INFLUENCE OF AWARENESS OF DIETARY CHOLESTEROL ON CONSUMPTION OF CHICKEN EGGS IN ZARIA

Structured questionnaires were administered on 228 respondents within Zaria and its environs to evaluate the acceptability of chicken egg as food despite its cholesterol content. The study was conducted between May and June, 2009. The questionnaires were retrieved; collated and data analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The data were analyzed for frequencies and correlated relationships between the measured attributes. The results indicate equal distribution between male (49.6%) and female (50.4%) respondents. The highest percentage of the respondents was between the active age group of 20 to 50 years of age. Most of the individuals interviewed were either single (59.2%) or married (33.3%). About 70% of the respondents had tertiary education while the rest had secondary (27.2%) and primary (3.1) education. The respondents were mainly students, civil servants, academics and private business people and their corresponding respective frequencies were 98, 60, 19 and 51, respectively. Almost all (93.4%) the respondents liked chicken egg as food. 63.2% of the respondents ate an egg per meal while 7% of them did not eat egg at all. Age and profession of respondents significantly (P<0.05) affected respondents’ likeness for chicken egg. This study therefore, shows that the higher the level of education the more the fear of the cholesterol in chicken eggs

Relationship Between Gestation Length and Birth Weight in Nigerian Sheep and Their Crosses

Effect of genotype and birth weight on gestation length was evaluated using Nigerian breeds of sheep and their crosses. The study was carried out at the Sheep Project Unit of Small Ruminant Research Programme (SRRP) of National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Ahmadu Bello University, Shika-Zaria. The sheep breeds used were Balami, Uda and Yankasa. Heat (estrus) detection was carried out twice daily; in the morning (07:00-08:00 hours); and in the evening (16:00-17:00 hours) using apron fitted rams to pick does on heat. A total of 56 lambs were used for this study. The data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance using General Linear Model and Correlation Procedure of SAS. All the genotypes had similar gestation length with values between 150.3±0.61 days and 153.3±0.60 days, except for Balami pure breed (BAL X BAL) lambs that recorded a shorter gestation length (137.1±0.81 days). There was a wide variation in the birth weight of lambs with the crosses between Balami rams and Yankasa ewes recording a distinct birth weight of 3.5±0.08 kg while the crosses obtained using Yankasa rams on Uda and Balami ewes gave the lowest birth weights (1.7±0.19 and 1.4±0.18, respectively). Sex and litter type have no significant effect (P>0.05) on gestation length. Birth weight was however affected by sex of lambs and their litter type. Litter type was negatively correlated with birth weight (-0.372). Gestation length had a low and non-significant relationship with birth weight; litter type and lamb genotype. Lamb genotype does not have a significant relationship with litter type. Genetic improvement of Nigeria sheep breed is possible if the resources of within and between breed is exploited. Selection for a reduction in gestation length may indirectly increase prolificacy. (Animal Production 12(3): 135-138 (2010

Phenotypic correlation of linear type measurements and functional type traits in two Nigerian cattle breeds

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of linear measurements and linear type traits in two breeds of cattle in Nigeria. Observations on linear type traits of 142 cows consisting of 89 Bunaji and 53 Sokoto Gudali breeds were scaled and scored thrice within a period of May to July, 2017. Live weight and nine body linear measurements (Height at Rump-HR, Height at Withers-HW, Body Length-BL, Length of Hip-LH, Rump Length-RL, Width of Hips-WH, Width of Pins-WP, Chest Depth-CD, and Chest Width-CW) and eight linear type traits scores (Stature-ST, Body Depth-BD, Rump Width-RW, Teat Length-TL, Udder Depth-UD, Body Condition Score-BCS, Rear Legs Set (side view), and Fore Udder Attachment) were also measured. Result showed significant (p&lt;0.05) difference for HW (129.61±0.31), BL (107.87±0.32), LGT (85.37±0.34), RL (40.04±0.17) and CW (35.07±0.28) for Bunaji cowswhich were higher than HW (127.65±0.40), BL (104.02±0.51), LGT (82.22±0.40), RL (37.87±0.91) and CW (30.04±0.29 cm), respectively for Sokoto Gudali cows. The highest live weight was obtained with Sokoto Gudali (230.61 kg) which differed significantly (p&lt;0.05) from the Bunaji cows (219.05 kg).Keywords: Cattle, Bunaji, Sokoto Gudali, cows, linear type traits Phenotypic correlation result showed that cumulative index had the highest correlation with body length (0.684) in Bunaji cow and highest correlation with width of pins (0.790) in Sokoto Gudali cows. Live weight had thehighest correlation with height at withers (0.701) in Bunaji cows, and highest correlation with chest depth (0.823) in Sokoto Gudali cows. In conclusion, there were considerable variations observed for some body measurements, linear type and functional indices and type trait scores between Bunaji and Sokoto Gudali cows, which indicated clear genetic distinction between them

Response of Laying Hens to Dietary Levels of Heat Treated Sheep Manure (HSM)

(Tropical Journal of Animal Science: 2003, 6(2): 111-116