Reproductive inefficiency is a major challenge in rabbit production. Leaf meals such as Moringa oleifera rich in phytochemicals have been used to enhance reproductive performance in cattle and catfish. Information on the use of Moringa oleifera Leaf Meal (MoLM) to enhance reproductive efficiency in rabbits and its effect on organs has not been adequately documented. Therefore, the reproductive response of rabbits to supplemental MoLM was assessed. In a 24-week trial, sixty rabbits were ...
Conventional feedstuffs have not met the increasing demand of livestock industry. Rice plant, a food-feed cereal, can provide grains for humans and fodder for livestock. The potential of Rice Straw (RS) as fodder for sheep in Nigeria has not been adequately documented. Therefore, the potential of RS as fodder for West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep was investigated in this study. Using Lattice design, 49 rice varieties of five cultivars: Interspecific Upland (IU), Interspecific Lowland (IL),...
ABSTRACT Experiments were conducted to evaluate the nutritional and anti-microbial effects of dietary Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) in broilers and laying hens. Proximate analysis of the leaf meal showed that it contained 23.25% CP, 13.19% CF, 6.93% EE, 6.4% Ash and 47.10% NFE on dry matter basis. In the chicken broiler experiment, five broiler starter (23% CP) and five finisher (19% CP) diets were formulated to contain Moringa oleifera leaf meal at dietary levels of 0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5% ...
Inorganic feed additives are commonly used in small ruminant production to promote growth. However, the problem of bioaccumulation of chemical residues in animals fed inorganic feed additives has necessitated the search for organic alternatives such as Fossil Shell Flour (FSF). There is dearth of information on the use of fossil shell flour as a feed additive in the diet of small ruminants. Hence, growth performance of West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep fed diets supplemented with FSF were i...
Spermatozoon apoptosis in extended semen is a challenge to artificial insemination in poultry production. Chicken spermatozoa undergo damages in vitro due to lipid peroxidation among other factors. Extender supplementation with exogenous antioxidants could mitigate lipid peroxidation and improve semen quality. However, inclusion of antioxidants such as selenium and α-tocopherol in semen extender to improve quality of sperm cells has not been adequately documented. Therefore, effects of ...
Conventional vegetable protein ingredients in poultry feed are costly and relatively scarce. Moringa oleifera Seed Meal (MSM) is an oil seed rich in protein, which can be exploited as an alternative vegetable protein source. However, the potential of MSM as a protein source for broiler production has not been adequately documented. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the utilisation of MSM as a protein source in the diets of broiler chickens. Moringa seeds were harvested a...
Abstract Quantitative survey was carried out in five purposely selected districts in the Accra Plains of Ghana using focused group discussions and individual interviews to evaluate and document the existing farming practices, opportunities and constraints among smallholder farmers with particular interest on the probable animal feed resources and cyclical gaps with respect to sheep and goat production in study 1. Also the effect of supplementary feed packages based on Samanea saman, Acacia au...
ABSTRACT A total of 64 fresh bacons of average weight 1.3kg and 64 fresh hams of average weight 4.6kg were used in the project. The bacons were randomly divided into 2 groups of 32. Sixteen 32 bacons were divided equally and dry cured under room temperature (DCRT) for 2,4,5 and 6 days respectively. There were 4 replicates in each treatment. The rest of the 16 bacons which were also dry cured for 2,4,5 and 6 days but under cold temperature (DCCT), served as control. The second group of 32 bac...
ABSTRACT Three experiments were carried out at the university of Ghana Agricultural Research Station, Legon, from November, 1999 to November, 2000, to assess field establishment and seed yield of five forage crops at various harvest periods and how their germination can be enhanced to improve pasture production in the country. The studies also examined the influence of storage of the seeds at room temperature, fridge and cold room and duration of storage on seed viability. High seed yields w...
ABSTRACT This study was conducted to evaluate energy and protein feedstuffs for poultry. Proximate composition was estimated and metabolizable energy also investigated in experiments I and II respectively. Sorghum and Soybean oil meal were also evaluated as main energy and protein sources replacing maize and fish meal respectively for broilers in experiment III. Experiment III was conducted as a 3x3 factorial in a randomized complete block design with three replicates (blocks). There were thr...
ABSTRACT Xylopia aethiopica (African pepper) and Monodora myristica (African nutmeg) are used as spices in Ghanaian local dishes and as traditional medicine. The objective of this study was to substitute two spices in “normal” fresh pork sausage formulation with selected local spices and evaluate their effect on sensory and microbiological characteristics of the product. A 4x4 factorial design was used with 4 spice treatments (Control – Syzygium Gaertner (clove), Allium cepa (onion), Pi...
ABSTRACT The main objective of this study was to establish reference protein composition values for selected local feedstuffs such as dry brewers spent grain (DBSG), cassava meal (CAM), palm kernel cake (PKC) and groundnut cake (GNC) for the Nigerian feed industry by determining amino acids profiles and amino acids compositional quality scores. The selected local feedstuffs were each sourced from five locations from northern and southern parts of Nigeria such that there were five samples for...
ABSTRACT The performance and blood composition of rats fed housefly larvae meal supplemented with, or without methionine and lysine or at high concentration were investigated.
Abstract The mechanisms underlying the deficiency in cellular immunity to eBL and its development have not been conclusively investigated. This study sought to examine T cell phenotypes and responses in eBL. Participants recruited for this study included; 19 healthy controls, 21 eBL patients and 26 malaria patients, PBMCs were isolated from peripheral blood samples collected from participants and combinations of T-cell subset, activation marker (CD25, CD69, CD95, HLA-DR), IFN-γ-, IL-4- or ...
ABSTRACT Biotechnology is the use of biological processes, organisms, or systems to manufacture products intended to improve plants and animals for human use. Recently, there are wide potential applications of biotechnology in the field of animal production to increase the productivity of animals through better plane of nutrition, better production and improved health conditions. Hence this long essay was undertaken to review current techniques used in animal biotechnology with emphasis on ...