Journal of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Animal Sciences

The Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Organ Characteristics of Weaner Rabbits Fed Sun Dried Bovine Rumen Content as Replacement for Maize

2023-01-13T08:40:17+03:00

The aim of this study was to investigate the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and organ characteristics of weaner rabbits fed sun dried bovine rumen content-based diet as energy source in weaner rabbits. A total of eighty (8 weeks) crosses of New Zealand White x Chinchila weaner rabbits consisting of 40 males and 40 females weighing 880-920g were randomly allotted to 4 dietary treatments in a completely randomized experimental design with 5 replicates of 4 rabbits each. Treatments were 4 experimental diets (T1, T2 T3 and T4) replacing 0, 30, 60, and 100% maize in the diets respectively. Results showed that rabbits on dried rumen contents had higher growth performance, percentage nutrient digestibility, and improved organ traits compared to the control group. The growth performance of rabbits and percentage nutrient digestibility increased as the level of dried rumen content increased in the diet. In conclusion, dried rumen content can be used to replace 100% maize in diets of rabbits by rabbit producers.

The Impact of Avian Influenza Outbreaks on the Poultry Industry in the Bono East Region of Ghana

2023-07-24T09:03:57+03:00

A study was conducted to determine the effect of the outbreaks of Avian Influenza on the current status of the poultry industry in the Bono East region of Ghana. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods using primary data gathered from the use of a questionnaire, from 37 poultry farmers in six districts of the Bono East region namely; Atebubu-Amantin (4), Kintampo North (4), Nkoranza North (1), Techiman South (24), Techiman North (3) and Sene East (1). To establish some sort of priority among the impacts of the outbreak on the poultry industry in the study area, the impacts were ranked in order of importance, using an Excel spreadsheet. The results revealed that the majority of the farmers (73%) have birds less than 10,000, thus into small-scale production whilst 21.6 % and 5.4 % are into medium and large scales respectively. Also, 60% of the farmers are very well conversant with the Avian Influenza disease, whilst 40% have little knowledge of the disease. The result further reveals that 11.1 % of farmers recorded outbreaks of the disease between July 2021 and May 2022, whilst 12.5 % of the respondents had their birds destroyed as a result of the outbreak. The study concludes that, the current outbreak of Avian Influenza had a negative impact on the poultry industry in the study area. By way of recommendation, we suggest a continuous education of farmers on the recognition of the disease, and an active surveillance by officials of the Veterinary Services Directorate.

Assessment of Nutritive Value of Annona Senegalensis Leave as a Potential Feed Resource in the Livestock Production

2023-08-01T15:49:52+03:00

TThe leaves of the majority of the browse plants have been recognized as livestock feed as a result of their high carbohydrate, protein, vitamins and mineral contents; therefore they can be considered a reliable feed resource. In view of this, Annona senegalensis leaves were studied for their nutritional content in the current work. The study of the nutritive value of Annona senegalensis leave, via the proximate; mineral; vitamin compositions, and Phyto-chemical content was accomplished by the use of standardized analysis methods. The result of the proximate composition shows that the sample contained 7.40% moisture, 2.05% ash, crude fiber 32.78%, 2.69% crude protein, 1.98% fat and oil, and 53.10% carbohydrates, mineral content of the sample indicates that calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, lead and iron values were 0.66%, 4.68%, 3.12%, 22.16, 1.88, 0.10 and 0.21. The phytochemical content in the sample indicates the existence of saponin, tannin, steroid, flavonoid, and glycoside. Based on the obtained result it is concluded that the leaves of Annona senegalensis are rich and a good source of carbohydrates; crude fiber; crude protein; some minerals, and vitamins Therefore, can be used as a potential livestock feed.

Validation of the Identification of Some Foodborne Enteric Bacteria by Fatty Acid Profiles and Real-Time PCR

2023-09-29T14:16:42+03:00

Foodborne pathogens are responsible for a great number of diseases with significant effects on human health. Real time PCR (RT-PCR) assay can be used to identify pathogens using species-specific primers. Fatty acid profiles can be used as a rapid method for identification of foodborne pathogenic bacteria, using gas chromatography-coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We compared between RT-PCR and cellular fatty acid (CFA) profiles, for identification of four foodborne pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Proteus mirabilis and Salmonella enterica). Unique primers designed by us were used for identifying the four pathogenic bacterial species using RT-PCR. Moreover, the traditional method for analysis (CFA) of bacteria was modified by addition a concentration step at the end of the process. Results revealed that RT-PCR was superior to CFA profiles, and the accuracy of RT-PCR method was 100%; while it was between 81% for E. cloacae and P. mirabilis, and 100% for S. enterica in CFA profiles.

