Abdulmojeed Yakubu

Nasarawa State University

This experiment was conducted to study the relationships among thermo-physiological and haematological parameters of Nigerian goats. A total of 36 weaner goats of two breeds (West African dwarf, n=18; 9 males + 9 females) and Red Sokoto goats, n=18; 9 males + 9 females) of about 3-4 months of age were sourced for the experiment which lasted for 8 w...

The study was conducted to predict the body weight of mixed breeds of pigs in Nigeria through morpho-biometric traits (body length, chest girth, height at withers, ear length, head length, foreleg length, and hind leg length) using classification and regression tree models. The data were produced using 500 randomly selected mixed breeds of pigs fro...

The study aimed at characterizing the qualitative traits of three indigenous cattle breeds in Nasarawa South Agro-Ecological Zone of Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Sampling was carried out at Lafia, Doma, Obi, Keana and Awe Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State, Nigeria. A total of 179 adult cattle of both sexes (male; n= 88 and female; n= 91) of Whit...

This study evaluated the performance of Arbor Acres Plus and Marshall chicken strains. The birds were reared under two management systems (without access or with access to pasture) in Nasarawa State, Nigeria in an 8-week trial. Data for body weight, primary feather length, under-wing temperature were collected weekly while feed intake was taken dai...

The study evaluated the prolactin receptor (PRLR)gene expression of primary feather length in Arbor Acres Plus and Marshall chicken strains which were reared under two management systems (without access or with access to pasture) in Nasarawa State, Nigeria in an 8-week trial. Data on weekly primary feather length were collected on selected birds wh...

The present investigation aimed to compare the performance of two machine learning algorithms, Artificial Neural Network (ANN), and Classification and Regression Tree (CART), alongside the Automatic Linear Modelling (ALM), and the traditional Multivariate Linear Regression model (MLR) to predict the egg weight (EWT) of Mallard duck from some egg tr...

This study was conducted to compare the fertility and hatchability performance of the indigenous helmeted guinea fowls and exotic birds of the French strain, and predict egg weight from egg indices in Nigeria. A total of 300 randomly selected 8-month old guinea fowls comprising 150 indigenous (30 males and 120 females) and 150 French strain (30 mal...

This study was conducted to characterize the quantitative traits of Fulani ecotype chicken in Nasarawa South agro-ecological zone, Nasarawa State. A total of 300 matured and randomly selected Fulani ecotype chicken (152 males and 148 females) were used for this study. Sixteen biometric characters and four morphological indices were investigated. Bi...

This study was carried out to assess factors influencing prevalence of abortion and stillbirth in Yankasa sheep using multivariate logistic regression and decision trees. 191 lambing records of ewes from a total of 50 traditional Yankasa sheep herders within Nasarawa South agro-ecological zone from the year 2020-2021 were utilized in the study. Sam...

This research investigated the growth and other production traits of four distinct lines (L1, L2, L3, and L4) of Japanese quail (Cortunix japanoica) kept in the tropical climate of Tamil Nadu, India. The traits related to body weight at different weeks and weight gain were measured in 180 birds (90 males and 90 females) per line up to the fifth wee...

The control and elimination of multidrug‐resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli is an important challenge in the poultry industry. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of MDR E. coli in cleaned and disinfected poultry houses before day‐old chick placement to identify potential flock colonization sources. In this study, a total of 104 swa...

Use of robust regression algorithms for better prediction of body weight (BW) is receiving increased attention. The present study therefore aimed at predicting BW from chest circumference, breed and sex of a total of 1,012 goats. The animals comprised 332 matured West African Dwarf (WAD) (197 bucks and 135 does), 374 Red Sokoto (RS) (216 bucks and...

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on smallholder farming households (SFH) includes increased poverty, and loss of livelihoods. Provision of livestock to SFH is a helpful intervention to mitigate this impact. This study provided a total of 150 smallholder poultry farmers, randomly selected from three states (Kebbi, Nasarawa, and Imo) in Nigeria, with...

Camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Africa are adapted to arid and the semi-arid environmental conditions, and are valuable for meat, milk and fiber production. On account of the growing demand for camels in this continent, there is a need for knowledge on their phenotypic and genetic diversity. This is fundamental to sustainable herd management and ut...

Polymorphism is an important component of animal genetic improvement. As a result, myostatin gene is largely involved in muscle formation and growth and is a great candidate gene for increased growth of muscle in animals. Myostatin negates the growth of muscle cells and is found across species. Literature shows various applications and importance o...

