Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) Journal
Not a member yet
141 research outputs found
Sort by
The Evaluation of the Nutrient Composition and Anti-nutritional Factors of Jackfruit (Artocapus heterophyllus)
No full textThe objective of the study was to determine the chemical composition of Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus). Ready to eat jack fruits were harvested from the garden of Forestry Department, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike. The fruit was identified taxonomically by the Head of the Department of Forestry. Standard methods were used to evaluate the chemical constituents of the fruit (pulp and seed). The moisture content of the pulp (89.5g/100g) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of the seed (10.3g/100g) but the crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, ash and carbohydrate of the seed (16.3, 5.3, 4.3, 5.3, 58.4g/100g) were however significantly (p<0.05) higher than those of pulp (3.3, 0.76, 1.1, 1.1, 4.3g/100g). The calcium and magnesium contents of the pulp were 19.3 and 29.6mg/100g while those of the seed were 40.6 and 53.8mg/100g. The vitamins A and C contents of the pulp (294.8µg/100g, 27.6mg/100g) were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those of the seed (145µg/100g, 12.9mg/100g). The oxalate, phytate, alkaloid, saponin, flavonoid content of the seed were 129,109, 164, 78,139mg/100g while those of pulp were 41, 18, 33, 17, 23mg/100g. The nutrient compositions of jack fruit were comparable to those of most common fruits. Jackfruit seed was found to be richer in carbohydrate, crude protein, fat, fiber, ash and in all the minerals studied than the pulp, while the pulp was richer in vitamins A, C, E, and the B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, folic acid)
Development Of Rice- Cowpea Complementary Foods Fortified Pre Fermentation Using Foods Rich In Calcium, Iron, Zinc And Β-Carotene.
No full textThis study was designed to investigate the effect of pre-fermentation incorporation of a multi –mixture of processed cattle bone, rosella calyces and red palm oil on the calcium, iron, zinc and β-carotene of a formulated rice-cowpea complementary food processed by fermentation and malting. The processed fortificants (Roselle calyces: cattle bone: red palm oil) were mixed in the ratio of 1.7:1:2.24 on weight basis and then mixed with the rice-cowpea flour blends in a 1:2.1weight/weight (W/W) ratio before fermentation for 72 hours. The crude protein values (g/100g) of the samples ranged between 18.21g/100g in rice – dehulled cowpea (RC) to 19.96g for rice- cowpea fortified with bone (RCm)t. Crude fat was found to be generally low in all the samples. Calcium , zinc and iron (73-108, 6- 7, 0.88- 1.9 0mg/100g) values for rice-cowpea fermented by and rice-cowpea malt fermented were lower than the values of calcium, zinc and iron (429- 469, 14-25, 12-15mg/100g); rice/malted cowpea fortified with bone, Roselle calyces and red palm oil emulsified with potash ((RCm)t). The β-carotene content (µg/100g) of the fortified samples were observed to be significantly higher (489.26 - 689 µg/100g) than those of unfortified samples (85.20 – 99.64 µg/100g). The oxalate values of the blends ranged between 60.70 to 78.24mg/100g with RC having the highest (78.24mg/100g) oxalate content and (RCm)f the least (60.70mg/100g). The score for general acceptability of the formulated samples were significantly different from each other. The order of scores for the general acceptability is as follows: Nutrend> (RC)m>(RC)t>(RC)f. with the control having the highest score for general acceptability
Land Suitability Evaluation of wetlands of Adani, Enugu State, Nigeria for Swamp Rice Cultivation
No full textWetland soils of Adani in Enugu State were characterized and evaluated for swamp rice production. The soils were developed from deposits of alluvium underlain by Imo clay shale materials. Data were obtained from six pedons, two in each of the identified soil units. The conventional (non-parametric) method and fertility capability classification (FCC) systems were employed in the evaluation
Monthly Prevalence and Intensity of Gastrointestinal Nematode Parasitism in a Lone Secluded Herd of Cattle in South Eastern Nigeria
No full textThe annual prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal (GI)nematode infections in a lone secluded herd of cattle grazed within the confines of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike was determined from December 2012 to January 2013. Faecal samples were collected per rectum twice monthly
