Processed sundried and smoke dried
catfish were obtained from custom market, Maiduguri, Borno State. A total of
100 fish samples (clariasgariepinus)
were purchased. 50 fish samples were sundried while the remaining 50 samples
were smoke dried. Two weeks later, twenty-five each of the sundried and smoke
dried were re-sundried and re- smoked dried respectively. Both samples were
subjected to nutritional proximate analysis. Proximate content of the
re-sundried samples were found to be lower than those of sundried, smoked and
re-smoked dried respectively. It was concluded that processing method is a
critical factor in proximate quality of fish products.
Nutritional
potentials of toasted Afzeliaafricana
seed meal as feed ingredient on performance of broiler finishers was evaluated.
The proximate Analysis and amino acid profiles of the toasted Afzeliaafricana were carried out and the
seed meal was used to formulate four experimental diets at levels of 0%, 5%,
10% and 15% for treatments 1,2,3 and 4 respectively on a 35 day feeding trials.
One hundred and twenty brooded four weeks old broiler chicks were assigned to
each treatment diets at 30 broiler chicks per treatment and were replicated
three times to 10 broilers per replicate in a completely randomized design. The
proximate results indicated a moisture level of 6.2%, the crude protein content
was 28.7%, crude fibre 5.3%, Ether Extractive 12.5%, Ash 2.9% and Nitrogen free
extractive 50.6% on dry matter basis. The phytochemical components were Tannin
8.01%, saponins 5.4%, alkaloids 1.3%, flavonoids 11.8%, cardiac glycosides
2.4%, oxalate 8100mg/ 100g, phytate 0.157 % and no level of phenol recorded on
dry matter basis indicating toxic levels of these components. The amino acid
profiles revealed the presence of all the amino acids. The performance of the
broilers showed a drop in the average final weight of the broilers by 2448.6g,
2073.33g, 1930g and 1477g for treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The feed
intakes were reduced to 181.3 g, 200 g, 154.67 g and 116.67 g per bird per day
for treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Average daily weight gain were
44.10, 33.41, 29.43 and 16.31 grams per day for broilers in treatments 1,2,3
and 4, respectively and the feed conversion rate decreased as the levels of the
toasted Afzeliaafricana seed meal
increased in the experimental diets. It was therefore concluded that Afzeliaafricana resulted to extensive
deleterious effect on the broilers and suggests that it should not be used
broilers’ diet unless further studies on the detoxification of the toxic
phytochemical components were effected.
The
Zikavirus strain responsible for the outbreak in Brazil has been
detected in Africa for the first time. This information will help African
countries to re-evaluate their level of risk and adopt increase their levels of
preparedness. These should include the study of potential vectors responsible
for the disease. Identification of potential Zika virus vectors in Kaugama revealed the presence of five species
of Aedes mosquito, Aedes furcifer 109 (19.46%), A. aegypti 92 (16.43%), A. africanus
132 (23.57%), A. albopictus 112 (20.00%) and A. taylori
115 (20.54%). Aedes africanus was the
most abundant species encountered. Analysis of species abundance showed no
significant difference (p>0.05). The abundance of the vectors was suggested
to be due to large number of breeding places in the study area and probably
improper mosquito control. Detection of Zikavirus from the collected vectors is
of great importance, serological detection of specific antibodies against Zika virus from the inhabitants is
valuable tool to prove them as vectors and it is good to eradicate the
potential vectors from the area.
1Esuga Folusho, Orebiyi, 2Taiwo
Philip and 3Solomon,
Funke
1International Relation and Diplomacy Programme, Salem University,
Lokoja
2Department of Political Science and International Relations
Southwestern University, Okun -Owa,
3International
Relation and Diplomacy Programme, Salem University, Lokoja
ABSTRACT
From the earliest times to the present, epidemics
have affected human history in myriad ways: demographically, culturally,
politically, economically and biologically. Thus, humans have never known a
time in history when epidemics did not loom large; this is as true today as it
ever was Meanwhile, the recent epidemic
which hit West Africa as a whole is The Ebola epidemic, which began in Guinea
in late 2013 and then spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone over the first six
months of 2014, is by far the largest in history. The outbreak of the 2014
Ebola Virus Disease in West Africa has taken a devastating human toll. Although
the outbreak originated in rural Guinea, it has hit hardest in Liberia and
Sierra Leone, in part because it has reached urban areas in these two
countries—a factor that distinguishes this outbreak from previous episodes
elsewhere. It is against this background that the study examined Impact of
Ebola Epidemics on Economic Activities in Sierra Leone and Liberia
Radio is
potentially a powerful means of information dissemination. It can provide
general information about agriculture quickly and accurately to a large number
of farmers and create awareness of extension’s production recommendation. The
study was carried out to assess the response of farmers to agricultural
programmes broadcast on Rima Radio Sokoto. A total of fifty farmers were
interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The data collected were analysed
using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentage. Finding of the
study reveals that Rima Radio is the most important source of agricultural
information to farmers. Even though less time is allocated to these programmes,
the farmers were observed to be benefiting from them. The study further reveals
that various organizations such as Ministry of Agriculture and Natural
Resources, Agriculturalist, producers of the programmes and the farmers were
involve in sponsoring the programmes. Recommendations were made in the area of
adequate provision of facilities to Rima Radio, and the broadcast should be
free of charge.
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