International Journal of Agriculture and Biosciences

The dairy industries of tropical Asia have failed to keep pace with the speed of dairy development in Western countries over recent decades. Granted, the tropical environment is not ideal for dairy cows as high temperatures and humidities and seasonality of rainfall reduce both the nutritive value of available forages and the level of cow comfort, hence the production potential of the stock. In addition, many of the farmers, usually small holders with less than 10 milking cows, have not been able to develop the skills of efficient milk production. This has primarily been due to poor extension services more so than lack of technical knowledge on tropical dairy farming. The constraints to profitable dairy farming in tropical Asia are many and varied and can be categorised into institutional, government, socio-economic, technical and post-farm gate. This review lists 35 key on farm constraints to milk production technology, based on their position in the dairy production chain, together with a range of possible solution to overcome each one. The future for small holder dairy farming in tropical Asia is optimistic so long as the industry can rectify many of these constraints to improving domestic production of raw milk, particularly those at the farm level.

Keywords: Constraints, Milk production, Small holder dairy systems, Tropics

A biological trial was conducted to study the effect of exogenous supplementation of glucanase on turkey poult performance. Forty straight run day old Beltsville small white turkey poults were randomly distributed into two treatments having two replicates per treatment and 10 poults per replicate. High fibre (8.91%), low energy (2606 K cal/Kg of metabolizable energy) nutritionally marginal diet having crude protein content of 25.91%, and with or without glucanase supplementation (500 BG units/g activity, @ 10 g/100Kg of feed), was fed ad libitumupto 8 weeks of age. Glucanase significantly (p

Keywords: Glucanase, Low energy diet, Performance, Poults, Turkey

The flavonoid contents of different parts of Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle (Lime), Citrus grandis Osbeck (Shaddock/Pummelo), Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f. (Lemon), Citrus paradisii Macf. (Grapefruit), Citrus reticulata Blanco (Mandarin/Tangerine) and Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck (Sweet orange) commonly grown in Southeastern Nigeria were examined. The parts evaluated were roots, stems, stem barks, leaves and peels. The homogenous sample of each of the samples of the roots, stems, stem barks, leaves, and peels of the six species of Citrus was subjected to phytochemical analyses for qualitative and quantitative determinations of flavonoid. All the parts of Citrus plants were found to contain flavonoid, with the highest level found in the leaves of C. grandis and C. paradisii respectively. It was also observed that the parts of C. paradisii contained the highest level of flavonoid when compared with others. These indicated that parts of Citrus plants contained high level of flavonoid and could be regarded as possible sources of it; thus, their usefulness in ethnomedicine as foods and herbal drugs is suggested.

Keywords: Citrus, Flavonoid, Phytochemicals, Plant secondary metabolites

A 9-week study was conducted to evaluate the performance and hematological parameters of broilers fed graded levels of a mixture of sun-dried cassava tuber meal, brewers dried grains and palm oil (CBP-mix) as substitute for maize. The sun-dried cassava tuber meal, brewers’ dried grains, and palm oil were mixed in a ratio of 60%, 35% and 5% respectively. 120 day old unsexed broilers (Anak strain) were randomly allotted into four dietary groups (T1, T2, T3, and T4) consisting of 30 broiler birds per treatment group in a complete randomized block design with 3 replicates for each treatment. T1 contained 0% CBP-mix +45% maize, T2 15% CBP-mix +30% maize, T3 30% CBP-mix +15% maize and T4 45% CBP-mix +0% maize. A significant decrease in feed intake was observed as the level of CBP-mix in broiler finisher diets increased (P0.05) at the starter phase. Body weight and feed conversion ratio of birds fed 0, 15 and 30% CBP-mix diets were comparable (P>0.05) at the finisher phase. The result on feed cost analysis showed that total feed cost and feed cost per weight gain decreased significantly (P

Keywords: Brewers dried grains, Broilers, Maize, Palm oil, Sun-dried cassava tuber meal

The relationship between doe fertility, pre-weaning survival rate of composite rabbits and temperature humidity index (THI) was evaluated. The study was carried out at the Rabbit Unit of the Teaching and Research Farm, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, during rainy and dry seasons. Data were collected on ambient temperature and relative humidity conditions over the two seasons. The THI was calculated from the climatic records. The rabbits were fed ad-libitum and they had access to water throughout the period of the experiment. Amount of feed consumed and weight gained by each rabbit were measured weekly. Service number of pregnancy of doe and pre-weaning survival rate parameters were affected by increase in THI, and were found to vary at different thermal comfort levels. High values of the THI were associated with increase in service number of pregnancy while high THI values were associated with low survival rates of the weaners. Thus, the THI adversely affected doe fertility and kit survival rates.

Keywords: Composite rabbits, Seasons, Temperature-humidity index

Oil palm is the highest oil producing plant. In 2006, palm oil was the world’s most important oil with a production output of 37 million tons, accounting for 25% of the total production of fats and oils. Small scale farmers adopt different methods of oil palm processing which are different from the industrialized methods. This study compares the quality of crude palm oil (CPO) produced by three different methods of oil palm processing in Delta North Agricultural Zone, which include the scientific method, the semi-scientific method and the traditional method. 18 small /medium scale CPO processing units were identified. The CPO samples collected from these units were compared to CPO collected from Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR). Parameters studied to assess quality include free fatty acid (FFA) content, peroxide value and the carotene content. Significant differences were observed in the quality of CPO obtained from the three different methods of CPO processing in NIFOR. Significant differences were not observed in FFA and carotene content of CPO obtained from NIFOR when compared to CPO obtained from the different processing units. However significant differences were observed in the peroxide value of all the samples investigated.

