ABSTRACT
Aims: The experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of herbal supplement on laying performance and antioxidant status of serum and egg yolk of laying birds. Study Design: The experiment employed a completely randomised design, all data generated were subjected to analysis of variance, P =0.05. Methodology: A total of ninety-six (26-week old laying birds) of Isa-brown laying birds were used in a 120-day feeding trial. The birds were assigned to 4 dietary treatments replicated eight times with 3 hens per replicate and were fed the control diet and diets supplemented with 5 g/kg garlic powder, 5 g/kg moringa leafmeal and 5 g/kg ginger powder as diets 2,3,4, respectively. The birds were fed with experimental diets for the 120-day period during which data were obtained on laying performance, internal and external egg qualities and antioxidant status of serum and egg yolk. Results: There was no significant difference in hen day production, feed intake in birds fed control diet and diets supplemented with herbs. Final live-weight and weight change decreased (p<0.05) with dietary herbal supplementation. Supplementation of diets with herbs resulted in a significant increase in egg weight, eggshell weight, eggshell thickness, eggshell surface area compared to the control diet. The yolk weight and albumen weight were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by the dietary herbal supplement. Serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased in the dietary herbal supplement and was maximised (288 µml-1) at diet 3 likewise, the egg yolk superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased (p<0.05) in the dietary herbal supplement and was maximised (9.21 µml-1) at diet 3. Conclusion: Diet supplemented with 5 g/kg moringa leafmeal gave optimum performance, 5g/kg moringa leafmeal may be used as feed additive to improve performance, egg qualities characteristics and antioxidant status of serum and egg yolk of laying birds.
ABSTRACT
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in young infants is easily misdiagnosed as bronchopneumonia yet survival of such patients lies in prompt diagnosis and surgical treatment. The report aimed to increase awareness among Paediatricians and Paediatric Surgeons of the need for high index of suspicion for this condition to allow for early diagnosis and management. A two-month old infant presented with a five-week history of cough of sudden onset and a week history of difficulty in breathing. He had been managed in several hospitals for bronchopneumonia. Examination findings showed features of respiratory distress, widespread coarse crepitations and bowel sounds in the lung fields. Chest radiograph showed `loops of bowel in the mediastinum. He had surgical reduction and repair of the hernia, made excellent recovery post-op and was discharged home. CDH is an uncommon anomaly but a high index of suspicion will allow early diagnosis and treatment with favourable outcome when picked early