FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE

The study investigated the economy of feed conversion of weaner rabbits fed diets in which soybean meal (SBM) was partially replaced with Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) leaf meal (GGLM). Rising feed costs, especially for conventional protein sources like soybean meal, have prompted the exploration of locally available and low-cost alternatives to enhance the profitability of rabbit roduction. Twenty weaner rabbits aged 4–6 weeks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments containing 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% GGLM as replacement levels for SBM in a completely randomized design, with five rabbits per treatment. The diets were formulated to be iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric, and the feeding trial lasted ten weeks. Parameters measured included feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), cost of feed consumed, cost per kilogram weight gain, total production cost, and net profit. Results indicated that inclusion of GGLM up to 20% did not significantly affect growth performance or FCR compared to the control diet. However, feed cost per kilogram decreased progressively with higher inclusion levels of GGLM, with the lowest feed cost and highest net profit recorded at 30% inclusion. Economic analysis showed that substituting GGLM for SBM substantially reduced feed costs without adverse effects on productivity at moderate inclusion levels. The study concludes that partial
replacement of soybean meal with Guinea grass leaf meal (up to 30%) in weaner rabbit diets is economically advantageous and supports efficient feed utilization. It is therefore recommended for smallholder and commercial rabbit producers as a cost- effective strategy for improving profitability and sustainability in rabbit production systems.

This study investigated the growth performance of weaner pigs fed diets in which yellow maize was partially replaced with a novel feed ingredient, designated 75% MUSARPOMS Grade, at inclusion levels of 0%, 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60%. MUSARPOMS is an unconventional feed resource composed of 75% ground dried ripe plantain peels and 25% palm oil mill slurry. The ten-week feeding trial, including a two-week adaptation period on the control diet, aimed to evaluate the potential of this feed as a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable alternative for swine production by utilizing locally available agro-industrial by- products. A total of twenty-five weaner pigs, with initial body weights ranging from 13.30 to 14.40 kg, were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments, with each treatment replicated five times in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Pigs were offered the experimental diets and water ad libitum throughout the study. Initial body weights were statistically similar across treatments, confirming uniformity of experimental animals at the onset of the trial. While final body weights and overall feed intake were not significantly affected by the dietary treatments, parameters such as total weight gain, average weekly weight gain, average daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and feed efficiency demonstrated significant responses to maize replacement levels. The highest growth performance and feed utilization efficiency were observed in pigs receiving the control diet. Among the MUSARPOMS-based diets, the 50% maize replacement level yielded growth and feed efficiency values most comparable to the control, whereas higher inclusion levels (60%) resulted in reduced performance and poorer feed utilization. These findings indicate that 75% MUSARPOMS Grade can replace up to 50% of maize in weaner pig diets without substantially compromising growth, offering a viable, cost-reducing

The present study evaluated the physical, chemical, and heavy metals content (Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu) and fertility status of soils from three dumpsites within the Benin city metropolis and the effect of NPK (15:15:15) fertilizer on the growth and yield of Okra and Garden Egg. Soils samples were collected processed and analyzed using standard laboratory methods. The experiment was a 3 x 4 factorial fitted in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), with three levels of fertilizer (0 g NPK, 14 g NPK and 28 g NPK) and (3) dumpsites (Benin Sapele Road Dumpsite (BSD), Benin Agbor Road Dumpsite (BAD) and Benin Oluku Bypass Dumpsite
(BOD) and the control with three replications. Growth parameters (plant height, number of leaves; stem girth; leaf area) and yield were collected. The fruit yield per hectare was derived by estimating the fruit yield per poly bag. Data were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and treatment means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at 5% probability level. Results showed that, physical and chemical properties of the dumpsite soils were slightly alkaline with pH range of 7.28 to 7.56. The organic carbon ranged between 11.6 and 13.7 g/kg. The fertility status of the soils from the different dumpsites revealed that soils
from Agbor Road ByePass were high in potassium while soils from Oluku and Sapele ByePass dumpsites were high in phosphorus and nitrogen. The total N from the dumpsites ranged between 0.065 to 0.199 %. The heavy metal content of dumpsite soils varied significantly, but was within the limits recommended by FAO/WHO. The application of 28 g NPK fertilizer enhanced the growth and yield of Okra and Garden Egg compared to the control. This study suggest that dumpsite soils amended with NPK fertilizer improved soil nutrients status and enhanced the yield and growth of Okra and Garden Egg plant.

