INFLUENCE OF DIETARY CRUDE PROTEIN ON TESTIS SIZE, HAEMATOLOGICAL AND SERUM BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN RABBIT BUCKS EXPOSED TO TRANSIENT NEONATAL GOITROGEN
Hammed, Opeyemi Oladipupo; Amao, Olajide Abraham; Olugbade Babatunde Oluwaseun; Imran, Tesleem Omotayo; Popoola, Abimbola Deborah; Rom-Kalilu, Fiwasade Adejoke; Togun, Mary Eniola and Okanlawon, Eden Olusegun
Hammed, Opeyemi Oladipupo: Animal Production and Health Department, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
Amao, Olajide Abraham: Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology Department, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
Olugbade Babatunde Oluwaseun: Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology Department, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
Imran, Tesleem Omotayo: Physiology Department, College Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
Popoola, Abimbola Deborah: Animal Production and Health Department, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
Rom-Kalilu, Fiwasade Adejoke: Animal Production and Health Department, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
Togun, Mary Eniola: Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology Department, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
Okanlawon, Eden Olusegun: Animal Production and Health Department, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
This study examines the evaluation of livelihood diversification strategies as a means to alleviate poverty among farming households in Adamawa State. It explores the nature and extent of livelihood diversification activities among rural farming households using diversification index and Simpsons Index of Diversity (SID), assesses poverty indices using the Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) measures, and tests the relationship between livelihood activities and poverty status using Pearson’s correlation. Data was collected from 270 rural farming households.Findings reveal that agriculture remains the primary income source for rural households, but diversification across both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors is crucial for income stability. Despite challenges such as the removal of fuel subsidies, diversification helps mitigate income fluctuations and reduce poverty incidence. The poverty indices indicate a significant proportion of farming households are poor, with factors like large household sizes and economic challenges exacerbating severe poverty. Moreover, the study finds a positive correlation between livelihood diversification and reduced poverty likelihood. These results underscore the importance of promoting diversified livelihood strategies to enhance household resilience and alleviate poverty in rural areas.Based on the study findings, policymakers and development practitioners should prioritize interventions that support and enhance livelihood diversification among rural farming households in Adamawa State. Furthermore, there is a need for continued research and monitoring of poverty trends to assess the effectiveness of interventions. Long-term strategies should be developed to promote sustainable livelihoods and reduce dependency on agriculture.An experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of dietary crude protein on testicular morphometrics, haematological and serum biochemical parameters of growing male rabbits exposed to transient neonatal goitrogen. Sixty-three (63) male rabbit neonates were transiently exposed to goitrogen through suckling of their mothers’ milk. The neonates were weaned after 5 weeks and 10 rabbits were randomly assigned to each of three dietary treatments (T1-16% CP (Control); T2-14% CP (Low) and T3-18% (High) crude protein) in a Completely Randomized Design. Animals were fed with the experimental diets from the 5th to 13th weeks of age. Five animals per treatment were humanely sacrificed on the 13th week. Blood samples were collected for haematological and serum biochemical parameters. Testes were harvested for testicular morphometric evaluation (Testes weight, length, width and volume). The data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. Rabbits fed with high crude protein diets had significantly (p<0.05) higher test is weight, length and width than those fed lower dietary crude protein. The haematological and serum biochemical variables fell within the normal physiological range for male rabbits. In conclusion, 18% dietary crude protein increased testicular morphometrics in rabbits exposed to transient neonatal goitrogen without posing health risk to the animals.This study examines the evaluation of livelihood diversification strategies as a means to alleviate poverty among farming households in Adamawa State. It explores the nature and extent of livelihood diversification activities among rural farming households using diversification index and Simpsons Index of Diversity (SID), assesses poverty indices using the Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) measures, and tests the relationship between livelihood activities and poverty status using Pearson’s correlation. Data was collected from 270 rural farming households.Findings reveal that agriculture remains the primary income source for rural households, but diversification across both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors is crucial for income stability. Despite challenges such as the removal of fuel subsidies, diversification helps mitigate income fluctuations and reduce poverty incidence. The poverty indices indicate a significant proportion of farming households are poor, with factors like large household sizes and economic challenges exacerbating severe poverty. Moreover, the study finds a positive correlation between livelihood diversification and reduced poverty likelihood. These results underscore the importance of promoting diversified livelihood strategies to enhance household resilience and alleviate poverty in rural areas.Based on the study findings, policymakers and development practitioners should prioritize interventions that support and enhance livelihood diversification among rural farming households in Adamawa State. Furthermore, there is a need for continued research and monitoring of poverty trends to assess the effectiveness of interventions. Long-term strategies should be developed to promote sustainable livelihoods and reduce dependency on agriculture.
Keywords: Testis, Haematology, Serum, Rabbit, Bucks, Neonates, Goitrogen, Crude-protein