Asian Research Journal of Agriculture
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Effects and Economics of Processed Tallow (Detarium microcarpum, Guill and Sperr) Seed Meal Substituted with Soybean in Broiler Chickens Diet
No full textA feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of soaked-toasted tallow seed meal (STTSM) as replacement for soybean on broiler growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass and primal cuts weights and feed cost benefits. The experimental layout was a completely randomized design with three treatments replicated three times. Three hundred and sixty one-day-old Amo broiler chicks were randomly allocated to the three dietary treatments; each treatment had one hundred and twenty (120) chicks and forty chicks per replicate were fed for 56 days. Dietary soybean was replaced by STTSM at 0, 10 and 20% on protein to protein basis. Results of the performance revealed superior (P<0.05) final weight, weight gain, total feed intake and feed conversion ratio of birds on 0% STTSM diet compared with those on STTSM based-diets. The daily weight gain and daily feed intake were not significantly (P>0.05) different among the treatment groups. The apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of dry matter, nitrogen, crude protein, crude fiber, ash, fat, Ca and P were not significantly affected across the treatments. The pre-slaughtered, percentage carcass weights and cut-parts of birds on 0% STTSM diet were significantly (P<0.05) superior compared with birds on 10 and 20% STTSM diets. The economic analysis showed that 20% STTSM diet was cheapest (P<0.05) to produce 1 kg broiler meat at ₦437.29/kg compared with those on 10% (₦458.8/kg) and 0% (₦476.33/kg) STTSM diets. It is concluded that chicks fed STTSM based-diets depressed growth performance, percentage carcass and cut parts weight but with no adverse effects on ADC. Based on similarity in ADC and lower cost of producing per Kg of feed, feed cost savings (%) and meat produced per Kg. STTSM in diet shows good prospect as an alternative cheap feed substitute for soybean meals and therefore up to 20% level of inclusion in broiler chicks diets is recommended
Performance and Analysis of F2 Diallel Cross among Six Faba Bean Genotypes under Orobanche Infested Soil at Giza Research Station, Egypt
No full textThe present investigation was carried out under the naturally infested field of Orobanche at Giza Research Station during 2013/2014 growing seasons. F2 diallel crosses including reciprocals among six faba bean genotypes (Giza 843, Nubaria 1, Cairo 25, Cairo 5, Cairo 33 and Misr 3) were used to study the performance and reaction of genotypes to Orobanche and to estimate the magnitude of combining ability and type of gene action using diallel analysis. Analysis of variance indicated highly significant differences among the entries for all studied characters. The results showed that the parents Cairo 25, Cairo 5 and Cairo 33 had negative effects of general combining ability (GCA) for earliness in flowering, while the parents Giza 843 and Cairo 25 had positive GCA effects for plant height. Also, the parental genotypes Cairo 5 and Misr 3 were the best combiners for pods/plant, seeds/plant, seed yield/plant and 100-seed weight. The parental genotype Misr 3 was good combiner for Orobanche tolerance. Many crosses had highly significant positive specific combining ability (SCA) effects for most studied traits. The best crosses for SCA effects were ( Nubaria 1 x Cairo 5) and (Cairo 25 x Cairo 5) for number of branches/plant, number of pods/plant, number of seeds / plant, seed yield/plant, 100-seed weight, number of Orobanche spikes/plot and Orobanche spikes dry weight/plot. Also for reciprocals there were many crosses had positive SCA effects. The crosses (Cairo 5 x Giza 843) possessed reciprocal effects for all studied traits except for days to flowering and Orobanche spikes dry weight/plot. GCA/SCA ratios revealed the predominance of additive gene action for days to flowering, 100-seed weight, number of Orobanche spikes/plot and Orobanche dry weight/plot. Inbreeding improved tolerance to Orobanche. This occurred in tolerant x tolerant, tolerant x susceptible and susceptible x susceptible combinations. Selection can be conducted in segregating generations of hybrid and their reciprocals crosses distinguished for the development of promising high yield crops and tolerant genotypes
An Epidemiological Status of Prevailing Diseases in Livestock Population of District Quetta, Pakistan
No full textBackground: Livestock population is affected by various infectious and non-infectious diseases which can lead to huge economic losses to the farmers in terms of reduced growth, production performance and mortality.
