Animal Science

Evaluation of Tri-Hybrid Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L.) Genotypes in Nsukka.

2017-09-01T00:00:00Z

Evaluation of Tri-Hybrid Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L.) Genotypes in Nsukka. Edeh, Laura Ogochukwu Field experiment was conducted at Department of Crop Science Teaching and Research Farm, University of Nigeria, Nsukka to evaluate selected Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) tri-hybrid genotypes obtained from the of Crop Science Research and Teaching Farm. The field experiment was set using randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two replications. Twenty two (22) tomato genotypes of which twenty one (21) were tri hybrid and one (1) ISREALI variety were used for the experiment. Data were collected on growth and yield parameters including plant height, number of leaves, days to 50 percent flowering, days to fruit maturity, stem girth, number of truss/plant, number of flowers/ truss, number of fruits/ truss, number of fruits/ plant, number of branches, fruit yield(t/ha), average weight of fruits/ plant. The results revealed that P X W X TIMA4 was significantly (p≤0.05) higher in number of fruits per plant (83.0), fruit yield tons/ha (16.60), and lower in days to 50% flowering (33.5days) and days to fruit maturity (83days). The ISREALI genotype was significantly higher in the average fruit weight per plant in gram (31.02). The genotype P X W X TIMA8 was significantly higher in the plant height (172.7cm). The genotype W X G X TIMA35 was significantly (p≤0.05) higher in number of fruits per truss (8.0) and in the number of flowers per truss (9.75). Furthermore, the genotype W X G X TIMA15 had non-significantly (p>0.05) higher number of branches (14.5). The results obtained showed that tri hybrid genotypes P X W X TIMA4 and W X G X TIMA35 were the best as they gave significantly higher fruit yield of 16.6 and 13.56 tons/ha, respectively.

Growth Carcass Yield and Blood Profiles of Broiler Birds Fed High Fibre Diets Containing Different Levels of an Exogenous Enzyme.

2018-08-01T00:00:00Z

Growth Carcass Yield and Blood Profiles of Broiler Birds Fed High Fibre Diets Containing Different Levels of an Exogenous Enzyme. Alimele, Chinedu Raymond This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of using Nutrizyme (an exogenous enzyme) on the performance of broilers fed high fibre diets. One hundred and forty four broiler chicks aged 7 days were divided into nine groups of sixteen birds each. Each group was replicated twice with eight birds per replicate which were assigned to nine experimental diets where spent grain replaced maize at 0, 6 and 12% at the starter phase and 0, 7 and 12% at the finisher phase. The diets were supplemented with Nutrizyme at 0, 0.5 and 0.8g/kg at both phases. A 3x3 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design was used for the experiment which lasted 8 weeks during which Average Daily Weight Gain (ADWG), Average Daily Feed Intake (ADFI), Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), Feed Cost per Kg Gain (FCKgG) and Carcass yield were measured while their blood profile was evaluated. Results showed that Nutrizyme supplementation of high fibre diets improved weight gain significantly (p<0.05) at the finisher phase. At the starter phase, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and average daily feed intake were not significantly (p>0.05) affected by enzyme supplementation. Feed cost per weight gain was positively significant (p<0.05) at the finisher phase, while carcass yield of finisher broilers were significantly improved by enzyme supplementation. Red blood cells, haemoglobin and total protein were significantly(p<0.05) higher with 0.5 and 0,8g/kg enzyme supplementation at the finisher phase but at the starter phase, blood profile of broiler birds were not significantly affected by enzyme supplementation. There was significant (p<0.05) interaction of nutrizyme and spent grain in ADWG, ADFI, FCR, and Carcass yield at 7% spent grain and 0.8g/kg enzyme levels at the finisher phase. It was concluded that enzyme supplementation at 0.8g/kg significantly improved weight gain over unsupplemented diets at 7% spent grain inclusion level at the finisher phase.

