Government Area Of Plateau State Research Articles

Production function analysis of small-scale poultry production in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria

Poultry production data were collected from a random sample of 62 broiler and 92 layer producers using questionnaires in Jos South Local Government Area. The results were subjected to analysis using production function and beta coefficient models. Results for layer enterprises indicated that all production inputs have direct influence on egg output except feeds which exhibited a negative trend. For broilers, all regressors except medicaments had positive coefficients implying a direct relationship with poultry meat output. Furthermore, the explanatory powers of all selected inputs were confirmed by high coefficient of determination (R2) values despite the fact that decreasing returns to scale prevail for both layer and broiler enterprises. Beta coefficient results puts feeds and day-old-chicks as the most critical inputs for both layer and broiler enterprises while housing, labour and medicament exhibited varying relative importance for the two enterprises. The study therefore recommends that farmers need not increase their production inputs, but should rather improve on the quality and cost effectiveness of feeds and day-old-chicks that they commit to poultry production. The genuine need for research and government focus towards achieving this cannot be overemphasized. KEY WORDS: Production function; Beta coefficient; Broiler and layer enterprises; Jos South Local Government Area; Plateau State. Global Jnl Pure and Applied Sciences Vol.10(3) 2004: 369-371

LABOUR USE IN SMALL-SCALE YAM PRODUCTION IN QUA'AN PAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF PLATEAU STATE

The study analyses labour use in small-scale yam production in Qua'an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. In the process, data were collected from 92 randomly selected yam farmers on sources, categories, intensity and utilization of labour. Analyses were conducted using descriptive statistics and marginal analyses. Results indicate the family as the most prevalent source of labour with men featuring in all farm operations unlike women and children. Furthermore, harvesting was the most labour intensive operation, followed by weeding and planting. Labour was found to be utilized below economic optimum level (under-utilization) by the farmers. Recommendations given include the need for timely provision of drudgery-minimizing inputs like herbicides, while policy and research efforts should make an articulate organization of rural labour markets and migrant labour to ensure availability throughout the production season. Key Words: Labour use, Double log (Cobb-Douglas) fuctional form, Marginal analysis, Qua'an Pan Local Government Area, Plateau State. Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol.2(2) 2003: 118-120

Bovine trypanosomosis in sedentary cattle at previously assumed trypanosoma-free Jos plateau, Nigeria

The occurrence of trypanosomosis was investigated in sedentary Bunaji (Bos indicus) cattle grazing at 5 different villages of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. Two hundred cattle was examined, 76 (38.0%) of which had trypanosome infection. Three species, Trypanosoma vivax (78.9%), T. Congolense (15.8%), and T. brucei (5.3%) were encountered. More males (42.9%) than females (31.8%) were affected while animals of 3-5 years age cohort had the highest infection rate of 46.7%. The existence of trypanosome infections in sedentary cattle populations of the Jos Plateau seem to suggest that the area which was previously assumed to be Trypanosoma-free may have acquired infection status. Key Words: Trypanosomosis, Bovine, Sedentary, Plateau State, Nigeria. (Nigerian Veterinary Journal: 2003 24(1): 33-36)

The prevalence of lice and fleas of chicken in Bokkos local government area of plateau State, Nigeria

The prevalence of lice and fleas of chicken in Bokkos local government area of plateau State, Nigeria

Response to heterologous leishmanins in cutaneous leishmaniasis in Nigeria--discovery of a new focus.

A pilot study was undertaken to preliminary illustrate the leishmanin skin test (LST) positivity to distinct antigen preparations (derived from promastigote of either Leishmania major or L. amazonensis, or pooled L. mexicana, L. amazonensis and L. guyanensis) in cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) patients and healthy subjects living in two endemic foci in Nigeria. The study was designed to provide insights into whether cross-species leishmanin, such as that prepared from New World Leishmania could be useful to detect cases of Old World leishmanial infection and to compare the results with LST using L. major-derived leishmanin. The overall LST positivity in individuals from Keana tested with the cross-species leishmanin was 28.7% (27/94), while the positivity rate in the subjects from Kanana tested with the same leishmanin was 54.5% (6/11). Lower positivity values were obtained when L. major (12.5%; 11/88) or L. amazonensis (15.8%; 9/57) was tested as antigen in grossly comparable populations. Moreover, the pooled leishmanin identified most of the subjects (13/14; 92.9%) with active or healed CL, and the maximum reaction sizes were found among positive subjects in this group. No healthy controls (10 total) showed specific DTH response. The LST was useful for assessing the prevalence of subclinical infection and for measuring CL transmission over time. We report for the first time the occurrence of CL in Kanana village of Langtang South local government area of Plateau State.

A survey of predilection sites and degree of disability associated with guineaworm ( Dracunculus medinensis)

Of the 1,200 people surveyed for dracontiasis in Ribi and Kanje villages in Awe Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria, 982 (82%) were infected. Most infections (98%) involved the lower limb. Worms emerging from the umbilicus, groin, palm, wrist, and upper arm were also encountered. Of the 982 infected persons 206 (21%) were totally incapacitated, 193 (20%) were seriously disabled, and 431 (44%) suffered mild incapacity, while 152 (16%) were unaffected. Of the 5 species of cyclopoid copepods found in their main water source, only Thermocyclops nigerianus and Mesocyclops aequatorialis harboured guineaworm larvae.

The mycoflora and some mycotoxins found in acha ( Digitaria exilis stapf) in Plateau State, Nigeria

Mouldy acha ( Digitaria exilis) samples were collected at three different periods of the year from some local government areas of Plateau State and