Proximate and Heavy Metals Compositions of Some Commercial Fish Feeds available in Keffi Metropolis, Nasarawa State

The nutrient balance of feed influences its utilization and growth in fish. Proximate and heavy metals examinations were carried out on three different fish feed samples obtained from commercially available fish feed shops in Keffi metropolis and were labeled A, B, and C. The sealed samples were taken to the laboratory, ground using a mortar and pestle and kept in an airtight container for subsequent chemical analysis. The results of the proximate analysis shows that the moisture content, ash content, crude protein, crude lipid, crude fibre and carbohydrate content range from, 3.17% - 7.50%, 9.39% - 11.61%, 37.85% - 48.90%, 5.00% - 13.33%, 2.53% - 6.00% and 21.31% - 30.78% respectively. The estimated levels of heavy metals analysed ranges from 0.35mg/kg - 0.61 mg/kg, 0.27mg/kg - 0.44 mg/kg, 1.15 mg/kg - 1.47 mg/kg, 0.02 mg/kg - 0.44 mg/kg, 3.15 mg/kg - 3.25 mg/kg and 0.40 mg/kg - 0.50 mg/kg for Cu, Cr, Co, Cd, Ni and Pb respectively. The concentrations of the heavy metals determined are in order of Ni > Co > Cu > Pb > Cr > Cd. The results of the proximate analysis obtained are in close argument with that obtained in the literature which ranges from 10.06% - 10.38%, 5.33% - 9.45%, 8.512% - 24.40%, 3.20% - 12.73%, 5.00% - 13.00% and 25.89% - 52.65% respectively. For the heavy metals, it ranges from 0.0579mg/kg - 0.0023mg/kg, 0.0002mg/kg - 0.0005mg/kg, 0.01mg/kg - 0.37mg/kg, 1.22mg/kg - 4.71mg/kg and 0.06mg/kg - 0.68mg/kg for Cu, Cr, Co, Cd, Ni and Pb respectively. It is therefore concluded that all the fish feed samples analysed contain the required nutrients in required proportions declared by the manufacturers and the regulatory guide lines. The heavy metals concentrations and proximate compositions obtained are within the certified limits as regulated by WHO, SON and FAO

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Guided Biodiesel Production from Atoulfo Mango Seeds Oil and the Evaluation of Some of its Properties

Ground Atoulfo mango seeds kernel was extracted using soxhlet apparatus with hexane to give an oil yield of 22.71%. The physicochemical properties of the oil reveals; acid value (15.32±0.20 mgKOH/g), free fatty acid (7.66±0.10 mg/g), iodine value (61.31±3.70 I2g/100g) and saponification value (171.99±3.10 mgKOH/g). The production of biodiesel from the oil by transesterification reaction was monitored by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. The percentage triacylglycerol conversion in the oil to its corresponding methyl esters (biodiesel) was calculated to be 94%. The important properties of the biodiesel studied were density (0.88 g/cm3), acid value (0.39 mg/KOH/g), kinematic viscosity (4.60 °C mm2/sec), flash point (150 °C), cetane number (65), pour point (2.1 °C), sulphur content (0.011 %) and ash content (trace) respectively. The fuel properties studied significantly agreed with the specifications of American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM D6751), thus qualifying the seed oil as a potential ingredient for the production of biodiesel. &nbsp

Phenotypic characteristics of local chickens in Dass and Tafawa Balewa local government areas of Bauchi State, Nigeria

The study was conducted in Dass and Tafawa Balewa local government areas of Bauchi State, between January and April 2018 to determine some characteristics of local chickens. A total of 400 matured chickens of mixed sex were used to determine the following morphometric traits; live weight (LW), wing span (WSP), body length (BL), girth circumference (GC) and shank length (SHL). Most of the birds available for the study were normal feathered (80.75 %), single combed (94.50 %), orange eyed (81.50 %), had white ear lobes (43.75 %), milky shanks (37.75 %) and red plumage (36.75 %), while the fewest types were frizzled (7.50 %), rose combed (5.50%), Brown eyed (2.50%), those with red ear lobes (22.75 %), ash shank (2.00 %), and blue plumage (1.00 %). Single combed (95.60%), orange eyed (84.10%) had white skin (98.60%) white ear lobe (44.50%), pink shank (36.00%) and red plumage (38.8%) and the fewest were rose combed (4.40%), brown eyed (1.10%), yellow skinned (1.40%), those with red ear lobe (22.31%), ash shanked (1.10%) and those with blue plumage (0.50%). Data generated on morphometric traits were analyzed using analysis of variance and Pearson’s correlation analysis was used in the estimation of relationships among the measurements (morphometric traits). The overall mean of 1.67 kg, 43.19 cm, 41.27 cm, 31.49 cm and 10.19 cm for LW, WSP, BL, GC and SHL were estimated. Sex had effect on all the parameters recorded. Males were significantly heavier than female (1.79 vs 1.55 kg; p<0.001) and had wider girth (p< 0.001), longer wings (p<0.05), body (p<0.01) and shank (p<0.05). Non-significant effect of location, genotype and qualitative body traits (comb type, plumage, eye, ear lobe and shank colours) were however observed on most parameters. The correlation coefficients among the morphometric traits were high, positive and significant indicating that they can predict each other specifically during selection. Keywords: Morphometric traits, Local chickens, Correlation and Selectio

Estimation of live weight in Red Sokoto kids using linear body traits

The study was carried out in Akko, Kwame and Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Areas of Gombe State, between August and November, 2019 to estimate body weight of Red Sokoto kids using linear body measurements. A total of 460kids (219 males and 241 females) were used to obtain the following parameters; live weight (LW), body length (BL), chest girth (CG), wither height (WH), leg length (LL), loin girth (LG), ear length (EL) and face length (FL). The animals were sampled from four local markets across the study area (Kashere, Kumo, Malam Sidi and Kwadom). Data generated were subjected to descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation and linear regression analyses. The coefficients of variation of the variables observed ranged from 21.14 % for body weight to 7.86 % for chest girth. The mean LW, BL, CG, WH, LL, LG, EL and FL were 11.09 kg, 37.94 cm, 50.95 cm, 43.84 cm, 14.21 cm, 54.47 cm, 11.13 cm and 8.23 cm, respectively. Location had effect on leg (P<0.01), ear and face lengths (P<0.001). Similarly, significantly wider chest, longer ear and face (P<0.05) were observed in males. The correlation coefficients observed among the parameters were mostly moderate to high, positive and significant (P<0.01). The step-wise multiple regression analysis showed that CG had coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.44 (44 %) when used in the prediction of LW, while subsequent inclusion of LG and BL yielded better result (0.47 and 0.49, respectively). Therefore, the study revealed that both location and sex had no effect on most of the linear body measurements and the accuracy of these traits (linear body measurements) in the prediction of LW is moderate. Keywords: Red Sokoto kids, Prediction, Body weight, Linear body trait