Quality Evaluation of Plantain Chips Sold in Makurdi Metropolis

IKYA, J.K.^1*, ABAH, J.O.¹ AND HAMID, A.F.² 

¹Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.

²Adamawa State College of Agriculture Mayo Belwa, Adamawa State, Nigeria.

 E-mail: aveyina2012@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

In this study, plantain chips sold in three selected locations (High Level, Wurukum and North Bank) in Makurdi metropolis were purchased and subjected to proximate composition, microbiological and nutritional quality analyses. Results obtained showed that; the proximate composition (on dry weight bases) ranged as follows: 5.76 – 6.25%, 3.20 – 5.08%, 0.44 – 0.52%, 2.23 – 2.38%, 85.85 – 88.36% and 405.28 – 414.12 Kcal for protein, fat, fibre, ash, carbohydrate and energy respectively. The mean microbial counts (CFU/g) for the samples of plantain chips purchased showed that they were all contaminated but safe for consumption. The values ranged from 1.71 × 10⁴ – 3.60 × 10⁴, 3.80 × 10³ – 1.82 × 10⁴ and 3.20 × 10⁴ – 1.48 × 10⁵ for total aerobic bacterial, coliform and fungal counts respectively. The result of nutritional quality evaluation indicated that casein (control) supported more gain in weight (5.42 g) of rats after 14 days of the feeding trial period than the test diets containing plantain chips (1.10 g, 1.25 g, and 1.15 g for High Level, Wurukum and North Bank respectively). The nutritional values of test diets especially in terms of PER (0.58, 0.65, and 0.51) and TND (98.95, 99.48 and 98.67) compared favourably to that of casein (control), with PER and TND of 0.69 and 99.87 respectively. No marked variation was observed in the overall quality of samples obtained from the different locations. Plantain chips sold in Makurdi metropolis was found to be of good quality and should be consumed as a nutritious and healthy snack.

Cyperus Esculentus L. (Tigernut) Increases Estrogen Levelin

Female Albino Wistar Rats

AGBAI E.O¹. AND NWANEGWO C.O¹.

¹Department of Human Physiology, Madonna University Elele, Rivers State Nigeria.

²Department of Human Physiology, Imo State University, Owerri Nigeria.

 E-mail: madonna3k5@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The effect of methanolic extract of Cyperus esculentus L. on follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin and estrogen in twenty four albino wistar rats and in four control rats. After six weeks administration of extract of Cyperus esculentus L., results showed no statistically significant difference in LH levels at P > 0.05 between Group A (5.23 ± 0.92) compared with experimental Group B (5.55 ± 0.29), Group C (5.33 ± 0.74) and Group D (6.10 ± 0.15). FSH levels showed statistically significant difference at P < 0.05 between Group A (12.20 ± 0.94) compared to Group B (11.30 ± 1.93) and Group C (12.18 ± 1.24). There was no statistically significant difference at P > 0.05 between Group A (12.20 ± 0.94) compared with Group D (14.18 ± 2.00). Prolactin levels showed no statistically significant differences at P > 0.05 between Group A (1.83 ± 0.38) compared with Group B (2.03 ± 0.05), Group C (1.88 ± 0.11) and Group D (2.25 ± 0.21). The estrogen levels showed statistically significant differences at P < 0.05 between Group A (16.83 ± 1.48) compared to Group B (19.85 ± 2.17). There was also statistically significant difference in estrogen levels at P < 0.05 between Group A (16.83 ± 1.48) compared to Group C (24.03 ± 4.31). There was a statistically significant difference at P < 0.05 between Group A (16.83 ± 1.48) compared to Group D (31.40 ± 4.19). Our finding revealed that methanolic extract of Cyperus esculentus significantly increased serum estrogen level as the dose concentration of extract increased, but did not statistically increase follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and prolactin levels.

Smoke- Curing Indices of Some Frozen Fish Species Using Traditional Smoking Kiln in Abeokuta, Ogun State

¹AKINYEMI, A.A., ¹IDOWU, A.A., ¹OLAOYE, O.J., ²TAIWO AYANSANWO, ²A.O. KUDORO AND ²B.B. ADEKOYA

¹Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria.

²Ogun State Agriculture Development Programme, Olabisi Onabanjo Way, Idi – Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

E-mail: adeoluakinyemi@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The preservative effect of the smoking process results from drying and the deposition in the flesh of natural wood-smoke chemicals. The smoke-curing indices of Hake – (Merluccius sp); Sardine – (Sardinella sp); Mackerel – (Scomberomerus tritor) and Herring – (Sardinella maderensis) were assessed using cut-out drum smoking kiln. The fishes were weighed before smoking and the weighing continued at 30 minutes intervals during smoking until constant weights for each fish species was attained. The temperature in the smoking kiln during smoking curing ranged between 40 – 70⁰C, there was a continual and gradual loss of weight in Hake – (Merluccius sp); Sardine – (Sardinella sp); Mackerel – (Scomberomerus tritor) and Herring – (Sardinella maderensis) examined as the smoking time increases until a constant weight was reached at different times. Sardine – (Sardinella sp) had the highest smoking curing index of 62.5% and Hake – (Merluccius sp) was least with 43.75%. Thus, the shelf life of this fish species become enhanced at these levels of smoking which, enable the processors  time before the sales of their

In vivo Efficacy of Aqueous Extractof Citrullus lanatus Leaf on Trypanosoma brucei Infected Albino Rats

¹BIU, A.A., ²BURATAI, L.B., ²ONWUATOGWU, J., ¹MOHAMMED, A., ²AGADA, N.O. AND ¹KONTO, M.

