Probabilistic Cellular Automata modelling and simulation of land-use changes in Okomu National Park

Land use, land cover (LULC) change technique is essential for measuring ecological quality, environmental sustainability, and uncontrolled development at various spatiotemporal scales. To construct effective land use management plans, the probable future scenario of LULC changes can be easily detected utilizing a simulation technique.This study monitors and models spatiotemporal land-use changes in Okomu National Park over two decades (2000 – 2020) to project forest cover changes for the near future. A probabilistic cellular automata (CA) model was created and used to simulate land-use changes with the aim of predicting future land-use scenarios. Landsat7 ETM+ satellite images for years 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 were classified into Forest and Non–Forest using a maximum likelihood supervised classification algorithm. A probabilistic cellular automata model using Moore’s neighborhood with a Von Neumann extension was used to simulate land-use changes for years 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 with the year 2000 as the base year.The overall classification accuracy for the years under study was 98.18%, 97.52%, 96.33%, 91.67%, and 94.61%with overall kappa coefficients of 0.97, 0.96, 0.95, 0.86, and 0.91 respectively. State transition probabilities for 2000–2005, 2005–2010, 2010–2015, and 2015–2020 were calculated from the classified images. Simulation accuracywas 77.46%, 74.1%, 70.98%, and 78.27% for the year 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 respectively. Projections were made for years 2025 and 2030 and it shows a 27.41% decline from the base year by 2025 anda 29.90% decline by 2030.The amount of forest cover in the actual and simulated land-use changes shows a gradual drop from 185.15 km2 in the base year 2000 to 136.07 and 135.30 km2 in the year 2020, respectively.Spatial simulation models, which provide a scientific basis for supporting sustainable forest management based on different simulation scenarios alsocontribute significantly to the implementation framework for the United Nations' Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD/REDD+) program, as well as reference scenarios for REDD/REDD+ incentive payments

The practice of hepatocellular cancer surveillance in Nigeria

Background: Hepatocellular cancer is a disease of global and public health importance due to the widespread distribution of risk factors and associated high case fatality. Hepatocellular Cancer (HCC) in Sub-Saharan Africa is commonly seen among the younger age groups (<45 years) who present mostly in the terminal stage, when the disease is not amenable to any curative therapy. Hepatocellular Carcinoma surveillance employs the use of simple, cheap and readily available investigations, to detect early curable cancer in individuals with risk factors for HCC.Objectives:The aim of this study is to assess the practice of hepatocellular cancer screening among physicians.Methodolgy:This is a nationwide online survey carried out among physicians who care for patients with HCC. A questionnaire was sent out via a web link to all consenting doctors in Nigeria. The responses were collated in a cloud-based application and data was analysed using Epi-info version 20.Results:Atotal of 218 respondents, 142 were males (65.1 %) with a mean age of 37.6 ± 5.7 years. The modal age group was 31-40 years 153 (69.5%). The main factors considered as a hindrance to surveillance were; the cost of the tests (57.7%), failure of return of patients (50.5%) and not being aware of a surveillance program (45.2 %). The majority of the respondents were Gastroenterologists and Family Physicians. 54% of the gastroenterologists and 64% of the family physicians have never offered HCC surveillance to their patients.Conclusion:This survey highlights a knowledge gap in HCC surveillance among physicians. There is a need to make HCCsurveillance a daily routine among patients at risk by all physicians. Keywords: Surveillance, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, HBV, HCV, Cancer screening

Effect of African nutmeg (Monodora myristica) spice in aflatoxin-infected diets on growth performance of broilers

