Medicinal Utilization of Roots of Forest Plants in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria

This paper evaluates some of the valuable medicinal forest plant roots commonly used by various ethnic groups in Kaduna State, Nigeria. A set of sixty (60) structured questionnaire was purposively administered to traditional healers, herbs traders, civil servants, and other herb users in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Results showed that age, sex, marital status, educational status and occupation of respondents have no significant relationship (p>0.05) with the uses of herbs. It also showed that there are a total of thirty seven (37) families of forest plant roots comprising of 60 different plants identified in the survey for treating various diseases or symptoms. These plants include Vitex doniana (Dinya), Anona senegalensis (Gwandan dabi), Khaya senegalinsis (Madaci). Opilia celtidifolia (Rufan gada), Moringa olifera (Zogale), Mangifera indica (Mangoro), Pisidium guijava (Gwaiba) Zimenia Americana (Tsada) Pakia biglobosa (Dorawa). Some of the uses cannot be proven scientifically. Efforts should be made to develop herbal medication to serve as an alternative to orthodox medication

Stakeholders’ Perceptions on the Effects of Forest Offences on Sustainable Forest Management in Ogun State, Nigeria

The study assesses stakeholders’ perceptions on forest offences and its effects on Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) in Ogun State, Nigeria with a view to stimulating the state government to accord forestry sector with appropriate political will and proper funding. Data for the exercise were obtained from a stratified random sampling of 70 respondents in four categories namely Egba, Yewa, Ijebu and Remo through structured questionnaire. The respondents include forestry officials, saw millers and timber contractors. The results indicated that 452 (36%) staff are available in the Ministry of Forestry, Ogun State which was far below the expected staff strength of 1252 (100%) for all the categories of the staff to sustainably manage all the forest reserves in the four divisions. The chi-square result (4.63, P < 0.05) showed that sustainability is significantly dependent on illegal felling rate. Chi-square (X2) result (0.4895, P>0.05) shows that sustainability does not significantly depend on the category of forest user alone. However, Chi-square result (28.78, P< 0.05) showed that felling of undersized trees, illegal felling, failure to produce log certificate and non-renewal of property hammer committed in the study area are significantly dependent on the category of forest users. Thirty two percent of the native respondents in the study area committed felling of undersized tree. On the contrary, 67% of the non-native respondents committed illegal felling. All the categories of forestry staff affirmed that irregular salary and lack of logistics have had adverse effect on delegation of authority and the protection of forest estate. Chi-square result (11.87, P<0.05) shows that protection duty is significantly dependent on the salary structure of the staff cadres. It is recommended that the managers of forest resources acting on behalf of the public goods and services must exhibit exemplary attributes in their professional conduct and the government should provide forestry officials with the necessary financial support and adequate logistics to enable them carry out their duties promptly and effectively

Efficacy Of Jatropha gossypifolia And Manihot esculenta Seed Extract For The Control Of Sclerotium rolfsii And Fusarium oxysporum In South-Western Nigeria

The efficacy of physic nut (Jatropha gossypifolia linn) and cassava (Manihot esculenta crantz) seed extracts in controlling Sclerotium rolfsii sacc and Fusarium oxysporum schlect was evaluated in a laboratory study. The oil extracts were applied at four concentrations 0,10,100,1000 ppm to cultures of S. rolfsii and F. oxysporium isolates from tomato and cowpea respectively. There were significant differences (

Factors Contributing to Use of Biomass as Domestic Fuel and Options for Efficient and Sustainable Usage in Nigeria

Biomass energy dominates household cooking energy in developing countries and Nigeria is not exceptional. However, a number of implications such as indoor air pollution, environmental degradation and social burden have been associated with the use of biomass energy. The paper discusses factors that determine the use of biomass as domestic energy and implications of biomass as household energy. The use of biomass energy in Nigeria is still on a high level and this poses great challenges to the environment and welfare of households. It has been envisaged that with improved household economic situation, this will translate to shifting to less polluting and cleaner energy. It is therefore pertinent that people, especially at the rural level, are empowered so as to be able to afford cleaner cook fuels. Also, alternative cook energy to biomass should be made available to people at affordable prices. Projects for the distribution of efficient biomass energy technologies such as cooking stoves should be embarked upon by concerned government agencies and non-government organisations to improve efficient use of biomass in places where other alternative energy are not easily accessible. Keywords: Biomass energy, clean energy, household, indoor air pollution, cooking stove

