Adoption Scale Analysis of Improved Cocoyam Production, Production and Storage Technologies across Gender in Enugu North Agricultural Zone of Enugu State Nigeria

This study was undertaken to determine the adoption of improved cocoyam production, processing and storage technologies among small-holder cocoyam farmers in Enugu-North Agricultural Zone in Enugu state. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 cocoyam farmers disaggregated into 60 males and 60 female in 2008. Adoption scale analysis was employed to analyze the level of adoption of cocoyam technologies as well as percentages, means and frequency distribution. The results show that most of the technologies were not adopted and unaware by both farmers. Technologies that scored 3.0 and above were adopted but those below 3.0 were rejected. Both farmers adopted technologies like time of planting, use of fertilizer and left un-harvested and heaping on the floor after harvesting. Technologies such as time of planting, May- June(3.0), fertilizer application NPK 20.20.10 (3.3), storage facilities like treating with fungicide (3.1), and left un-harvested (3.08) were adopted by male farmers; while time of planting (3.05), use of mulching material (3), use of fertilizer(3.08), crop mixture with arable crops (3.57) harvesting at 81-12 months after planting (3.25), storage methods like left underground (3) and heaping on the flour (3.38) were adopted by the female farmers. The study calls for policies to ensure women’s entitlement to productive resources and to target women in the extension delivery system.Adoption Scale, Cocoyam Production, Processing and Storage Technologies and Gender

Comparative Haematology of Chickens and Turkeys Experimentally Infected with a Velogenic Newcastle Disease Virus

This study compared the haematological findings in cockerels and turkeys infected with a velogenic Newcastle disease virus. One hundred and twenty day-old birds each of cockerels and turkeys, making a total of two hundred and forty were used for the study. The bird types were randomly divided into four groups each making a total of eight groups. Two groups in each species were vaccinated against NDV with La Sota vaccine at three weeks of age via drinking water. The vaccinated and unvaccinated cockerels and turkeys were inoculated with the velogenic NDV at six weeks of age while the control groups were not vaccinated and not inoculated. Blood samples were randomly collected from five birds in each group for haematological analyses at days 0, 3, 6, 10, 15 and 21 post inoculation (pi). The results showed significant (p < 0.05) reductions in packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration and total red blood cell count in unvaccinated infected turkeys, but showed significant (p < 0.05) increase in total white blood cell (WBC) and heterophil counts throughout the days of the experiment. The increase in the total white blood cell counts was observed three days pi in the cockerels. There was reduction of lymphocytes in unvaccinated but infected cockerels and turkeys three days pi. The erythrocyte and leukocyte values in unvaccinated but infected cockerels and turkeys were similar. The values were lower than those recorded in vaccinated and infected birds. Thus, vaccination against the disease can ameliorate the adverse effect of the virus on haematological parameters. Vaccination of the birds against velogenic Newcastle disease virus reduced morbidity and mortality.Keywords: Haematology, Velogenic NDV, Vaccination, Cockerels, Turkey

Prevalence of mycotic agents isolated from skin lesions of trade horses in Obollor-Afor, Enugu State, Nigeria

The study was aimed at identifying mycotic agents that colonize skin lesions in trade horses found in south eastern Nigeria. Skin scrapings were collected from seventy (70) horses with skin lesions in Obollo -Afor market, Enugu state, south eastern Nigeria. Portions of the skin specimen were treated with 10% KOH for microscopic identification of typical hyphae. Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) slants, supplemented with cycloheximide were used as a standard substrate for the cultures. Cultures were incubated aerobically for 2 weeks at 37°C and were observed daily for growth of fungi isolates. Identification of fungal species was done based on their cultural and morphological characteristics. From the seventy (70) skin scraping samples studied, fifty-six (56) species of fungi belonging to 6 genera were recovered in different frequencies including Aspergillus sp (54%), Mucor spp (32%), Rhizopus oryzae (7%), Penicilium marneffi (2%), Microsporum fulvum (2%) and Tricophyton equinium (4%). More of the isolates were from the female horses than male horses. At p > 0.05 there was no significant difference in the distribution of fungal isolates between females and male horses. The season of the year had no notable impact on the occurrence or frequency of isolation of the fungi. The isolated dermatophytes may be possible aetiological agents of dermatomycoses in horses, while the Saprobes isolated may be contaminants associated with skin infections in horses. These mycotic agents isolated are not known to primarily, affect humans however there may be a possibility of transmission to human and other susceptible animals that cohabit with these horses. Keywords: Equine, Mycotic agent, Prevalence, Skin lesio

Adoption Scale Analysis of Improved Cocoyam Production, Production and Storage Technologies across Gender in Enugu North Agricultural Zone of Enugu State Nigeria