Pathogenic Bacteria Causing Deterioration in Poultry Meat

2023-07-18T16:00:41+03:00

Poultry meat, which has a very important place in human nutrition, is a very suitable environment for the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria due to its rich nutrient content. It is extremely important to pay attention to hygiene and safety measures at every stage of production from the beginning to the end. Despite all the precautions taken, microorganism contamination may be inevitable. Salmonella spp, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter jejuni, Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium perfringens are the most common pathogenic bacteria found in poultry meat, or rather, posing a risk because it threatens human health.

In this review, information about pathogenic bacteria that may pose a risk in poultry meat is given and some scientific studies are mentioned.

Agrarian Households Vulnerability to Food Insecurity in Ogun State Nigeria

2023-09-28T10:37:29+03:00

Development And Assessment of Quality Attributes of Chevon Bacon Capra aegagrus hircus (Goat)

2023-10-19T23:11:20+03:00

To help goat farmers in value addition and improve return on their farming activities, chevon value addition was studied. This study was carried out to develop and study the acceptability of chevon bacon. All results were subjected to statistical analysis using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) version 9.4 (SAS, 2012). Results from nutritional analysis showed that pork had four times more fat than chevon bacon. Iron content form chevon was fourfold that of pork at 2.95mg and 0.72 mg respectively. Zinc from pork was half than of chevon bacon at 1.89mg and 4.17 mg respectively. Microbial results for both chevon and pork bacon were negative of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Pork and chevon bacon had 1x10³ and 1x10² cfu respectively. From sensory evaluation chevon had lower modal scores on aroma and mouthfeel than pork bacon. On the basis of the odds ratios, the panelists were 3.77 times more likely to prefer chevon bacon over pork bacon for its overall flavour. Using the Principal component analysis for both pork and chevon bacon, mouth feel and initial juiciness were the main determinants of preference for chevon bacon. Valorisation of goat meat has the potential to drive farmers to rear more goats and increase their incomes and livelihoods.

Allelopathic effects of Lantana Camara Extract on weeds and cultivated crops: A systematic review

2023-09-22T13:40:17+03:00

The current review was aimed at investigating the potential of Lantana camara extract as an effective alternative for synthetic herbicides to control weeds and also establishing the effects of allelochemicals in the extract on the germination and growth of cultivated crops. The researchers assessed abstracts and articles published from 2011 to 2022. The review has established that although L. camara extract has allelopathic properties to suppress the germination and growth of weeds in the fields. However, the extract is not entirely selective for the plants it inhibits; as a result, it also suppresses the growth of cultivated crops. Therefore, the review recommends that the extract should only be used on crops whose germination and growth cannot be suppressed by it. There is a need to establish the proper timing of the application of the extract to avoid the suppression of germination and early seedling growth in cultivated crops. More studies have been done on the effects of extract on plants in the Poaceae, Fabaceae, and Brassicaceae families. Therefore, more research has to be done to evaluate the allelopathic effects of L. camara extract on agronomic crops under Onagraceae , Solanaceae, Asteraceae, Convolvulaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Malvaceae, and Amaranthaceae families.There is limited information on the effects of the L. camara extract on the yields of the crops; as such, this review recommends that further research be conducted to evaluate the effects of the allelochemicals of L. camara on the yields of the cultivated crops in the fields where the extract has been applied.

Laying Performance, Yolk Cholesterol, Serum Lipid Profile and Haematological Response of Layer Hens Fed Diet Containing Moringa Leaf Meal and Garlic Powder as Feed Additive

2023-11-13T12:41:04+03:00

The aim of the research was to determine the laying performance, yolk cholesterol, serum lipid profile and haematological response of hens fed a diet containing moringa leaf meal and garlic powder as feed additives. A total of 220 (18 w) Isa brown hens weighing 1.91-1.94 kg at the point of first lay were allotted to 4 treatment groups in a completely randomized design with 5 replicates of 11 birds each. T1: 0 g moringa leaf meal + 0 g garlic powder kg-1, T2: 0 g garlic powder +50 g moringa leaf meal kg-1, T3: 50 g garlic powder+ 0 g moringa leaf meal kg-1, T4: 50 g moringa leaf meal +50 g garlic powder kg-1. From the results, hen day egg production improved significantly higher in treatment 3 compared to other treatment groups. Treatment 4 had the highest (p<0.05) value for egg weight among the treatments. Yolk cholesterol, serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein values were higher (p<0.05) in T1 compared to treatment groups. High density lipoprotein values of T2 and T4 were the same (p>0.05), but higher (p<0.05) than the values recorded in T1 and T3. Haematological values such as RBC and WBC improved significantly in the treatment groups compared to control group (T1). This showed that the immunity of the birds was not compromised. In conclusion, since, hen day egg production reduced significantly with the combination of moringa and garlic, it was, recommended that T3 can be included in diet of hens for improved laying performance.