Effect of post-partum body condition score on milk yield and composition of Friesian x Bunaji dairy cows

The study determines the effect of dam body condition on milk yield and milk composition of dairy cows. The milk production records of 60 Friesian x Bunaji dairy cows were used for the study. The body condition score (BCS) was recorded on scale 1 to 5 with an increment of 0.25 points. The mean initial milk yield (IMY), daily milk yield (DMY) and total milk yield (TMY) was 6.54, 6.51 and 1872kg, respectively, while the mean peak yield (PY), peak day (PD), peak week (PWK) and lactation length (LL) were 10.61kg, 26.94 days, 4.33 weeks and 283.87 days, respectively. The mean fat, protein and lactose content of the milk was 4.22, 4.15 and 4.00 %, respectively, while the mean fat, protein and lactose yield was 0.269, 0.272 and 0.261 kg/day. The ratios of the milk composition were FPR (1.02), FLR (1.03) and PLR (104). There was relatively high variability in the population of the experimental animals with regard to their milk yield characteristics (CV = 15.38 – 67.13%) compared to the milk composition variables (CV = 4.36 – 26.09%). The effect of dam body condition score was significant (p<0.05) on all the milk yield  characteristics except IMY, PY and ADY. Dams with moderate BCS of between 2.5 to 3.5 during the lactation period takes longer days to peak yield (PD = 27.41 ± 3.27 days) and peak week (PWK = 4.43 ± 0.49 weeks) with longer lactation length (LL = 301 ± 31.17 days) and consequently higher TMY (1995.25 kg/lactation). However, those with higher BCS (>3.5) had higher IY (7.00 ± 1.86 kg) and shorter days to peak yield (PD = 20.50 ± 13.12 days), PWK (3.0 ± 1.95 weeks) and shorter LL (275.33 ± 25.44 days), which invariably resulted in relatively lower TMY (1819.83 ± 335.80 kg/lactation). The dam BCS had significant effect (p<0.05) on the percentage milk fat (MFC), milk lactose (MLC), fat protein ratio (FPR) and fat lactose ratio (FLR). Dams with higher (>3.5) BCS had higher MFC, MLC, FPR and FLR. It is obvious that BCS is an important factor that reflects the metabolic stability of dairy cows.Keywords: Post-partum, Body condition score, Milk yield, Milk composition, Friesian X Bunaji dairy cow

Properties of Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEB) For Low-Cost Housing Construction: A Preliminary Investigation

Materials used for the construction of walls are normally required to possess adequate strength and erosion resistance. The study investigates the suitability of stabilized laterite soils for the production of compressed earth blocks for low-cost housing construction.  Soil samples for the experiment were obtained at two different locations. Sample I was obtained at a borrow pit along Gujba road in Damaturu Yobe state while Sample II was taken at a borrow pit near lake Alau in Borno sate, Nigeria. The results of the study revealed that the specific gravity, bulk density, moisture content and plasticity index of both samples showed satisfactory performance. Different cement stabilization levels of 0%, 2.5%, 5% and 7.5% were used to prepare the specimens for testing. The blocks were moulded using hand operated CINVA-Ram machine. The maximum compressive strength of 2.48N/mm2 was obtained with stabilization level of 7.5% with sample I at 28 days curing.  The strength of the specimens increases with increasing cement content with an average value of 0.35N/mm2. For higher strength requirements different stabilization options can be considered

Dynamics of Micro and Small Enterprises Performance in Nigeria: The Effect of Internal Motivation

To increase the credibility of a results in quantitative investigation, the instrument used in data collection is the most crucial part of the study. However, to get a good result of validity and reliability, researchers need to design and conduct a proper pilot test. The aim of pilot test is to evaluate the level of validity and reliability on the research instrument. To achieve this, a sample of the questionnaire was distributed to experts in the field of management, specifically academicians to make useful comments and inputs on the suitability of the items adapted to measure the constructs. Additionally, the survey method was used to gather response through 50 usable questionnaires administered to micro and small business owner-managers in Kano, the largest commercial center in northern Nigeria, stratified random sampling was applied for data collection. The data was analyzed using SPSS V20. Findings reveal evidence of reliability of the instrument, indicating that all the items are found to be reliable as the Cronbach’s alpha values ranges from 0.62 to 0.87

Socioeconomic Macro-Level Determinants of Hypertension: Ecological Analysis of 138 Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Aim: To assess the relative importance of major socioeconomic determinants of population health on the burden of hypertension in Low-and-Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). Methods: Country-level data from 138 countries based on World Development Indicators 2020 were used for correlation and linear regression analyses of eight socioeconomic predictors of hypertension: current health expenditure, domestic general government health expenditure per capita, GDP per capita, adult literacy rate, unemployment rate, urban population, multidimensional poverty index, and total population. Results: The median prevalence of age-standardised hypertension was 25.8% across the 138 countries, ranging from 13.7% in Peru to 33.4% in Niger. For every 10% increase in the unemployment rate, the prevalence of hypertension increased by 2.70%. For every 10% increase in the percentage of people living in urban areas, hypertension was reduced by 0.63%. Conclusions: The findings revealed that countries with high GDP, more investment in health and an improved multidimensional poverty index have a lower prevalence of hypertension