¹Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.

² Department of Biochemistry, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.

  E-mail:  biuvet@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to determine the In vivo activity of Citrullus lanatus leaf aqueous extract on Trypanosoma brucei infected albino rats. Parasitaemia was evaluated using the rapid matching technique.  The parasites were detected in the peripheral blood of infected albino rats 2 days post infection, with the level of parasitaemia in all graded doses of the extract decreasing significantly (p < 0.05) from day 4 up to the 10^th day post infection compared with the positive control which had a corresponding increase in parasitaemia. There was complete clearance of parasitaemia in rats administered diminazene aceturate (berenil^R) on day 4 post infection. In conclusion, the level of parasitaemia was positively correlated to the dose of extract.

Smoke- Curing Indices of Some Frozen Fish Species Using Traditional Smoking Kiln in Abeokuta, Ogun State

¹AKINYEMI, A.A., ¹IDOWU, A.A., ¹OLAOYE, O.J., ²TAIWO AYANSANWO, ²A.O. KUDORO AND ²B.B. ADEKOYA

¹Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria.

²Ogun State Agriculture Development Programme, Olabisi Onabanjo Way, Idi – Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

E-mail: adeoluakinyemi@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The preservative effect of the smoking process results from drying and the deposition in the flesh of natural wood-smoke chemicals. The smoke-curing indices of Hake – (Merluccius sp); Sardine – (Sardinella sp); Mackerel – (Scomberomerus tritor) and Herring – (Sardinella maderensis) were assessed using cut-out drum smoking kiln. The fishes were weighed before smoking and the weighing continued at 30 minutes intervals during smoking until constant weights for each fish species was attained. The temperature in the smoking kiln during smoking curing ranged between 40 – 70⁰C, there was a continual and gradual loss of weight in Hake – (Merluccius sp); Sardine – (Sardinella sp); Mackerel – (Scomberomerus tritor) and Herring – (Sardinella maderensis) examined as the smoking time increases until a constant weight was reached at different times. Sardine – (Sardinella sp) had the highest smoking curing index of 62.5% and Hake – (Merluccius sp) was least with 43.75%. Thus, the shelf life of this fish species become enhanced at these levels of smoking which, enable the processors  time before the sales of their products.

In vivo Efficacy of Aqueous Extractof Citrullus lanatus Leaf on Trypanosoma brucei Infected Albino Rats

¹BIU, A.A., ²BURATAI, L.B., ²ONWUATOGWU, J., ¹MOHAMMED, A., ²AGADA, N.O. AND ¹KONTO, M.

¹Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.

² Department of Biochemistry, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.

  E-mail:  biuvet@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to determine the In vivo activity of Citrullus lanatus leaf aqueous extract on Trypanosoma brucei infected albino rats. Parasitaemia was evaluated using the rapid matching technique.  The parasites were detected in the peripheral blood of infected albino rats 2 days post infection, with the level of parasitaemia in all graded doses of the extract decreasing significantly (p < 0.05) from day 4 up to the 10^th day post infection compared with the positive control which had a corresponding increase in parasitaemia. There was complete clearance of parasitaemia in rats administered diminazene aceturate (berenil^R) on day 4 post infection. In conclusion, the level of parasitaemia was positively correlated to the dose of extract.

Preservation Methods and Marketing Channels of Poultry Meat in Zing Local Government Area, Taraba State

¹NYAMEH, J., ²ANITA, D., ²WACHAP, E.D., ²MICHAEL, C. K. AND ³ALABI, J.

¹Department of Animal Production Technology, College of Agriculture, Jalingo, Taraba State.

²Department of Home and Rural Economics, College of Agriculture, Jalingo, Taraba State.

³Department of Animal Science Federal University Kashere, Gombe State.

E-mail: juliusnyameh@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The study attempts to assess the preservation methods and marketing channels of poultry meat in Zing Local Government Area of Taraba State, where eight wards were randomly selected with 10 households selected from each ward. A total of 80 structured questionnaires were administered in all the selected households through random sampling techniques. The results shows that majority of the respondents are within the youthful ages (38.75% and 36.25%) respectively. Most of the respondents are males (61.25%) and most of them (48.75%) are married. The result shows that majority of them (48.75%) were secondary school leavers and most of them (47.50%) are applicants. Majority of them preserved their meat through frying (22.50%). The overall marketing channels are market place (33.75%) and the cooperative groups mostly (68.75%) sell their meat through credit and contact supply is mostly supplied to the restaurants (52.50%). It was concluded that more methods of preserving and marketing poultry meat should be explore to avert the issue of delay in selling the chickens when they have reached the market period which may increase the cost of producing the meat.

