Milk yield and composition of West African dwarf (wad) goats fed palm kernel cake supplement for conventional concentrate

The effect of replacement of conventional Concentrate (CC) supplement with Palm Kernel Cake (PKC) on the milk composition and yield of West African Dwarf (WAD) dams fed Pennisetum purpureum silage (grass) basal ration was investigated. Twenty five lactating WAD dams of average weight of 13kg ± 0.2 were randomly assigned into five dietary treatments in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) layout. Each treatment group consists of five replicates of lactating dam. Dams were individually housed and offered silage freely with 400g of one of the five supplement treatments (T) per day ( viz: C/PKC: T1 – T5); T1: 100/0; T2: 75/25; T3: 50/50; T4: 25/75 and T5: 0/100). The replacement of CC by PKC had significant (p<0.05) effect on the average milk yield, percentage (%) fat, protein, specific gravity, ash and fat corrected milk (FCM) but showed no significant (p>0.05) effect on the total solid (TS%) of the milk of the treatments. Based on this result it can be concluded that the proportionate combinations of CC and PKC as supplement to Pennisetum purpureum (grass) silage rations of WAD goats during lactation will improve the milk yield and the composition without adverse effect. However, at 50% replacement of CC by PKC (50/50) the milk yield is enhanced while the fat and protein components were improved at 100% replacement of CC by PKC. &nbsp

The Socio-economic and Environmental Implications of Residential Buildings in Proximate Distance to Landfill Site. A Case of Olusosun Landfill, Ojota Lagos

Rapid population growth, urbanization and the associated increase in housing need has lead landfills to compete with residential developments, especially in peri-urban areas of developing countries, including Nigeria. This study explores extensively the socio-economic and environmental impacts of landfill sites on residential buildings, especially those in proximate distance to it, with a focus on the Olusosun landfill in Ojota, Lagos. In achieving this aim, the study examined the socio-demographic characteristics of the residents living in close proximity between 200-500 metres to the landfill site, identified the health and environmental hazards experienced by residents, examined the condition of residential buildings between 200-500 metres to the landfill site and evaluated the relationship between the distance of landfill site and condition of buildings in the study area. The purposive and stratified random sampling method was employed in carrying out the research survey, where Olusosun community was divided into three (3) strata using distance from the dumpsite and population density as criteria adopted by the researcher. Consequently, eighty-two (82) questionnaires were retrieved from the respondents, out of the total eighty-five (85) structured questionnaires administered. Descriptive statistical tool was used to analyse the perceptions of the respondents. However, the study revealed that several socio-economic, environmental and health implications arise as a result of this haphazard development, these include; thermal discomfort, diseases, low rental value of residential buildings, poor aesthetic value and water contamination. Also, the result from the Crosstab and Chi-Square test concluded that there was no enough evidence to suggest an association between distance of landfill and building conditions in the study area. The study, therefore recommends that there should be proper monitoring and robust waste management strategy, social inclusion in waste management, promote health and safety, harness other waste disposal methods, provide legal structures/institutions on waste management, climate change mitigation and safeguarding the environment for sustainability. Keywords: socio-economic, environmental, residential buildings, proximate distance, landfill DOI: 10.7176/JEES/9-6-10 Publication date:June 30th 201

Methyl orange, an organic dye: its health impact and sorptive removal from waste water

AbstractMethyl Orange (MO) a member of Azo dyes are commonly used as synthetic dyes in textile, food, paper and cosmetics. Their use is easy and cost-effective, compared with natural dyes. However, azo bonds are hardly removed because of their high water solubility as well as low exhaustion with the potential for persistence and accumulation in the environment, therefore aqueous solution of MO is toxic and irritating. Thus, the removal of them from industrial wastewaters is capital with regard to protect public health, environment, and aquatic life

Performance of West African Dwarf nursing does and kids fed graded levels of palm kernel cake as replacement for formulated concentrates

A sixteen-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the replacement value of formulated concentrate (FC) supplemented with palm kernel cake (PKC) using Pennisetum purpureum as a basal diet for nursing West African Dwarf (WAD) goats. Parameters assessed were dry matter intake, average initial live weight, average live weight change of the does and suckled kids. Fifteen lactating WAD goats and suckling kids were randomly allocated to five concentrate supplement groups of FC: PKC ratio, namely, diet 1 (100:0), diet 2 (75:25), diet 3 (50:50), diet 4 (25:75), and diet 5 (0:100) respectively in a completely randomized design (CRD). Each treatment had three replicates of one nursing doe and a suckling kid. The replacement of FC supplemented with PKC had a significant (P 0.05) effect was observed in their total DM intake. The levels of replacement of FC by PKC indicated a significant (P<0.05) effect on the average feed intake, average live weight of nursing does and suckled kids. The results concluded that 50% fraction replacement of FC by PKC perfectly enhanced better performance