The present study was undertaken to contribute towards a better understanding of the production systems, productivity, and trait preferences of local chicken farmers in Algeria. Data were collected from a total of 160 randomly selected smallholder poultry farmers in 3 provinces of the northwest of Algeria. The free-range system of production was pr...

Six non-linear regression models (3P and 4P Gompertz, 3P, 4P and 5P Logistic and Neural network) were computed to construct the growth curves of 50 South African non-descript indigenous goats (males = 20 and female = 30) from birth to twelve months of age, raised at the University of Limpopo Experimental Farm, South Africa. Candidate non-linear mod...

There is a growing risk of antibiotic resistance (AR) in smallholder poultry (SP). This study, therefore, aimed to investigate AR pattern of bacterial isolates from SP in the Guinea Savanna agro-ecological zone of Nigeria. A total of 120 fresh poultry droppings were aseptically collected, randomly, from two tropically adapted (FUNAAB Alpha and Noil...

The current study was embarked upon to determine the influence of gender on livestock breeding practices and trait preferences of rabbit farmers in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. A total of 120 rabbit keepers were randomly sampled in the three agricultural zones of the State. Primary data were collected through individual semi-structured questionnaire ad...

This study was conducted to characterise phenotypically helmeted Guinea fowls in three agro-ecologies in Nigeria using multivariate approach. Eighteen biometric characters, four morphological indices and eleven qualitative physical traits were investigated in a total of 569 adult birds (158 males and 411 females). Descriptive statistics, non-parame...

The present study aimed at the morphometric characterization of the native Guajolote reared in two regions of Mexico using multivariate analysis techniques. Data from a total of 362 unrelated native Guajolotes (257 males and 105 females) were used: of these, 160 were from the Central region and 202 were from the Southeast region. The birds were als...

This study was embarked upon to evaluate breed and sex effects on the thermo-physiology and blood parameters; predict heat stress index and appropriately classify Nigerian West African Dwarf (WAD) and Red Sokoto (RS) goats in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment involving twenty four goats. WAD goats had higher rectal temperature (38.93 ±0.10 versus 38.59...

The indiscriminate use of antimicrobials in livestock production is of increasing concern due to the threat of antimicrobial resistance in both humans and animals. Much emphasis has been placed on intensively managed poultry production systems, which routinely use antimicrobials as against smallholder poultry production systems (SPPS). Therefore, t...

Duck keeping is a very important sector in resource-constrained families as it provides for family proteins and income and other social needs. The present study was carried out to determine the influence of gender on livestock breeding practices of duck farmers in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. A total of 100 duck keepers (36 males and 64 females) were r...

The study aimed at describing objectively the interdependence among the morphological and heat tolerance traits of Nigerian indigenous pigs and to predict body weight from conformation traits. Data on body weight, eight linear body measurements (BL, CG, CD, WH, RH, EL, SL and TL) and three thermo-physiological parameters were measured on 150 random...

Alpha % Growth hormone gene % Nigerian indigenous chicken % SNPs KR nema Chicken growth hormone (cGH) is a polypeptide hormone secreted by the pituitary gland which is responsible for several functions such as tissue growth and reproduction in chickens. This study was conducted to characterize six chicken genotypes using exon 1 and intron 1 regions...

This study was embarked upon to characterise phenotypically helmeted guinea fowls in three agro-ecologies in Nigeria using multivariate approach. Eighteen biometric characters, four morphological indices and eleven qualitative (phaneroptic) traits were investigated in a total of 569 adult birds (158 males and 411 females). Descriptive statistics, n...

Ovalbumin isthe major egg white protein synthesized in the hen's oviduct and plays a role in reproduction and embryonic development. The present investigation aimed at identifying deleterious non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) in Ovalbumin gene of ducks using an in silico assay.Amino acid sequence data ofthe Ovalbumin protein o...

This study aimed to assess the relationship among carcass traits of meat line FUNAAB Alpha chicken genotype, to identify the components that defined bled weight in them using multivariate principal component regression. A total of 14 different carcass traits from sixty-eight birds were recorded and subjected to one-way analysis of variance to vet f...

There is increasing interest in sustainable poultry production in developing economies. This review provides an insight into guinea fowl production in Nigeria as a means of additional high-quality poultry meat and egg production. Under the smallholder scavenging system, flock size of the four investigated plumages (Pearl, Lavender, Black and White)...

A study was conducted to estimate the diversity that exists among three rabbit populations adapted to the South-Eastern part of Nigeria. Blood samples were collected from 75 matured, mixed-sex, and unrelated three rabbit breeds selected across the zone. Eight microsatellites (Sol30, Sol33, and Sol44, Sat3, Sat7, Sat8, Sat12, and INRA) markers were...

