FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE

This study investigated the effects of deep and air frying on the shelf life of Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) stored at ambient temperature in Ziplock packages. The fish samples were divided into salted and unsalted portions, fried using both methods, and stored for six days. Microbial analyses were conducted at intervals to determine bacterial and fungal loads. Results showed a steady increase in microbial counts over time, with bacterial counts rising from 7.4 cfu/gm on day 0 to 29.6 cfu/gm on day 6, and fungal counts from 30.7 cfu/gm to 74.9 cfu/gm. Air-fried samples consistently showed lower microbial growth compared to deep-fried ones, while salted samples exhibited slower spoilage rates than unsalted ones. These findings suggest that air frying combined with salt treatment effectively enhances the microbial stability and shelf life of fried Atlantic mackerel stored at ambient temperature.

Poverty, food insecurity, and high cost of labour could increase the lead to engagement of
children in agricultural activities to the detriment of their schooling. This study
investigated the extent of child labour among farming households in Ovia North East
Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study described the
socio-economic characteristics of farming household heads in Ovia North East Local
Government Area, identified the farming and non-farming economic activities engaged in
by children in Ovia North East, examined the schooling patterns of children in Ovia
North East, and reasons for engaging children in farming activities.
A multistage sampling technique was used to select 150 farming households across
different wards in the area. Primary data were gathered using structured questionnaire
and analyzed through descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and a logistic regression
model.

Findings revealed that the household heads were mostly males (61.3%) with mean age
(50years) household size (6+) and school age children (7). Also, high reliance on child
labour largely influenced by socioeconomic characteristics such as household size,
income, educational level, age, and sex of the household head were revealed. Many
respondents noted that children frequently participated in tasks like weeding and
harvesting. Results from the regression analysis showed that age (3.703=B, p=.043 and
sex (B=0.000, p=.047) of household heads significantly affected their likelihood of
engaging children in farm work. The study also identified major reasons for child labour,
including rising living costs, high expenses associated with hiring adult labour, and
inadequate access to farm machinery.

The quality of meat is affected by the nutrition of the fish. Recently, most Tilapia farmers have developed the habit of feeding fish with Lemna minor in order to reduce the quantity of feed used to rear fish. This study investigated the effect of Lemna minor (duckweed) supplementation in culture water on the proximate and mineral composition of Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia). Fingerlings were cultured for 12 weeks in a completely randomized design with four treatments: T0 (control, commercial feed only), T1 (1/2 commercial feed fed in T0 + duckweed), T2 (same quantity of commercial feed fed in T0 + duckweed), and T3 (duckweed only). Each treatment was replicated three times, with 50 fish per 2000 L tank. Fish were harvested at the end of the 12 weeks culture period, filleted, and analyzed for proximate composition (moisture, protein, fat, ash, crude fibre, and carbohydrate) and mineral content (Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Zn) using standard AOAC and ISO procedures. The results of the study showed significant difference (P<0.05) across all proximate and mineral parameters. Moisture (77.86±0.06%) and carbohydrate (0.96±0.02%) were highest in T3, while crude protein (18.99±0.04%) and fat (6.36±0.04%) were highest in T1. Ash and fibre were moderately increased in duckweed treated groups. Mineral analysis revealed the highest concentrations in T3 for Ca (3.2065±0.0053 mg/g), P (9.8102±0.0053 mg/g), Mg (1.1670±0.0036 mg/g), K (3.1050±0.0055 mg/g), Na (0.8926±0.0047 mg/g), Fe (0.0338±0.00008 mg/g), and Zn (0.0232±0.00004 mg/g) The results demonstrate that Lemna minor serves as a natural bioenhancer, improving the nutritional and mineral quality of O. niloticus through nutrient recycling and water enrichment. The integration of duckweed into aquaculture systems presents a sustainable, cost effective, and eco-friendly strategy to enhance fish growth, flesh quality, and overall nutritional value for consumers.

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of selected aromatic pepper spices on the organoleptic and microbial qualities of oven-dried Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) fillets stored at ambient temperature. Fresh fillets were seasoned with 2% (w/w)
of three different pepper spices Scotch Bonnet (Capsicum chinense), Cayenne (Capsicum annuum), and Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum) and compared with not spiced (control) samples. The spiced and not-spiced fillets were oven-dried at 100°C for 5 ours, packaged in sterile ziploc bags, and stored at room temperature (28 ± 2 °C) for 14 days. Microbiological, and sensory analyses were conducted at 7-day intervals to assess changes during storage. Results revealed that the spice treatments and storage durations significantly (P < 0.05) affected the sensory and microbial qualities of the fish samples. On Day 1, all samples exhibited high sensory ratings across appearance, aroma, taste, and overall acceptability (3.8 – 4.6), but these values declined progressively by Day 14. Cayenne and Bell Peppertreated samples retained relatively higher flavour and acceptability scores than Scotch Bonnet and the control, suggesting mild preservative or antioxidant effects. Microbial counts increased with storage time, with bacterial loads ranging from 7.0 × 10⁻³ cfu/g in Bell Pepper-treated samples to 240.0 × 10⁻³ cfu/g in Cayenne-treated fillets samples after
14 days. Proteus sp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus sp. were among the predominant bacterial isolates, while Aspergillus flavus, Mucor sp., and Penicillium species were the most common detected fungi. Ultimately, bell Pepper proved to be the most effective in inhibiting microbial proliferation and maintaining product acceptability

