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Pigs for commercial production are often housed intensively because of its benefits, such as proper management of the animals, record‑keeping, feed and water provision and management. However, intensive systems of production may also produce stress in animals, arising from operations such as weaning, feed reduction or manipulation, and vaccination. In Africa, pig farmers feed cassava peels to pigs to reduce the cost of production despite its low protein content and anti‑nutritional factor (hydrocyanide). However, little is known about the effect of this feed change in terms of stress on weaners. In this study, we replaced maize with cassava peels and supplemented the diets with a fixed amount of tryptophan (Trp) to investigate its effect on performance, haematology, behavioural response of pigs to weaning, and their response to metabolic stress. Crossbred weaner pigs were used and randomly assigned to three treatments in a completely randomised design. Each treatment had three replicates and each replicate had three animals. The feeding trial lasted for four weeks. Dietary manipulations did not influence the growth performance characteristics and behavioural response of the animals. Packed cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cell counts, and neutrophils were significantly (p < 0.05) higher for 20 % cassava peel as a replacement for maize but lower for a 40 % cassava peel‑based diet when compared with the control group. Feeding cassava peels as a replacement for maize in weaner pigs may be carefully considered, although further studies in this direction are recommended.

An 8 week study was conducted to evaluate the effects of hyphaene thebaica seed meal (HTSM) as substitute for maize on the growth response of broiler chickens. Five experimental diets were formulated to meet nutrient requirement standards of broilers (NRC, 1994). Diet 1 (0 % HTSM) served as the control while diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 contained 5, 10, 15 and 20 %HTSM respectively replacing maize in the diets of birds. A total of two hundred and twenty five (225) day-old broiler chicks were randomly allotted into five treatment groups with three replicates of fifteen birds each. Each group was assigned to the five experimental diets in completely randomized design (CRD). Throughout the experimental period, feed and water were provided ad libitum for all treatment groups. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the parameters measured except the average initial weight and average feed intake (P>0.05). The average body weight gain and feed conversion ratio of birds fed 0, 5 and 10 % HTSM diets were significantly better (P<0.05) compared to those fed 15 and 20 % HTSM diets. It was concluded that broiler chickens can tolerate up to 10 % raw HTSM in their diets without adverse effect on growth performance. Also, adequate processing of the seed should be carried out to reduce the anti-nutritional factors to a tolerable level before being used in broiler diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 8week study was conducted to evaluate the effects of hyphaene thebaica seed meal (HTSM) as substitute for maize on haematological and serum biochemical parameters of broiler chickens. Five experimental diets were formulated to meet nutrient requirement standards of broilers (NRC, 1994). Diet 1 (0% HTSM) served as the control while diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 contained 5, 10, 15 and 20% HTSM respectively replacing maize in the diets of birds. A total of two hundred and twenty five (225) day-old broiler chicks were randomly allotted into five treatment groups with three replicates of fifteen birds each. Each group was assigned to the five experimental diets in completely randomized design (CRD). Throughout the experimental period, feed and water were provided ad libitum for all treatment groups. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the haematological parameters measured except the packed cell volume (29.08- 31.89%) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (14.69-15.67 pg). The white blood cell (11.45-18.14 x 109/l), red blood cell (4.71-6.99 x 1012/l), haemoglobin (6.92-10.05 g/dl) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (23.80-34.34%) increased (p<0.05) in response to the increased level of HTSM in the diet. The results of the serum biochemical indices of broiler chickens fed HTSM diet revealed that the glucose level (6.82-9.00 mmol/l), globulin (6.78-10.10 g/l), aspartate transaminase (72.95-90.16 iu/l), alanine aminotransaminase (62.84- 79.50 iu/l) and alkaline phosphatase (100.26-108.77 iu/l) increased (p<0.05) as the dietary levels of HTSM increased across the treatments while the total protein (31.83- 29.11 g/l) and albumin (25.05-19.01 g/l) significantly decreased (P<0.05) as the level of HTSM increased in the diets. The serum cholesterol and urea were however not significant (P>0.05). It was concluded that HTSM has a high potential as feed ingredient in broiler diets and adequate processing of the seed to reduce the antinutritional factors to a tolerable level before being used in broiler diet was recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing the cost of production while maintaining or increasing the productivity has been a major challenge of pig industry in Nigeria. This gives rise to the use of processing techniques that improve the utilization of relatively cheap feed ingredients. Extrusion cooking process has the potential of improving the digestibility and absorption of rice bran by solubilizing high fibre, deactivating anti-nutritional factors and stabilizing lipolytic enzyme activities in rice bran. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of extruded rice bran based diets on the performance, intestinal microbiota and morphology of weaned pigs. Forty-eight female Large White × Landrace weaned pigs were randomly allotted to three treatments consisting of a control (T1) with 30% inclusion level of raw rice bran; T2 with 30% inclusion level of extruded rice bran extruded at 100 °C, T3 with 30% inclusion level of extruded rice bran extruded at 120 °C. The final body weight, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in pigs on T3 compared with the control group. Morphology data for the small intestine showed that T3 had higher villi (604.15 μm 10−6) and crypt depth (153.86 μm 10−6) in comparison with the other treatments. Extrusion cooking processing techniques had a positive impact on body weight gain and feed conversion ratio of the experimental animals as well as improved their intestinal microbiota and morphology.

