Performance of Sokoto red goats (bucks) fed urea treated and untreated rice milling waste in north western Nigeria

The study was carried out at the Livestock Teaching and Research Farm of Federal University Dutsin-Ma to monitor the performance of Sokoto red bucks fed urea treated and untreated rice milling waste. Twenty entire male Sokoto red bucks were used. The experimental animals were allotted (n=5) in a completely randomized design (CRD) to diets A and B with 15% and 30% inclusion levels of untreated rice milling waste, respectively, while C and D contained 15% and 30% inclusion levels of urea treated rice milling waste, respectively, in a completely randomized design (CRD). The feeding trial lasted for 84 days while the digestibility trial lasted for 14 days. Three randomly selected experimental bucks from each experimental treatment were housed in the metabolic cages and their faeces collected for seven days using faecal bag after the seven days adaptation period. The faeces were weighed and bulked 10% collected and oven-dried before they were stored in polythene bags until required for analysis. Urine was also collected for seven days inside the metabolic cages using urinary funnel piped into the bottle containing 2 ml 10% sulphuric acid to trap the nitrogen content. 10% of the urine was sampled and stored in freezer at -2C for chemical analysis. The dry matter intake was significantly higher (P<0.05) in treatments A and B than other treatments. However, this did not result in significantly better (P<0.05) performance (feed efficiency and Cost of feed/ live weight gain) as shown with treatment C and D that had significantly better (P<0.05) weight gain, feed efficiency, nutrients digestibility and nitrogen retention. The cost of feed per kg live weight was shown to be significantly lower (P<0.05) in treatments C and D compared to treatment B which was significantly lower (P<0.05) than treatment A. The study concluded that diet D which contained 30% inclusion level of urea treated rice milling waste was the best among all the diets because of the lowest cost per feed live weight of 1.40 USD/kg and feed efficiency of 0.10

Onchocerciasis transmission in Ghana: biting and parous rates of host-seeking sibling species of the Simulium damnosum complex

Background: Ghana is renowned for its sibling species diversity of the Simulium damnosum complex, vectors of Onchocerca volvulus. Detailed entomological knowledge becomes a priority as onchocerciasis control policy has shifted from morbidity reduction to elimination of infection. To date, understanding of transmission dynamics of O. volvulus has been mainly based on S. damnosum sensu stricto (s.s.) data. We aim to elucidate bionomic features of vector species of importance for onchocerciasis elimination efforts. Methods: We collected S. damnosum sensu lato from seven villages in four Ghanaian regions between 2009 and 2011, using standard vector collection, and human- and cattle-baited tents. Taxa were identified using morphological and molecular techniques. Monthly biting rates (MBR), parous rates and monthly parous biting rates (MPBR) are reported by locality, season, trapping method and hour of collection for each species. Results: S. damnosum s.s./S. sirbanum were collected at Asubende and Agborlekame, both savannah villages. A range of species was caught in the Volta region (forest-savannah mosaic) and Gyankobaa (forest), with S. squamosum or S. sanctipauli being the predominant species, respectively. In Bosomase (southern forest region) only S. sanctipauli was collected in the 2009 wet season, but in the 2010 dry season S. yahense was also caught. MBRs ranged from 714 bites/person/month at Agborlekame (100% S. damnosum s.s./S. sirbanum) to 8,586 bites/person/month at Pillar 83/Djodji (98.5% S. squamosum). MBRs were higher in the wet season. In contrast, parous rates were higher in the dry season (41.8% vs. 18.4%), resulting in higher MPBRs in the dry season. Daily host-seeking activity of S. damnosum s.s./S. sirbanum was bimodal, whilst S. squamosum and S. sanctipauli had unimodal afternoon peaks. Conclusions: The bionomic differences between sibling species of the S. damnosum complex need to be taken into account when designing entomological monitoring protocols for interventions and parameterising mathematical models for onchocerciasis control and elimination

Assessing the queuing process using data envelopment analysis:an application in health centres

Queuing is one of the very important criteria for assessing the performance and efficiency of any service industry, including healthcare. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is one of the most widely-used techniques for performance measurement in healthcare. However, no queue management application has been reported in the health-related DEA literature. Most of the studies regarding patient flow systems had the objective of improving an already existing Appointment System. The current study presents a novel application of DEA for assessing the queuing process at an Outpatients’ department of a large public hospital in a developing country where appointment systems do not exist. The main aim of the current study is to demonstrate the usefulness of DEA modelling in the evaluation of a queue system. The patient flow pathway considered for this study consists of two stages; consultation with a doctor and pharmacy. The DEA results indicated that waiting times and other related queuing variables included need considerable minimisation at both stages