This study was carried out to assess the bacterial and fungal load of selected frozen and smoked-dried fish species sold in the New Benin Market, Oredo Local Government Area, Benin City, and to isolate and characterize the associated microorganisms. A total of fourteen (14) fish samples were randomly purchased from the market in Benin, Edo State, Nigeria. The samples were collected in sterile polythene bags to prevent contamination and transported for microbial analysis. Smoked-dried fish samples were obtained from various fish sellers, while frozen fish samples were sourced from different cold rooms. Frozen fresh smoked-dried samples were used as control. All samples were handled carefully to avoid contamination with dirt or other microorganisms. Microbiological analysis was conducted using Nutrient Agar to determine bacterial load and Potato Dextrose Agar for fungal load estimation. The results revealed that smoked-dried fish samples for Scomber scombrus had a high bacterial counts (9.6x10 3 cfu/g) compared to the frozen samples (8.0x10 3 cfu/g) and the control samples recorded the lowest bacterial load (3.4x10 3 cfu/g). Similarly, the smoked- dried fish samples showed higher fungal counts (7.0x10 2 cfu/g) than the frozen ones (6.33x10 2 cfu/g). The elevated microbial levels observed in smoked fish from the market are likely due to poor handling practices, inadequate smoking techniques employed by processors and sellers, exposure to contaminated air and septic environments. For Merluccius merluccius, the frozen fish samples had a high bacterial counts (1.5x10 4 cfu/g) compared to the smoke dried fish samples (3.4x10 3 cfu/g) and the control samples recorded the lowest bacterial load (2.0x10 3 cfu/g). Similarly, the frozen fish samples showed higher fungal counts (5.67x10 2cfu/g) than the smoke dried ones (2.0x10 2 cfu/g). The level of microbes observed in the frozen fish depends heavily on the initial contamination level, the speed of freezing, temperature fluctuations during storage, and handling practices during thawing. Frozen fish contains a residual microbial population from its initial state (harvesting, handling, processing), once the fish thaws, these surviving microbes can become active again and multiply rapidly if the temperature is favorable, potentially reaching levels that cause spoilage or illness. A total of ten (10) microorganisms, five (5) bacterial species and five (5) fungal species were isolated from both frozen and smoked-dried fish samples. The bacterial isolates included Bacillus sp., Staphylococcus sp., Proteus sp., Pseudomonas sp., and Enterobacter sp., while the fungal isolates included Aspergillus sp., accharomyces sp., Penicillium sp., Mucor sp., and Rhizopus stolonifer. Most of he fungal isolates identified are known producers of mycotoxins. There were significant differences (P > 0.05) between the frozen and smoked- dried fish amples collected from the same market, varying from one fish seller to another. This variation indicates that different handling, preservation, and marketing practices are used by fish vendors. Consequently, the microbial load reflects the hygiene standards and processing methods adopted. To ensure consumer safety, it is recommended that mechanized smoking systems be employed to completely dehydrate fish and reduce contamination risks associated with esidual moisture and the need for proper hygienic conditions during processing, handling, distribution, packaging and storage of the fish

Fish rolls in Nigeria are nutritionally imbalanced, and the impact of varying fish concentrations on their microbial safety and shelf life is not well understood. This study was carried out to assess the nutritional composition and microbial quality of fish rolls made with Scomberjaponicus concentrate. Five formulations were prepared with S. japonicus fish concentrate (0%,10%, 20%, 30%, 40%), Standard analytical methods (AOAC, 2020) were used to determine the proximate composition, while microbial analysis was performed using standard microbial techniques to determine microbial and fungal contamination levels. There was significant (P<0.05) increases in protein, fat, ash, and moisture contents with higher levels of inclusion. Protein content increased from 9.77% to 25.54%, while carbohydrate content decreased correspondingly from 58.64% to 25.48%. Bacterial counts ranged from 3.7 × 10² to 1.0 × 10³ cfu/g, and fungal counts from 0.2 × 10² to 1.7 × 10² cfu/g, all below the recommended limits of 5 × 10⁵ cfu/g set by the FAO. (ICMS, 2002). The major bacterial isolates included Bacillus sp., Staphylococcus sp., Pseudomonas sp., and Enterobacter sp., while Aspergillus sp., Saccharomyces sp., and Penicillium sp. were the predominant fungi. The study suggest that fish rolls made with S. japonicus significantly enhances their nutritional value, without exceeding acceptable microbial limits. An optimal fortification level of 20% fish concentrate was recommended to balance nutritional quality, sensory acceptability, affordability and microbial safety.

