Derivation of Xeno-Free and GMP-Grade Human Embryonic Stem Cells – Platforms for Future Clinical Applications

Clinically compliant human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) should be developed in adherence to ethical standards, without risk of contamination by adventitious agents. Here we developed for the first time animal-component free and good manufacturing practice (GMP)-compliant hESCs. After vendor and raw material qualification, we derived xeno-free, GMP-grade feeders from umbilical cord tissue, and utilized them within a novel, xeno-free hESC culture system. We derived and characterized three hESC lines in adherence to regulations for embryo procurement, and good tissue, manufacturing and laboratory practices. To minimize freezing and thawing, we continuously expanded the lines from initial outgrowths and samples were cryopreserved as early stocks and banks. Batch release criteria included DNA-fingerprinting and HLA-typing for identity, characterization of pluripotency-associated marker expression, proliferation, karyotyping and differentiation in-vitro and in-vivo. These hESCs may be valuable for regenerative therapy. The ethical, scientific and regulatory methodology presented here may serve for development of additional clinical-grade hESCs

Performance of weaner-calves of N’dama cattle fed varying levels of oil palm slurry as energy source

Provision of all year  round dietary energy supplements for N’dama  cattle productions a major challenge for smallholders. Oil palm slurry (OPS), an industrial waste, has the potential to replace conventional energy supplements in the diets of N’dama and reduce cost of  production. There is however, paucity of documented information  on its use, particularly for weaner-calves. Thus, the performance of weaner-calves of N’dama fed varying levels of oil palm slurry as energy source was investigated. Sixteen weaned calves were randomly divided into four treatment groups, with four animals per treatment and fed Panicum maximum supplemented with diets containing 0% (I),10% (II),20% (III)and 30%(IV) dried OPS as replacement for wheat offal. The feeding trial lasted180 days. Parameters determined were concentrate intake, forage intake, total dry matter intake, average daily weight gain and efficiency of feed utilisation (EFU). The intake of concentrate was similar for all treatments and ranged from 2.56-2.57kg/day. The average daily weight gain (kg/calf/day) for weaners on treatment I (0.48) was significantly (P<0.05) lower than those on OPS-based diets. The EFU were similar (P>0.05) for treatments II, III and IV and ranged from0.23-0.24. These values were however higher (P<0.05) than those on treatment I (0.19). Oil palm slurry can therefore replace wheat offal in the diet of N’dama weaners with improvement in performance.Keywords: N’dama weaners, energy supplements, Oil palm slurry, efficiency of feed utilization

Performance of traditionally-managed Bunaji (White Fulani) cattle under smallholder dairy production systems in Oyo State, South-West, Nigeria

The remarkable reduction in tsetse fly and its vector trypanosomosis in the South-West zone of Nigeria have led to the development of smallholder dairy production which is predominantly practised by the Fulani agropastoralists in the zone. This study was conducted by the administration of structured questionnaires to farmers in the Derived savannah area of Oyo State in the South-West zone of Nigeria with aim of assessing the performance of traditionally managed Bunaji (White Fulani) cattle in this newly encroached zone by the Fulani pastoralists from the northern parts of the country. The survey showed that milk offtake or partial milk yield (0.6 kg/day), pregnancy rate (53.2%), calving rate (49.5%), calf crop (37.11%) and body condition score (4.3) were low and typical of tropical breeds of cattle. Also, average age at first calving (47.8 months) and calving interval (18.1 months) were on the high side. Majority (80%) of the dams produced their young ones during the wet season while a few ones (20%) calved during the dry season. Diarrhoea (84%), helminthosis (72%) and sand eating (64%) were the major diseases of calves in wet and dry season, respectively; whereas in addition to diarrhoea and sand eating, low milk production (90%) was peculiar to adult cattle in dry season. Calves’ overall mortality was 24.11% with majority (73.77%) occurring during the first week of life; it was higher in wet season (86.89%) compared to the dry season (13.11%). Overall mortality for adult cattle was 5.83% with the mortality, in contrast to the calves’ mortality, being higher in dry season (69.39%) than in wet season (30.61%), and the females (91.84%) more susceptible than the males (8.16%). The results indicate that the performance of traditionally-managed cattle in smallholder dairy production systems in Oyo State, South-West, Nigeria is poor and below their genetic potentials due to poor management.Keywords: Major diseases, mortality, milk offtake, reproductive performance, seaso

Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of West African dwarf rams fed diets supplemented with water-washed neem fruit and/or yeast