Fungal infected feedstuffs are denatured in nutrients and cause them to develop off flavors that often dampen the appetite of livestock and poultry. In this study, the effect of toasted African nutmeg (Monodora myristica) spice in Aspergillus flavus-infested diets on growth performance of broilers was investigated in a 2 x 3 factorial experimentthat lasted for 42 days. Three out of 6 dietary treatments were infected with 1mg of pure culture of Aspergillus flavus and toasted Monodora myristica spice included at 0%, 0.5% and 1.0% while the other 3 diets were infection-free with 0%, 0.5% and 1.0% Monodora myristica inclusion respectively. Each treatment was replicated three times at 30 chickens per replicate. Infection status was significant (P<0.05) for daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER). Daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio were 134.19g/bird/day, 39.23g/bird/day, 3.59g/bird/day and 1.10g/bird/day, respectively for the non-infected diets. The aflatoxin infection from Aspergillus flavus was observed to reduce (P<0.05) feed intake to 130.51g/bird/day and weight gain (33.67g/bird/day). FCR and PER were also reduced (P<0.05) by the presence of aflatoxin from Aspergillus flavus in the diet. Effect of Monodora myristica supplementation on feed intake, average daily weight gain, FCR and Protein efficiency ratio was significant (P<0.05) for all the measured parameters. The Feed intake, average daily weight gain, FCR and protein efficiency increased (P<0.05) as Monodora myristica inclusion level increased. Feed intake (119.8g/b/d), daily weight gain (28.90g/b/d), FCR (4.28) and PER (0.94) were observed in the Monodora-free (0%) diet. 0.5% and 1.0% levels of Monodora inclusion produced similar (P>0.05) effects on all the growth parameters but were higher than the control. The interaction of aflatoxin infection and Monodora inclusion level were significant for all the growth parameters. The interaction of aflatoxin infection x Monodora inclusion levels recorded feed intake of 107.97g/b/d, 137.36 and 146.19g/b/d respectively for 0, 0.5 and 1.0% Monodora; 22.27g/b/d, 37.87g/b/d and 40.83g/b/d daily weight gain and 4.85%, 3.63% and 3.58% FCR. The interaction effect of Monodora inclusion level in infection-free diets on the birds feed intake were 131.65g/b/d, 147.24g/b/d and 123.67g/b/d respectively for 0%, 0.5% and 1.0%. The interaction effect at 0.5% inclusion level x non-infected diet was significantly higher (41.31g/b/d) than that at 0% inclusion level on daily gain. However, the daily weight gain of 40.83g/b/d observed in the interaction of 1.0% Monodora level x aflatoxin -free diet similar (P<0.05) to that observed in the 0.5% inclusion level. The feed conversion ratio produced by the interactions at the three different levels (0, 0.5 and 1.0%) in the Aspergillus-free diets were (P>0.05) 3.71, 3.57 and 3.49 respectively while PER were (P<0.05) 1.05, 1.13 and 1.11 respectively. The Monodorafree diet recorded 9.26% drumstick, 2.26% liver 0.65% kidney and 2.43% gizzard, while the diet that had 0.5% Monodora myristica yielded 2.12% liver and 2.29% gizzard. Inclusion of Monodora up to 1.0% recorded 1.63% liver weight. Aspergillus flavus alone caused a reduction in live weight, dressed weight, thigh, kidney, breast meat, gizzard and an  enlargement in the liver. Monodora myristica inclusion level also affected (p<0.05) all the parameters except dressed weight, thigh and back cut. Kidney and liver were observed to decrease as the level of inclusion of Monodora myristica increased. The interaction of Monodora myristica and Aspergillus flavus on the parameters were significant (p<0.05). From the results, Monodora myristica may be beneficial to poultry farmers, since about 90% of the poultry feed ingredients especially grains are constantly exposed to aflatoxin infection from Aspergillus flavus and other mycotoxin infections which hinder maximum nutrient utilization and affect the rate of conversion of feed.Keywords: Aflatoxin, Monodora Myristica, Aspergillus flavus. growth performance, broiler bird

Effects of African Nutmeg (Monodora myristica) spice in aflatoxin-infected diets on growth Performance of Japanese Quails (Cortunix Cortunix)

A research work was carried out to evaluate the effects of toasted Monodora myristica spice as feed additive in quail diet in a completely  randomized design. The proximate, vitamin andmineral composition and anti-nutritional factors, growth performance, cut parts and organ  characteristics, biochemical parameters and egg quality traits were evaluated in this study that lasted for fifteen weeks. A total of 120 day-old quail chicks were brooded for 14 days. Thereafter, they were allocated to four dietary treatments designated D1, D2, D3 and D4 also having 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% Monodora myristica respectively. Each treatment was replicated three times at 10 quails (2 males: 8 females) per replicate. Growth  performance and carcass characteristics study lasted for 7 weeks while eggs were collected for four weeks. Daily feed intake was reported to be 2.39g/bird/day, 2.83g/bird/day, 3.22g/bird/day and 3.15g/bird/day respectively for 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% Monodora myristica-flavoured diets. There  was no significant (P>0.05) increase in the daily feed intake though it increased only numerically as level of inclusion increased from 0% to 1.0% but decreased at the level above 1.0%. There were significant (P<0.05) differences in the average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio among the varying treatments. Average daily weight gains for the groups were 1.68g/b/d, 2.18g/b/d, 3.35g/b/d and 3.37g/b/d respectively for D1, D2, D3 and D4. Significant (P<0.05) differences were observed in the cut parts and organ characteristics. From the results, Monodora myristica was not observed to be detrimental to the quails with respect to the weight of organs and cut parts. Dressed weight increased as level of inclusion increased up to 1.0% but then declined afterwards to 137.69g. Liver weights were 3.55%, 2.55%, 1.79% and 1.77% respectively for D1, D2, D3 and D4. Quails fed the control diet recorded the highest liver weight (P<0.05) of 3.55% indicating stress condition. The low liver weight in quails fed Monodora-flavoured diet indicates potential of Monodora to protect the liver from free radicals that cause stress. Breast meat was significantly reduced at 1.0% and 1.5% M. myristica inclusion Keywords: Monodora myristica, Growth performance, Japanese quail &nbsp

