Profit Indices in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus L.) Fed on Peanut-Based Meals as Alternatives to Dietary Fishmeal in GrowOut Earthen Ponds

Persistence of dietary fishmeal probably accounts for the low profitability in farmed Niletilapia in Uganda. A 24 week field study was conducted in Busoga sub-region of Eastern Uganda tocompare profit indices in pond cultured Nile tilapia fed on peanut-based meals as alternatives todietary fishmeal. It consisted of an experiment and sample survey that targeted fish biomassproduction and input-output valuation respectively. Each of the 12 earthen ponds measuring 12 cubicmeters were stocked with 48 ‘all male’ Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) fingerlings of meaninitial weight of 21.7 grams. Iso-nitrogenous diets containing 30% and 25% Crude Protein wereapplied for the first eight and last four respectively. Dietary treatments included fishmeal-based dietand two peanut-based diets; peanut meal-based diet and mixed plant-based diet. Profit indices for thefishmeal and mixed plant-based- diets were not significantly different (p0.05). On the contrary, theProfit index characteristic to the PNM-based diet was significantly lower (p≤0.05) than the other testdiets. Accordingly, the mixed plant meal should be used for complete substitution of dietary fishmealin pond cultured Nile tilapia

Factors Influencing Knowledge And Practice Of Exclusive Breastfeeding In Nyando District, Kenya

The overall objective of this study was to determine factors influencing the knowledge and practice of Exclusive Breast Feeding1 (EBF) among lactating mothers with infants aged zero2 to six months at Ahero Sub District Hospital in Nyando District, Kenya. A cross- sectional design was conducted to 117 breastfeeding mothers at Ahero Sub-District Hospital at Maternal Child Health clinic; these were selected consecutively until the desired sample was attained. The independent variables were maternal education, marital status, both maternal and child age, maternal employment status, health factors (place of delivery and maternal chronic illness), and cultural beliefs while dependent variables included EBF practice and mothers’ knowledge of EBF3 (awareness of EBF and its benefits), pre lacteal feeds and exclusive breastfeeding consistency. Exclusiveness was measured in time initiated (30 minutes initiation after birth) Data were collected by trained enumerators who administered a structured questionnaire. Analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) by running frequencies and cross tabulation. Chi square test was used to check for strength of association between variables at 95% confidence level. The study found that there was low EBF practice (33%) in the area and this posed a great concern. It was established that marital status, employment, maternal education, place of delivery and both infant and mothers’ age were closely associated with knowledge and practice of EBF. Marital status and employment were strong predictors of both knowledge and practice which showed statistical significance of P= 0.02 and P=0.00, respectively. It was evident that family support is a key factor in the success of EBF with special focus on partner involvement. Actions to empower women and promotion of EBF campaign are recommended to achieve the fourth Millennium Development Goal (MDG) and probably reduce infant mortality in the area. Further studies are required to assess the impact of a strong focused educational program (focused on building family support) on improving EBF rates

Impact Of Hiv And Aids On Household Food And Nutrition Security In Suba District, Kenya

The impact of HIV/AIDS on household food and nutrition security in Suba district was studied in a quasi longitudinal study. Households with People Living with HIV/AIDS (Index- 25%) and three surrounding households (control- 75%) were considered for the study. Data were collected on demographic characteristics of the households, land ownership, cultivated land by crop, crop yield, livestock kept by category, diet composition, frequency of hunger, experience of weight loss in the households and expenditure on food. Categorization among the index households was based on disease progression stages: Stage 1(with no symptoms), Stage 2 (Symptomatic-(CD4>200, CD4 <200) and on antiretroviral, Stage 3( bedridden patients), and Stage 4 (households with HIV related deaths). Results showed households with bedridden members had the highest land ownership of more than 3 acres (62 per cent), while those with CD4 < 200 and on ARVs had the least land (28 per cent). The proportion of index households with uncultivated land was 3 times higher than control households. Index households significantly planted less maize but equally planted beans, sorghum/millet, cassava, groundnuts and tomatoes, whose yields were comparatively less. Control (non index) households kept more goats, sheep, cattle and chicken than index households. Households that had suffered HIV related deaths had lower overall rate of expenditure on food due to reduction in household income. Death increased household consumption of home produced food partially making up for the lost income. The incidence of hunger was found to be slightly higher among the controls with chronically ill (65 per cent) than among index households (63 per cent). Eating of non balanced food and loss of weight in the last one month was significantly higher in index than non index households. The mean expenditure on food was also less in index (8.5 US $) than non index households (9.2 US$). It is imperative, therefore, that appropriate intervention measures be put in place to combat food and nutrition insecurity among People Living with HIV/AIDS and their families in order for them to benefit from the life prolonging effects of ARVs

