The increasing demand of wood shavings (WS) and sawdust (SD) by other industries and growing concerns of potential chemical contaminants from wood products have amplified research interest in alternative bedding materials for commercial poultry. Several alternative materials—corn cob (CC), straws (ST) and hays (HA), sand (SA), shredded papers (SP), rice hulls (RH), peanut hulls (PH), and gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O2)—can replace conventional ones in poultry houses, depending on availability, cost, and ability to absorb and adsorb moisture and provide the birds enough room to exhibit their natural behaviors. Alternative materials hold a brighter future as bedding materials, but more studies about their physicochemical properties and litter management practices for optimum poultry welfare are recommended.

A preliminary study investigated the impact of commercial feed dilution with copra meal ( CM ) or cassava leaf meal ( CLM ) and enzyme supplementation on broiler performance. Commercial feed alone (control) or diluted with CM and CLM at a concentration of 100 and 200 g/kg in the starter and finisher diets, respectively, was fed without and with Challenzyme 300A at a concentration of 300 g/tonne in 2 × 2 factorial arrangements with a control. Two hundred, 7-day-old male, Cobb 500 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 5 diets containing 4 replicates of 10 birds each. There were no interaction or main effects ( P > 0.05) on feed intake during either the starter or finisher phase. In the starter phase, feed-to-gain ratio ( F:G ) increased ( P < 0.05) in the group fed with CM without enzyme. Enzyme supplementation restored F:G similar to the control. Diet dilution with CM or CLM had no effect ( P > 0.05) on weight gain ( WG ) in the starter phase. Diluting the feed with CM or CLM without enzyme suppressed ( P < 0.05) WG and F:G in the finisher phase, but enzyme supplementation restored the lost performances. There were no interaction or main effects ( P > 0.05) on the carcass traits. Enzyme supplementation reduced ( P < 0.05) feed cost per kilogram of carcass. Heavier ceca were observed in the group fed with dilution diets ( P < 0.05). Enzyme supplementation reduced cecum weight in the group fed with CM ( P < 0.05). The heaviest ( P < 0.05) abdominal fat was recorded in the group fed with enzyme-supplemented CM diet, and the lightest ( P < 0.05) abdominal fat was recorded in the group fed with CLM with enzyme. In the main effects, lighter ( P < 0.05) liver, gizzard, and proventriculus were recorded in the group fed with control diet than in the group fed with the CLM diets, but the weight of these segments did not differ ( P > 0.05) between the control and CM groups and between the fiber sources. The results suggest that dilution of commercial diet with CM or CLM may be a viable option for medium- and small-scale broiler production in the region. There is need for more research in the level of dilution, enzyme source, and concentration.

Subclonal variations play an important role in sugarcane varietal improvement. It is proven that some tissue culture variants are superior than the donor clones in terms of higher biomass, sugar yield and disease resistance. Only limited studies are reported on the tissue culture variants derived from intergeneric hybrid donors and its usefulness for crop improvement. The subclonal populations were derived from intergeneric hybrids (S. officinarum x Erianthus procerus) of sugarcane using 2,4 -D and caffeine for callus induction and kinetin and caffeine for differentiation. A total of 580 subclones were developed from 30 donor clones which were planted in a replicated trial along with donor clones. The biometric characters viz., stalk length, stalk thickness, internode length and single clump weight were recorded. The biochemical parameters were also studied including fiber per cent cane and POCS per cent. The results revealed that the subclonal populations showed wider variations for all the characters studied. Out of 580 subclones studied, 82 variants were selected for parental line and energy cane which had more than 16 per cent of fiber and 7.5 per cent of POCS. 38 subclones were selected for commercial lines with 13 per cent of fiber and POCS of 10 and above. Selection procedures adopted have shown that substantial gains could be made in one 'tissue culture generation' over the donor clones. Thus, this system helps to spread the variations and select individuals with specific characters for breeding and commercialization.

The dilution of commercial broiler feed with copra meal (CM), palm kernel meal (PKM) and cassava leaf meal (CLM) and enzyme supplementation was investigated. Two hundred and eighty 7-day old Cobb 500 broilers were fed commercial feed alone or diluted with the test ingredients with and without enzyme. There were no interaction effects (p>0.05) on feed intake (FI) and weight gain (WG). Poorer (p<0.05) feed conversion ratio (FCR) was observed on the diet diluted diets from 22-42 d, but this was restored (p>0.05) by enzyme supplementation. There was no interaction effect on final body weight (FBW). Diet dilution depressed FBW (p<0.05) but enzyme supplementation restored (p>0.05) this weight depression. Abdominal fat was lighter (p<0.05) on CLM compared to CM. There were no interaction effects (p>0.05) on the weight of gut segments and E. coli count. Heavier (p<0.05) liver, gizzard and intestine were observed on the test diets. Commercial feed dilution with CM, CLM and PKM at 100 g/kg for starter and 200 g/kg for finisher would be a viable option for smallholder broiler production. More research is needed into dilution levels and enzyme concentrations.

A study was conducted in three agro ecological zones of Samoa to compare the dry matter yields and nutrient uptake of selected tropical cover crops and biochar application on different Samoan inceptisols. Subsequent improvements in corm yield of the two taro cultivars, (Samoa 1 and Samoa 2), under these fallow systems were also determined. The split-plot arrangement with main plots as cover crops and subplots as the cultivars was used, with four replications. The evaluated cover crops included: a reference – grass fallow treatment (farmers practice), Mucuna pruriens, Erythrina subumbrans, Mucuna pruriens + 200 kg of NPK fertiliser (12-5-20), farmer’s reference practice + 400 kg of NPK fertiliser (12-5-20), and biochar produced from coconut shells. The biomass samples were collected after the six month of fallow duration. Plant tissue analyses revealed that the nitrogen and the phosphorus contents of erythrina was higher than corresponding mucuna cover across all three sites. However, as a result of higher biomass production, Mucuna pruriens showed the highest nutrient accrual over the six month fallow duration. The general yield trend under different fallow practices across all the sites indicates that mucuna with modest supplementation of complete fertilisers can help maintain optimum taro yields. However, it appears that the yield responses of the taro crop to fallow treatments are site-specific.