Growth response, nutrient digestibility and cost benefit of feeding growing rabbits with selected agro industrial by-products-based diet

A feeding trial was conducted to study the growth response, nutrient digestibility and cost benefit of feeding growing rabbits (Chinchilla X New Zealand) of mixed breed and sex fed selected agro industrial by-products-based diets. Five experimental diets were formulated in such that diet 1 had 50% maize with other ingredients to form a standard growing rabbit diet. In diet 2, 3, 4 and 5 maize was totally replaced with wheat offal, maize sievate, brewer's dried grain and rice offal respectively. All the rabbits were exposed to common proprietary forage; Centrosema molle, three hours daily. The experiment was a completely randomised design of three replicates with each replicates having four rabbits. Parameters evaluated were growth performance, carcass characteristics, nutrient digestibility and economic analysis. The results showed rabbits fed control diet had significant (P<0.05) better feed intake, final live weight, weight gain, nutrient digestibility and dressing percentage but with lower (P>0.05) spleen and liver weight. All the rabbits fed on the agro by- products apart from the rice offal had statistically similar (p>0.05) daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio, nutrient digestibility estimates, dressing percentage, spleen and liver weight that were significantly (P<0.05) lower than the rice offal diet. The cost/kg (N) and the cost of feed/ weight gain (N/kg) were significantly (P<0.05) higher in control diet while the least saving on feed to produce 1kg weight (%) was obtained from rabbits on wheat offal base diet. It can be concluded that wheat offal among the selected agro-by-products in growing rabbit diet can give lower cost of production. Keywords: maize sievate, cost benefit, brewer's dried grain, growing rabbi

Bio-Economics Of Feeding Cassava Root Meal Based Diets to Broiler Finisher Chickens

A study was conducted to investigate the bio-economics of feeding broiler chickens graded levels of cassava root meal based diets, as replacement  for maize at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% to form treatment diets T1 , T2 , T3 , T4 and T5 respectively, with adjustment in soybean levels across  the treatment diets to have iso-nitrogenous diets. Two hundred and forty- 4 weeks old 'Amos' strain broiler chicks were in a completely randomized design allotted randomly to five treatment groups of 48 birds each and of three replicates with each replicate having 16 birds. Parameters measured included weight gain, feed intake, feed gain ratio, price per kg of feed, price per kg of broiler and weight of carcass cuts. Data were analyzed using  analysis of variances. Daily weight gain for T 1, T2 , T3 , T4 and T5 were 41.16g/b/d, 39.43, 33.47, 25.25 and  16.91 g/b/d, respectively while, daily feed intake for T1 , T2 , T3 , T4 and T5 were 113.35g, 112.75,  102.31, 93.34 and 85.94g, respectively. Results showed weight gain feed intake and feed Conversion ratio values to be significantly (P<0.05) depressed as the level of replacement of maize with cassava root meal exceeded 25%. Among the carcass parameters, only the dressed carcass (%) and thigh (%) weight values showed significant (P<0.05) decrease as the level of replacement level of maize with cassava root meal exceeded 25% while, spleen (%) and liver (%) values showed progressive increase (P<0.05) in weight as the level ofcassava root meal increased in the diets. Cost of feed decreased (p<0.05) significantly with the increasing level of cassava root meal. However, it did not translate to increase in price per kg of bird. It could therefore be suggested that cassava root meal should not exceed 25% as replacement for maize in broiler finisher diets, as beyond this level growth performance is adversely impaired. Keywords: cassava root meal, bio-economics, growth performance, iso-nitrogenous, broiler chicke

Comparative evaluation of fish, crayfish waste, meat and blood meal for broiler production