The wild and mutant strain of Pleurotus sajor caju was cultured on different agricultural substrates. Treatment 1 contained agricultural substrates alone. Treatment 2 contained the mutant strain of the mushroom plus agricultural waste. Treatment 3 contained the wild strain of the mushroom plus agricultural waste. The mutant strain of Pleurotus sajor caju cultured on groundnut shell had the highest iron content while the mutant strain cultured on palm kernel meal had the highest biomass production, 10.5 g/L and 17.20 g/L after 7 and 14 days respectively. The proximate analyses of the feed variety (mycomeat) revealed the rich nutritional content which may be explored for feed ingredients in livestock production. The findings do not only support the bioremediation of agricultural waste to produce high-value bio-products, but also provide evidence that improvement of microorganism strains represents a viable way to enhance the nutritional value of fermented products.

Electronic monitoring devices (EMDs) have been trialled in interventions to improve inhaled corticosteroid adherence and clinical outcomes. This study sought to understand the perceptions and experiences of EMD end-users. Participants recruited into a six-month EMD study were invited to a semi-structured interview. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using the framework approach. Twenty-eight participants (68% female, median age 47) were interviewed. Individuals described feeling responsible for their asthma control. Recent attacks motivated a desire to maintain control. Study participation led to increased awareness of asthma status and medication use. Several individuals were open to integrating digital monitoring data with other mHealth inputs, perceiving the potential to enhance communication with clinicians and empower self-management. Openness to data sharing was tied to expectations of transparent data use. Data supported integrating beliefs and habit formation to achieve behaviour change. There was a willingness for an integrated, platform-based approach to digital self-management., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The effect of sodium chloride (NaCl) and NaCl+sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO 3 ) and supplemental phytase (0, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 FTU/kg) on performance, nutrient digestibility and utilization, and digesta pH of male broiler chickens were investigated in a 2 × 4+1 factorial arrangement of treatments in a completely randomized design with 6 replicate cages of 8 birds per replicate. Data were analyzed as a 2 × 4 factorial with contrast between the positive control and the diets containing 0 FTU phytase. Phytase supplementation linearly improved (P < 0.05) average body weigh gain (BWG) and feed intake (d 0-14 and 0-21). Apparent jejunal dry matter (DM) digestibility and digestible energy in birds fed diets containing only NaCl increased (linear and quadratic; P < 0.05) with phytase supplementation whereas quadratic (P < 0.05) effect was observed in birds fed diets containing a combination of NaCl and NaHCO 3 . Phytase supplementation improved (linear and quadratic; P < 0.05) apparent ileal nitrogen and P digestibility. Apparent utilization of DM, nitrogen, energy, and metabolizable energy increased (linear; P < 0.05) with increasing level of phytase supplementation. Apparent P utilization increased (linear and quadratic; P < 0.05) for both sodium sources but calcium utilization only increased (linear; P < 0.05) with the combination of NaCl and NaHCO 3 . Bone breaking strength (linear and quadratic) and bone ash (linear) increased (P < 0.05) with phytase supplementation. The combination of NaCl and NaHCO 3 resulted in lower (P < 0.05) pH of digesta in the proximal ileum whereas the pH of the digesta in the distal ileum (linear) and the average pH of ileal contents (linear and quadratic) increased (P < 0.05) with phytase supplementation. Results from this study showed that birds' performance and utilization of nutrients and energy by broilers in the presence of phytase was, in general, not influenced by the source of sodium in the diet. Data from this study showed that NaHCO 3 can replace a portion of NaCl in the diet of broilers supplemented with phytase without any significant negative effect on performance and that the 2,000 FTU phytase level resulted in better BWG and feed intake as well nutrient and energy utilization., (Crown Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is the world's greatest infectious killer of women of reproductive age and the leading cause of death among people with HIV/AIDS. The major problem militating against the management of tuberculosis is the lack of compliance to medication by the infected patients as a result of multidrug needed to be taking daily leading to resistance. Occurrences of hepatic toxicity, teratogenicity, sperm quality damage, haematotoxicity and meningeal congestion of individual anti-tuberculous agents have been reported., Objective: The study is aimed to determine the reproductive and haematological toxicity of combined antituberculous agents and the modulatory role of antioxidants using animal model., Methods: Fifty rats (10 per group) were randomly allotted to five groups, consisting of the control, the fixed dose combined anti TB agents treated group, the fixed dose combined anti TB agents plus vitamin C treated group, the fixed dose combined anti TB agents plus vitamin E treated group and the fixed dose combined anti TB agents plus vitamin C plus vitamin E treated group. Therapeutic doses of the fixed dose combined anti TB agents (25 mg/kg/day), vitamin E (5 mg/kg) and vitamin C (8 mg/kg) were administered to the animals via oral gavage, daily over 28 days. After 28days, rats were sacrificed for internal macroscopic and histological examination of the organs, sperm analysis and haematological investigations were carried out., Results: The results showed a significant increase (p < or = 0.05) in the levels of white blood cells (WBC), red blood cell (RBC) and haemoglobin (HB) of the combined anti-TB plus vitamins C or E treated groups compared with combined anti-TB treated group alone (56.34 +/- 0.11) that decreased the haematological parameters. A significant decrease (p < or = 0.05) in the sperm counts (22.26 +/- 0.02; 35.40 +/- 0.02) and motility (77.03 +/- 0.02; 94.50 +/- 0.01) of the combined anti-TB treated rats as compared with the control group were observed. The combined anti-TB plus vitamin C treated rats demonstrated a significant increase (p < or = 0.05) in the sperm motility (90.23 +/- 0.01) as compared with the control group. There was also a remarkable decrease in the abnormal morphology of the sperm in the combined anti-TB plus vitamins E and C treated rats (0.05 +/- 0.02) as compared with the combined anti-TB group alone (1.10 +/- 0.02)., Conclusion: Vitamins C and E positively modulated the sperm quality and haematological damage produced by the Fixed Dose Combined Anti-Tuberculous agents.