SPARC 2017 retrospect & prospects : Salford postgraduate annual research conference book of abstracts

Welcome to the Book of Abstracts for the 2017 SPARC conference. This year we not only celebrate the work of our PGRs but also the 50th anniversary of Salford as a University, which makes this year’s conference extra special. Once again we have received a tremendous contribution from our postgraduate research community; with over 130 presenters, the conference truly showcases a vibrant PGR community at Salford. These abstracts provide a taster of the research strengths of their works, and provide delegates with a reference point for networking and initiating critical debate. With such wide-ranging topics being showcased, we encourage you to exploit this great opportunity to engage with researchers working in different subject areas to your own. To meet global challenges, high impact research inevitably requires interdisciplinary collaboration. This is recognised by all major research funders. Therefore engaging with the work of others and forging collaborations across subject areas is an essential skill for the next generation of researchers

Performance of sokoto red goat buck fed urea treated and untreated rice milling waste in North Western Nigeria

The study was carried out at the Livestock Teaching and Research Farm of Federal University Dutsin-Ma to monitor the performance of Sokoto red bucks fed urea treated and untreated rice milling waste. Twenty entire male Sokoto red bucks were used. The experimental animals were allotted (n=5) in a completely randomized design (CRD) to diets A and B with 15% and 30% inclusion levels of untreated rice milling waste, respectively, while C and D contained 15% and 30% inclusion levels of urea treated rice milling waste, respectively, in a completely randomized design (CRD). The feeding trial lasted for 84 days while the digestibility trial lasted for 14 days. Three randomly selected experimental bucks from each experimental treatment were housed in the metabolic cages and their faeces collected for seven days using faecal bag after the seven days adaptation period. The faeces were weighed and bulked 10% collected and oven-dried before they were stored in polythene bags until required for analysis. Urine was also collected for seven days inside the metabolic cages using urinary funnel piped into the bottle containing 2 ml 10% sulphuric acid to trap the nitrogen content. 10% of the urine was sampled and stored in freezer at -2C for chemical analysis. The dry matter intake was significantly higher (P<0.05) in treatments A and B than other treatments. However, this did not result in significantly better (P<0.05) performance (feed efficiency and Cost of feed/ live weight gain) as shown with treatment C and D that had significantly better (P<0.05) weight gain, feed efficiency, nutrients digestibility and nitrogen retention. The cost of feed per kg live weight was shown to be significantly lower (P<0.05) in treatments C and D compared to treatment B which was significantly lower (P<0.05) than treatment A. The study concluded that diet D which contained 30% inclusion level of urea treated rice milling waste was the best among all the diets because of the lowest cost per feed live weight of 1.40 USD/kg and feed efficiency of 0.10

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF URINARY SCHISTOSOMIASIS AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

The prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infection was investigated among primary school pupils in Ekiti State by questionnaire survey in 601 schools between 1997 and 1998. A total of 9,551 (24.4%) were positive by the survey. 3483 (22.4%) of the girls and 6,069 (25.7%) of the boys were infected. The prevalence of this infection between girls and boys shows a significant difference (x215 = 59.5;

Effect of Intercropping Jatropha Curcas on Growth and Yield of Arable Crops (Maize and Vegetable)

This research study was carried out to investigate the effect of Jatropha curcas plant on the growth and yield of Arable crops (maize and vegetable) at Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) Arboretum, Jericho, Ibadan. This research study involves six (6) experimental plots of Jatropha curcas interplanted with vegetable and maize in both Mono and Agro-forestry plot respectively. Relative comparison in Jatropha curcas plant agronomic parameter such as plant height, stem girth and number of leaves, planted in Mono and Agro-forestry plots were determined and analysed using factorial experimental design in Randomised Completely Block Design&#160; (RCBD). The result of analysis of variance conducted shows significant difference in the major treatments and weeks on the parameter assessed while non existence of significant difference was recorded in the combination factor of treatment and weeks.&#160;&#160; The mean results of the parameters for plant height, stem girth, number of leaves were assessed 4.560g, 4.515g, 3.725g for maize and 127g, 96g, 72g for vegetable plant. Based on the agronomic result obtained in this study can therefore be concluded that Jatropha curcas plant could be successfully incorporated in both mono and agro-forestry practices to yield positive effect. Keywords: Jatropha curcas, vegetable, maize, height, stem girth, agronomi