The effects of instant noodles waste in diets for broiler chickens

The effects of instant noodles waste (INW) as a replacement for maize was investigated using 144 day-old, unsexed broiler chicks of Anak strain which were randomly assigned into four dietary treatment groups of 36 birds each. Each dietary treatment group had 3 replicates of 12 broilers per replicate. These four different diets were fed, in which INW replaced maize at 0% (control), 10, 20 and 30% from day old to 8 weeks of age. The growth performance, nutrient digestibility, haematological parameters and carcass traits of the chickens were evaluated. Average final live weight ranged from 1559.44 g to 1730.91g with broilers fed control diet and 30% INW diet recording the highest and least values respectively among the treatments. Broilers fed the 30 % INW had lower (P< 0.05) live weight. Broilers fed INW based diets had higher blood profile comparable to the control. The results indicated that INW can replace up to 20% of broiler starter diet and 30% replacement of maize at the finisher phase without adverse effects on growth performance of the broilers.Keywords: Instant noodles waste, diets, broilers chickens

Growth performance, nutrient intake and digestibility of goats fed melon husk and palm oil slurry at 30% inclusion level

A 126- day study was conducted to determine growth, nutrient intake and digestibility of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats fed melon husk (MH) and palm oil slurry (POS) as replacement for maize offal at 30% in concentrate diets. Sixteen goats weighing 6.5 – 7.0kg were randomly assigned to 4 dietary treatments at 4 replicates of each. Dietary treatments included control (Diet 1): 0% MH 0% POS; Diet 2: 30% MH 0% POS; Diet 3: 0% MH 30% POS; and Diet 4: 30% MH 30% POS; supplemented with Panicum maximum (grass). Data collected were statistically analysed and results showed that animals on control Diet (Diet 1) had the highest (P<0.05) average daily weight gain of 31.57g/day, and a corresponding highest (P<0.05) feed intake of 365. 97g/day and best feed conversion ratio of 11.59. Animals fed Diet 3 had lowest (P<0.05) average daily weight gain of 19.42g/day, with corresponding lowest (P<0.05) dry matter intake of 334.94g/day and poor feed conversion ratio of 17.24, respectively. Variations in dry matter, organic matter and crude fibre (CF) intake were significant (P<0.05). Crude protein (CP) intake decreased progressively from diet 1 to 4, but not significantly (P > 0.05). CF intake was highest in diet 4 (124.6g) and lowest in diet 1(64.72g). Ether extract (52.80g), Ash (21.48g), Neutral detergent fibre (222.88g), and lignin (60.64g) were highest in diet 4. Dry matter digestibility was highest in animals on diet 2 (86.31%) and lowest in those on diet 4 (72.28%). It was evident that goats could be fed MH and POS at the inclusion levels adopted in this study except at 30% POS inclusion level at which growth was poorest.Keywords: Growth Performance, Nutrient Intake, Digestibility of Goats, Fed Melon Husk and Palm Oil Slurr

Variations in haematological and serum indices of finishing broiler birds fed neem (Azadirachta indica) and garlic (Allium sativum) as phytobiotics

One hundred and eighty day-old Cobb broiler chickens were used to evaluate the effects of feeding diets containing neem leaf meal (NLM), garlic meal (GM) and their combination (NLM + GM) on haematological and serum indices of finishing broiler. The birds were divided into twelve treatment groups of fifteen chicks with three replicate of five chicks each. The diets contained NLM, GM and NLM + GM at four levels of inclusion; 0mg/kg, 500mg/kg, 1000mg/kg and 1500mg/kg. The experiment was arranged in a 3 × 4 factorial layout in a completely randomized design (CRD). The inclusion of NLM, GM and NLM + GM did not significantly (P>0.05) influence haematological parameters. Different levels of inclusion significantly (P<0.05) influenced absolute haematological parameters. (P<0.05) interaction of additives and levels of inclusion were observed in most of the haematological indices studied. NLM+GM at 500mg/kg showed the highest PCV value. Highest Hb and RBC values were observed in birds fed GM at 1500mg/kg. Different levels of inclusion significantly (P<0.05) influenced total protein and albumin levels. Lowest (P<0.05) amounts of total protein (8.88mg/dl) and albumin (2.20mg/dl) were recorded in birds fed 1500mg/kg inclusion levels compared to those birds on 0mg/kg inclusion level. Additives and levels of inclusion (P<0.05) affected cholesterol value of finishing broiler birds. There was a reduction in cholesterol (93.38mg/dl) and HDL (52.57mg/dl) values of birds fed GM than those fed NLM + GM. Significant (P<0.05) interactions were observed in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urea, cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) values. It was evident that feeding of the additives at different levels affected the blood picture of the finishing broiler chickens.Keywords: Neem, garlic, finishing broilers, serum, haematolog

