a-day-old chicks (68%) and were owners of the poultry farms (61%). The Maximum Likelihood Estimates (MLEs) of the production function showed that quantity of feed and drugs significantly determined poultry egg production. The results of inefficiency model revealed that years of respondents experience in egg poultry egg production, membership of cooperative society, system of management and stock type significantly lowers farm technical inefficiency. The study recommends training of the poultry egg farmers on modern techniques of keeping layers and benefits of being membership of cooperative society

Vitamin C reduced Pausinytalia Yohimbe induced reproductive toxicity in female Wister rats

Medicinal plants have been used as a source of ailments healing for several years and had gained acceptance as well as widespread use in many cultures of the world. Pausinytalia Yohimbe (P.yohimbe) had been used in folklore medicine by tribes in Nigeria as aphrodisiac. Despite its beneficial effects as an aphrodisiac, we had demonstrated that chronic use of P.yohimbe had adverse effects on both male and female reproductive systems as evidenced by its effects on hormonal and structural changes in the reproductive systems. This study was done to determine if Vitamin C a potent anti oxidant can ameliorate the toxic effects of P.yohimbe. Twenty female Wistar rats weighing 160 -200g with normal estrus cycles were randomly allotted into four experimental groups of five rats each. Group A was the control group while groups B, C and D served as test groups. Group A received distilled water while group B received 5% Vitamin C only, group C received 150mg/kg body weight and D received vitamin C and 150mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of P. yohimbe respectively for 4 weeks via oral gavage. Estrus cycles of the rats were evaluated daily and were sacrificed after 4 weeks. Blood samples obtained were used for hormonal assay (follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol and progesterone). Ovaries and uteri removed were used for Heamatoxylin and Eosin staining for histology. Vitamin C restored normal estrus cycle, improved gonadotropins (FSH and LH) production, and also ameliorated the degenerative changes in both ovaries and uteri of rats treated with P. yohimbe. Vitamin C had no significant effects on estradiol and progesterone production of rats treated with P. yohimbe. We concluded that Vitamin C ameliorated P. yohimbe induced reproductive toxicity in female Wistar rats. It may be that the mechanism of P. yohimbe induced reproductive tissue destruction and gonadotropins decrease is via oxidative stress. Vitamin C may be recommended for those chronically exposed to P. yohimbe for prevention. Keywords: Pausinytalia Yohimbe, Reproductive hormones, Reproductive toxicity, Vitamin C, Wister rats DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/72-06 Publication date: June 30th 202

YOUTHS' PARTICIPATION IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN OYO STATE: PANACEA TO AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

This study investigates involvement of youths in Agriculture in Egbeda LGA of Oyo state Nigeria Primary data was collected using structured questionnaire. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and logit regression model. Most (35%) of the respondents have ages between 30-35 years. 53% have tertiary education, and 29% are involved in youth empowerment programme. Only 53% of the youths practice agriculture. Poultry enterprise (28.30%) recorded the highest participation while piggery (1.88%) recorded the least. Age (0.001), Knowledge ofagriculture (0.010) and amount of credit (0.033) have positive and significant relationship with youths' participation in agriculture. Young farmers need to interact with older and more experienced farmers for higher productivity Credit at low interest rates needs to be made available for youth who intend to practice agriculture most especially in the _area of poultry production which is the most promising enterprise among the youths. Agricultural value addition and regular visit by,agricultural extension workers will overcome low prices of produce and expose the youth farmers to new technology and techniques in agriculture. Youth empowerment program needs to be made available for all youth in both rural and urban areas. KEYWORDS: Youths, agriculture, participation, logit, Nigeri

Enterprise Combination in Livestock Sector in Southwestern, Nigeria

Abstract: This study examined the optimal combination of enterprises in livestock industry in South-West Nigeria. Stratified random sampling technique was employed in collecting data from 360 livestock farmers. Descriptive statistics, budgetary technique and linear programming model were employed for data analysis. Six livestock enterprises, non-integrated poultry, piggery and fishery and horizontally integrated poultry/fishery, poultry/piggery and poultry/piggery/fishery were identified. Livestock farmers in the area are aged with low level of education and large household size do not operate at optimal level based on the available resources. The budgetary analysis shows that the most profitable enterprise combination is integrated poultry and piggery while the enterprise that yielded the least net farm income is non-integrated poultry enterprise. The profitability of integrated and non-integrated livestock enterprises is limited by high cost of production in which the feed cost constitutes the lion’s share. The optimal enterprise combinations are the integrated poultry and fishery and integrated poultry/piggery enterprise with poultry/piggery combination being the most efficient. The policy implication from this study requires that both farmers and government must team up to find a means of reducing feed cost by financing livestock research centers and state agricultural development programmes to develop genetically improved breeds of livestock which efficiently converts feed. Labour as a resource was the most limited in the area, there is therefore the need for research to focus critically on indigenously automated livestock equipment that can perform tasks like feeding, vaccination, etc. Farmers in South-West Nigeria and by extension, Nigeria as a whole should concentrate and intensify their livestock combination practices especially that of poultry/piggery, which is the optimal combination enterprise and that of poultry/fishery enterprise combination because of their high profitability levels. Keywords: Livestock, Optimal, Enterprise, Combination, Linear Programmin

