Effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa Calyx (Zobo) on the Growth Performance of Broilers (Obamarshal) Chickens

Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is a leaf use to make a drink locally known as zobo. The seed is considered an excellent feed for chicken because of the presence of certain vitamins especially vitamin C which is known for its antioxidant property hence stimulating the immune system. Farmers are constantly seeking for cheaper and healthier means to improve the quality of meat and weight of broilers. Also cheap and readily available synthetic drugs including antibiotics that were used as growth promoters have been banned due to their side effect in both poultry and human health. Many attempts have been made locally by farmers to use natural plant as supplements for birds to replace synthetic antibiotics. There is also a significant lack of knowledge about the beneficial effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa in poultry. Although other supplements such as anise seed (pinpinell anisume )have been used to improve meat characteristics and carcass weight, there is a suggestion that calyxes of roselle (zobo) may be used as best alternative. The study aims to test the effect of feeding different level of “zobo” in drinking water on the growth performance of broilers.Fifty day old broilers were sourced and exposed to the same feeding, watering and other management conditions like vaccinations and treatment until they were 4 weeks old. They were then divided into groups of 10 and treated with different concentrations of roxelle calyx gotten from water and ethanol extraction. The groups were A1 (broiler chicks on 1g/4l water extract of roselle calyx), A2 (broiler chick on 1g/4L ethanol extract of roselle calyx), B1 (broiler chick on 2g/4L water extract of roselle calyx), B2 (broiler chick on 2g/4L ethanol extract of roselle calyx) and C which were the control (broilers on plain water). Rectal temperatures were taken every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the mornings and evenings. Live weight, carcass weight, dislocated carcass weight, internal organs and feed intake were the response criteria used when broilers were 8 weeks old. The birds (A2) on Hibiscus sabdariffa had the highest weight gain and consumed the largest quantity of feed as compared to control. This was statistically significant (P˂0.05). It can be concluded from this study that roselle calyx (zobo) tends to enhance weight gain, feed consumption and conversion in broilers. Keywords: Roselle calyx, zobo, water extract, ethanol extract, weight gain

Comparative Assessment of Soil Carbon Sequestration and Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Agroforestry Systems in Kogi East Nigeria

This study was conducted to assess the below ground carbon sequestration (soil carbon stock per unit land area) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from agroforestry systems (AFSs) in Kogi East (Ankpa, Dekina, Ofu, Olamaboro, and Omala local government areas) Nigeria. Stratified random sampling was used to select study locations of the agroforestry systems in Kogi East, Nigeria. Four AFSs were selected in each local government area (LGA) - this consisted majorly of smallholder farmer’s farm with silvoarable systems in the region (4 communities per LGA, total of 20 communities). The selection criteria for AFS was based on farm size not less than 1 hectare. The results from the analysis revealed that highest soil carbon stock [C stock (Mg Cha-1)] was recorded from AFSs in Dekina (334.43 Mg Cha-1) while no significant difference in carbon stock was observed from the soils of AFSs in Ankpa, Ofu, Olamaboro, and Omala LGAs (69.01, 159.21, 142.58, 117.33 Mg Cha-1 respectively). Nonetheless, the soils from AFSs in Dekina LGA had highest CO2 emissions followed by Ofu LGA (186.23 and 159.40 gCO2 emitted/50g wet soil slice respectively) while the lowest CO2 emissions (104.15 and 88.88 gCO2 emitted/50g wet soil slice) were recorded from Ankpa and Omala LGAs respectively. The highest carbon sequestration recorded from soils of AFSs in Dekina LGA may depend on the soil C input and soil stabilization processes including tree species and density and again highest CO2 emissions from the same Dekina LGA can be attributed to the coarse texture of the soils as coarse soils are considerably more susceptible to releasing their carbon. On the other hand, the absence of variation in CO2 emission levels in some of the locations studied can be attributed to similar land management practices like tillage, bush burning and soil fertility management

Bulk Density of Soils from Oil Palm Agroforestry Systems in Kogi East, Nigeria

This study was conducted to assess the bulk density and textural class of soils of selected oil palm agroforestry systems in Kogi East (Ankpa, Dekina, Ofu, Olamaboro and Omala local government areas- LGAs), Nigeria. Random soil sampling was used to collect a total of 100 core samples from the five LGAs (20 from each of the LGA). Soil bulk density was determined using core sampler technique. Data collected were analysed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) of GENSTAT Discovery Software. Significant means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test at 5 % level of probability. The results revealed that the soil bulk density of the oil palm agroforestry systems in Kogi East, Nigeria were within moderate range of 1.15-1.47 g/cm3. Most of the soils in the studied locations were observed to be sandy clay: Ofu and Olamaboro LGAs were sandy clay while Dekina, Ankpa, Omala were loamy sand, sand, and sandy loam respectively

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with paediatric cancer in low-income, middle-income and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, observational cohort study

OBJECTIVES: Paediatric cancer is a leading cause of death for children. Children in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) were four times more likely to die than children in high-income countries (HICs). This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the COVID-19 pandemic had affected the delivery of healthcare services worldwide, and exacerbated the disparity in paediatric cancer outcomes between LMICs and HICs. DESIGN: A multicentre, international, collaborative cohort study. SETTING: 91 hospitals and cancer centres in 39 countries providing cancer treatment to paediatric patients between March and December 2020. PARTICIPANTS: Patients were included if they were under the age of 18 years, and newly diagnosed with or undergoing active cancer treatment for Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, Wilms' tumour, sarcoma, retinoblastoma, gliomas, medulloblastomas or neuroblastomas, in keeping with the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: All-cause mortality at 30 days and 90 days. RESULTS: 1660 patients were recruited. 219 children had changes to their treatment due to the pandemic. Patients in LMICs were primarily affected (n=182/219, 83.1%). Relative to patients with paediatric cancer in HICs, patients with paediatric cancer in LMICs had 12.1 (95% CI 2.93 to 50.3) and 7.9 (95% CI 3.2 to 19.7) times the odds of death at 30 days and 90 days, respectively, after presentation during the COVID-19 pandemic (p<0.001). After adjusting for confounders, patients with paediatric cancer in LMICs had 15.6 (95% CI 3.7 to 65.8) times the odds of death at 30 days (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected paediatric oncology service provision. It has disproportionately affected patients in LMICs, highlighting and compounding existing disparities in healthcare systems globally that need addressing urgently. However, many patients with paediatric cancer continued to receive their normal standard of care. This speaks to the adaptability and resilience of healthcare systems and healthcare workers globally

Twelve-month observational study of children with cancer in 41 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic

Childhood cancer is a leading cause of death. It is unclear whether the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted childhood cancer mortality. In this study, we aimed to establish all-cause mortality rates for childhood cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine the factors associated with mortality