Aims: To investigate the prevalence of infectious and non-infectious diseases of livestock in Quetta, the northwestern district of Balochistan province of Pakistan.
Place and Duration of the Study: Study was conducted in District Office of Livestock & Dairy Development Department Quetta between February and March, 2017.
Methodology: Clinical cases reported at fifteen different veterinary hospitals and dispensaries of District Quetta from January 2015 to December 2016 was used for this study. Diagnosis of disease was made on the basis of owner’s statement, general examination, clinical signs, postmortem findings and/or laboratory results which were extracted from the clinic record books. Data was analyzed to determine prevalence disease in livestock population with respect to specie and season.
Results: Diagnosed diseases were grouped into six major categories i.e. endo-parasitic, ecto-parasitic infestations, metabolic, systemic, non-contagious and infectious/other diseases. The statistical analysis of the pooled data for two years shows that the parasitic infestation was the main problem (70%) followed by infectious / other and non-contagious diseases (12% each), systemic and metabolic diseases (3% each). A significant effect (P<0.05) of livestock species was found on the incidence of lung worm, wireworm, liver fluke, mange and tick infestation. Statistically significant (P<0.05) effect of livestock species was also noticed on the incidence of non-contagious, metabolic, systemic and infectious diseases as well.
Conclusions: This study provides valuable insight to design and implement priority based research on specific diseases. Further studies are needed to see the effect of these diseases on economics of farms, wholesomeness of available livestock and their by-products. Various diseases including parasitic infestation may have their zoonotic effects accompanied with their detrimental effects on animal productivity. Zoonotic nature of these diseases makes it vital to investigate the species of parasites, communicable to human being and devise strategies to counter them
Growth and Instability in Selected Cereal Crops in Benue State, Nigeria and Its Implications for Food Security
No full textThis study was carried out to determine growth rate and instability in area, output and yield of selected cereals and its implications for food security in Benue State, Nigeria from 1986 to 2012. In addition, sources of growth in output were also examined. To achieve this, exponential trend equation, Cuddy-Della Valle index (CDVI) and decomposition analysis were employed. The estimated compound growth rates for area of maize, millet, rice and sorghum were 4.3%, 9.8%, 1.8% and -2.4% respectively. Compound growth rates of output were 4.7%, 13.1%, 12.6% and 0.9% for maize, millet, rice and sorghum respectively and were significant. While compound growth rate for yield on the other hand showed growth rates of 1.8%, 2.5%, -0.8% and 3.2% for maize, millet, rice and sorghum in that order. Results for instability showed that area, output and yield of the selected cereals were unstable during the period under study owing to instability index of over 10%.
