Tuberculin screening of some selected Fulani lactating cows in north-central Nigeria

The prevalence of mycobacterial infection among lactating Fulani cows was investigated in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Kaduna State of Nigeria. Tuberculin testing using single comparative intradermal tuberculin test showed a 14.6 % positive, 4 % doubtful, and 81.4 % negative reactors. Mycobacterial infection was found to be present in the nomadic (constantly moving) and seminomadic (limited movement) management systems studied but management showed no significant effect on the prevalence of the disease. However, the prevalence was significantly higher in older age groups than the younger ones (P < 0.05).Peer reviewedSubmitted Versio

Thin Layer Modelling of Indirect and Mixed-Mode on-Farm Drying of Selected Vegetables

The thin layer drying characteristics of tomato and okra slices dried using mixed-mode on-farm solar dryer, indirect mode on-farm solar dryer and open sun drying. The tomato and okra slices dried faster when dried under the mixed-mode on-farm solar dryer. Drying time was reduced considerably using the on-farm solar dryers. The drying data were fitted into Lewis, Henderson and Pabis, and page equations. The Page model (R2=0.9365, 0.9623; X2= 0.0067, 0.0000579; RMSE= 0.0086, 0.0020 and MBE= -0.008, -0.002) gave the best prediction for the mixed-mode drying and indirect mode drying of tomato slices respectively. In the same vein Page model (R2=0.9202, 0.933o; X2= 0.00091, 0.000730; RMSE= 0.0265, 0.0244 and MBE= -0.0088, -0.0074) gave the best prediction for the mixed-mode drying and indirect mode drying of okra slices respectively. Effective moisture diffusivity of tomato slices varied between -7.4724 X 10-08 and -1.6439 X 10-07 while that of okra varied between -3.12 X 10-07 and -8.08 X 10-07. The indirect mode dryer gave the best quality of dried tomato and okra

Development and Performance Evaluation of a Manually Operated Groundnut Roaster

A manually operated groundnut roaster was developed and evaluated. The present Institute for Agricultural Research, Zaria (IAR) roasting equipment consists of a frying pan and an IAR charcoal fire wood cooking stove. The roaster was designed to help local processors obtain uniformly roasted products, with acceptable roast color. The performance of the roaster was carried out using IAR groundnut species known as SAMNUT 11 as specimen. The roaster was found to have a roasting capacity of 0.92 kg/min which is above the (IAR) roaster that has a roasting capacity of 0.28 kg/min. The roaster was found to have efficiencies of 98.3%, 98.6%, and 98.9% at 25%, 50% 100% loadings, respectively. The parameters that affect the roasting capacity include: heat from charcoal, crop moisture content and crop variety

Strategic Treatment of Fascioliasis in an Integrated Dairy Farm in Kaduna State, A Clinical Experiment

Abstract: An experimental study on strategic treatment of bovine fascioliasis was conducted on 180 white Fulani x Friesians cross of various ages and sex. All the animals are on semi intensive management system. The animals were divided into 3 groups of 60 lactating, 60 dry cows and 60 young stocks (heifers and bulls). All animal in farm were screened for fascioliasis. The lactating animals and the young stock were treated with Ivomec super ® at a dose rate of 1 mL/50 kg body weight at the beginning of the dry season (December) while the dry cows were excluded. 20 faecal samples were collected randomly from each group every end of the month throughout the dry season (December-April respectively) and analyzed by sedimentation technique for Fasciola egg(s). None of the treated animals were positive at the end of December to April. 16, 19, 24, 26, 29% of dry animals were positive for Fasciola eggs throughout the experimental period (December-April). In conclusion, a single injection of Ivomec super® administered in mid-December may be used as a protocol to effectively control the incidence of bovine fascioliasis in the tropic