Keywords: Carotene, Crude palm oil, Free fatty acid, Oil palm processing methods, Peroxide value

Rainwater harvesting has become an alternative water source especially in developing countries where many people lack access to pipe borne water. The build-up of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere has had negative impacts on the quality of rainwater and poses great risks to people who depend on this source of water resources. Hence this study assess the physico-chemical and microbiological parameters of rainwater collected in the open in Oko, Orumba North L.G.A. of Anambra State. In the study, direct harvested rainwater were collected from three stations in Oko community and analyzed to investigate the quality of harvested rainwater within the region. Thirty-one water quality parameters were considered and analyzed in the laboratory. The laboratory results were compared to permissible water quality level as recommended by National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The comparative parameters analysis shows that the sample collected rainwater were within the permissible limit except for pH which was slightly acidic.

Keywords: GHGs, pH, Rainwater, Water quality

A total of eighteen evaporative coolants were used for the storage. The experiment consisted of two factors –water quality and air movement were studied. The water quality was in two levels which include open stream, tap water and disinfected water, and air movement was in two levels namely; natural air movement and enhance air movement .Five horticultural produces which include three leaf vegetables(Telfairia spp, Celosia spp and Amaranthus spp) and two fruit vegetables (Tomato and Okra) were stored in the experiment. Each produce was stored at a time. Data collected include visual qualities-freshness, colour and length of storage. Also collected were temperature and humidity of evaporative coolants and the ambient, incidence, frequency and severity of disease. The result showed that shelf-life of leaf vegetables (freshness, colour) was extended appreciably compared to those kept on laboratory benches. Telfairia, Amaranthus and Celosia shelf-life was extended from 2 days to 5, 8 and 6 days, respectively. Furthermore, Okra and Tomato kept on the benches were durable for 2 weeks and 8 days, respectively, while those in the evaporative coolants lasted for 8 and 4 days, respectively.

Keywords: Durable, Postharvest, Shelf-life, Telfairia Amaranthus

The study was conducted at National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Shika, Kaduna State, Nigeria to determine the effect of parity and stage of lactation on milk yield, and relationship between serum constituents and milk yield of Friesian x Bunaji cows. The cows were classified according to their days in milk production (DIM) and physiological status and parity number. The daily milk yield records were used to determine average daily milk yield in litres (l). Records of parity and days in milk for selected animals were collected from records kept at dairy programme unit of NAPRI. Whole blood was collected from each animal through its jugular vein prior to feeding in the morning and serum was separated to determine certain serum constituents. Commercial kits were used to determine total protein (Tp), albumin, total cholesterol, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine amino- transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatise (ALP), calcium, phosphorus according to standard procedures. Globulin and albumin/globulin were calculated. The milk yield of cows in second parity was significantly higher (P<0.05) than cows in first parity. The stage of lactation had no significant effect (P>0.05) on the milk yield of cows in early and mid-lactations. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the selected serum electrolytes (calcium and phosphorus), enzymes, total protein and cholesterol of lactating and dry (pregnant) Friesian x Bunaji cows. A significant (P<0.01) positive correlation was obtained between serum cholesterol and milk yield. A low positive correlation for serum phosphorus and serum albumin:globulin ratio while negative correlations were obtained for AST, ALT, ALP, Calcium, Tp, serum glucose. Parity significantly (P<0.05) affected milk yield. DIM did not significantly (P>0.05) influence milk yield. An increase in serum cholesterol would positively determine milk production of Friesian x Bunaji cows.

Keywords: Friesian x Bunaji cows, Milk yield, Parity, Serum biochemistry

Phytochemical screening, anti-microbial and analgesic activities of the ethanolic extract of Ginger, Zingiber officinale, rhizome were carried out in this study. Phytochemical analysis of the plant extract revealed that the crude extract contains alkaloids, saponins, tannins, glycosides, flavonoids and terpenoids. The alkaloid was found to be morphine – type alkaloid, with melting point of 230-248oC. Anti-microbial screening of the crude extract showed inhibitory activities against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter sp, Bacillus sp, and Aspergillus sp. Analgesic activity of the crude extracts against acetic acid – treated laboratory albino mice, using the tail-flick and hot-plate (40 – 60oC) methods showed that the plant leaves exhibit analgesic effects. The analgesic effect when compared with the control drug, morphine, showed that the extract dose of 26.0mg/g and 27.0 mg/g gave the same analgesia as 1.5 mg/g and 2.0mg/g respectively of morphine using the tail-flick method. Also the same quantity of the plant extract showed a similar analgesia as 2.0 mg/g and 2.5mg/g of the morphine drug using the hot-plate method. The alkaloid of the extract which was morphine-type alkaloid is supposed to be the likely active compound in the plant extract responsible for the analgesic effect.

Keywords: Analgesic activity, Ethno medicine, Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Pain killer, Phytochemistry