There is increasing use of robust regression algorithms to model the growth of chicken. This study was embarked upon topredict thebody weight (BW)of eighty three Sasso hens (43 and 40 for Deep litter and Battery Cage, respectively) from week 31-52 of rearing.BW prediction was executed using Morgan-Mercer-Flodin (MMF), Gompertz Relation, Weibull, Lo...

The chicken Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) is a candidate gene for growth, body composition and metabolism, skeletal characteristics and growth of adipose tissue and fat deposition in chickens. It is mapped to 165.95 cM on chromosome 1 and composed of four exons and three introns, spanning more than 50 kb. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood...

Genetic variants at heat shock protein 70 gene and their influence on heat stress (HS) tolerance were studied among selected Nigeria zebu, namely, 25 White Fulani (WF), 21 Sokoto Gudali (SG), 21 Red Bororo (RB), and 23 Ambala (AM). Detection of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) followed by determination of genotype and genotypic frequency was ma...

Procruste analysis of forewing shape in two endemic honeybee subspecies Apis mellifera intermissa and A. m. sahariensis from the Northwest of Algeria. Biodiversitas 22: 154-164. Honey bees play an important role as pollinators of many crops. Thus they are collectively considered as a veritable economic source. The present study was undertaken to de...

Mathematical models provide valuable information for livestock improvement programmes. In this study, we evaluated the ability of five mathematical models (3P and 4P Gompertz, 3P and 4P logistic and neural network) to predict the growth of six tropically adapted dual purpose (TADP) chicken breeds (Fulani, FUNAAB Alpha, Kuroiler, Noiler, Sasso and S...

The present study was carried out to determine the livestock breeding practices and the trait preferences of sheep farmers in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. A total of 132 sheep keepers were randomly sampled out of which data from 120 farmers were utilized in the final analysis. Primary data were collected through individual semi-structured questionnaire...

Chickens kept under free-range, backyard or semi-intensive systems in the developing countries have more diverse use and benefits to rural households. Their use varies from region to region and from community to community within a region. The study investigated growth, laying performance and survivability of six improved dual-purpose breeds in five...

The conservation of Nigerian cattle is of increasing concern because of their historical and genetic value. Phenotypic characterization involves the differentiation of groups and/or breeds and provides support for conservation programmes. In this study, we reported quantitative examination of four Nigerian cattle breeds using multivariate technique...

Interferons are secretory proteins induced in response to specific extracellular stimuli which stimulate intra- and intercellular networks for regulating innate and acquired immunity, resistance to viral infections, and normal and tumor cell survival and death. Type 1 interferons plays a major role in the CD8 T-cell response to viral infection. The...

Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS) algorithm, as a modified form of classification and regression tree (CART) algorithm, is a nonparametric regression technique that aids to describe linear, nonlinear and interaction effects between sets of dependent and independent variables for classification and regression type solutions. An alterna...

The following nutraceuticals: Moringa oleifera Lam., Garlic (Allium sativum) and Ginger (Zinger officinale) were screened for their possible use as Aflatoxin (Aspergillus flavus) reduction agents by extracting their photochemical constituent’s using aqueous and methanol extraction which were used as inhibitors of A. flavus . The results showed the...

The identification of appropriate models to optimize the performance of layers will help boost poultry production. This study aimed at evaluating the production characteristics of Isa Brown layers in cages and to estimate the age of optimal production using two different regression models. A total of two hundred and forty hens on cage were utilized...

Heat shock protein (HSP) 90 gene provides protection and adaptation to thermal assault and certain polymorphisms have been associated to heat tolerance in humans and animals. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of HSP 90 gene were used to evaluate the scientific basis of heat tolerance in four zebu breeds of Nigeria. The DNA was extracted from s...

This study was carried out to predict average number of kits per birth and mortality number of nondescript rabbits in Plateau State, Nigeria using artificial neural network (ANN). Data were obtained from a total of 100 rabbit farmers. The predicted mean value for number of kits per birth using ANN (6.60) was similar to the observed value (6.52). As...

This study aimed at assessing the impact of the African Chicken Genetic Gains project on the livelihoods, and food security of smallholder poultry farmers in Nigeria. A total of 2,100 households were selected from 60 villages located in five states representing different agro-ecological zones: Kebbi (Sudan Savanna), Kwara (Southern Guinea Savanna),...

