International Journal of Agriculture and Biosciences

The leaf extract of Scoparia dulcis was claimed by local ethno medical practitioners to have antidiarrhoea activity especially for the treatment of diarrhoea in children. This study, therefore investigated this claim by checking its phytochemical compounds, antimicrobial activities and antidiarrhoeal effects using laboratory mice and Wister rats. Phytochemical screening of the leaf extract showed that it contains alkaloids, tannins, saponins, glycosides, proteins and starch. Antimicrobial assay revealed that the extract has the ability of inhibiting gram positive and gram negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus feacalis, Klebsiella aerogenes and Pseudomonas aeroginosa but exerted no effect on Candida tropicalis. Antidiarrhoea assay of the extract on adult albino mice and adult Wister rats induced diarrhoea using castor oil showed that the extract inhibits diarrhoea at the lowest dose of 30 mg/ml/kg body weight. The dose of the extract that inhibits diarrhoea is comparable with 5 ml of the control drug, diphenoxylate. The extract produced a comparably high protection against castor oil – induced diarrhoea in Wister rats relative to diphenoxylate. The extract thus has promising antimicrobial and antidiarrhoea activities and the findings therefore support the local claims. Further systematic search should be carried out to screen the extract for other bioactive agents and, possibly, analgesic potency.

Keywords: Analgesic potency, Antimicrobial activities, Antidiarrhoea effects, Scoparia dulcis

Twenty-five Red Sokoto bucks with average weight of 10.96±2.42 kg were used to study effects of replacing groundnut haulms with dried Gmelina leaves (GL) at 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 % levels on dry matter intake, live weight, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance and cost of feed. The bucks were randomly assigned to five treatments, with five bucks per treatment in a completely randomized design. The diets consisted of Digitaria smutsii hay, concentrate diet and varying levels of GL fed at 1, 2 and 3 % of body weight (BWT), respectively. A metabolism trial was conducted to investigate the effect of the varying levels of inclusion of GL on nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance. The GL inclusion had no significant effects on all performance indices measured. The 50 % inclusion level had the best result in numerical terms with DMI of 817.92 g/d which translated into higher weight gain of 4.30 kg and ADWG of 47.78 g/d. The varied levels of GL inclusion had significant effects on apparent nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance. The result showed significantly higher CP, CF, NDF, and ADF digestibility and nitrogen retention in bucks fed 50 % GL than bucks in other treatment levels. The studies showed that GL can be included in the diet of bucks up to 50 % for best results. Complete replacement of groundnut haulms during critical period of feed scarcity will have no adverse effects.

Keywords: Groundnut haulms, Gmelina arborea, Red Sokoto goats, Weight gain

The effect of Andrographis paniculata on renal antioxidant parameters were studied in a model of gentamicin induced toxicity in rats. An attempt was also made to correlate this with histopathological changes in kidney. Gentamicin was administered intraperitoneally at the dose of 80 mg/kg body weight, once daily for seven days. Significant reduction of the kidney antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reduced glutathione (GSH) content with marked elevation in the level of lipid peroxidation (LPO) were observed in the present study. Alcoholic extract of Andrographis paniculata significantly restored the antioxidant status in kidney. Histopathological examination of kidney of rats treated with gentamicin revealed acute tubular necrosis, protein inclusion and cast in the proximal tubules in kidney. Groups treated with Andrographis paniculata showed restoration of gentamcin altered kidney architecture towards normal. Thus the results of the present study suggest that Andrographis paniculata plant extract can be used as a protective agent in gentamicin induced oxidative stress on renal tissues.

Keywords: Andrographis paniculata, Gentamicin, Renal antioxidant parameters

The study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of subclinical mastitis (SCM) in dairy cows in the Bhaktapur District of Nepal. A total of 200 milk samples were collected from 50 dairy cows. The California mastitis test (CMT) was carried out on quarter milk samples to determine the prevalence of subclinical mastitis. California Mastitis Test (CMT) of these samples revealed that 52 % of animal suffered from SCM. The samples positive to CMT were cultured in Nutrient, MacConkey and blood agar. The bacteria isolated were Staphylococcus spp. (50 %), Streptococcus spp. (27 %), Escherichia coli (10 %), Corynebacterium (8 %), Salmonella (4 %) and Enterobacter spp. (1 %).

Keywords: Cow, Mastitis, Nepal, Prevalence

A total of sixty one day old commercial broiler chicks (Vencobb strain) were included in current investigation to study the effect of Biomark EPPA® containing Enzyme, Prebiotics and Probiotics @ 2.0 kg/ton diet on body weight gain, feed intake and mortality. The birds were randomly divided into two groups namely control and treatment with three replicates of 10 birds each. The birds were reared under uniform manage mental conditions during the experimental period for six weeks. The experimental diets were similar for both the groups except the product Biomark EPPA, a feed additive containing enzymes, synbiotics and acidifiers was added in the treatment group @3.0 kg/ton of feed. The final body weight gain (0-6) in control and treatment groups were 1901 ± 43.6 g and 2007 ± 50.1 g, respectively. There was 100 g additional weight gain per bird due to the addition of Biomark EPPA. The feed intakes in control and treatment groups were 3151 ± 20.8 and 3004 ± 17.5 g. The feed efficiency in control and treatment groups was 1.62 and 1.50 respectively. The feed efficiency was significantly (P0.05) better in treatment group (1.50) as compared with control group (1.62). Hence supplementation of Biomark EPPA feed additive resulted in increased body weight gain with better FCR in broilers.

