Ambient storage stability is one of the major constrains amidst drudges of homemade soymilk due to absence of stabilizer there by restricting the consumption to the production areas. Homemade stabilizers and stabilization becomes the only available option. Soymilk prepared from 12 h steeped and 72 h sprouted soybeans was subdivided and each batch stabilized with 0.5%, 1%, 2% and 3% levels of orange flesh sweet potato starches (OFSPS). Functional properties of the starches and proximate, vitamins, minerals, anti-nutrient, physicochemical, and sensory properties of stabilized soymilk samples were assessed with standard analytical methods. With increase in fortification levels, there were significant improvement in ash (0.84 to 0.88%), protein (4.14 to 4.24%), fibre (0.31 to 0.39%), fat (3.75 to 4.19%), carbohydrate (4.54 to 5.55%), vitamins B1 (0.29 to 0.4 mg/100g), B2 (0.10 to 0.14 mg/100g), B3 (1.03 to 1.13 mg/100g), C (0.86 to 1.09 mg/100g) and pro-vitamin A (5.75 to 6.14 µg/100g). Also improved are calcium (26.81 to 28.55 mg/100g), potassium (31.54 to 32.95 mg/100g), magnesium (44.40 to 46.82 mg/100g), sodium (32.73 to 33.43 mg/100g), iron (2.82 to 3.71 mg/100g), saponin (0.028 to 0.035 mg/100g), tannin (0.041 to 0.048 mg/100g), flavonoid (0.031 to 0.034 mg/100g), alkaloid (0.025 to 0.034 mg/100g), phenol (0.25 to 0.34 mg/100g), viscosity (4.89 to 5.60 mg/100g) and specific gravity (1.02 to 1.04 mg/100g). There were decrease in moisture (86.39 to 84.86%), pH (5.75 to 5.45), visible coagulation time (VCT) (28 to 14 d), foam stability (0.51 to 0.00) and general acceptability (6.84 to 4.84). Functional properties of the OFSPS flour were reasonably high. Despite the anti-nutrient increase, all the soymilk samples in this study were safe for human consumption and moderately accepted at maximum stabilization level of 1%.

This study was carried out to determine the effects of lactic acid bacteria+ enzyme (LAB+E) inoculants on the fermentation characteristics and feed values of silages prepared from alfalfa harvested at three maturity stages. Alfalfa was harvested at the early, middle and late flowering stages. Sil-All (Alltech, UK) were used as LAB+E inoculants. Inoculants were applied to the silages at the rates of 1×105, 5×105 and 1×106 cfu/g levels in 1 liter capacity plastic bags. The bags were stored at 20±2°C under the laboratory conditions. Three bags from each group were sampled for chemical and microbiological analyses on the 45th day after ensiling. The results showed that LAB+E inoculants reduced pH values and ammonia-nitrogen content, whereas increased lactic acid contents and lactobacillus count of alfalfa silages. High doses LAB+E inoculant decreased neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber content, increased in vitro organic matter digestibility and metabolic energy of alfalfa silages. It has been demonstrated that the most effective application dose of LAB+E inoculant to improve fermentation and feed value of alfalfa silage was 1×106 cfu/g, but 1x105 and 5×105 cfu/g level can also be considered as effective dose.

This study evaluated age-related changes in the gross morphology and morphometry of the testis and epididymis of the African Greater Cane Rat (AGCR). Twenty pathogen-free cane rats used for this study were randomly divided into 4 groups; Group I - prepubertal (≤4 months), Group II - pubertal (>4≤12 months), Group III - adult (>12≤30 months), and Group IV - aged (>30 months) of 5 animals each. On day 8th of acclimatization, testis and epididymis were harvested from sedated cane rat, described grossly and standard morphometric parameters (length, width, circumference, weight, and relative weight) determined. Gross morphological observations in the testes of all the different age categories showed similar characteristically cream to milky-white coloration and ellipsoidal shape. The epididymis in the different AGCR group uniquely presents the same inverted S-shaped outline, loose attachment to the testis, and less distinct division into caput, corpus, and cauda segments. Testicular and epididymal morphometric parameters were significantly reduced in the prepubertal cane rat relative to other groups. The parameters consistently displayed an age-dependent increment with the advancing age of the animal. In conclusion, this study has shown that both testicular and epididymal gross morphometrics increase with age advancement and perhaps might be linked to the varying functional reproductive status of the different age groups of the African greater cane rat.