Impact Of Hiv And Aids On Household Food And Nutrition Security In Suba District, Kenya

The impact of HIV/AIDS on household food and nutrition security in Suba district was studied in a quasi longitudinal study. Households with People Living with HIV/AIDS (Index- 25%) and three surrounding households (control- 75%) were considered for the study. Data were collected on demographic characteristics of the households, land ownership, cultivated land by crop, crop yield, livestock kept by category, diet composition, frequency of hunger, experience of weight loss in the households and expenditure on food. Categorization among the index households was based on disease progression stages: Stage 1(with no symptoms), Stage 2 (Symptomatic-(CD4>200, CD4 <200) and on antiretroviral, Stage 3( bedridden patients), and Stage 4 (households with HIV related deaths). Results showed households with bedridden members had the highest land ownership of more than 3 acres (62 per cent), while those with CD4 < 200 and on ARVs had the least land (28 per cent). The proportion of index households with uncultivated land was 3 times higher than control households. Index households significantly planted less maize but equally planted beans, sorghum/millet, cassava, groundnuts and tomatoes, whose yields were comparatively less. Control (non index) households kept more goats, sheep, cattle and chicken than index households. Households that had suffered HIV related deaths had lower overall rate of expenditure on food due to reduction in household income. Death increased household consumption of home produced food partially making up for the lost income. The incidence of hunger was found to be slightly higher among the controls with chronically ill (65 per cent) than among index households (63 per cent). Eating of non balanced food and loss of weight in the last one month was significantly higher in index than non index households. The mean expenditure on food was also less in index (8.5 US $) than non index households (9.2 US$). It is imperative, therefore, that appropriate intervention measures be put in place to combat food and nutrition insecurity among People Living with HIV/AIDS and their families in order for them to benefit from the life prolonging effects of ARVs

Factors Influencing Knowledge And Practice Of Exclusive Breastfeeding In Nyando District, Kenya

The overall objective of this study was to determine factors influencing the knowledge and practice of Exclusive Breast Feeding1 (EBF) among lactating mothers with infants aged zero2 to six months at Ahero Sub District Hospital in Nyando District, Kenya. A cross- sectional design was conducted to 117 breastfeeding mothers at Ahero Sub-District Hospital at Maternal Child Health clinic; these were selected consecutively until the desired sample was attained. The independent variables were maternal education, marital status, both maternal and child age, maternal employment status, health factors (place of delivery and maternal chronic illness), and cultural beliefs while dependent variables included EBF practice and mothers’ knowledge of EBF3 (awareness of EBF and its benefits), pre lacteal feeds and exclusive breastfeeding consistency. Exclusiveness was measured in time initiated (30 minutes initiation after birth) Data were collected by trained enumerators who administered a structured questionnaire. Analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) by running frequencies and cross tabulation. Chi square test was used to check for strength of association between variables at 95% confidence level. The study found that there was low EBF practice (33%) in the area and this posed a great concern. It was established that marital status, employment, maternal education, place of delivery and both infant and mothers’ age were closely associated with knowledge and practice of EBF. Marital status and employment were strong predictors of both knowledge and practice which showed statistical significance of P= 0.02 and P=0.00, respectively. It was evident that family support is a key factor in the success of EBF with special focus on partner involvement. Actions to empower women and promotion of EBF campaign are recommended to achieve the fourth Millennium Development Goal (MDG) and probably reduce infant mortality in the area. Further studies are required to assess the impact of a strong focused educational program (focused on building family support) on improving EBF rates

