Papers by Ndubuisi Machebe
Journal of Mammalian Ova Research, 2019
Handbook of Research on Climate Change and the Sustainable Financial Sector, 2021
Climate change and agriculture are intertwined with one having significant impact on the other. H... more Climate change and agriculture are intertwined with one having significant impact on the other. Hence, taking cognizance of the relevance of agriculture to man's survival, it has become important to interrogate the effect of climate change on agricultural sustainability. This work therefore embarks on a sub-sectorial assessment of the agricultural sector in the face of rising threats due to climate change. Majorly, the agricultural sector is divided into four sub-sectors.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of using zinc oxide salts to induce moulting, a... more The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of using zinc oxide salts to induce moulting, and their effects on post moult performance and organ characteristics of laying hens. Two hundred (75 weeks of age) Isa Brown hens were randomly assigned to five Treatments (T) groups of 40 hens, each namely; T0 -non-moulted hens and T1, T2, T3, T4, representing moulted hens fed, respectively, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0% Zinc Oxide (ZnO) supplementation per kg diet for 14 days. Organ evaluations of the hens were carried out 7 days post moult. Body weight loss and decline in feed intake of the birds were higher (P<0.01) for moulted hens. Cessation of egg production occurred earlier (P<0.05) in the same groups of birds. During post moult, the moulted hens exhibited greater (P<0.01) percentage body weight gain, when compared with the non-moulted hens. Feed intake and hen-day egg production of birds on 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0% ZnO supplementation was higher (P<0.01), than those of other ...
Journal of Veterinary Science & Technology, 2013
The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of using zinc oxide salts to induce moulting, a... more The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of using zinc oxide salts to induce moulting, and their effects on post moult performance and organ characteristics of laying hens. Two hundred (75 weeks of age) Isa Brown hens were randomly assigned to five Treatments (T) groups of 40 hens, each namely; T 0-non-moulted hens and T 1 , T 2 , T 3, T 4 , representing moulted hens fed, respectively, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0% Zinc Oxide (ZnO) supplementation per kg diet for 14 days. Organ evaluations of the hens were carried out 7 days post moult. Body weight loss and decline in feed intake of the birds were higher (P<0.01) for moulted hens. Cessation of egg production occurred earlier (P<0.05) in the same groups of birds. During post moult, the moulted hens exhibited greater (P<0.01) percentage body weight gain, when compared with the non-moulted hens. Feed intake and hen-day egg production of birds on 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0% ZnO supplementation was higher (P<0.01), than those of other treatments. Feed conversion ratio was better (P<0.05) for the same groups of birds. Moulting with ZnO treatment influence highly (P<0.01) the number of days to resumption of egg production, with hens on 2.0% ZnO resuming egg production much later than hens on 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% ZnO treatments. The ovary, liver and kidney of the hens were affected (P<0.05) by the dietary ZnO contents. A greenish coloration of the liver was observed in hens fed 1.5% and 2% ZnO supplementation. These results demonstrate that in order to achieve good post moult performance of laying hens in the humid tropics, farmers should practice the use of 1% ZnO inclusion per kg diet, as an effective method to achieve induced moulting.
Innovations in Sustainable Agriculture, 2019
Crop-livestock is a form of land use system whereby livestock husbandry and cropping are practice... more Crop-livestock is a form of land use system whereby livestock husbandry and cropping are practiced in association. The production system safeguards ecosystem balance and assures sustainable production; besides, the production system does not impact on the environment negatively. The burgeoning human population globally has increased the spate of food insecurity and malnutrition especially in the developing countries. There is therefore an urgent need for a better, efficient and sustainable production system capable of providing both crop and animal products for the teeming human population. Crop-livestock integrated production system seems to provide opportunity for the production and supply of food of both crop and animal origin without detrimental impact on the fragile environment. In this integrated system, crop and livestock interact to create synergy that allows ecosystem balance and sustainable production intensification. In this chapter, comprehensive documentation of the concept, principles, and practices of crop – livestock production system have been made. Also, the importance of this integrated production system on ecosystem balance and sustainable crop and livestock production have been presented.
The effects of exposure to direct sun light on body temperature (BT) and blood profile (BP) of bo... more The effects of exposure to direct sun light on body temperature (BT) and blood profile (BP) of boars was studied using Large White and Large White x local F 1 crossbred boars. The experiment involved three treatments: zero exposure (T 1); 45 minutes (T 2) and 60 minutes exposure (T 3). Pigs were exposed between 13:30 and 14:45 hr daily for 4 weeks. Body temperature of control and exposed pigs was measured daily at the end of exposure. Blood samples were collected and analysed for LC, EC, HbC and PCV while MCV, MCH and MCHC were calculated from EC, HbC and PCV values. Ambient temperature (AT) averaged 27.84 o C indoors and 40.54 o C outdoors over the experimental period. There were significant genotype, treatment and interaction effects on most of the parameters studied. The LW boars were more severely affected by exposure to direct sunlight than the crossbred boars. It was concluded that wallow pits and shades should be provided for extensively managed pigs to enable them cope with ...
