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Haematological responses of Yankasa sheep to experimental Fasciola gigantica infection were evaluated using twelve Yankasa ewes aged 10-12 months. The animals were obtained from the

The study examined the effect of dietary antioxidant supplementation on the performance and meat quality of broiler chickens. Namely, 300 one-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were fed a starter diet from 1 to 4 weeks and a finisher diet for the last 4 weeks. Birds were randomly assigned to treatments based on antioxidant supplementation in drinking water at 0.02% butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), ordinary water (OW), 0.02% sweet orange peel extract (SOPE), 0.02% shaddock peel extract (SHPE) and 0.02% lemon peel extract (LMPE) per litre of water in a completely randomized design experiment. Feed intake and body weight gain were recorded on a weekly basis. Three birds were selected in each treatment and slaughtered for meat quality determination. BHA and LMPE treatments had the best weight gain and feed conversion efficiency at the significance level (p<0.05). There were significant differences (p<0.05) in the shear force (force peak and yield) in the dietary antioxidants fed to the birds. Sensory parameters (taste, aroma and overall acceptability) show significant differences (p<0.05) amongst the treatments. However, there were no significant differences (p>0.05) in appearance and texture perception amongst treatments. Finally, significant differences (p<0.05) in the lightness (L*) and redness (a*) of the meat samples were observed amongst the treatments. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in the yellowness (b*) amongst the treatments. It can be concluded that broiler birds fed SOPE, SHPE and LMPE treatments performed better and that these treatments enhanced the meat quality of the birds when compared to BHA and OW treatments.

Among the parasitic diseases that thrive in warm and humid areas, Haemonchus contortus is considered to be the most prevalent and devastating species of small ruminant. The present study was carried out to evaluate the activities of leaves and seeds of Parkia biglobosa against adult and larvae (L3) of H. contortus. In vitro activities were screened by preparing aqueous and methanol extracts of both leaves and seeds of P. biglobosa in comparable to controls. Ten worms were exposed to treatment of each plant extract and Albendazole in separate Petri-dishes with 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 mg/ml of the same volume. The negative control received Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS). For infective larvae, 20 L3 were pipetted into 96-flat-bottomed microtitre plate and mixed with the same volume of different concentrations similar to that of adult. The result revealed that, all the adult worms exposed to 32 mg/ml of Albendazole and plant extracts were found dead at 12 hours; whereas none of the worms was found dead in PBS up to 12 hours post exposure. The result of larvae showed that the leaves and seeds extracts of P. biglobosa exposed to L3 of H. contortus exhibited less anthelmintic effects in comparable to Albendazole. Albendazole exhibited anthelmintic effects in a dose dependent manner and about 88.5% of L3 were found dead at 12 hours post-exposure at concentration of 32 mg /ml. But for plant extracts, at 32 mg/ml, less than 40% of L3 were found dead at 12 hours post exposure. All L3 larvae survived in PBS up till 12 hours post exposure. It is therefore, concluded that, 32 mg/ml of aqueous and methanol extracts of leaves and seed of P. biglobosa have higher adulticidal activity at 12 hours post exposure but lower larvicidal activity against H. contortus. However, it is recommended to carry out the in vivo study to assess the toxicological effect and recommended doses in goats.

The study was conducted to provide a baseline data for the prevalence of Fasciola gigantica infestation in cattle slaughtered at Minna metropolitan abattoir in Chanchaga Local Government area of Niger State, Nigeria. The study was conducted for 90 days. Liver and gall bladder tissue samples were obtained from slaughtered cattle at abattoir. Ten cattle were sampled per week which translated to 120 animals. The liver and gall bladder tissue samples were processed at the State Veterinary Centre, Minna for worm recovery and identification. Liver was examined visually for the presence of Fasciola species by making length wise incision on the ventral aspect of the liver by cutting the bile duct and gall bladder open. Data were subjected to t-test statistics. Results showed that there were significant differences (p<0.05) between the sex of Fasciola gigantica and the prevalence of Fasciola gigantica obtained in the organs. This study established the presence of Fasciola gigantica in cattle slaughtered in Minna Metropolis. It is recommended that grazing of cattle should be restricted to lesser snail infested areas particularly around rivers and streams.