Adsorption of Pb2+, Co2+, and Cd2+ from Aqueous Solution Using Nitric Acid Modified Kola Nut Husk Adsorbent

The potential of nitric acid modified kola nut pod adsorbent (MKNP) in removing selected heavy metals such as lead (Pb2+), cobalt (Co2+), and cadmium (Cd2+) ions from aqueous solution was investigated. FTIR spectra before and after the adsorption indicates the presence of functional groups such as hydroxyl and carboxylic acid which are responsible for its surface chemistry. The percentage removal largely depends on pH, contact time and temperature. The results showed that metal ions removal at optimum pH, contact time and temperature were: (Pb2+: 89.58, 97.04, 97.11%); (Co2+: 77.53, 75.17, 65.42%), and (Cd2+: 96.99, 97.06, 96.94%) respectively. The thermodynamic studies revealed that the enthalpy change was negative across the initial metal ion concentrations, indicating that the adsorption process was exothermic. The Gibb’s free energy change (∆G) values at all temperatures (298, 313, 328, 343 and 358K) were also negative, indicating that the adsorption process was spontaneous and feasible. Kinetics parameters obtained showed that pseudo-second order was obeyed throughout the adsorption process. In conclusion, from the favorability of the adsorption process, MKNP would be an efficient, eco-friendly and cheap adsorbent in removing toxic heavy metals ions from wastewater and industrial effluents

CARCASS INDICES AND MEAT QUALITY OF BROILER CHICKENS FED DIETS CONTAINING FORTIFIED FERMENTED CASSAVA STUMP

A 56-day study was conducted to evaluate carcass and meat quality of broiler chickens fed diets containing fortified fermented cassava stump (FFCS) as a replacement for maize. Cassava stumps and leaves were fermented in the solid state at room temperature, using Aspergillus niger ATCC 16404 for 192 and 96 hours, respectively, and then mixed at a ratio of 19:1 to obtain the FFCS. The birds were allotted into four treatments with three replicates (n= 30). The treatments consistzzed of different inclusion levels of FFCS: Diet 1 containing 0% FFCS (control treatment); Diet 2 containing 20% FFCS; Diet 3 containing 40% FFCS; and Diet 4 containing 60% FFCS. Dressing and eviscerated percentages were higher (p 0.05) by the inclusion of FFCS, but values obtained were higher with up to 40%. Meat quality was significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by the FFCS. In addition, the degree of meat peroxidation decreased with increased FFCS levels. Diets with up to 40% FFCS inclusion resulted in improved carcass traits, oxidative stability, and meat quality. Therefore, the addition of fortified cassava stump in broiler chickens' diets could produce meat of better quality, with low peroxidation, high oxidative stability, and longer shelf-life.z

Effects of palm kernel cake supplement on fatty acid profile and milk composition of lactating wad goats fed grass silage

The scarcity of quality feed and cost-effective supplements necessitates verifiable concentrate as a supplement for goat milk production. Palm Kernel Cake (PKC), an oil palm by-product rich in protein and energy, gradually replaced Prepared Concentrate (PC) in this study. This replacement's impact on milk composition and fatty acid profile in lactating WAD goats fed grass silage basal diet was assessed. Five supplement concentrates with varying PC: PKC ratios (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 0:100) were fed to 25 lactating WAD goats in a randomized setting of 5 animals per group. The replacement significantly affected (p<0.05) milk fat, protein, specific gravity, ash, and fat-corrected milk. The highest milk fat (2.17%) came from 100% PKC supplementation, while the lowest (0.77%) came from 25% PKC. Total solid fat values were not significantly affected. Fat Corrected Milk results mirrored the milk fat trend. The 100% PKC group had the highest crude protein (8.22%), while 25% and 75%PKC were not different (p<0.05). Fatty acid profile, expressed as total Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAMEs) g/kg, showed increased medium and long-chain fatty acids as PC was replaced. In conclusion, 100% PKC supplementation enhanced milk fat, while 50% PC replacement increased long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in goat mil

Antioxidant status, hematology, performance, organ and carcass evaluation of heat_stressed broiler chickens fed with dietary Bambusa vulgaris leaf meal