This study examined the perception and attitude of students of Igbinedion University Okada towards ecotourism in Nigeria. The research aimed to determine their level of awareness, participation, benefits derived, and challenges hindering ecotourism development. The study utilized proportional allocation and simple random sampling to ensure fair representation across the seven (7) colleges of Igbinedion University, Okada. A 5% sampling intensity was applied to the estimated 5,000 student population, resulting
in 250 questionnaires distributed proportionally based on the number of departments in each college. Simple random sampling was used to administer the questionnaire to the student in each college, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentage .The results revealed that most respondents (37.6%) were aware of ecotourism, while 80% expressed willingness to learn more about it. The Internet (34.15%) served as the major source of information on ecotourism. About 65.2% of respondents had previously visited at least one ecotourism site, with zoos (39.82%) being the most visited. A significant proportion (77.91%) indicated their willingness to revisit such sites, and 79.75% would recommend them to others. The results also revealed that, 83.6% of the respondents supported the establishment of an ecotourism site within the university, mainly for social and recreational purposes. Regarding the economic and developmental impact, 85.2% of respondents viewed ecotourism as a hope for Nigeria’s economy, and 87.6% believed it provides tangible benefits such as bringing people closer to nature (34.03%), recreation (20.83%), and employment (20.49%). The major challenges hindering ecotourism development as identified by the respondents included lack of adequate amenities (29.8%), ignorance (21.52%), and insecurity (17.88%). It was recommended that increased sensitization through digital platforms, integration of ecotourism into academic curricula, improved infrastructure, and policy support to strengthen sustainable ecotourism growth in Nigeria.

High feed costs and poor water quality hinder sustainable Oreochromis niloticus production, requiring affordable natural alternatives. This study evaluated the influence of Lemna minor on water quality and the reproductive performance of O. niloticus broodstock. A 12-week experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design comprising four treatments: T₀ (control commercial feed only), T₁ (½ of Commercial feed + L. minor coverage), T₂ (same quantity of T0 feed + L. minor coverage), and T₃ (L. minor only). Water quality parameters (dissolved oxygen; T0; 1.111, T1;1.251, T2;1.493, T3;3.825, pH; T0; 6.053, T1;6.128, T2; 6.102, T3;6.328, and total ammonia nitrogen; T0; 0.4356, T1;0.3267, T2; 0.3111, T3; 0.0344) and reproductive indices (number of fry and larval survival rate) were monitored throughout the study. It was revealed that treatments containing Lemna minor significantly improved water quality, with higher dissolved oxygen and lower total ammonia nitrogen compared to the control. However, excessive coverage of L. minor slightly reduced fry output, with the highest number of fry (43.33) in T₀ and the lowest (23.33) in T₂. Fry survival showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) among treatments. The study suggests that the integration of Lemna minor in O. niloticus broodstock system enhance water quality and reduce dependence on costly commercial feed without compromising Reproductive efficiency.

Toll-like receptors are pattern recognition receptors with which hosts recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP). This recognition process is translated rapidly into a meaningful defense reaction. This form of inborn host defense is preserved in animals. Both adaptive and innate immune systems are inter-related in that the adaptive immune system also depends on an intact innate recognition and response system. This study was carried out at University of Benin farm project, to investigate the expression of toll like receptor 2 gene in rabbit. A total of 40 adult rabbits, 5 months and above of both sex (male and female) consisting of 3 breeds (Hyla, New Zealand and Dutch) were used for this experiment. The animals were fed concentrate, forage and a mixture of concentrates and forage. Routine management was carried out. Blood samples were collected and sent to Inqaba Biotechnology West Africa Ltd. Ibadan, Oyo State for DNA extraction and identification of RNA expression. Results are being awaited.

Microplastic (MP) contamination of freshwater ecosystems is a significant environmental and public health concern globally. The paucity of data on MP contamination in Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus from the Ikpoba River, Benin City, Nigeria, warranted this investigation. This study determined the levels, types, and estimated daily intake (EDI) of microplastics in C. nigrodigitatus from three stations along the river over three months (July-September), using visual identification and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy for polymer confirmation. The mean levels of MPs in fish ranged from 0.0113 in August at Station 3 to 0.0163 in September at Station 2, with no significant difference (p>0.05) between months at each station. The plastic load (particles/fish) ranged from 0.00103 in September at Station 1 to 0.00136 in September at Station 2, showing significant temporal variation (p<0.05) at Station 1. The frequency of occurrence (FO) of MPs ranged from 0.33 in July at Station 1 to 1.00 in September at Stations 1 and 3. Physical classification revealed that fragments were the most dominant MP type (39.29%). FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of polyethylene, identified by characteristic absorbance wave numbers at 2925 cm⁻¹, 2850 cm⁻¹, 1430 cm⁻¹, and 710 cm⁻¹.The estimated daily intake (EDI) of MPs for humans through the consumption of C. nigrodigitatus was calculated to be low. The findings confirm the prevalence of microplastics in Ikpoba River and their ingestion by a commercially important fish species. It is recommended that continuous monitoring, effective waste management policies, and public enlightenment campaigns be implemented to mitigate plastic pollution and protect the river's ecosystem and associated public health