This study was conducted to determine the growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of rams fed diets containing water-washed neem (Azadirachta indica) fruits with or without baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) supplementation. Twelve West African Dwarf (WAD) rams (19.88±3.37kg) were assigned to one of three dietary groups with 4 animals per group in a complete randomized design. Each group received a total mixed ration with one of the following: YS: (5.0g of yeast per animal per day); NF: (5.0% water-washed neem fruit inclusion in the diet) and YS/NF: (5.0% water-washed neem fruit inclusion in the diet and 5.0g of yeast per animal per day). The animals were fed at 5% of their body weight. At the end of the 56 days feeding trial, three animals per treatment were slaughtered after being starved for 16 hours and evaluated for carcass characteristics and meat quality. Average daily weight gain, average daily feed intake and feed efficiency were significantly (P<0.05) higher in YS/NF compared to other treatments. Ribeye area was higher (P<0.05) in NF than YS. The dressing percentage, percentage of neck, brisket, leg and meat were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the treatments. Water-washed neem fruits significantly (P<0.05) increased the percentage of flank and rack. The proportion of bone was similar in YS and YS/NF but significantly (P<0.05) higher than NF. Meat-bone ratio was similar in YS and YS/NF but significantly (P<0.05) lower than NF. Significant (P<0.05) reduction was observed in the proportion of fat. No significant (P>0.05) difference was observed in the proportion of meat in all the treatments. There were no significant (P<0.05) differences in meat marbling, cold loss and thermal shortening across the treatments except thermal loss which was lowest in NF. Cold shortening was similar in NF and YS/NF but higher (P<0.05) than YS. Water holding capacity was similar in YS and YS/NF but higher than NF. NF, though similar to YS was on the overall more acceptable (P<0.05) than YS/NF. The treatments did not significantly (P>0.05) affect the DM, CP and ash content of the meat. However, ether extract and cholesterol components were similar in NF and YS/NF but significantly lower (P<0.05) than YS. These results showed that the inclusion of water-washed neem fruit and baker’s yeast in the diet of WAD rams impacted positively on growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of rams without any negative effect except for low water holding capacity which may influence the type of meat product such meat can be used for.Key words: Yeast, water-washed neem fruit, performance, carcass characteristics, meat qualities, West African Dwarf ram

Thermophysiological Responses of West African Dwarf (WAD) Bucks Fed Pennisetum purpureum and Unripe Plantain Peels.

The study was conducted to determine the physiological responses of West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks fed Pennisetum purpureum (PP) and unripe plantain peels (UPP). Thirty 30 growingWAD bucks with average weight of 7.00 ± 0.55kg and aged between 8 and 9 months old, were allotted to three (3) dietary treatments (A, B and C) with ten bucks per treatment in a complete randomized design. The compared diets were; A (Pennisetum purpureum which served as control group), B (equal ratio of Pennisetum purpureum with unripe plantain peels) and C(unripe plantain peels). The results showed that parameters observed under thermophysiological, haematological and serum biochemical parameters were significantly (P<0.05) affected by dietary treatments with the exception of albumin and globulin. PVC (30.02± 1.36%), Hb (10.02± 0.02 g/l), RBC (11.01 ± 0.46 x 106/μl),MCH (9.85± 0.34 Pg), MCV (28.02± 0.58fl), MCHC (33.86± 0.39g/dl), total protein(7.20± 0.20 g/dl), triglyceride (10.59± 0.66 mg/dl) and urea (17.04± 0.02 mg/ dl) were significantly (P<0.05) highest in diet A while creatinine (1.95± 0.04 mg/dl) was ighest in diet B. Rectal temperature (40.02 ± 0.020C), respiratory rate (18.34± 0.21 breaths/min), pulse rate (89.01±0.41 beats /mins), heat stress index (1.09± 0.03), WBC (13.02±0.45 x 106/μl) and cholesterol (66.88± 0.61mg/dl) were significantly (P<0.05) better in diet C. It was concluded that equal ratio of Pennisetum purpureum and unripe plantain peels has the potential to improve physiological responses in WAD bucks.Key words: Unripe plantain peels, thermophysiological responses, WAD bucks

PERFORMANCE OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS FED A COMBINATION OF AQUATIC FERN, NEPHROLEPIS BISERRATA- SCHOTT AND CASSAVA WASTE RATION

Sixteen unbred female WAD goats between ages of 12-18 months with an average weight of 9.9560.28kg were randomly alloted to four dietary treatments which comprised 50:50 Guinea grass: Aquatic fern (control) and 25:75, 50:50 and 75:25% aquatic fern: cassava for treatments 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The study lasted for 105 days during which feed intake, weight gain and nutrient digestibility were monitored using complete randomized design. Live weight gain was highest in the control while diets with 25 and 50% aquatic fern gave similar (p>0.05) values. The least gain was however recorded from the diet with 75% aquatic fern inclusion. The dry matter intake (g/kgw0.75) followed a similar trend as reported for the live weight change while the feed intake as percent body weight ranged from 2.14 + 0.06 to 3.61 + 0.05. The feed conversion ratio was poorest in treatment that contained 75% aquatic fern while the best was from the control diet. The performance of the goats in terms of live weight change, DMI (g/kgw0.75) and feed intake as percent of body weight reduced as the level of the aquatic fern in the diet increased. The nutrient digestibility also decreased as the aquatic fern levels in the diet increased except for crude fibre digestibility that was not affected (p>0.05) while the ash digestibility increased with increase in the aquatic fern levels in the diet. Key words: Goats, performance, Aquatic fern, cassava waste and weight gain African Journal of Livestock Extension Vol.3 2004: 1-

VALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF VARIATION IN INGREDIENT COMPOSITION ON THE EATING QUALITIES OF SUYA

The semimembranous muscle from singed beef carcass was trimmed of all visible bones and connective tissue. The meat was sliced into thin sheet of 0.15 – 0.3cm thick and between 5.0 – 9.0 cm long. The experiment comprised of five treatments. Treatment one (T1) In served as the control, with all ingredients present while ginger, red pepper, curry and white pepper were absent in T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. A total of 30 sticks of suya with an average weight of 34.92 + 5.03gram of meat per stick were prepared for each treatment. The stick meat was properly coated with each respective ingredient mixture. The coated stick meat was roasted on a glowing, smokeless fire for 30 minutes with regular turning of the product. The result of the study showed that the least product yield was recorded where the percent loss was highest (