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of bamboo leaf meal (BLM) in broiler chicken feed to alleviate heat stress. Materials and Methods: This investigation was conducted following institutional policies guiding the handling of animals as approved for scientific research. 150 heat-stressed Arbor Acres broiler chickens were divided randomly into five dietary treatments, T1–T5, of 30 per treatment and 10 per replicate, to determine the consequence of feeding BLM on health and performance. Birds in T1–T4 were fed 0%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% BLM-included diets, respectively, while T5 had a 0.2% vitamin C-included diet. Results: Increasing dietary BLM positively impacted body weight gain, feed intake, feed conver�sion rate (FCR), and stress indices levels. Broiler chickens had better feed intake (267 gm), weight gain (1,504 gm), and FCR (3.64) in T4. Serum glutathione peroxidase and malondialdehyde levels were not statistically different with increasing dietary BLM, while corticosterone levels were lower for chickens fed with dietary BLM. The superoxide dismutase index levels did not follow a particu�lar pattern as dietary BLM increased. The hematology, carcass, and organ quality were unaffected by dietary BLM inclusion. Conclusion: BLM inclusions up to 2% in the broiler diet ameliorate heat stress conditions and improve performance without imposing any detrimental impact on the birds

Association of Genetic Variants With Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Among Individuals With African Ancestry.

Importance:Primary open-angle glaucoma presents with increased prevalence and a higher degree of clinical severity in populations of African ancestry compared with European or Asian ancestry. Despite this, individuals of African ancestry remain understudied in genomic research for blinding disorders. Objectives:To perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of African ancestry populations and evaluate potential mechanisms of pathogenesis for loci associated with primary open-angle glaucoma. Design, Settings, and Participants:A 2-stage GWAS with a discovery data set of 2320 individuals with primary open-angle glaucoma and 2121 control individuals without primary open-angle glaucoma. The validation stage included an additional 6937 affected individuals and 14 917 unaffected individuals using multicenter clinic- and population-based participant recruitment approaches. Study participants were recruited from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, the United States, Tanzania, Britain, Cameroon, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Morocco, Peru, and Mali from 2003 to 2018. Individuals with primary open-angle glaucoma had open iridocorneal angles and displayed glaucomatous optic neuropathy with visual field defects. Elevated intraocular pressure was not included in the case definition. Control individuals had no elevated intraocular pressure and no signs of glaucoma. Exposures:Genetic variants associated with primary open-angle glaucoma. Main Outcomes and Measures:Presence of primary open-angle glaucoma. Genome-wide significance was defined as P &lt; 5 × 10-8 in the discovery stage and in the meta-analysis of combined discovery and validation data. Results:A total of 2320 individuals with primary open-angle glaucoma (mean [interquartile range] age, 64.6 [56-74] years; 1055 [45.5%] women) and 2121 individuals without primary open-angle glaucoma (mean [interquartile range] age, 63.4 [55-71] years; 1025 [48.3%] women) were included in the discovery GWAS. The GWAS discovery meta-analysis demonstrated association of variants at amyloid-β A4 precursor protein-binding family B member 2 (APBB2; chromosome 4, rs59892895T&gt;C) with primary open-angle glaucoma (odds ratio [OR], 1.32 [95% CI, 1.20-1.46]; P = 2 × 10-8). The association was validated in an analysis of an additional 6937 affected individuals and 14 917 unaffected individuals (OR, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.09-1.21]; P &lt; .001). Each copy of the rs59892895*C risk allele was associated with increased risk of primary open-angle glaucoma when all data were included in a meta-analysis (OR, 1.19 [95% CI, 1.14-1.25]; P = 4 × 10-13). The rs59892895*C risk allele was present at appreciable frequency only in African ancestry populations. In contrast, the rs59892895*C risk allele had a frequency of less than 0.1% in individuals of European or Asian ancestry. Conclusions and Relevance:In this genome-wide association study, variants at the APBB2 locus demonstrated differential association with primary open-angle glaucoma by ancestry. If validated in additional populations this finding may have implications for risk assessment and therapeutic strategies

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

Investment in SARS-CoV-2 sequencing in Africa over the past year has led to a major increase in the number of sequences generated, now exceeding 100,000 genomes, used to track the pandemic on the continent. Our results show an increase in the number of African countries able to sequence domestically, and highlight that local sequencing enables faster turnaround time and more regular routine surveillance. Despite limitations of low testing proportions, findings from this genomic surveillance study underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic and shed light on the distinct dispersal dynamics of Variants of Concern, particularly Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron, on the continent. Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve, while the continent faces many emerging and re-emerging infectious disease threats. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century