This study was undertaken to determine the adoption of improved cocoyam production, processing and storage technologies among small-holder cocoyam farmers in Enugu-North Agricultural Zone in Enugu state. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 cocoyam farmers disaggregated into 60 males and 60 female in 2008. Adoption scale analysis was employed to analyze the level of adoption of cocoyam technologies as well as percentages, means and frequency distribution. The results show that most of the technologies were not adopted and unaware by both farmers. Technologies that scored 3.0 and above were adopted but those below 3.0 were rejected. Both farmers adopted technologies like time of planting, use of fertilizer and left un-harvested and heaping on the floor after harvesting. Technologies such as time of planting, May- June(3.0), fertilizer application NPK 20.20.10 (3.3), storage facilities like treating with fungicide (3.1), and left un-harvested (3.08) were adopted by male farmers; while time of planting (3.05), use of mulching material (3), use of fertilizer(3.08), crop mixture with arable crops (3.57) harvesting at 81-12 months after planting (3.25), storage methods like left underground (3) and heaping on the flour (3.38) were adopted by the female farmers. The study calls for policies to ensure women’s entitlement to productive resources and to target women in the extension delivery system

Adoption Scale Analysis of Improved Cocoyam Production, Production and Storage Technologies across Gender in Enugu North Agricultural Zone of Enugu State Nigeria

This study was undertaken to determine the adoption of improved cocoyam production, processing and storage technologies among small-holder cocoyam farmers in Enugu-North Agricultural Zone in Enugu state. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 cocoyam farmers disaggregated into 60 males and 60 female in 2008. Adoption scale analysis was employed to analyze the level of adoption of cocoyam technologies as well as percentages, means and frequency distribution. The results show that most of the technologies were not adopted and unaware by both farmers. Technologies that scored 3.0 and above were adopted but those below 3.0 were rejected. Both farmers adopted technologies like time of planting, use of fertilizer and left un-harvested and heaping on the floor after harvesting. Technologies such as time of planting, May- June(3.0), fertilizer application NPK 20.20.10 (3.3), storage facilities like treating with fungicide (3.1), and left un-harvested (3.08) were adopted by male farmers; while time of planting (3.05), use of mulching material (3), use of fertilizer(3.08), crop mixture with arable crops (3.57) harvesting at 81-12 months after planting (3.25), storage methods like left underground (3) and heaping on the flour (3.38) were adopted by the female farmers. The study calls for policies to ensure women’s entitlement to productive resources and to target women in the extension delivery system

Comparison of blood biochemistry responses of cockerels and turkeys experimentally infected with a velogenic newcastle disease virus

This study compared the serum biochemical responses of cockerels and turkeys infected with a velogenic Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Two hundred and fourty birds of one hundred and twenty each were used for the study. The birds were obtained at day-old and were randomly divided into eight groups of four groups for each bird species. Two groups from both bird types were vaccinated against NDV with La Sota vaccine at three weeks of age. The vaccinated and unvaccinated cockerels and turkeys were subsequently inoculated with the velogenic NDV after six weeks while the control groups were not vaccinated and not inoculated. Blood samples were randomly collected from five birds in each group for serum biochemical analyses at days 0, 3, 6, 10, 15 and 21 post inoculation (pi). Parameters determined included serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities, total serum proteins, albumin, globulin, blood glucose level, total cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine. Data generated were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed decreased (p<0.05) total serum protein, albumin, globulin, plasma glucose and total cholesterol levels in unvaccinated infected cockerels, unvaccinated and vaccinated infected turkeys and subsequent increased (p<0.05) serum globulin. Hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, hypoglobulinemia, hypoglycemia and hypocholesterolemia with subsequent hyperglobulinemia may be signs of velogenic NDV infection in turkeys. The absence of negative effects in some parameters in vaccinated infected turkeys further confirmed that vaccination not only prevents mortality due to velogenic NDV but also reduces pathologic effects in infected birds.Keywords: Blood biochemistry, Velogenic NDV, Cockerels, Turkey

Effect of methanolic stem bark extract of Azadihiracta Indica on morbidity and mortality of chickens experimentally infected with velogenic Newcastle disease virus (kudu 113)

Newcastle Disease (ND) is a dangerous disease of poultry all over the world. Economically, ND is characterized by mortality which may reach up to  100% in affected poultry farms. This study was designed to evaluate the protective properties of crude methanolic extract of Azadihiracta indica in chickens experimentally infected with a velogenic strain of ND virus. A hundred- day old cockerel was brooded for three weeks before randomly  divided into five equal groups (I, II, III, IV and V). They were not vaccinated with ND vaccine LaSota. At six weeks of age, each bird in groups I-IV was inoculated with 0.2mL of the live ND viral inoculum intramuscularly while group V was not inoculated with the virus. Thereafter, groups I, II and III were daily given in drinking water 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 600mg/kg of Azadihiracta indica extract, respectively whereas, groups IV and V were not treated with the extract. All the groups were monitored for the onset of clinical signs, morbidity and mortality rate. In all the groups inoculated with the ND virus, about 80% birds showed signs of depression, gasping, coughing, increased thirst, complete inappetence, huddling, diarrhoea, partial/complete paralysis on day 2 post inoculation (PI). A hundred percent (100%) mortality rate was recorded for groups I and IV by day 5 PI and  in groups II and III on day 6 PI. Therefore, under the conditions of this study, oral administration of Azadihiracta indica extract does not protect birds from ND. Keywords: Azadihiracta indica stem bark; methanolic extract; chickens; Newcastle diseas