Evaluation of Public Housing Programmes in Nigeria: A Theoretical and Conceptual Approach

The aim of this paper is to develop and test a theoretical and conceptual framework for an alternative approach to evaluation of public housing programmes in Nigeria. It seeks to address limitations of existing approaches where one theory or discipline has the upper hand in evaluating public housing programmes. This paper proposes a broad-based framework for assessing relationships between input, output and outcomes of public housing programmes through a realistic approach to evaluation based on objective-oriented theory, theory-driven evaluation paradigm and conceptual issues. This approach allows for the use of logical framework to explain the complex connections between underlying programme theory and outcomes. The distinct features of this alternative evaluation approach include: an open-ended evaluation approach; housing providers and residents participation; broad-based and a multi-faceted data gathering approaches and analysis in distinguishing the outcome of different housing delivery strategies in public housing programmes

Assessment of the Qualitative Adequacy of Newly Constructed Public Housing in Ogun State, Nigeria

The purpose of this paper is to present research assessing the level of qualitative adequacy of newly constructed public housing in urban centres in Ogun State, Nigeria. Design/methodology/ approach – The study followed a quantitative research strategy. A survey of 517 housing units constructed through four different strategies and selected based on quota of their existence in nine public housing estates was conducted with a questionnaire as the key data collection instrument. A five-point Likert scale was used in measuring the level of qualitative adequacy of four key housing sub-components. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings – Residents found the overall housing to be inadequate; they indicated that housing unit attributes were the most adequate and thus contributed most, while neighbourhood facilities were the least inadequate and contributed the least to qualitative housing adequacy. Research limitations/implications – The sample population comprised mainly house heads in public housing constructed between 2003 and 2009 therefore, the findings may not be considered to be applicable to all the public housing in the study area. However, the findings can form the basis for judging the performance of public housing in the current democratic dispensation in the study area. Practical implications – The findings imply that giving adequate attention to the provision of infrastructural facilities and maintenance of existing ones can enhance the qualitative adequacy of public housing. Originality/value – This paper is a pioneering effort at evaluating the qualitative adequacy of most recently constructed public housing in the study area

Carcass characteristics and organ weights of broiler chickens fed varying inclusion levels of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) peel products-based diets

The effect of feeding four cassava peel products -based diets on carcass characteristics and organ weights of broiler chickens were investigated with 455, 10-day old Ross 308 broiler chickens randomly divided into thirteen groups of 35 birds each. Each group was replicated five times and a replicate comprised seven chicks. The design was 1+ (4 x 3) augmented factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design. The experimental diets were sundried cassava peel meal (SCPM), coarse cassava peel mash (CCPM), whole cassava peel mash (WCPM) and fine cassava peel mash (FCPM) each at three dietary inclusion levels to replace maize at 20, 40 and 60%, while the control diet was a maize-based diet. The diets were fed ad libitum to the respective grower (10-24 days) and finisher (25-46 days) experimental chickens. Results showed no significant effect (p>0.05) of feeding chickens with cassava peel-based diets on carcass primal cuts and internal offals except breast meat and spleen. Breast meat yield (24.90%) of chicks on maize-based diet was significantly higher (p<0.05) than others. Effect of interaction of cassava peel products and inclusion levels on eviscerated weight and breast weight was significant (p<0.05). The eviscerated weight (80.86%) and breast meat yield (24.90%) of chickens on control were higher (p<0.05). In conclusion, replacement of up to 60% dietary maize with cassava peel products had similar effect on broiler carcass yield and productivity but breast yield. Also, further processing of WCPM to FCPM and CCPM did not confer any advantage on chick productivity. Keywords: Cassava peel, Internal offal, External offal, High-Quality Cassava Peel, Carcass yiel

THE ANALGESIC EFFECTS OF CHENOPODIUM AMBROSIOIDES

Aqueous extract of the leaf of Chenopodium ambrosides, a Nigeria traditional medicinal plant, has been evaluated for its analgesic potential in mice. The analgesic potential of the plant extract was studied using the thermal (hot plate) test. The plant extract was found effective at the dose of 0.4g/kg and 0.8g/kg in elevating pain threshold test. Phytochemical screening of the plant reveals the presence of saponins, alkaloids and volatile oils. The LD50 was calculated to be 4.0g/kg. C. ambrosioides was found to protect mice from the sensation of pain due to thermal stimulus. Key Words: Analgesic effect, Chenopodium, thermal hot plate, mice. [Nig. J. Nat. Prod. And Med. Vol.6 2002: 36-38

High quality cassava peel mash supplemented with direct fed microbial as an alternate source of energy supplement: Effects on performance and blood parameters in growing pig