Sources of output growth for the selected cereals showed that increase in maize output was due largely to yield effect. While growth in of millet output was due to yield, area and interaction effect. Source of output growth for rice was due mainly to yield effect while increase in output of sorghum on the other hand, was due to area effect. Therefore, appropriate policy aimed at increasing the growth rates of less performing crop such as investing in agricultural research, timely supply of inputs on the use of high yielding varieties ought to be put in place to narrow the productivity gap, reduce instability, enhance availability and improve food security
Effect of Cow Manure on Growth, Yield and Nutrient Content of Mungbean
No full textThe experiment was conducted at the farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period from March to June 2014 to study the effect of cowdung on the growth, yield and nutrient content of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.). The variety BARI Mung-5 was used as the test crop. The experiment consist of single factor: Cowdung (3 levels); C0: 0 ton cowdung ha-1 (control), C1: 5 ton cowdung ha-1 and C2: 10 ton cowdung ha-1. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five replications. Data on different growth parameters and yield showed statistically significant variation for different levels of cowdung. The tallest plant, the highest number of leaves plant-1, the highest number of branches plant-1, the minimum number of days required for 1st flowering, the minimum number of days required for 80% pod maturity, the highest number of pods plant-1, the highest number of seeds pod-1, the longest pod, the maximum weight of 1000-seeds, the highest seed yield, the highest stover yield and nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur content in seeds were recorded from 10 ton cowdung ha-1, whereas the lowest value was found from control treatment
Economics of Broiler Production among Rural Women in Ahiazu Mbaise L.G.A of Imo State, Nigeria
No full textThis study was carried out in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo state, Nigeria. This was necessitated by the need to estimate economics of broiler production, since broiler production is widely gaining prominence in recent time in the state. 200 rural women broiler farmers were selected using purposive and multi stage random sampling techniques, from which data were collected using structured questionnaire and oral interview. Percentage response and gross margin analysis were used to address the objectives. The result showed that age bracket of 42-62 constituted the majority (39%) of the broiler farmers studied, while (15%) constituted the least with a age bracket of 63-82 years. 79% of the respondents were married while 21% were single. 61% of the farmers had no extension contact while 39% had contact. 86% of the respondents were educated, while 14% had no formal of education. 39% had greater majority of farming experience, 85% of sampled farmers were landlord, while 15% were tenants, 39% of the respondents had the highest household size, and 84% were into commercial broiler production while 16% were private. The costs and return analysis showed that the gross margin for broiler production was N212,875, the total variable cost was N712,125, the total revenue generated was N925,000 ,while the benefit cost ratio was N1:1.2. Major constraints to broiler production and their percentage contributions in the study were; poor marketing price, high cost of labour, poor access to credit and disease and pest (25%). The study recommended that extension agents should be adequately motivated to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness for high production and productivity of the broiler farm. Farmers were advised to form cooperatives which would assist them in getting government grants and loans from bank without collateral. Finally, the need for farmers to be tutored broiler feed formulation in order to reduce cost of feed in broiler production are very important
Evaluation of Extension Service Programming Preconditions for Strategic Improvement of Women Involvement in Agro-preneurial Organizations
No full textThe study was an expo-facto research type that adopted cross sectional survey approach to explore the extension service programming needs as preconditions towards strategic improvement of women involvement in agro-preneurial organizations in Akwa Ibom State. Specifically, the socio-economic characteristics of respondents were identified and the dimensions of preconditions for strategic improvement of women involvement in agro-preneurial organizations were ascertained. The study adopted multi-stage sampling procedure to select 288 women for the administration of questionnaire. The data were subjected to descriptive statistics, factor analysis and relative rank order of severity incidence analysis. Based on the outcome of the descriptive analyses the study revealed that respondents within the age bracket of 37-43 were majority (33.3%) and most of them were married (46.9%). At least 38.2% were able to obtain basic formal education spending between 6-12 years, majority have a family size of 1-5 persons, while 30.2% engage in crop farming and 47% were not involved in cooperative activities. Result of the factor analysis highlighted three major factors that constraints women involvement in agro entrepreneurial cooperative and these were; low human capital in loans management efficiency, high interest rate and unethical practises, the identified preconditions for strategic improvement of women in agro-preneurial organisation showed various likely magnitude of change that would likely occur should extension theory change be applied in addressing the dysfunctional involvement of women in agro-preneurial organisation. Therefore, the study outcomes provide insights for evidence based theory of change programming for likely sustainable strategic enhancement of women involvement in agro-preneurial organisation by the State agricultural extension agency. Policy towards increasing educational attainment and knowledge in financial literacy should be implemented, as this will impact positively on their managerial competency.  
Common Fungi Contamination Affecting Tissue-cultured Abaca (Musa textiles Nee) during Initial Stage of Micropropagation
No full textPhilippines is the world’s largest producer of abaca fiber, accounting for about 85% share of the global production in 2013. Plant tissue culture technology is being widely used for a large scale plant multiplication. Even though it is possible to produce a large number of plants by micro popagation, the greatest problem in this technique is contamination. A wide range of microorganisms (filamentous fungi, yeast, bacteria, viruses and viroids) and micro-arthropods (mites and thrips) have been identified as contaminants in plant tissue cultures. Contaminants may be introduced with the explant, during manipulation in laboratory, by micro-arthropods vectors.
