The study assessed the contributions of stakeholders to livestock development through provision of infrastructure to rural areas of Delta State, Nigeria. The objectives were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of respondents, appraise the role of external stakeholders in livestock development, verify any existing relationship between livestock development and rural development indicators and identify the challenges faced by respondents. A purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the three major towns and 180 respondents. Data were collected by questionnaire and subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. Result obtained showed that majority of the respondents were males (68.3%) with higher national diplomat (HND)/First degree (33.3%) and have a mean age of 42 years. The first four highest external stakeholders were skills training and entrepreneurship programme (94%), youth agricultural entrepreneurs programme (90.6%), job creation agency (89.4%) and FADAMA (80.0%) that promoted livestock development. A significant relationship was observed based on infrastructural contributions to livestock development (p < 0.05) among the variables: market, water project, market and roads. Serious challenges included high cost of feed facilities (mean = 3.69) and insufficient power supply (mean = 3.49). The study concluded that the more available the rural infrastructure intervention, the more developed the livestock sector. The study recommended that stakeholders should make their extension agent available to livestock farmers.
This study was conducted to determine the rumen digesta fatty acid profile and biohydrogenation intermediates of West African dwarf rams fattened with diets containing water-washed neem (Azadirachta indica) fruit (WNF). Twenty-five yearling rams (12.3±2.0 kg) were assigned to one of the five dietary groups with five animals per group in a completely randomised design. Each group received a total mixed ration formulated with 0% (T1), 2.5% (T2), 5.0% (T3), 7.5% (T4), and 10.0% (T5) WNF inclusion for 90 days. Chemical analysis was carried out on WNF and the feed using standard procedures. Digesta was collected from the rumen after slaughtering the animals for the determination of fatty acids profile and biohydrogenation intermediates, after the feeding trial. Oleic, palmitic, stearic, and linoleic acids were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the different treatments. Rumenic acid was linearly lower (P=0.006) in T1 compared to other treatments. The ratio of vaccenic to rumenic acids was linearly and quadratically reduced (P=<0.001) with increased inclusion of WNF. Inclusion of WNF linearly and quadratically increased (P=<0.001) DI-Rumenic acid. The PUFA/SFA was quadratically (P=0.012) lower in T1 compared to T3. Inclusion of water-washed neem fruit in diets of rams increased the concentration of rumenicacid, a conjugated linoleic acid which when incorporated into the animal's tissue has health promoting benefits when consumed by man. Therefore, the proportion of rumenic acid in mutton should be boosted for increased incorporation into ruminant's tissues.
A twelve (12) weeks feeding trial on nine hundred and sixty (960) African giant land snails (Archachatina marginata ) fed various leaves was evaluated. The snails were allotted randomly on their experimental diets. The experimental diets were domestic wastes designated as the control (T1), Centrosema pubescence leaves (T2), Moringa oleifera leaves (T3), and sweet potato leaves as (T4). Each treatment had two hundred and forty snails and was replicated four times with sixty snails each per replicate. The proximate compositions of these leaves were analyzed and showed significant values on the moisture content, crude protein, ether extracts, crude fiber, ash, and Nitrogen free extracts respectively. Data were collected on the performance, carcass characteristics, nutrient digestibility, proximate composition and minerals contents of snail meat. The results on the final weight, weight gain, average weight gain and FCR of snails showed that T4 (121.46, 36.10, 0.52g and 1.49 ) were significantly (p <0.05) different across treatment groups. Results on carcass characteristics showed that T4 had superior live weight, dressed weight, foot and dressing percentage values compared to the other groups. Also, T4 revealed significantly (p<0.05) different across the diets on nutrient digestibility, proximate compositions of snail meat and the mineral composition of the snail meat compared to the other treatments. The study concluded that T4 (sweet potato leaves) significantly influences the performance, carcass characteristic and mineral compositions of the snail meat and should be recommended as snail diet for optimum performance at an affordable cost.
This study assessed the training needs poultry farmers in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. The objectives were to describe the socioeconomic characteristics of the poultry farmers, examine the perceived training needs of the poultry farmers, ascertain the sources of information to poultry farmers, determine the sources of assistance to poultry farmers and identify the constraints to the training of poultry farmers. A quota sampling technique was used to select 84 respondents. The study results revealed that the mean age of the respondents was 33years and more of the respondents were male. More of the respondents were married and had an average household of 6 persons. The respondents were educated up to the secondary education level with a mean farming experience of 8 years and extension visits were annual. This study unveiled that respondents lacked competence among others in feed formulation (85.7%) and medication provision (76.2%). The majority of the poultry farmers possess a high level of awareness from cooperative society (75%) as the highest source of information while few of them possess low-level awareness from extension workers (47.6%). Self-help (mean = 3.26) was the highest source of assistance to the poultry farmers. The constraints such as inadequate farming fund (mean = 3.19), inadequate training provision (mean = 3.10) and inadequate input support (mean = 3.08) were considered to be the most serious. It was recommended that extension workers should be ready to make themselves available to farmers monthly.
Low pasture quality and quantity adversely affect the performance of ruminants in the tropics. This necessitated the search for other feed resources that could augment the deficit, particularly, in the dry season. However, some of these feed resources contain phytochemicals which if not properly processed could be detrimental to ruminants. This study was carried out to determine the effects of processing on nutrients, phytochemicals and microbial characteristics of WAD sheep fed processed Gmelina arborea leaf based diets. Gmelina arborea leaves (GAL) were harvested and used as fresh, chopped, sun-dried, air-dried and boiled-dried. Nutrients and phytochemicals were determined from samples. Rations were comprised in the following proportions; T1 (50% Penniseum purpureurn: 50% fresh Gmelina arborea leaves), T2 (40% Penniseum purpureurn: 60% chopped Gmelina arborea leaves), T3 (40% Penniseum purpureurn: 60% air dried Gmelina arborea leaves), T4 (40% Penniseum purpureurn : 60% sun dried Gmelina arborea leaves), T5 (40% Penniseum purpureurn : 60% boil dried Gmelina arborea leaves). were randomly assigned to one of the rations with eight sheep per group in a completely randomized design. Ninety days post-feeding, rumen liquor was collected for microbial assay using standard procedure. The CP and calcium were increased in T1 and T2 compared to others except for NFE which was reduced. Tannin and saponin increased in T1 and T2 but reduced in T5. Streptococcus spp was absent in T5 compared to T1 and T2. Lower total bacteria count was observed in T5 compared to other treatments. Boiled-drying reduced the crude protein and phytochemicals contents of Gmelina arborea leaves with reduction in total bacteria count in the rumen.
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