Factors influencing knowledge and practice of exclusive breastfeeding in Nyando District, Kenya

The overall objective of this study was to determine factors influencing the knowledge and practice of Exclusive Breast Feeding1 (EBF) among lactating mothers with infants aged zero2 to six months at Ahero Sub District Hospital in Nyando District, Kenya. A cross- sectional design was conducted to 117 breastfeeding mothers at Ahero Sub-District Hospital at Maternal Child Health clinic; these were selected consecutively until the desired sample was attained. The independent variables were maternal education, marital status, both maternal and child age, maternal employment status, health factors (place of delivery and maternal chronic illness), and cultural beliefs while dependent variables included EBF practice and mothers’ knowledge of EBF3 (awareness of EBF and its benefits), pre lacteal feeds and exclusive breastfeeding consistency. Exclusiveness was measured in time initiated (30 minutes initiation after birth) Data were collected by trained enumerators who administered a structured questionnaire. Analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) by running frequencies and cross tabulation. Chi square test was used to check for strength of association between variables at 95% confidence level. The study found that there was low EBF practice (33%) in the area and this posed a great concern. It was established that marital status, employment, maternal education, place of delivery and both infant and mothers’ age were closely associated with knowledge and practice of EBF. Marital status and employment were strong predictors of both knowledge and practice which showed statistical significance of P= 0.02 and P=0.00, respectively. It was evident that family support is a key factor in the success of EBF with special focus on partner involvement. Actions to empower women and promotion of EBF campaign are recommended to achieve the fourth Millennium Development Goal (MDG) and probably reduce infant mortality in the area. Further studies are required to assess the impact of a strong focused educational program (focused on building family support) on improving EBF rates.</jats:p

Effect of dietary carbohydrate sources on the growth of Oreochromis Niloticus L: A case of Kaaka fish farm, Namutumba district, Eastern Uganda

A 16-week field experiment was carried out at Kaaka fish farm in Namutumba district to investigate the effect of dietary carbohydrate sources on the growth performance of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus L Fish fry of an initial mean standard length (SL) of 2.4cm were randomly introduced into experimental 12 pond units. They were subjected to three different test feeds possessing different sources of dietary carbohydrate namely maize bran (MB), cassava peels (CP) and sweet potato peels (PP). Growth rate was dete4mined by Standard Length (SL) measurements. Results revealed a significant difference among the treatment Means (p<0.001). A Post-hoc analysis showed that it was the mean standard lengths of PP Vs CP and MB Vs CP that differed significantly (p< 0.003). The mean standard lengths of PP Vs MB did not differ significantly. The above results suggest that PP was the best performer when compared to other test feeds. The sweet potato-based feed should therefore be utilized to completely substitute the maize-based feed (MB) in diet of Nile tilapia

Dietary Fishmeal Substitution by Peanut-Based Meals in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus L.) : Effect of Pond Water Quality on Biomass Production: Effect of Pond Water Quality on Biomass Production

Abstract. A 16 week experiment was conducted in earthen ponds in Iganga District of Eastern Uganda to investigate the effect of water quality on biomass production in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) fed on peanut-based meals as alternative dietary fishmeal. Iso-nitrogenous diets containing 30% and 25% Crude Protein were applied for the first 12 weeks and last four weeks while the control was a local diet for Nile tilapia of 25% Crude Protein throughout the experiment. Treatments included the fishmeal-based diet and two peanut-based diets; peanut meal-based diet and mixed meal-based diet. Each of the 16 pond units measuring 3.0 x 4.0 x 1.0 were stocked with 48 fish fingerlings of 21.7 grams mean weight. Significant differences (p≤0.05) in mean values occurred among targeted parameters; pH, Dissolved Oxygen, nitrite nitrogen and unionized ammonia with exception to temperature. Apart from the unionized ammonia, the significant variations (p≤0.05) in water quality parameters did not significantly affect (p≥0.05) biomass production because they were maintained in suitable ranges for Nile tilapia