Growth Parameters as a Function of Sex Prediction in Telfaira occidentalis in Southern Nigeria

NMOR E.I AND OYEFIA V.E

Department of Agricultural Technology

Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, Delta State, Nigeria.

Email: nmoredith@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The study on the growth performance as a function of sex determination was carried out in Delta State Polytechnic Ozoro between March – September 2005. There are two sexes of Telfairia which could be identified on the field. The need to identify Telfairia sexes at seeding necessitated this study. The seeds were separated into male and female using some predictive features like size and shape of the seeds. The identified males are large and flat while the female are small and oval in shape. These seeds were planted into Complete Randomized Design with three replications. The performances of the two identified sexes were accessed using growth parameters like seedling emergence, number of leaves, number of branches and plant height. Data was collected on the interval of two weeks. The results indicated that the identified male had better seedling emergence of 148 and 203 as against 110 and 175 for the female. However, the female had more number of branches of 12, 21:33, 31.33 and 31:67 as against 8.33, 12.00, 14.00 and 18.67 for the male. The number of leaves followed the same trend of the female having more leaves of 130.00, 156.00, 412.20 and 429.70 as against 108.00, 115.33, 323.40 and 338.40 for the male. For the plant height, the female had 179.60, 194.33, 250.00 and 259.67 as against 175.66, 176.66, 200.00 and 244.33. Conclusively, predicted female perform better than the male in terms of number of branches, leaves and plant height. It is therefore recommended that Telfairia farmers should use size and shape to identify Telfairia sexes at seeding so as to boost productivity.

Studies on the Influence of Insecticide Spraying Regimes and Cultivars on Insect Pests and Grain Yield of Cowpea in the Semi Arid Zone of Nigeria

DEGRI, M.M, MAILAFIYA, D.M. AND MAINA, Y.T.

Department of Crop Protection,

University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.

E-mail: mikedegri@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Field experiments were carried out during 2010 and 2011 cropping seasons at the Teaching and Research farm of the Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maiduguri the aim is to evaluate the influence of insecticide spraying regime and variety on the infestation of cowpea varieties by pod sucking bugs in the semi arid zone of Nigeria. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design in a split plot with four varieties CIT 89 KD – 288, IT 90K – 277 – 2, Borno brown and Banjaram as main plots and four insecticide spray regimes (one each at flower buds, full flowering, early podding and pod filling stages) as subplots all replicated three times. Data were collected on insect pest count, pods/ plant, undamaged pods/ plant, damaged pods/ plant, normal seeds/ pod, 100 seed weight and grain yield. Result showed that varietal resistance and spraying regimes had significant effects on insect pest populations and yield parameters of improved cowpea varieties (IT 89KD – 288 and IT 90K – 2772- 2). Significantly reduced insect pest populations, pod damaged while increasing the number of pods/ plant, undamaged pods/plant, normal seed per pod, seed weight and grain yields. Compared to the local cowpea varieties (Borno brown and Banjaram) four applications of insecticide once each at flower buds, flowering, early podding and pod filling stages significantly reduced pod and seed damage, insect populations resulting in substantial increase in grain yield of cowpea compared to one application. Combined effect of variety and spray regime showed that all the varieties sprayed four times had significantly lower insect pests populations, damaged pods, undamaged pods, normal seeds, seed weight and grain yield. This study therefore indicates that varietal resistance and four spray regimes provided adequate protection for cowpea thus reducing cowpea losses on the field.

Prevalence of Schistosomiasis in Inhabitants of Shabu, Lafia North Development Area, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

ALAKU I.A¹., AKOR, J.O². AND ABDULLAHI A.G¹.

¹College of Agriculture Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

²College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.

 E-mail: alaku_ibrahim@hayoo.com

ABSTRACT

Schistosomiasis are diseases of liver, gastro-intestinal tract and bladder caused by schistosomes, trematode worms that parasitize people. Schistosomiasis was surveyed in Shabu, Lafia North Development Area of Nasarawa State. This was to evaluate the prevalence of the infection in the study area and to establish a relationship between the prevalence of the infection and the different socio-economic variable such as age, sex, occupation and source of water. The work was conducted between the months of March to June, 2013. A total of 402 samples were collected (202 urine sample and 200 stool samples). The stool sample were processed using the formol-ether technique while the urine sample were processed using the ordinary centrifugal techniques. The overall prevalence of schistosomiasis in the study area was 11.5%. The infections were found among both males and females between the ages of 1 – 20 years. No intestinal schistosome was seen. The prevalence of other intestinal parasites in the area were as follows: Trichomonas hominis, (11.5%), Entamoeba histolytica (9.0) Entamoeba Coli (5.0%), Hookworm (1.5%) and Strongyloides stercoralis (1.0%).