The feeding trial was carried out to determine the effect of feeding high quality cassava peel mash (HQCP) with or without multi-strain direct fed microbials (DFM) as replacement for maize in the diet of growing pigs on growth, cost benefit, haematology and serum biochemical indices. A total of 90 growing pigs with an initial weight of 25.36±0.87 kg were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments in a 2×2+1 factorial arrangement in a completely randomised design. The factors were 2 levels of HQCP (7.5% and 15%), two DFMinclusions and a control diet with neitherHQCPnorDFM. Pigs on T1 were given corn (40%) based diet without HQCP, T2 had 18.75% of Maize (7.5kg) replaced by HQCP and T3 had 37.5% of total Maize (15kg) replaced byHQCP. The pigs in T4were given same diet as in T2 with addition of multi-strain DFMand animals on T5 were given the same diet with those on T3 with addition of multi-strain DFM microbial. Each treatment group had three replicates with six animals per replicate. No significant (P>0.05) difference was observed in the performance characteristics of the growing pigs among the diets. The body weight gain ranged between 10.97 and 13.56 Kg in T5 and T3, respectively. The least feed conversion ratio of 3.98 was observed in T3 while the highest feed conversion ratio (4.77) was observed in T5.All the haematological and serum biochemical indices examined were not significantly (P>0.05) different among the treatments. There was no significant (P>0.05) effect ofHQCP, DFM or their interaction on all the haematological parameters analysed. There was significant effect of HQCP and DFM interaction on the serum cholesterol (p=0.0062), high density lipoprotein (p=0.05) and low density lipoprotein (p=0.0018). It can be concluded from this study that growing pigs can utilize HQCP up to 15% in their diet without any adverse effect

Fermentative characteristics and in vitro gas production of Pennisetum purpureum hybrid grass silage as influenced by manure type and age at harvest

The nutritive quality of Pennisetum purpureum hybrid grass silage as influenced by manure types and age at harvest were  evaluated by their fermentative characteristics and in vitro gas production. The study was a factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design which comprised four manure types (cattle, poultry, swine, goat) and no manure (control) and two  harvesting times (4 and 8 weeks after cutback (WAC)) with three replicates. Results showed that the mean pH (4.70) of silage made from grass fertilized with cattle manure was significantly (p<0.05) different from the value of 5.20 in silage of unfertilized grass at 4WAC. Lactic acid contents of the silage ranged from 4.32 % to 6.99 %, with silage made from swine manure fertilized grass being highest (p < 0.05). Crude protein (CP) contents of the silage ranged from 6.30 % in silage made from unfertilized grass at 8WAC to 9.10 % in silage from grasses that were fertilized with goat and poultry manures at 4WAC. Neutral detergent fibre (NDF) contents ranged from 54 % to 66 % in silage made from grass that was harvested at 8WAC having the highest (p < 0.05) NDF contents. The highest in vitro gas production of 43.33 ml/200mg DM was recorded in silage from grass that was  harvested at 4 WAC and fertilized with cattle manure. The silage with highest in vitro dry matter digestibility (56.67 %) was from poultry manure fertilized grass harvested at 4WAC with lowest value  (49.67 %) in silage from unfertilized grass, harvested at 8WAC. The study showed that the silage of Pennisetum purpureum hybrid grass fertilized with swine manure and harvested at 4 WAC have higher quality above other manure types as well as unfertilized grass harvested at later stage.Keywords: manures, digestibility, regrowth, Pennisetum purpureum, silag

Haematological and Serum Bio-Chemical Parameters of West African Dwarf and Kalahari Red Goats in the Humid Tropics

The comparative haematological and serum biochemical parameters of apparently healthy 7 West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks indigenous to the humid climate of West Africa and 7 Kalahari Red (KR) bucks introduced to the humid zone of Southwestern Nigeria from the semi arid sub tropical zone of South Africa was investigated to determine the health status and the adaptability of the KR to the humid zone. The animals were zero grazed and fed concentrate at 4 % dry matter body weight basis and Bracharia decumbens hay ad libitum for six months consisting of two seasons; cold dry season (November – January) and hot dry season (February – April).Blood samples were collected once a month via the jugular vein for haematological and serum bio chemical analysis. Data were analyzed for the effects of breed and season using a general linear model appropriate for 2 x 2 factorial format. Haematological results showed that white blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration were significantly (p<0.001) higher in the WAD than in KR goats (19.85 x 103 vs. 15.06 x 103; 91.71 g/dl vs.83.42 g/dl; 25.05 % vs. 22.14 %; 15.03 fl vs.13.86 fl; 5.4 pg vs. 5.14 pg; 381.90 g/dl vs. 368.65 g/dl respectively).Serum biochemical analysis showed that triglyceride was higher (p<0.05) in the WAD than the KR goats (98.3 mg/dl vs. 84.75 mg/dl).It can be concluded that WAD adapt better to the humid tropical conditions than the KR goats because of its rapid and potent defence against infectious agent as reflected in the white blood cell counts. However, the blood analysis of the KR indicated that it is a breed that could thrive well in the humid tropics since the animals were apparently physically healthy.Key words: biochemical; haematology; Kalahari red goats; West African dwarf goat