Management of chylous ascites with surgery and frusemide in a new born

Chylous ascites is the accumulation of milky fat-rich chyle in the peritoneal cavity. It is a rare condition in children. Congenital malformations of the lymphatic vascular channel are the predominant cause in children. Diagnosis is often confirmed by paracentesis of the chylous ascitic fluid. Treatment is generally conservative except in rare refractory cases that surgery is required for closure of the leak site or excision of the lymphatic cyst. Here is a report on the management of chylous ascites in a 6-h-old girl presenting in acute respiratory distress with acute abdominal distention due rapid increase in chylous ascitic fluid volume that was managed with surgery and frusemide

Socioeconomic macro-level determinants of hypertension : ecological analysis of 138 low- and middle-income countries

Aim: To assess the relative importance of major socioeconomic determinants of population health on the burden of hypertension in Low-and-Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). Methods: Country-level data from 138 countries based on World Development Indicators 2020 were used for correlation and linear regression analyses of eight socioeconomic predictors of hypertension: current health expenditure, domestic general government health expenditure per capita, GDP per capita, adult literacy rate, unemployment rate, urban population, multidimensional poverty index, and total population. Results: The median prevalence of age-standardised hypertension was 25.8% across the 138 countries, ranging from 13.7% in Peru to 33.4% in Niger. For every 10% increase in the unemployment rate, the prevalence of hypertension increased by 2.70%. For every 10% increase in the percentage of people living in urban areas, hypertension was reduced by 0.63%. Conclusions: The findings revealed that countries with high GDP, more investment in health and an improved multidimensional poverty index have a lower prevalence of hypertension

Phytochemical and antimicrobial profile analysis of Parkia biglobosa against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Objective: The study was carried out to analyze the various phytochemical properties and to determine the in-vitro antimicrobial activity of Parkia biglobosa methanolic leaf extract against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Materials and methods: The phytochemical screening and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) of the methanol extract were conducted using standard methods. The antimicrobial activity of the P. biglobosa methanolic leaf extract on sheep and human MRSA isolates was investigated by disc diffusion method. The extract was tested at different concentrations of 100, 200 and 400 mg/mL and norfloxacin (10 µg) as control. The MIC/MBC were determined by serial dilution method in broth media. Results: the phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloid, saponins, tannins, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids and terpenoids while TLC result revealed 5 spots with retention factor (Rf) values of 0.14, 0.34, 0.42, 0.56 and 0.66 depicting different component using methanol and chloroform at the ratio of 4:1 as solvent system. The diameter of inhibition zone (DIZ) of the extract on MRSA isolates cultured on agar plate revealed a dose dependent response. The extract had the highest DIZ average replicate value of 20.66±1.76 against human MRSA isolates and 20.66±1.20 was recorded as highest DIZ on the sheep MRSA isolates. Norfloxacin had the highest DIZ of 20.33±0.57 on sheep MRSA isolates and 20.33±1.52 DIZ against human isolates. MIC/MBC revealed the highest values of 6.25 mg/mL/12.5 mg/mL for both sheep and human MRSA isolates. Conclusion: The susceptibility test of crude methanol extract of P. biglobosa leaf has revealed activity against MRSA. Thereby, attesting to the folkloric claim of using P. biglobosa for ethno-therapeutic purposes against infectious diseases in Nigeria and other places. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2018; 5(2.000): 173-181

Seroprevalence of chicken infectious anemia virus infection among some poultry species in Maiduguri, Nigeria

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the seroprevalence of Chicken Infectious Anemia Virus (CIAV) among selected poultry species in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Materials and method: ELISA kit (X-Ovo FlockscreenTM, Cat. No.V085 5 plates. February, 2014 - Xnew kit format), Chicken serum, enzyme conjugate reagent, adhesive cover, wash buffer, substrate reagent, stop solution. Serum samples from village chickens, broilers, layers, ducks, turkeys and geese in Maiduguri were tested for CIAV antibodies using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) as per the manufacturers protocols at the Viral Research Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria. The results were presented in simple percentages, bar charts and analyzed using SPSS Version 16 software. Results: Out of 944 sera from different species of poultry tested, an overall seroprevalence of 38.5% (n=363/944) was recorded in this study. The species distribution showed village chickens had 41.4% (n=166/944) prevalence, layers with 23.0% (n=12/52), broilers 46.6% (n=146/313), turkeys 23.6% (n=30/127), ducks 13.7% (n=4/29) and geese 22.7% (n=5/22) prevalence for CIAV antibodies. Conclusion: The result of this study shows that CIAV infection is present among different poultry species in the study area and therefore highlight the need for continuous surveillance so as to control further spread of the virus. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2017; 4(4.000): 385-389