Effect of dietary L- Carnitine supplementation of diets containing cashew nut reject meal by broiler chickens

In a completely randomized designed, two hundred and forty day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments containing 0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5mg kg-1 Lcarnitine. Each of the diets contained equal amount of maize and cashew nut reject meal (CNRM). The birds were randomly divided into sixteen groups of fifteen chicks each after weight equalisation. Each diet was assigned to four groups of birds representing four replicates per experimental diet. Measurements taken during starting and finishing phases included average live weight, average weight gain, average feed intake while feed to gain ratio was calculated. Nutrient digestibility of the experimental diets was also evaluated. Results between 0-4weeks indicated that body weights ranged from 673.71g in the birds that received 2.5mgkg-1 to 700.21g in the birds that received 7.5mgkg-1 L-carnitine. Weight gain and feed intake values were significantly (P<0.05) affected by L-carnitine levels. Feed to gain ratio values were elevated when birds were fed 0 and 2.5mgkg-1 L-carnitine levels. Evaluation of nutrient utilization showed a significant (P<0.05) influence on crude protein and ether extract values. Between 5-8 weeks of rearing, feed intake increased (P<0.05) as Lcarnitine levels increased in diets while lower (P<0.05) feed to gain value was recorded at high level of dietary L-carnitine. Nutrients utilization parameters were not affected (P>0.05) during finishing phase. Overall results showed that highest body weight and weight gain were obtained in the group that received 7.5mgkg-1 L-carnitine supplementation. The study showed that supplementing CNRM diets up to 7.5mgkg-1 is beneficial to growth and utilization of broiler chickens. However, this was more effective at the starter phase.Keywords: L-carnitine, cashew nut reject meal, broiler bird

Performance of broilers fed enzyme-supplemented tigernut (Cyperus rotundus L.) meal diets

A feeding trial was set up to study the effects of replacing maize with tigernut meal (TGN) at 0, 33.33, 66.67 and 100 per cent levels, with 0.10 per cent enzyme supplementation of all levels, on performance characteristics and carcass yield in broiler chicken for 8 weeks (56 days). A total of 200 Anak-2000 breed of broilers were randomly allotted to four experimental diets such that each treatment had two replicates of 25 birds each. Tigernut meal inclusion at 33.33 per cent (Diet 2) with enzyme supplementation resulted in significant final live weight and carcass yield, while tigernut meal significantly (

Performance and ileal characteristics of finishing broilers fed diets supplemented with prebiotics

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of prebiotics supplemented diets on performance characteristics and gut morphology of broiler chickens. The study involved 320 day-old Anak broiler chicks, used to assess the utilization of prebiotics [Mannose oligosaccharides (MOS) and Lactose oligosaccharides (LOS)] by broiler chicks. The chicks were alloted to eight treatment groups of 40 birds each and four replicates of 10 birds each in a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement. The additives (MOS and LOS) were added to the diets at four levels (0, 250, 500 and 750ppm) per additive. The birds were fed for 56days, after which data on feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and ileal morphology were collected. The data was subjected to analysis of variance and significant means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. Results showed that final weight values significantly (p<0.05) ranged from 1276.67 g – 1503.38 g. The ileum morphology of the finishers broilers showed that villi height, lamina propria depth, basal width and apical width were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by prebiotic sources and levels. The villi height of 2250.00μm was highest at 500ppm MOS level of inclusion, while the least value of 538.30μm was obtained in birds fed 0ppm Lactose inclusion. It was therefore, concluded that, prebiotic MOS at 500ppm could be used in feed to obtain the better weight gain and FCR, with normal gut morphology of broiler chickens.Keywords: Performance, ileal morphology, broilers, mannan oligosaccharide, lactose oligosaccharid