Performance and Meat Quality of Growing Pigs Fed Composite Leaf Meal Premix as an Alternative to Commercial Premix

This trial was designed to study the effects of using composite leaf meal produced from five (5) different leaves: Cassava, Moringa, fluted pumpkin, African basil and bitter leaves as a premix in the diets of growing pigs. Twenty four large white weaner-pigs were used for this trial comprising six treatments and four replicates with one pig per replicate. Six diets were formulated in which composite leaf meal was fed at 0 (2.5% premix), 10 (2.0% premix), 20 (1.5% premix), 30 (1.0% premix), 40 (0.5% premix) and 50 (0.0% premix) g/kg at the expense of a commercial premix and designated diets I, II, III, IV, V and VI. The pigs were then assigned to these 6 dietary treatments which were fed to the pigs at 5% of their body weight for 8 weeks experimental period. Water was supplied ad libitum throughout the experimental period. All data were subjected to analysis of variance. Results showed that, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the final weights of the pigs. Highest final live weight (41.67 ± 0.84 kg) and highest feed intake (75.92 ± 0.06) were recorded in animals fed diet II, while the lowest final live weight (37.67 ± 0.84kg) and lowest feed intake (75.57 ± 0.06) were recorded in animals fed diets V and I, respectively. The eye muscle width of carcass was significantly higher (

“We have been working overnight without sleeping”: traditional birth attendants’ practices and perceptions of post-partum care services in rural Tanzania

Background: In many low-income countries, formal post-partum care utilization is much lower than that of skilled delivery and antenatal care. While Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) might play a role in post-partum care, research exploring their attitudes and practices during this period is scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore TBAs’ practices and perceptions in post-partum care in rural Tanzania. Methods: Qualitative in-depth interview data were collected from eight untrained and three trained TBAs. Additionally, five multiparous women who were clients of untrained TBAs were also interviewed. Interviews were conducted in February 2013. Data were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze data. Results: Our study found that TBAs take care of women during post-partum with rituals appreciated by women. They report lacking formal post-partum care training, which makes them ill-equipped to detect and handle post-partum complications. Despite their lack of preparation, they try to provide care for some post-partum complications which could put the health of the woman at risk. TBAs perceive that utilization of hospital-based post-partum services among women was only important for the baby and for managing complications which they cannot handle. They are poorly linked with the health system. Conclusions: This study found that the TBAs conducted close follow-ups and some of their practices were appreciated by women. However, the fact that they were trying to manage certain post-partum complications can put women at risk. These findings point out the need to enhance the communication between TBAs and the formal health system and to increase the quality of the TBA services, especially in terms of prompt referral, through provision of training, mentoring, monitoring and supervision of the TBA servic

Evaluation of the nutrition value of Vernonia amygdalina leaf protein concentrates for infant weaning foods

Vernonia amygdalina Del leaf meal (LM), leaf protein concentrates (LPC) and LPC fibre residues (LR) were characterised and the biological activity of LPC was studied. Five infant weaning foods based on V. amygdalina -LPC (VALPC) were compared with three coded commercial infant weaning foods in a 4-week feeding trial using rats as animal model. The LM contained 318.2±2.11 g kg−1 crude protein and this increased by 38.5% to 517.4±1.20 g kg−1 in LPC. Also, the LM contained 96.0±1.8 g kg−1 crude fibre and this decreased by 81.25% to 18.0±1.1 g kg−1 in LPC. The gross energy in the LM (1.56 MJ kg−1) increased by 17.9% to 1.90 MJ kg−1 in LPC. The LPC contained higher Na, Ca, Mg, K and Fe than either the LM or LR, while fractionation reduced phytin and tannin contents. Rats fed solely on VALPC lost weight in the biological activity trial. Rats fed 25% VALPC+75% soybean meal (SBM) combination had the highest final weight (FW), while rats fed CFN, a coded commercial food, had the smallest. It was concluded that 25% VALPC+75% SBM mixture is the optimal combination

Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of Gongronema latifolium

Chemical composition of Gongronema latifolium leaves was determined using standard methods. Aqueous and methanol G. latifolium extracts were tested against thirteen pathogenic bacterial isolates. Crude protein, lipid extract, ash, crude fibre and nitrogen free extractives obtained are: 27.2%, 6.07%, 11.6%, 10.8% and 44.3% dry matter respectively. Potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus and cobalt contents are 332, 110, 115, 125 and 116 mg/kg respectively. Dominant essential amino acids are leucine, valine and phenylalanine. Aspartic acid, glutamic acid and glycine are 13.8%, 11.9% and 10.3% respectively of total amino acid. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids are 50.2% and 39.4% of the oil respectively. Palmitic acid makes up 36% of the total fatty acid. Extracts show no activity against E. faecalis, Y. enterolytica, E. aerogenes, B. cereus and E. agglomerans. Methanol extracts were active against S. enteritidis, S. cholerasius ser typhimurium and P. aeruginosa (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 1 mg; zone of growth inhibition 7, 6.5 and 7 mm respectively). Aqueous extracts show activity against E. coli (MIC 5 mg) and P. aeruginosa (MIC 1 mg) while methanol extracts are active against P. aeruginosa and L. monocytogenes. G. latifolium has potential food and antibacterial uses