Socio-Economic Determinants of Adoption of Snail Farming Technologies by Small-Scale Farmers in Mbaitolu Local Government Area, Imo State, Nigeria
No full textThe study examined the determinants of adoption of snail farming technologies in Mbaitolu LGA of Imo State. The objective of the study were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of snail farmers; determine the level of adoption of the technology by snail farmers and identify constraints affecting farmers in snail farming technologies adoption. Data were collected with pre-tested questionnaire while a sample size of 106 farmers for the study was purposively selected. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency count, mean and percentages), adoption model (AIETA) and inferential statistics such as multiple regression analysis. The results showed that majority (64.15%) of snail farmers were male. Friends/neighbours (81.13%) was the major source of information on snail farming technologies. The result showed that, of the adoption of the technologies recorded the highest adoption mean score was 5.21. This was followed by the use of perforated drums with mean score of 4.73. The use of water supply 1mx1m cage and sprinkler had adoption mean score of 4.47, 4.41 and 4.35 respectively. Inadequate extension contact, high cost of feed concentrate were some of the problems affecting the adoption of snail farming technologies in the study area. Level of education, income realized, age and farming experience were found to be variables, significantly affecting the level of adoption of snail farming technologies. It was recommended that extension delivery strategies be diversified and strengthened to boost snail farming through enhanced adoption of improved production technologies.
Keywords: (Socio economic, Determinants, Adoption, Snail farming, Technologies
Determinants of the Risk Attitudes of Agribusiness Entrepreneurs in Abia State
No full textAgribusiness is a viable sector where entrepreneurs can invest, considering the agrarian nature of Nigeria and in the face of growing unemployment and poverty rate. The peculiarity of risk in agribusiness motivated the study on the determinants of the risk attitude of agribusiness entrepreneurs in Abia State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was adopted in the selection of the agribusiness entrepreneurs for the study. A well structured questionnaire and interview schedule were used to collect the required data. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logit (MNL) regression technique were used in the analysis of the data. The agribusiness entrepreneurs were identified with different risk types which included financial, political, currency, market, price etc. while the risk reduction strategies adopted include diversification, integration, insurance, forward contracting, sequential marketing, cooperative marketing, foreign exchange hedging, borrowing, savings and other strategies. The multinomial logit (MNL) regression model was statistically significant at 1% based on the chi square value of 124.93. The (Pseudo R-square) Cox and Snell, Mcfadden and the Nagelkerke R square value which provide the information on the strength of the model, were 0.750, 0.853 and 0.656 respectively suggesting that 75.0, 85.3 and 65.6 percent of the variability is explained by the set of variables used in the model. The proportional by chance accuracy rate indicates that the model is 83.3 percent correct. The significant positive determinants of average risk attitude include gender, labour size, income and sources of capital while the significant negative determinant is experience. The significant positive determinants of high risk attitude are capital and investment while the significant negative determinants of high risk attitude are capital structure, cost of capital and sources of capital. The study recommends among others, that the entrepreneurs should understand their attitude towards risk, as well as identify the types of risk attributed to their nature of agribusiness and consult risk experts on the risk reduction and management strategies that will suit the peculiar agribusiness enterprise
Effect of Phosphorus Fertilizer Rates on the Growth and Fresh Pod Yield of Two Vegetable Cowpea Varieties (Vigna unguiculata (l) walp.) In Umudike South Eastern Nigeria.
