Patterns of Passage into protected areas: drivers and outcomes of Fulani immigration, settlement and integration into the Kachia Grazing Reserve, Northwest Nigeria

Abstract Increasing land use and associated competition for natural resources in the wake of high human and livestock population pressures have been major challenges confronting pastoralists of West Africa. This is especially true in Nigeria where Fulani make up 4% of the national population and prevailing national insecurity issues are impacting on pastoral livelihoods, including violent conflicts over land and ethnic, religious and political disparities. This study examined the dynamics of immigration within the Kachia Grazing Reserve (KGR), an exclusively Fulani pastoralist community in Kaduna State, northwest Nigeria, prompted by concerns from both the farming communities and the authorities about mounting pressure on existing limited resources, particularly in regard to availability of cattle grazing resources. Drawing from a household census conducted in 2011 and employing a range of qualitative methods (focus group discussions and key informant interviews), this study explored the drivers and consequences of immigration and subsequent integration within the KGR community. The study revealed two types of immigration: a steady trickle of pastoralists migrating to the reserve to settle and acquire land, secure from the stresses of competition from cultivators, and the sudden influx of internally displaced persons fleeing violent clashes in their areas of origin. Population pressure within the reserve has risen steadily over the past three decades, such that it is severely overgrazed (as evidenced by reports from the KGR community that the animals run short of pasture even during the wet season due to desertification and the spread of non-edible weeds). The newer immigrants, fleeing conflict, tended to arrive in the reserve with significantly larger herds than those kept by established residents. Pastoralists in the reserve have been forced back into the practice of seasonal transhumance in both wet and dry seasons to support their herds, with all the attendant risks of theft, clashes with cultivators and increased disease transmission

Brucellosis as an Emerging Threat in Developing Economies:Lessons from Nigeria

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, has a large proportion of the world's poor livestock keepers, and is a hotspot for neglected zoonoses. A review of the 127 accessible publications on brucellosis in Nigeria reveals only scant and fragmented evidence on its spatial and temporal distribution in different epidemiological contexts. The few bacteriological studies conducted demonstrate the existence of Brucella abortus in cattle and sheep, but evidence for B. melitensis in small ruminants is dated and unclear. The bulk of the evidence consists of seroprevalence studies, but test standardization and validation are not always adequately described, and misinterpretations exist with regard to sensitivity and/or specificity and ability to identify the infecting Brucella species. Despite this, early studies suggest that although brucellosis was endemic in extensive nomadic systems, seroprevalence was low, and brucellosis was not perceived as a real burden; recent studies, however, may reflect a changing trend. Concerning human brucellosis, no studies have identified the Brucella species and most reports provide only serological evidence of contact with Brucella in the classical risk groups; some suggest brucellosis misdiagnoses as malaria or other febrile conditions. The investigation of a severe outbreak that occurred in the late 1970s describes the emergence of animal and human disease caused by the settling of previously nomadic populations during the Sahelian drought. There appears to be an increasing risk of re-emergence of brucellosis in sub-Saharan Africa, as a result of the co-existence of pastoralist movements and the increase of intensive management resulting from growing urbanization and food demand. Highly contagious zoonoses like brucellosis pose a threat with far-reaching social and political consequences

Preliminary studies on simulation models for determining protein requirements of weanling and growing pigs in temperate and tropical environments.

Data on ·protein requirements of two weight categories of pigs, 4 - 9kg and 4 - 28kg, reared under temperate and tropical environments were obtained. These data were used to predict the protein requirement of pigs at different ambient temperatures. Models Y1 = 156.21 + 0.20(A) + 0.79(1) and Y2 = 190.25 - 1.115(1) + 0.202(t) were derived respectively for animals weighing from 4.9kg and from 4 - 28kg. When these models were simulated using the SIMPTEST 1 simulation program, animals in the tropics weighing from 4 - 9kg were predicted to require 15.50g kg-1 or 11.11% of protein more than their temperate counterparts. Those weighing from 4-28kg in the tropics were predicted to require 4.04g kg-1 or about 2.0% more of protein than their corresponding counterparts reared under temperate climatic conditions.Keywords: Simulation models, protein requirements, pigs, environments

Kola-pod husk as a partial substitute for maize in layers mash

No Abstract

Biochemical Evaluation Of Seeds Of An Under Utilized Legume (Mucuna utilis)