Open Access Animal Physiology, 2015
Background: Semen extenders are used to create multiple insemination doses from a single ejaculat... more Background: Semen extenders are used to create multiple insemination doses from a single ejaculate and contain buffers and nutrients suitable for storage of spermatozoa. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the survivability of boar sperm stored under room temperature in different extenders containing some natural products. Methods: A volume of 10 mL of pooled semen collected from four mature crossbred (Landrace × Large White) boars was stored in 12 different extenders containing 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0% per liter each of honey, sugarcane juice, tomato juice, and pineapple juice. The semen samples were observed under a microscope every hour to determine sperm motility by scoring. Survivability of the sperm cells was taken as the average percentage number of motile spermatozoa in each extender recorded during 24 hour storage duration. The experimental layout was a 4×3 factorial in a randomized complete block design. Results: Average sperm survivability was higher for semen stored in honey and sugarcane juice extenders compared (P,0.05) to sperm stored in tomato and pineapple extenders. The proportion of spermatozoa that survived within the 24 hour storage time was highest in the honey group and lowest in the pineapple group. The average percentage of sperm that were motile was higher when 1.5% and 2.0% of test ingredients was included in extender compared (P,0.01) to 1.0% inclusion rate. Conclusion: The present study clearly demonstrates that spermatozoa can be stored in extenders containing honey, sugarcane juice, tomato juice, and pineapple juice. Moreover, the survivability of sperm in these extenders can be enhanced when the percentage constituent of these natural materials in the extenders is increased from 1.0% to 2.0% inclusion rates.
Bovine Science: Challenges and Advances [Working Title], 2021
Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) that have come to stay and are still being improved upon... more Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) that have come to stay and are still being improved upon in developed countries are still in their infancy stage in developing countries like Nigeria. Nigeria’s cattle population is estimated to be around 18.4 million. The number is far insufficient to meet the country’s demand for meat, milk, and other cow products, let alone contribute to GDP. N’dama and Muturu are both Nigerian breeds that are resistant to trypanosomosis. They are humpless longhorn and humpless shorthorn types of beef cattle. The dairy and beef cow industries’ inadequate adoption of ART is partly to blame for Nigeria’s low cattle output. Sex determination, multiple-ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET), oestrus synchronization, artificial insemination (AI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), cloning, and genetic engineering are all examples of assisted reproductive technologies. It has been reported in humans, rodents and domestic animals, abnormal fetuses, newborns and adult of...
The profitability of honey production in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria was... more The profitability of honey production in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria was evaluated in this study. A combination of purposive and random sampling methods was used in selecting 40 respondents from the study area. Data were analyzed using the cost and return analysis and capital employed turn over ratio. The result of the analysis indicated an appreciable level of profit realized by the beekeeper. Net profit was N90,916, made from a total cost of N4,916.00. The capital employed turn over ratio was N19.51, indicating that for every N1.00 put into the honey venture, a total of N19.50 was realized in a year. It is therefore recommended that more time, money and management be devoted so as to intensify honey production.
Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences
The study was carried out to determine the semen characteristics: volumes of ejaculate (VEJ), gel... more The study was carried out to determine the semen characteristics: volumes of ejaculate (VEJ), gel fraction (VGF) and strained ejaculate (VSEJ), sperm concentration (SPC), progressive motility (PGM), live spermatozoa (LVS), abnormal spermatozoa (ABS) and pH (SpH)] as well as the reaction time (RT) and ejaculation time (EJT) of Large White (LW) and Large White x native (LW x N) F 1 crossbred (CR) boars exposed to direct solar radiation. A total of 24 grower-finisher boars (12/genotype) aged 6 months and of mean body weight 50.14 kg for LW and 46.65 kg for CR were used for the study. The study involved three treatments (8 boars/treatment; 4 boars/replicate) made up of control (T 1); 45 min. (T 2) and 60 min. (T 3) exposures. Boars in T 1 were reared intensively while those of T 2 and T 3 were exposed in outdoor paddocks. A 14 day pre-experimental period was observed for adaptation and to train the boars for semen collection using a dummy and artificial vagina. Mean indoor and outdoor a...
Research Opinions in Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Sep 11, 2014
Indian Journal of Animal Research, 2015
ABSTRACT
This study evaluated the effect of using zinc oxide to achieve moult in laying hens on post moult... more This study evaluated the effect of using zinc oxide to achieve moult in laying hens on post moult egg quality and mineral deposition. Two hundred Isa Brown laying hens of 75 weeks old were subjected to moult induction by supplementing their feed with varying amount of ZnO mineral. The birds were randomly assigned to 5 treatment groups with 40 layers per treatment and 10 layers in each replicate per treatment group following completely randomised design. The treatment groups were; T 0 – 0 ppm (control), T 1 – 5000 ppm, T 2 – 10000 ppm, T 3 – 15000 ppm and T 5 – 20000 ppm ZnO mineral supplementation per kg diet. After 14days moult period, eggs production was monitored for 8 weeks period and eggs were collected daily from layers in each treatment group for determination of its quality and mineral contents. Egg weight, egg width and shell weight were not affected (P > 0.05) by dietary ZnO moulting treatment. However, egg length, egg shape index, shell thickness, albumen height, yolk ...
Indian Journal of Animal Research, 2015
ABSTRACT
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Papers by Ndubuisi Machebe