No full textThe experiment which was conducted at the eastern farm of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, in the 2006 and 2007 cropping seasons evaluated the effect of phosphorus fertilizer on the growth and fresh pod yield of two vegetable cowpea varieties (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) in Umudike South eastern Nigeria. Results revealed that the measured growth characters; leaf area index (LAI) and vine length were not significantly (P>0.05) influenced by both varieties and phosphorus fertilizer rates (0, 15, 30, kg P205/ha) in both 2006 and 2007. However, LAI for the evaluated phosphorus and varieties (IT81D-1228-12 and IT81D-1228-14) in 2006/2007 increased with age at 4WAP, 8WAP, 10WAP and depreciated at 12WAP, following compulsory leaf-fall due to senescence, with higher LAI obtained at 8WAP and 10WAP. The rate of phosphorus fertilizer at 15kg P205/ha gave higher LAI at 4WAP in 2006 and 2007, compared with what was obtained at 0kg P205/ha (control). Although the vine length of both varieties were statistically similar, IT81D-1228-12 (semi erect) produced longer vines than IT81D-1228-14 (erect) proving that IT81D-1228-12 is a variety with high genetic potential for producing longer vines. Number of fresh pods / plant in 2006 and 2007 increased from 0kg P205/ha to 15kg P205/ha where higher fresh pod/plant of 20.24 pods and 19.68 pods were recorded. Higher mean weight of fresh pod/plant of 51.8g (2006) and 48.59g (2007) as well as mean fresh pod yield of 14.80 t/ha (2006) and 13.88 t/ha (2007) were obtained at the rate of 0kg P205/ha. Although the yields of both varieties were statistically similar, erect variety (IT8ID-1228-14) yielded higher number of fresh pods/plant, weight of fresh pods/plant and fresh pod yield per hectare compared with that of semi-erect (IT8ID-1228-12). The successful cultivation of vegetable cowpea in south eastern Nigeria requires the adoption of improved variety such as IT8ID-1228-14 (erect) as well as phosphorus fertilizer application at 15 to 30kg P205/ha
An Outbreak of Infectious Sinusitis in 14 Weeks Old Turkeys
No full textFourteen weeks old turkeys reared on deep litter system manifested swellings of the periorbital areas that was progressive. Other clinical signs observed in the flock included a morbidity rate of about 2.5%, ocular and nasal discharges, coughing, inappetence and weight loss
Proximate Composition and Organoleptic Evaluation of Bambara Groundnut Pudding (voandzeia subterrenea l. thouars) (okpa) Produced by Different Methods
No full textThe study was designed to examine the effect of processing and enrichment on the acceptability and proximate composition of okpa (steamed bambara nut). Dry bambara nut seeds (Voaridzeia subterranean L. Thouras) were soaked, dehulled and wet milled into paste (WMP) using the conventional method, while another portion was dehulled and dry milled into flour (DMF). Both samples were mixed with ingredients and steamed to obtain the enriched okpa (DMFE and WMPE) and these were compared with unenriched okpa samples (DMFU and WMPU). The resultant flour, paste and cooked samples were subjected to sensory and proximate analysis using standard procedures. Result showed that WMP had significantly higher (P<0.05) moisture content and fat content (10.7±0.03% and 6.40±0.03%) than DMF (9.30±0.09% and 5.42±0.00%), respectively. Protein (14.32±0.05% and 12.76±0.00%), carbohydrate (13.69±0.04% and 17.18±0.23%) and fat (6.29±0.00% and 6.20±0.01%) content were significantly higher (p<0.05) in enriched okpa samples (DMFE and WMPE). Sensory evaluation of the enriched okpa samples showed that they were well accepted by the panelists. Addition of other ingredients significantly improved the nutrient content of the conventional okpa.
(Keywords: Okpa, enrichment, processing, proximate, acceptability
Analysis of Patronage of Health Care and Microcredit Packages (of Non-Governmental Organizations) by Farm Households in Umuahia, Nigeria
No full textThis study examined patronage to health care and microcredit packages of selected Non-Governmental Organizations by farm households in Umuahia, Nigeria