Phosphorus (P) fertilizers contain cadmium (Cd) as a contaminant at levels varying from trace amounts to high levels and therefore, can be a major source of Cd to agricultural systems. This study was designed to assess the impact on application of Eppawala rock phosphate (ERP) and triple super phosphate (TSP) as P fertilizers and different soil amendments on P and Cd uptake in maize (Zea mays L.). The field trial was carried out at Field Crop Research and Development Institute at Mahailluppallama, Sri Lanka. A randomized complete block design was employed with three replicates as ERP and TSP separately applied with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and three types of amendments (biochar, compost and dolomite) and the control without adding P fertilizers. Phosphorus content and Cd content of soil, maize roots and seeds were quantified. Results revealed that available soil Cd and total accumulated root and seed Cd amounts were significantly higher in TSP added treatments with and without amendments compared with ERP added soil. Considering soil available P, root and seed P, there was no significant difference observed in different treatments of TSP and ERP added treatments. A similar phenomenon was also observed in growth and yield parameters with both fertilizers added and with the added amendments. There was no colonization of AMF in maize roots in TSP applied soil while 25-60% of colonization was recorded with ERP. Synthetic fertilizer (TSP) must have inhibited the AMF colonization and thereby increasing the Cd content in maize seeds. AMF colonization increased with comparatively low soil available P in ERP added treatments. The results revealed that TSP could be effectively substituted by ERP as a source of P for maize soils. The addition of AMF, compost and biochar further increased the effect.

Bu çalışma entansif olarak besiye alınan Akkaraman ve İvesi kuzuların besi performans özellikleri üzerine kırkımın etkisi incelenmek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Araştırmada 10 baş Akkaraman ve 8 baş İvesi erkek kuzu kullanılmıştır. Besi süresince hayvanlara 150 g kuru yonca otu ve ad-libitum olarak kesif yem verilmiştir. Çalışmada, Akkaraman ve İvesi kuzular deneme hayvanları kırkım yapılan ve kırkım yapılmayan olmak üzere iki deneme grubuna ayrılımştır. Kuzuların kırkım öncesinde ve sonrasındaki toplam canlı ağırlık artışı, günlük canlı ağırlık artışı, yem tüketimi ve yem değerlendirme katsayısı sırasıyla 8,017 kg, 47,14 kg ve 5,945 ve 8,606 kg, 307 g, 42,21 kg ve 5,029 olarak bulunmuştur. Kırkım yapılmayan kuzuların ise toplam canlı ağırlık artışı 7,802 kg, günlük canlı ağırlık artışı 279 g, yem tüketimi 42,06 kg ve yem değerlendirme katsayısı 6,00 olarak bulunmuştur. Çalışma sonucunda besi performansı bakımından kırkım yapılan ve yapılmayan grupların ortalamaları arasındaki fark istatistik olarak önemsiz bulunmuştur.

Wheat is an important cereal product because of its nutritional value, economy, culture, and history. Einkorn (Triticum monococcum L.) assumed as the oldest wheat. Einkorn locally called “siyez” has recently become popular as a super grain with the thought of being very nutritious in Turkey. In this study, the contents of macrominerals (Na, Mg, Ca, and K) and microminerals (Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) in twenty-one einkorn samples collected from different cultivation areas in Kastamonu were determined by using an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry following microwave-assisted acid digestion. The results were compared with those analyzed in einkorn and other wheat types in the literature. Average concentrations of K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cr and Cu analyzed in einkorn samples were found as 3712, 1303, 656, 53, 167, 34, 29, 0,7 and 0,6 mg kg-1, respectively. The literature comparison revealed that the investigated einkorn samples were richer in terms of Ca and Fe contents compared to einkorn, emmer, spelt, buckwheat, and durum wheat samples grown in our country and different countries.