The study was conducted at the Tissue culture laboratory and Research laboratory of the University of Southeastern Philippines, Mabini Unit, Pindasan, Mabini, Compostela Valley Province, Philippines to identify and characterize the fungal contaminants of abaca in vitro cultures. The plant tissue culture used MS medium sterilized using pressure cooker at 15 psi for 20 minutes. The explants were excised and surfaced sterilized with Sodium hypochlorite (Sigma-Aldrich Chenire) for three minutes. The excised explants were aseptically transferred to the culture medium in 20 culture bottles, labeled and incubated at 24°C for three weeks at the growth room. Fungi contaminants were immediately transferred and pure cultured unto PDA (Potato Dextrose Agar) at 28°C for three to seven days. Microscopic fungi were identified using diagnostic keys. For identification purposes, slide cultures were prepared on malt extract agar and stained with lactophenol-blue.
Two species of fungi were identified as fungal contaminants of the tissue-cultured abaca in the initial stage of micropropagation. Of these genera, Chrysosporium sp. like fungus occurred most frequently (10%), followed by Aspergillus sp. (5%). These fungal species were found to cause death of the culture material by some probable sources of contaminations such as handling of plant materials, culture vessels and the laboratory
Impact of Sachet Water and Plastic Bottle Waste on Agricultural Land in the Ada East District of Ghana
No full textThe main aim of this research was to create awareness on the negative effects that indiscriminate disposal of sachets and plastic bottle waste have on the agricultural land at Ada East district of Ghana.
The study was conducted in the Ada East district of Ghana., between February 2015 and July 2015.
Simple random sampling techniques were used to sample 50 households out of 350 households in the study area. The study used questionnaires and interviews. Structured questionnaires were prepared to generate primary data from the respondents. Interviews with key informants were additional means used to elicit primary data. Secondary data were also studied, acquired from different reports, published documents from the internet and data from the Department of Agriculture. The collected filled questionnaires were tabulated and analyzed with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. (SPSS). It was observed that 56% of the population were female, and 44% had not received any formal education. The study identified that 54% of the population were farmers. It was further revealed that 76% of the respondents consumed sachet water as it served as the main sources of drinking water in the area. The daily water intake in the area was 1 litre and this was practiced by 56% of the population. It was also revealed that plastic waste generated in the area has little or no alternative uses. The area lacked provisions for waste management; therefore 44% of the respondents littered the plastic waste on the environment.
The absence of public education, waste management legislation and organized waste management services in the area contributed to the increased indiscriminate littering of waste on the environment and affected agricultural land, resulting in low productivity in the area.
It was recommended that there should be public education on plastic waste management, investment in recycling of plastic waste, and a premium on plastic waste collection and waste bins should be made available for waste collection in public places
Responses of Broiler Finisher Birds Fed Diets Containing Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batata) Root Meal
No full textA twenty eight day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the replacement value of sweet potato root meal (SPRM) as replacement for maize on feed intake, body weight changes, carcass and organ weight characteristics of broiler finisher birds. SPRM was processed and used to replace maize at 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% dietary levels, represented as T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. Two hundred and forty (240) four weeks old Anak chicks were randomly divided into four experimental groups with three replicates of twenty birds per replicate were assigned the four diets in a completely randomized design. Data collected showed significant (p<0.05) differences in feed intake, body weight changes and feed conversion ratio. T2 animals produced the best performance, while T4 had the least values. Drumstick, back, neck, shanks, gizzard/proventriculus, heart and kidney of the experimental birds were similar (P>0.05) among the treatments. The dressed weight, dressing percentage, weights of the thigh, wings, breast muscle, and liver of the birds diets differed (p<0.05) significantly with T2 animals showing superiority over the animals on the other diets. This experiment revealed that sweet potato root meal can best replacement maize in diets of finisher broiler at 10% dietary level and should be recommended for broiler finisher production