The effect of heat treatment and germination on the proximate and mineral composition, HCN, tannins, phytk acid and the in-vitro protein digestibility of Mucuna utilis seeds were studied. The raw seeds had aprotein content of 35.4%, 7.7% crude fibre, 3.2% ether extract, 5.8% ash and 47.9% carbohydrates on a dry matter basis. The germinated and dehulled seeds had 40.5% crude protein 2.2% crude fibre, 3.4% ether extract, 7.0% ash and 47.0% carbohydrates, while the heat treated seeds had 34.4% crude protein, 11.9% crude fibre, 3.3% ether extract,9.4% ash and 41.1% carbohydrates. Potassium and iron were the mostabundant minerals while the least were sodium and copper. Germination caused a reduction in the levels of all minerals while heat treatment also caused a reduction in the levels of the minerals but with the exception ofCa, Mg and Zn. Processing caused a reduction in all the levels of anti- nutritional factors assayed. The in-vitro protein digestibility of the raw seeds was 89.4%; 91.7% for the heat treated seeds and 76.0% for thegerminated seeds.Keywords: Mucuna utilis seeds, chemical compositio

Management Practices Among Small Holders Of Sheep, Goats And Pigs In The Derived Savanna Zone In Oyo State, Nigeria

A study was conducted to assess the systems of management adopted by small farm holders of sheep, goats and pigs in Oyo State, Nigeria. Data were collected from a total of 25 farms spread over the villages and towns using structured questionnaires. The study revealed that most farmers keep a combination of sheep and goats. Ninety-two percent of the respondents were private owners, while 12% of the respondents indicated a community or group ownership of the farms. Most of the farm holders were males (84%) having 6 to 10 years experience in livestock farming. Personal savings constituted the major source of capital for the enterprise. Sixty-four percent of the farms reared their animals semi-intensively compared with 32% for intensive and 4% for extensive. Eighty percent of the farmers fed their animals twice daily, mainly on pasture along with other feed supplements such as cassava. The animals were infested with various diseases and were treated only when infected. Prevention or control of diseases was done through vaccination and good hygiene and feeding. Most of the livestock were disposed or sold off at adult age.Keywords: Management, small farm holders, sheep, goats, pig

Utilization of maize bran-based diets supplemented with Roxazyme G2 G by broilers

One hundred and fifty broilers (Abor AcrePlus Strain) were randomly assigned to 5 dietary treatments of 3 replicates each. Five diets (Diet 1: basal, maize-based, with no Roxazyme G2 G enzyme; Diet 2: 20% maize bran with Roxazyme G2 G; Diet 3: 20% maize bran without Roxazyme G2 G; Diet 4: 40% maize bran with Roxazyme G2 G and Diet 5: 40% maize bran without Roxazyme G2 G) were formulated and offered to the birds. The aim was to compare the performance of the birds on the enzyme-supplemented diets and the unsupplemented diets with those on the maize-based diets. Feed intake and weight gain were significantly (

The Efficacy Of Biomin® As A Natural Growth Promoter On The Performance Traits Of Ross Breed Broilers

One hundred and twenty day old Ross broiler chicks were randomly alloted to two diets with or without biomine in a completely radomized design. There were sixty birds per treatment and each treatment had 3 replicates–twenty birds per replicate. Energy content of the diets was 3,000kal metabolizable energy (ME) per kg with crude protein content of 22% and 17% for the starter and finisher’s mash respectively. A test diet with biomine (1g/kg) was given ad libitum at the starter and finisher stages, and oral biomine (2mg/bird) was given for three consecutive days at each of the stages. A control diet without biomine was allowed per phase. Biomine, madeup of prebiotics and probiotics had no significantly (P>0.05) positive effect on the performance characteristics of Ross Breed broilers monitored at both starter and finisher phases. Post mortem result revealed that 6.67% of birds on control diet died of diarrhoea due to microbial infections. Biomine a symbiotic natural growth promoter must have served as antibiotics and enhanced the immunity of birds on biomine treated diets

Nutritional status of palm kernel meal inoculated with Trichoderma Harzanium

The ability of Trichoderma harzanium to improve the nutritional status of palm kernel meal (P K M) was assessed over forty days of fermentation. Fermentation within this time period induced various changes in the proximate and mineral analysis of the palm kernel meal. Comparatively, the highest crude protein and ether extract of 33.03% and 8.65% respectively were obtained at 20 days of biodegradation by rrichoderma harzanium. As the fermentation period increases there was reduction in the crude fibre content of palm kernel meal from 14.45% at day 0 to 7.74 at day 10. There was increase in the quality of Ca (0.016%) potassium (0.170%) at day 10 and phosphorus (0.00073%) at day 20 when compared with the control. Key words: Nutritional status of PKM Trichoderma harzaniu

Effects Of Solid State Fermentation By Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus spp. On The Nutritional Value Of Cassava Peels

fermentation and incubated for O (control), 4,8 and 10 days to evaluate the changes in crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and hemicellulose (HEMI). Ten days afterinoculation of Cassava peel meal (CPM) with Aspergillus niger, the crude protein increased from 3.50% to 7.0% and to 5.25% on inoculation with Rhizopus spp. As the % CP increased, % dry matter (DM), CF, NDF, ADF and HEMI decreased. There were significant (