The present study was planned to determine the effect of flock age on hatching results and chick quality in Ross 308 broiler parents. For this purpose, the eggs of three different flock age (30, 47, and 59 weeks of age) were used. A total of 450 eggs (50 × 3 for each group), including 150 eggs from each age group, were placed in the incubator as a coincidence. The number of alive chicks after hatching was determined and these chicks were classified into three quality groups as low quality, high quality, and discarded chicks. Non-hatched eggs were broken in order to control the fertility and determine the embryonic deaths. At the end of the study, the effect of the flock age on fertility rate (%), hatchability (%) and chick quality was found to be significant. However, the effect of flock age on hatchablity of fertile eggs and early, mid, and late-period embryo deaths were found to be insignificant. It was found that eggs obtained from the young breeders were higher in terms of fertility rate and hatchability than eggs obtained from old breeders. The chicks obtained from young breeders' eggs were determined as 33.60% high quality, 48.10% low quality, and 18.30% discarded chicks. These rates were 32.70%, 43.40%, and 23.90% in chicks obtained from middle-aged breeders, respectively, 56.10%, 36.40%, and 7.50% in chicks obtained from the old breeders. As a result, it was determined that there was a decrease in the hatching results in parallel with the increase in breeding age, but the chick quality increased.

A field-based experiment was carried out in Rukum (East), Nepal, from February to June 2020, to assess the effect of different pre-sowing treatments on germination of Persian walnut. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with six treatments and four replications. The treatments included hot water treatment, chilling stratification only, cracking + Gibberellic acid (500ppm) followed by chilling stratification, cracking + Gibberellic acid (750ppm) followed by chilling stratification, Gibberellic acid (500ppm) + chilling stratification and Gibberellic acid (750ppm) + chilling stratification. The minimum days for germination (15.75 days) and highest germination (53.25%) were obtained when the combination of cracking with GA3 @ 750 ppm along with chilling stratification was done. The maximum shoot length (34.83 cm) was observed in the combination of cracking with GA3 @ 500 ppm followed by stratification but statistically similar shoot length (34.63 cm) was observed when cracking, application of GA3 @ 750 ppm followed by stratification was done. Cracking, treatment with GA3 @ 500 ppm followed by chilling stratification resulted in the highest shoot fresh weight (11.93 gm) and root fresh weight (10.77 gm) compared to the other treatments used. Thus, cracking along with treatment by GA3 @ 750 ppm followed by chilling stratification could be suggested to the walnut growers for better germination and a better morphological and physiological status of the rootstocks/seedlings.

The purpose of this study was to estimate the relationship between body weight (BW) and morphometric measurements of Ethiopian indigenous chicken populations and to develop prediction equations used to estimate BW from body measurements. A total of 621 chickens comprising 134 males and 487 females reared under smallholder management conditions were used for the study. Body weight and morphometric measurements including body length (BL), chest circumference (CC), shank length (SL), and shank circumference (SC) were taken using a hanging scale and a textile measuring tape, respectively. The relationship between BW and morphometric measurements was determined using Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) and stepwise multiple regression analyses. Descriptive statistics indicated that male birds were heavier than female birds. Correlation results revealed that body weight was significantly and strongly correlated with SL (r = 0.76) in both sexes, and moderately correlated with SC (r = 0.69), BL (r = 0.67), and CC (r = 0.52) in male birds, BL (r=0.68) and SC (r = 0.59) in female birds. Compared to other measurements, SL best predicted BW in both male and female birds, with coefficients of determination (R2) = 0.58. Combining SL with other body measurements (BL, CC, and SC) generally improved the predictive power of the equation. Thus, multiple regression equations that included a combination of the four linear body measurements are more suitable for predicting BW of Ethiopian indigenous chicken populations.

This research was planned to study the contribution of fishing and fishery-related activities, and identify its threats. Primary data were collected from the Kano locality around the Alwero reservoir through a questionnaire survey, field observation, and Focus Group Discussions. Both purposive and simple random sampling procedures were adopted in this study. The result revealed that fisheries and fish-related activities are benefiting the society as a source of employment opportunities, income, provision of food that is rich in nutrients (protein), reliable household income (average annual household income contributed by fishing and fish-related activities being 611.8 USD and 69.3 USD, respectively). Besides, the result also indicated that fishing is being performed by less experienced people, who are using traditional fishing gear and preservation methods, and there is also a serious problem of overexploitation. The regression result indicated that fish price and preservation techniques have affected the average annual household income significantly. The study provided more information on the importance of fishing and its related activities to a household in the Kano locality at Abobo district. It identified overfishing as the major anthropogenic activity threatening the fish abundance and diversity in the reservoir.