Volume 9, Issue 2 (2013)
https://hdl.handle.net/13049/21
2024-03-28T10:59:15ZEvaluation of carcass, organ and organoleptic properties of spent layers of different poultry types.
https://hdl.handle.net/13049/207
Evaluation of carcass, organ and organoleptic properties of spent layers of different poultry types.
Akinwumi, A. O.; Odunsi, A. A.; Omojola, A. B.; Akande, T.O.; Rafiu, T.A.
This study was designed to assess carcass, organ and organoleptic properties of spent layers of different poultry species; comprising of geese, local chicken, commercial chicken and quails. Eight (8) birds of each species were used for data collection. Results indicated that quail birds had the highest (P < 0.05) proportion for bled weight (97.5%), pluck weight (94.6%) and dressing percentage (72.2%) while the least (P < 0.05) was from geese. The primal cut of quail gave the highest (P < 0.05) values for breast, thigh and back. Wing of geese was the heaviest (P<0.05) while the local chicken was observed to have the heaviest (P < 0.05) drumstick. All parameters for both external and internal offal were significantly (P < 0.05) different between the poultry species. Thermal loss ranged from 31.5- 46.3% in breast muscle and 34.5- 47.8% in the thigh muscle while cooking loss ranged from 19.9-39.8% in breast and 21.5 – 42.5% in the thigh of all the poultry types. Quail had the lowest cooking loss and also was the juiciest, the most tender and ranked the highest in terms of flavor. The overall acceptability of the taste panel was however in favour of exotic breed of chicken.
Short Communication
2013-01-01T00:00:00ZProfitability analysis of cashew production in Wenchi municipality in Ghana
https://hdl.handle.net/13049/206
Profitability analysis of cashew production in Wenchi municipality in Ghana
Wongnaa, C. A.; Awunyo-Vitor, D.
This paper examines smallholder cashew farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics and the profitability of cashew production in Wenchi Municipality of Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana. The study used primary data which was collected from 140 randomly selected cashew farmers. Data for the 2009-2010 was collected through administration of a questionnaire. The methods of analysis used were discounted measures of project worth (net present value, benefit-cost ratio and internal rate of return). The results show that a one-hectare cashew plantation has a net present value of GH¢260.82 ($343.16) when discounted at 25%, a benefit-cost ratio of 1.13 and an internal rate of return of 43.85%. These indices show that cashew production is profitable. Government, non-governmental organizations and investors are therefore encouraged to consider cashew production in the Wenchi Municipality as an option to improve farm income and reduce poverty. Future studies on analysis of profitability of cashew apple processing are necessary because it can increase earning and add value to cashew production. Work on the analysis of the profitability of processing cashew apple is also necessary because existing research does not cover this important area and it was also not within the scope of the current study.
Original Research
2013-01-01T00:00:00ZAnalysis of fruit yield and its components in determinate tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersci) using correlation and path coefficient
https://hdl.handle.net/13049/205
Analysis of fruit yield and its components in determinate tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersci) using correlation and path coefficient
Monamodi, E. L.; Lungu, D. M.; Fite, G.L.
A field experiment was carried out using six determinate tomatoes at Sebele Agricultural Research Station, during 2010/11 season. The objectives of the experiment were to; (1) determine the correlation among the components that explain variation in tomato yield, (2) determine the direct and indirect effects of the morpho-physiological traits on tomato yield. Data collected were fruit yield, marketable fruit number, single fruit weight, number of trusses per plant, number of fruits per truss, fruit weight per truss, plant height, total soluble solids, fruit dry matter, days to 50% flowering, fruit number per plant, fruit weight per plant and flower number per truss. Yield of Sixpack (control) was 62.4t/ha significantly (P < 0.05) higher from lines, CNL3022F2-154-22-9-3, CNL3022F2-37-29-10-17 and CNL3022F2-154-22-5-5.Yield was positive and significantly (P < 0.001) correlated to marketable fruit number (r = 0.64) and plant height (r = 0.52). The relationship between yield and the parameters measured was analysed using stepwise multiple regression. This analysis was used as a bridge leading to path coefficient analysis. Path coefficient analysis results showed that marketable fruit number and single fruit weight were directly related to yield with direct effect of 0.752 and 0.446 respectively. Results obtained suggest that fruit number and single fruit weight are relevant components to use as selection criteria for improving tomato yield. Using correlation coefficients alone would have lead to the erroneous conclusion that single fruit weight is not an important components as its correlation was low and not significant (P > 0.05) at (r = 0.30).
Original research
2013-01-01T00:00:00ZMeasuring transaction costs in marketing cattle in Southern Botswana: A case study
https://hdl.handle.net/13049/204
Measuring transaction costs in marketing cattle in Southern Botswana: A case study
Mahabile, M.
This study attempted to identify factors responsible for transaction costs that private and communal livestock farmers in the southern region of Botswana face. Sample survey data were used to estimate the parameters of a regression model. The equation postulated in the model was estimated with Ordinary Least Squares (OLS). Results obtained suggest that herd size, farmer age, wage (liquidity), and short term credit are determinants of transaction costs incurred by respondents. Secure tenure was also suggested as a determinant of transaction costs that could motivate farmers to increase supply of cattle to the abattoir. Respondents with private farms were found to have better access to the market and tended to incur less transaction costs when they market their livestock. It is suggested that government should (a) vigorously pursue the infrastructural development in Botswana as promulgated in the Agricultural Policy, (b) uphold private property rights to land where they already exist; (c) privatise open access grazing to individual owner-operators who have the resources (money) to do so and who will be required to keep an acceptable herd size and could be motivated to increase supply of cattle to the Botswana Meat commission (BMC), (d) where privatisation to individuals is not feasible, government should encourage users to convert the grazing into common property by subsidising (transaction) costs of defining user groups and the boundaries of their resources, and of enforcing rules limiting individual use and misuse of common property, (e) financial institutions be encouraged to offer short term credit for those farmers who need it and (f) the government should pursue converting the traditional marketing cooperatives into the New Generation Cooperatives (NGC) so as to reduce each producer’s transaction costs.
Original research
2013-01-01T00:00:00Z