Molecular-based assay is reported to efficiently detect higher levels of subacute infection of the African Animal Trypanosomosis (AAT). Based on our previous research data, this study reports the detection of subacute Trypanosoma vivax (T. vivax) infection, sequel to polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay diagnosis in four extant Nigerian shee...

Background. Pig farming is one of the most important livestock raised in Nigeria by smallholder farmers. Objective. To determine the breeding practices and breeding traits of preference by pig farmers in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Methodology. A total of 120 pig rearers (62 males and 58 females) were randomly sampled. Primary data were collected thro...

Heat Shock Protein (HSP) 90 gene is a member of HSPs sub-family that act as molecular chaperons whenever animals come under thermal stress. The genes fulfill essential roles of providing cellular protection, immune response, protein synthesis, protein folding and unfolding, protection from cellular stress, inhibitory apoptosis and adaptation. This...

This study aimed at determining chicken genotypes of choice and traits preference in chicken by smallholder farmers in Nigeria. Data were obtained from a total of 2063 farmers using structured questionnaires in five agro-ecological zones in Nigeria. Chi square (χ²) statistics was used to explore relationships between categorical variables. The mean...

Heat shock protein (HSP) 90 gene is a member of HSPs that act as molecular chaperons whenever animals come under thermal assault, they fulfill essential roles of providing cellular protection, immune response, protein synthesis, protein folding and unfolding, protection proteins from cellular stress, inhibitory apoptosis and adaptation during therm...

The present study was embarked upon to determine the breeding practices and choice of selection and breeding traits of cattle farmers in Nasarawa State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria. A total of 180 smallholder cattle herders were randomly sampled. However, analysis of data was restricted to 144 herders (81 from FCT and 63...

This study was embarked upon to predict hatchability and mortality rate of Muscovy ducks in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Data were obtained from a total of 119 duck farmers. The automatic linear modelling (ALM) and artificial neural network (ANN) models were employed. The average flock size was 9.84±0.60 per household. The predicted hatchability mean v...

Heat shock protein (HSP) 90AA1 gene is a member of HSPs sub-family that act as molecular chaperons whenever animals come under the assaults of thermal stress, they fulfill essential roles of providing cellular protection, immune response, inhibitory apoptosis and adaptation to thermal assault. A total of ninety (90) adult bulls from Nigerian Zebu c...

Trypanosomosis remains a major challenge to livestock production in much of tropical Sub-Saharan Africa, while diagnosis and treatment still depends on inefficient parasitological techniques. Endemic infections of trypanosomosis depend on animal reservoirs with sub-clinical parasitemia. We report molecular diagnosis of sub-clinical Trypanosoma viva...

Trypanosomosis remains a major challenge to livestock production in much of tropical Sub- Saharan Africa, while diagnosis and treatment still depends on inefficient parasitological techniques. Endemic infections of trypanosomosis depend on animal reservoirs with sub-clinical parasitemia. We report molecular diagnosis of sub-clinical Trypanosoma viv...

DQBI gene is a member of the highly polymorphic MHC complex which is fundamental to the vertebrate immune system, encoding molecules that bind parasite-derived peptides for presentation to T-cells and subsequent initiation of an immune response. In this study, SNAP2, PROVEAN and PolyPhen-2 computational algorithms were used to identify non-synonymo...

The study aimed at evaluating sexual dimorphism in Muturu cattle using multivariate Principal Component (PC) and discriminant analyses. Eleven morphometric traits namely, Withers Height (WH), Body Length (BL), Horn Length (HL), Ear Length (EL), Face Length (FL), Rump Length (RL), Neck Length (NL), Neck Circumference (NC), Chest Girth (CG), Shoulder...

The aim of the present study was to examine some egg characteristics of Naked neck indigenous layers (NNL) with different plumage colours (White layers, WL; Black layers, BL and Brown layers, BrL) kept in two different housing systems (conventional cages vs deep litter). The birds were randomly allocated in a 2 (Housing system) x 3 (Genotype) facto...

The aim of the present study was to examine some egg characteristics of Naked neck indigenous layers (NNL) with different plumage colours (White layers, WL; Black layers, BL and Brown layers, BrL) kept in two different housing systems (conventional cages vs deep litter). The birds were randomly allocated in a 2 (Housing system) x 3 (Genotype) facto...

The use of robust algorithms in the prediction of egg production is gaining more prominence in recent times. This study, therefore, aimed at estimating egg number from the age (weeks) of Sasso dual-purpose chicken breed using two traditional regression tools (Linear and Quadratic functions) and two robust models [artificial neural network (ANN) and...