The rising cost of feed additives has made livestock production increasingly expensive, especially for small ruminants. This has created the need to explore cheaper alternative feed sources that can still support efficient growth and nutrient utilization. Chitin and chitosan, obtained from snail shell waste, are potential feed additives known to enhance nutrient digestion and nitrogen use in animals. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of diets containing chitin and chitosan on nitrogen balance and retention in goats. A total of twelve (12) goats were randomly assigned to six different dietary treatments.The trial lasted 15 days, with an 8-day digestibility and nitrogen balance trial using metabolic cages. Data on feed intake, fecal and urinary nitrogen excretion, and nitrogen balance were collected and analyzed statistically. The results showed that goats fed diets chitosan retained more nitrogen compared to those on the control diet. There were no adverse effects on dry matter intake. The study concludes that chitosan derived from snail shell can serve as useful feed additives at 0.5% inclusion level for improving nitrogen utilization in goats.

This study evaluated the effect of aqueous neem (Azadirachta indica) and garlic (Allium sativum) extracts on Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) infestation in maize (Zea mays) at the Teaching and Research Farm, Department of Crop Science, University of Benin. The experiment was conducted using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) comprising four treatments: neem extract, garlic extract, neem + garlic extract, and a control, each replicated three times. Data were collected weekly on infestation incidence, larval abundance, and damage severity using the Davis and Williams (1992) visual rating scale. Results showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) among treatments across all sampling periods. However, slight numerical reductions in infestation and damage were observed in the neem and garlic treatments compared to the control. The limited effectiveness recorded may be attributed to environmental factors such as rainfall, temperature, and sunlight, which reduced the persistence of the extracts, as well as the
use of aqueous formulations that typically degrade quickly under field conditions. The combination of neem and garlic did not produce any synergistic effect. The study concludes that although neem and garlic extracts offer mild suppressive activity against Fall Armyworm, they are insufficient as stand-alone control options under field conditions. Their use is therefore recommended as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy alongside cultural and biological control methods for more effective and sustainable Fall Armyworm management in maize production

The increasing global demand for plant-based dairy alternatives has stimulated
research into non-dairy cheese analogues derived from underutilized crops. This
study evaluated the chemical composition and sensory characteristics of mozzarella and cheddar-type cheeses produced from tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) milk using three coagulants: vinegar, lemon extract, and tamarind extract. A 3x 2 factorial design resulting in six (6) treatment combinations was adopted. The treatments included mozzarella and cheddar cheeses coagulated with vinegar, lemon, and tamarind extract respectively. Proximate composition, mineral composition, pH, and sensory properties were determined using standard analytical procedures. The pH values ranged from 4.870 to 5.985, with cheddar cheeses generally exhibiting higher pH values than mozzarella cheeses. Moisture content ranged from 73.10% to 77.53%, while crude protein varied from 1.875% to 2.450%. Ether extract ranged from 3.395% to 4.165%, and ash content ranged from 0.465% to 1.105%. Mineral analysis revealed calcium values between 231.5 and 311.3 mg/kg, magnesium values between 115.5 and 244.2 mg/kg, and phosphorus values between 556.1 and 1254.9 mg/kg. Sensory evaluation showed that
mozzarella cheese coagulated with tamarind extract recorded the highest overall
acceptability score (3.722), while cheddar cheese coagulated with lemon extract
recorded the lowest score (2.944). The findings demonstrated that tiger nut milk can be successfully utilized in the production of acceptable vegan cheese analogues with desirable nutritional and sensory qualities. Tamarind extract proved to be the most effective coagulant in improving both nutritional composition and consumer acceptability.

The study was conducted to evaluate the performance of weaner rabbits fed diets containing Guinea Grass Leaf Meal (GGLM) as a replacement for soybean meal. The experiment aimed to determine the effects of substituting soybean meal with varying levels of GGLM on growth performance, feed intake, feed conversion efficiency, and protein utilization in weaner rabbits. A total of twenty (20) weaner rabbits of mixed breeds, aged between 6–8 weeks and averaging 820 g in weight, were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments containing 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% GGLM, respectively. Each treatment was replicated thrice with two rabbits per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). Diet 1 (0%) served as the control with soybean meal as the primary protein source, while soybean meal was progressively replaced with GGLM at 10%, 20%, and 30% in diets 2, 3, and 4 respectively. Data were collected on average initial and final live weight, weekly feed intake, weekly weight gain, weekly protein intake, feed conversion ratio, and protein efficiency ratio. The results indicated that the inclusion of GGLM had significant (p<0.05) effects on the performance parameters of the weaner rabbits. Average final live weight decreased slightly with increasing inclusion of GGLM, ranging from 1628.40 g in the control to 1528.80 g at 30% inclusion, while weekly feed intake and weekly weight gain followed a
similar trend, decreasing as GGLM levels increased. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) improved at moderate inclusion (20%), indicating better feed utilization at that level, while the protein efficiency ratio (PER) was highest at 20% inclusion, suggesting that
rabbits efficiently utilized dietary protein at moderate levels of GGLM replacement. However, at 30% inclusion, performance declined, possibly due to increased fiber content and reduced digestibility of the diet.