Effect of Handling of Cattle on The Quality of Beef from Three Selected Slaughter Slabs in Enugu State, Nigeria. Department of Animal Science,

2017-07-01T00:00:00Z

Effect of Handling of Cattle on The Quality of Beef from Three Selected Slaughter Slabs in Enugu State, Nigeria. Department of Animal Science, Ozoke, Regina Damian Uchenna A total of sixty samples of fresh meat were procured from Ikpa slaughter slab and Ogige market in Nsukka central local Government Area. Maami 82 division slaughter slab and maami market in Enugu north LGA (ENN), and Gariki Awknanaw slaughter slab and market in Enugu south LGA (ENS), all in Enugu state. Ten samples of fresh meat for each of slab and market were analyzed for adrenaline content, microbial load and lipid profile. The results showed that there are significantly differences (p˂0.05) in the adrenaline level in the beef slaughter in the above slaughter slabs as well as across the three selected markets. ENN slab was significantly (p˂0.05) higher than those of NSK and ENS slabs. The results for microbial load showed that the dormant microorganisms found in the study were staphylococcus streptococuus, E.coli, lactobacillius, enterobacter, pedococcus. The samples from NSK slab and ENN meat market had the highest bacterial population. The results of the lipid profile showed that they are significant difference (p˂0.05) in total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein across the three selected slaughter slabs and meat markets.

Growth Performance and Haematological Indices of Broilers Fed Diets Containing Graded Levels of Gongronema Latifolium and Ocimum Gratissimum Leaf Meals.

2017-11-01T00:00:00Z

Growth Performance and Haematological Indices of Broilers Fed Diets Containing Graded Levels of Gongronema Latifolium and Ocimum Gratissimum Leaf Meals. Nnamani, Chukwuebuka Iroka A study involving two experiments was conducted to determine the responses of broiler birds to varying dietary levels of Gongronema latifolium and Ocimum gratissimum leaf meals respectvely. In experiment I, ninety-six 14-day old unsexed commercial broiler chicks (Anak strain) were randomly divided into four groups of 24 birds each. Each group was randomly assigned to one of the four starter diets (11.92 -12.09MJ/kg ME and 24.01 -24.05% CP) and four finisher diets (12.26 -12.47 MJ /kg ME and 21.00-21.06 % CP) containing 0g, 100g, 150g, and 200g/25kgdiet) of Gongronema latifolium leaf meal (GLLM) at 6 weeks of age in completely randomized design(CRD). Each treatment was replicated two times with 12 birds per replicate. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum to the birds. In experiment II, ninety-six 14-day old unsexed commercial broiler chicks (Anak strain) were randomly divided into four groups of 24 birds each. Each group was randomly assigned to one of the four starter diets (11.92 -12.09MJ/kg ME and 24.01 -24.05% CP) and four finisher diets (12.26 -12.47 MJ /kg ME and 21.00-21.06 % CP) containing 0g, 100g, 150g, and 200g/25kgdiet) of Ocimum gratissimum leaf meal (OGLM) at 6 weeks of age in completely randomized design(CRD). Each treatment was replicated two times with 12 birds per replicate. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum to the birds. Each experiment lasted eight weeks. Results indicated that in experiment I significant (p<0.05) differences existed among treatments in the values of total weight gain (TWG), Daily weight gain (DWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and feed cost per weight gain (FC/kg) for birds fed GLLM at starter phase. Significant (p < 0.05) differences also existed among treatments in daily feed intake (DFI), total feed intake (TFI), cost of daily feed intake (CDFI) and cost of total feed intake (CTFI) at the finisher phase. However, there were no significant (p > 0.05) differences in the final body weight (FBW) of broiler birds in both starter and finisher phases. Significant (p<0.05) differences existed among treatments in the mean values of packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), white blood cell (WBC), cholesterol (CHL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) of the birds fed GLLM at the starter phase. Significant (p<0.05) differences were also observed in the mean values of all the haematological parameters except mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) at the finisher phase. Birds fed diet 4 (200g of GLLM /25kg diet) had the highest WBC value in both starter and finisher phases. Birds fed diets containing GLLM had significantly (p < 0.05) lower CHL values than those in the control group (in the starter and finisher phases); thus indicating that dietary inclusion of GLLM at the levels used in this study can reduce cholesterol concentration in broiler birds. The WBC values (9100cells/mm3 and 9300cells/mm3) for birds fed diet 4 (200 g of GLLM /25kg diet) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the values for birds fed other diets in the starter and finisher phases. It was concluded that while the dietary inclusion of GLLM and OGLM at levels 100g – 200g had no adverse effect on growth performance of the broiler birds, the inclusion of Gongronema latifolium leaf meal at the rate of 200g/25kg in broiler's diets may not be more cost effective at the starter phase. However, it had no deleterious effect on the growth performance of the birds and it also improved the overall birds’ health. Likewise, the dietary inclusion of Ocimum gratissimum leaf meal at the rate of 200g/25kg was the most cost effective, and resulted in the best overall birds’ performance at the starter and finisher phases.