Economics of Horizontal Integration in Poultry Industry in South-West Nigeria

The broad objective of this study is to analyze the economics of horizontal integration in poultry production in some selected local government areas in south-west, Nigeria. Data was collected from 61 fish farmers, 40 poultry farmers and 53 integrated fish and poultry farms, making a sample size of 154 farmers using purposive-snowball sampling process. Descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis and stochastic cost frontier were employed for data analysis. Analysis of socio-economic characteristics shows that most of the farmers in the study area are males, young within the age range of 30-<60 years and had formal education. Most of the farms are solely owned and some of the farmers are part-time farmers. Analysis of cost shows that feed account for 55.8, 68.2 and 78.9% of variable cost of production for sole fish farming, integrated poultry and fishery as well as sole poultry farming respectively. Followed closely in the same order is the cost of labour which account for 26, 6.4 and 3.7% cost of production respectively. The gross margin analysis shows that horizontally integrated poultry farms have highest gross margin (x 1,994,792.88) while the sole fish enterprise records the least gross margin of x 556,516.32. This confirms the economic importance of horizontal integration in poultry industry in terms of profitability. The price of eggs, flock size, stocked fingerlings, quantity of feed and cost of intermediate materials are the explanatory variables that influence the production cost while age of the farmers, vertical integration and sole fish farming are the determinants of economic efficiency. Key words: Horizontal integration, poultry production, economic efficienc

DETERMINANTS OF NACRDB CREDIT ACQUISITION, UTILIZATION AND REPAYMENT AMONG FARMERS IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

This study examined the determinants of NACRDB loan acquisition, utilization, and repayment by farmers in Yewa division of Ogun state. Primary data collected through scheduled interview with the help of a structured questionnaire as well as secondary data were used for this purpose. Descriptive analytical tools, linear discriminant function, and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data collected. Results show that majority of the respondents attributed reasons for zero or partial repayment of loan to production failure due to weather, pests and diseases and poor storage (72.5%), Furthermore, the results show that the largest proportion of the loan defaulters (52.5%) use their last credit obtained for the stated reason (farming). Discriminant analysis conducted shows that the total annual income of the household head, other occupation of the respondents and membership of cooperative society are the most significant variables that discriminate between rural bank users and non-users. The regression analysis shows that the most important variable is farm size (hectares) accounting for 32% of the variations in repayment level of the credit user, while the next to it was farm income. It was suggested that NACRDB loans should be disbursed through farmers cooperative society, with adequate monitoring and supervision

Chemical composition and functional properties of snake gourd ( Trichosanthes cucumerina ) seed flour

The chemical composition and functional properties of value of 10% at pH 4.0 and a maximum of 40% at pH snake gourd ( Trichosanthes cucumerina ) seed flour were 11.0. Other functional properties, water and oil absorption, studied. The effects of sample-solvent ratio, nature and foaming and least gelation capacities, are comparable with concentration of solubilizing agents, extraction time as most seeds and nuts reported in the literature. Of all the well as sample pre-treatment on protein solubility were protein solubilizing agents tested, 0.03M NaOH solution studied. The crude protein in the flour (N% x 6.25) was at sample-solvent ratio of 1:10 and extraction period of determined to be 30.18%. The predominant mineral 20mins was found to be the most effective solubilizing elements were potassium (121.60mg100-1g) and agentforthesnakegourdseedflourprotein. phosphorus (135.0mg 100-1g). Other elements found in fairly high amounts are Sodium, Magnesium and Zinc

Technical Efficiency of Battery Cage and Deep Litter Systems in Poultry Production

Background and Objective: The importance of the poultry industry to the national economy cannot be overemphasized. Approximately 10% of the Nigerian population is engaged in poultry production, mostly on subsistence and small or medium-sized farms. However, the output level still remains low compared to the input. The aim of this study was to examine the technical efficiency of the battery cage and deep litter systems of poultry production in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 battery cage farmers and 120 deep litter farmers. A well-structured questionnaire was used to collect information on the farmers and the farm characteristics. The data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The budgetary analysis showed that the net profit for one bird for the battery cage farmer stood at x587, whereas that of the deep litter farmer was x635. Stochastic frontier modelling showed a higher inefficiency in the deep litter system of poultry production compared with the battery cage system. The efficiencies were 79 and 60% for the battery cage and deep litter farms, respectively. Additionally, labour and flock size contributed to the inefficiencies of both the battery and deep systems of poultry production. The Chow test (Fcal = 0.45 and Ftab = 2.3) showed that there was no structural difference in the production of the battery cage and deep litter systems in the study area. Conclusion: The results show that even though the two systems are profitable but the battery cage system is more profitable than the deep litter system. Key word: Battery cage, chow test, deep litter, economic analysis, poultry production, stochastic production frontie

The patterns of Osmotic Fragility and Thrombocytopenia in Nigerian Children with Acute Plasmidium Falciparum Malaria before and after Chemotherapy

The clinical and case management application of erythrocyte osmotic fragility and peripheral blood platelets were investigated in 40 healthy children (N=40; M/F = 20/ 20 mean age 6.2 + 3.7 years) and103 falciparum malaria children with severe anaemia (N = 41; M/F=22/19; mean age = 5.3 + 1.5) cerebal malaria (N = 16; M/F = 10/6; mean age = 3.8 + 0.7 ) and uncomplicated malaria (N =46; M/F = 21/25; mean age = 7.4 + 1.3). At presentation, thrombocytopenia (platelet count 0.05) from that of healthy children. Thrombocytopenia also reduced substantially from 100% to 14.30% in cerebral malaria, 34.1% to 7.30% in severe anaemia and 17.4% to 4.30% in uncomplicated malaria. It was concluded that effective management of acute P. Falciparum malaria in Nigerian children is a combination of good therapeutic response and substantial recovery from acute illness, which can be adequately assessed by monitoring parasite clearance; osmotic fragility and platelet count patterns