The effect of different animal protein sources in broiler production was investigated. 300 seven-day old broilers of equal average initial weight were randomly allotted into five treatment groups with three replications of 20 birds each and at the end of 28 days, birds were weighed again and re-randomized to the five treatment groups with three replicates of 16 birds each. The diets consisted of four animal proteins. Treatment 1 (Control) had no animal protein while diet 2, 3, 4 and 5 had 4% fish meal, 4% crayfish waste meal, 4% blood meal and 4% meat meal, respectively. The study was conducted for 56 days with 28days starter phase and 28days finisher phase. Parameters evaluated were proximate composition of test ingredients, growth performance of experimental animals, nutrient digestibility and economic analysis. The results showed blood meal had the highest (P<0.05) crude protein level (77.68%) followed by fish meal (54.53%), crayfish waste (48.08%) and meat meal (41.67%). Cray fish waste meal had the highest (P<0.05) crude fibre (6.07%) while blood meal had the least (2.98%). Fish meal had the highest ether extract (5.99%) followed by crayfish waste meal (4.03%), meat meal (3.67%) and blood meal (3.93%). There were nonsignificant (P<0.05) differences in feed intake during both starter and finisher phases across the treatment groups. Blood meal significantly (P<0.05) depressed final live weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio while other ingredients showed (P>0.05) similarities in the above parameters apart from in protein efficiency ratio for which meat meal only showed significant (P<0.05) depression. The least cost per kg feed and least cost per kg weight gain (naira) were observed with birds on crayfish diets. There was better (P<0.05) digestibility of crude protein by birds on treatment diets 1 and 2 followed by 3 and 4 while birds than on treatment diet5 had the least value (58.10%). Conclusively, the use of crayfish waste meal in broiler starter diets and combined proteins in broiler fisher diets should be encouraged

Proximate, vitamin and mineral composition of earthworm (Hyperiodrilus euryaulos) cultured indifferent Animal dung Media

The experiment to investigate the proximate, vitamin and mineral composition of earthworm (Hyperiodrilus euryaulos) cultured in different animal dung media was conducted using a completely randomized design for ten weeks. Rabbit, Poultry, Pig and Goat dungs were incorporated into garden soil after sterilizing in other to ensure that there was no earthworm or any insect alive in the substrate. Live earthworms were introduced into these different animal dungs which were designated as T1, T2, T3 and T4 for rabbit, poultry, pig and goat dungs  respectively. Diet formulated with maize, palm kernel cake and wheat offal was evenly spread on the diet and then mixed with the substrate. At the end of the tenth week, the earthworms were harvested by hand picking. They were soaked in warm water to kill them and rinsed with cold water to remove sand. The dried and milled earthworms were analyzed for chemical composition. The result of the study revealed significant (p<0.05) differences in percentage dry matter, ash, ether extract, crude protein, crude fiber, and nitrogen free extract and Metabolizable energy. The earthworm cultured in goat dung (T4 had the highest) (p<0.05) crude protein percent of 38.49% while those from the rabbit dung (T1) recorded 28.72%CP. The Sodium content of the earthworms cultured in rabbit droppings T1 was significantly (p<0.05) the highest recording 126.52mg, while others were 86.63, 86.40 and 93.73mg for poultry, pig and goat dungs respectively.1.74 Vitamin A content of earthworms cultured in the different animal dung media were 1.74mg/100g DM, 2.10, 1.36 and 1.30mg/100g DM for the rabbit, poultry, pig and goat dungs respectively. The proximate composition of the earthworms cultured in the different animal dung media indicate that the earthworms except those cultured in the poultry droppings have high crude protein content and can be used to substitute fish meal in livestock diets. Moreover, the high content of ash in all the treatments suggests that they may be rich in minerals especially sodium.Keywords: Animal dungs, earthworm, proximate composition, vitamin, minera

Growth performance and serum chemistry of earthworm (Hyperiodrilus euryaulos) cultured in different animal dung media

The experiment was conducted to determine the growth performance and serum biochemistry of earthworms cultured in different animal dung manures in a Completely Randomized Design experiment that lasted for 10weeks, using 315 earthworms. Five treatments, T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively containing garden soil alone (control) and four animals (poultry, rabbit, pig and goat) manure mixed with garden soil in the ratio of 1: 3 were put into rectangular plastic containers (30 x 42.5x27) cm. The containers were perforated at the base to enable excess water to drain out. 1kg of diet each was formulated with maize offal, wheat offal and PKC in a proportion of 0.35kg, 0.30kg and 0.35kg respectively and were mixed thoroughly with each medium. 63 fry earthworms of similar length were introduced into each treatment that was replicated thrice.1 litre of water was sprinkled to each treatment once every two days. At the end of the experiment, the control group (T1) was observed to have the least values for all the parameters evaluated. The results indicated that the absence of animal dung did not support growth of the earthworms. Poultry dung- cultured earthworms had the highest gain in weight (15.31g) followed by the goat dung-cultured earthworms (13.41g). The animal dungs improved the final average length with the highest value observed in the group cultured in the poultry dung. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in all the serum chemistry parameters evaluated. The control was observed to have 0.53g/dl total protein, 1.80mg/dl creatinine, 10.03mg/dl urea, 13.34mg/dl cholesterol and 6.12g/dl glucose. Group T3 (rabbit dung medium) earthworms had the highest (P<0.05) urea (58.30mg/dl) and cholesterol (106.15g/dl).Keywords: Earthworm, animal manure medi