Keywords: Feed enzymes, Prebiotics, Probiotics, Weight gain

The effect of inclusion of Moringa oleifera leaf meal at two different levels on the performance and haematological parameters of broiler chicks were compared in this study. One hundred and eight two weeks old broilers were used in the study. The chicks were randomly assigned to the three dietary treatments, such that each treatment had three replicates of 12 chicks per replicate and 36 chicks per treatments. The dietary treatments comprise of T1 which had no Moringa oleifera leaf meal (0 %) and therefore served as the control, T2 contained 10 % Moringa oleifera leaf meal, while T3 had 15 % Moringa oleifera leaf meal. The experiment lasted for five weeks during which time the effect of Moringa oleifera on the weight and hematological parameters were monitored as indices of performance. The result of the final weight of the birds appeared in the order T2 > T3 >T1 (1910.25 > 1863.30 > 1705.62 g), the daily weight gain also followed the same trend, T2 recorded 44.81 g/d > T3 (43.96 g/d) >T1 (38.98 g/d): Birds on T2 also had the highest PCV value of 47.45 % while birds on control diet had the least PCV value of 23.7 %. Similarly birds on T2 had the highest RBC value of 2.73 + 1.13 x106/m. and highest HB value of 17.32 + 0.70 was recorded for birds on T2 and the least is for those on T3. The WBC however decreased in numeric values for birds on Moringa based diet, while the WBC count was highest for the birds under the control diet (T1) (2.73 + 0.03 x103/mm3), followed by T2 (1.47 + 0.06 x103/mm3) and least for birds on T3 (1.28 + 0.04 x 103/mm3). Inclusion of Moringa oleifera in broiler ndiet should not exceed 10 % level of inclusion.

Keywords: Broiler chicks, Heamatological parameters, Moringa oleifera

This study examined women farmers’ survival strategies against climate change in Delta State. The specific objectives were to: identify the adaptation strategies used by them to mitigate the effects of climate change, discover the challenges to adaptation strategies used and determine if the demographic characteristics of the women farmers influence their choice of adaptation strategies. Proportional sampling method was used to select 215 women farmers from the three Agricultural Zones of Delta State. The study revealed that the women farmers’ employ different strategies to mitigate the effect of climate change on their agricultural practices. Among the strategies include reduced use of chemical fertilizers (89 %), use of organic fertilizers (88.25 %), integrated pest management (85 %), shifting cultivation (89.75 %), crop rotation (75.50 %), mulching (90.75 %), cooling of pens (76.75 %), tree planting (85.11 %), change of crop varieties (75.75 %), use of animals and birds that are more heat tolerant (88.25 %). The most important challenge to adaptation strategies identified is lack of information (79.08 %).However, lack of money (49.52 %) and inadequate labour (48.43 %) constitute some hindrances. In spite of the fact that farmers’ have other information sources apart from extension service, extension has been institutionalized to provide information and other agricultural services to farmers, therefore it needs to be well positioned and better equipped in the state to be relevant in meeting the needs of farmers.

Keywords: Adaptation measures, Climate change, Extension services, Women farmers

Cyren (Chlorpyrifos 500 g +Cypermethrin50g/Liter) is one of the widely used organophosphate insecticides. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxicity of this insecticide in males of Swiss albino mice Mus musculus BALB/c strain. The tested parameters were chromosomal aberrations (CA) and sperm abnormalities to evaluate possible damage effects on genetic material and sperms. The pesticide was administered orally to male mice in four different doses (0, 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg of body weight). The mice were killed after three or six weeks of treatment. The results of chromosome aberration assay revealed that all the tested doses and periods induced chromosomal aberrations (CA) such as centromeric gaps, chromatid gaps, chromatid deletion, dicentric chromosome, and ring chromosome. The results of sperm abnormality assay revealed that Cyren has the ability to induce sperm abnormalities in all doses used compared to untreated mice, which represented by hookless sperm, swollen head sperm, amorphous head sperm, defective hook sperm, banana head sperm, double head sperm, double tail sperm, bent midpiece defect and coiled tail.

Keywords: Chromosome aberration, Cyren, Genotoxicity, Sperm analysis

Biodegradation of organic waste using wild and cultured earthworm (Eudrilus eugenia) was compared in this study. Equal quantities of cultured and wild Eudrilus eugenia (0.4 kg) were used in vermicomposting of 4 kg organic waste for eight weeks. Result showed that biodegradation of organic waste using both wild and cultured earthworm was slower than the control but more environmentally friendly. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) between the rate of decomposition of organic waste by the wild and cultured earthworm and nutrient composition of the worm cast from the vermicompost unit, however there was significant difference (P<0.05) between worm cast from the two vermicompost units and that of untreated soil in favour of vermicomposting. Culturing of Eudrilus eugenia for vermicomposting and organic waste degradation is therefore recommended as a measure to tackle waste problems in Nigeria and to provide worms for livestock and fish farming.

Keywords: Biodegradation, Eudrilus Eugenia, Organic waste

The enzymatic activities, pH, temperature, reducing sugar and amino acid changes during the fermentation of melon seeds (Citrullus vulgaris) for “ogiri” production by Bacillus licheniforms have been established. The melon seeds were processed using standard procedures and at intervals of 12 h during which fermentation samples were collected for analysis. The protease activity reached a maximum value of 37.2 units/ml after 60 h, while the amylase activity reached its maximum value of 72.0 units/ml. The pH and temperature increased and reached their peaks at 8.1 and 37oC at the end of fermentation respectively. The reducing sugar increased and reached its peak of 2.70 mg/ml at the end of fermentation, while the free amino acids increased and reached its peak at 3.80 mg/ml after 60 h. The result of the study revealed that various biochemical activities occur during fermentation of melon seeds for ogiri production using B. licheniformis

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