Dioscorea alata L. and Dioscorea rotundata Poir remain the most widely cultivated yam
species in the tropics, where yam is a major food and income crop. However, the
availability of clean, affordable, and disease-free seed yam is still a major constraint to
production. This study evaluated the growth performance and seed tuber yield of
minitubers generated from vine cuttings and yam minisetts across several yam cultivars. For the minituber experiment, improved cultivarsAkuabata, Vayam, Asiedu, Favourite and Super were used, while the minisett trial included Abakaliki 1, Abakaliki 2, Benin Local, Igiowa 1 and Igiowa 2. Both experiments were arranged using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Vine cuttings taken from the minituber plants were also used to examine the influence of four locally available potting media (sawdust, rice hull, grass, and corn cob) on the establishment and yield of minitubers under semi-autotrophic hydroponic conditions, using a Completely
Randomized Design (CRD). Seed yam yield per plant ranged from 267 g in Super to 467g in Asiedu in the minituber experiment, while minisett yield ranged from 200 g in
Abakaliki 1 to 717 g in Igiowa 1. Multiplication ratios were substantially higher in the
minituber system (1:46–1:75) compared to the minisett method (1:1.3–1:3.8). In the vine- cutting experiment, sawdust produced the highest survival rate (68%), followed by rice hull, grass, and corn cob. Overall, the study demonstrates that minitubers produced from vine cuttings represent a promising and efficient approach for generating high-quality seed yam in Dioscorea spp. Furthermore, readily available potting materials455565T45R such as sawdust, rice hull, and grass can be effectively used in humidity chambers for minituber production.

This study investigated the shelf life and viability of Trichoderma harzianum formulated
with various carrier combinations to enhance its potential as a sustainable biocontrol
agent. Formulations were prepared using different ratios of corn cob and spent mushroom substrate (4:1 and 1:1) respectively, combined with clay and cassava starch. The viability of T. harzianum spores was monitored monthly over a five-month storage period under room temperature conditions (15–35 °C) by determining colony-forming units (CFU/g) on potato dextrose agar. The experiment was subjected to Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and data was analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at a 5% significance level. Results revealed that the media type had a highly significant effect (p < 0.001) on spore viability across all months, while concentration and substrate × concentration were non-significant. The formulation containing a 1:1 mixture of corn cob and spent mushroom substrate supplemented with clay and cassava starch consistently produced the highest CFU/g values throughout the storage period, indicating superior shelf stability. Conversely, formulations with higher corn cob ratios (4:1) showed reduced viability. Overall, the inclusion of starch improved moisture retention and nutrient availability, slowing the decline in spore viability over time. The study concludes that a balanced organic–inorganic matrix enriched with starch provides an optimal carrier system for maintaining the viability of T. harzianum during storage, thereby enhancing its suitability for large-scale biocontrol applications.

The catfish industry in Nigeria faces significant challenges including high production cost, low productivity, and limited profitability. Despite its potential, the industry has not fully explored the use of concrete pond for catfish production which could improve efficiency and reduce costs. This study investigated the socio-economic characteristics, profitability, and technical and allocative efficiency of concrete pond catfish production in the Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria, and identified key constraints faced by farmers. Data were collected from 113 concrete pond catfish farmers and analyzed using descriptive statistics, net profit analysis, and the Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) model. Socio-economic analysis revealed the enterprise is dominated by economically active males (62.83%) with a mean age of 44 years. A significant majority of farmers (69.91%) possess tertiary education, and 74.34% engage in full-time catfish farming. The cost and return analysis confirmed that concrete pond catfish production is highly profitable, yielding an average net profit of ₦599,386.39 and a strong Return on Investment (ROI) of 2.49 per production cycle, demonstrating high financial viability. The technical and allocative efficiency analysis showed that 95.28% of farmers operated at >90% efficiency, with a mean technical efficiency of 94.46%. However, the overall Returns to Scale (RTS) was -7.4534, indicating that the enterprise operates in an economically irrational region (Stage III) of production due to significant resource overuse. Technical efficiency was positively and significantly influenced by stock density and quantity of fingerlings, but negatively by fuel usage. Allocative efficiency was positively affected by the cost of fuel, feed, and fingerlings, but negatively by labor costs and depreciated fixed costs. Inefficiency models showed that increased age and pond size decreased allocative inefficiency, while increased experience, household size, and income increased technical and/or allocative inefficiency. The major constraint identified was the high cost of feed (Mean = 3.98), followed by disease outbreaks and theft. The study concludes that while concrete pond catfish production is highly profitable, there is an urgent need to address resource overuse to move production into the rational efficiency stage. Recommendations include promoting optimal stocking density, investing in high-quality fingerlings, and providing targeted training to enhance feed and labor management, ultimately ensuring the long-term sustainability and profitability of the sector.