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This study is a report of part of a planned breeding programme to evaluate the performance of pure and crossbred progenies of Red Sokoto (RS) and West African Dwarf (WAD) goats in a rainforest zone of South Eastern Nigeria. A total of 56 kids produced by four breeding goat units consisting of pure Red Sokoto (RS x RS), pure West African Dwarf (WAD X WAD), main cross (RS x WAD), and reciprocal cross (WAD X RS) were used to investigate performance and cost benefit of producing progenies of these indigenous goats. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with genetic group and sex as the factors of interest. Results showed that at birth, the male RS X RS kids weighed significantly (P

A portion of okra seed protein-rich extract (PRE) prepared with NaCl solution (5 g/L) was hydrolyzed at 110°C for 5 h (1 atm. pressure). The PRE (sample A), hydrolyzed PRE-B, whole okra seed flour-C and gelatin-D were tested for emulsification capacity (EMC) and emulsion stability (ES). The emulsions were prepared and tested in (i) normal environmental condition (o/w and w/o), (ii) current carrying beaker-CB, (iii) Ohmic heating beaker-OB. The tests were carried out at zero to 240 V. The results showed that at 200 V, the EMC were 85.71, 80.50, 88.23, 85.31, 94.71, 94.70, 90.68, and 83.3% for ACB, AOB, BCB, BOB, CCB, COB, DCB, and DOB, respectively. The respective ES are 23, 31, 25, 43, 98, 61, 98, and 65%. At 200 V, okra product CCB had the highest EMS and ES (94 and 98%, respectively). At 95% oil (w/o) emulsion, EMC for PRE and gelatin were 6.0 and 1.9%, respectively. At 5% oil (o/w) emulsion, the corresponding EMS and ES is 84 and 94%. Hydrolyzed okra seed PRE-CCB is possibly a hydrophilic emulsifier, combining high (94%) EMC with high (98%) ES. Key words: Okra seed, protein-rich extract, hydrolysis, emulsification, electric field.

Environmental variables such as temperature, rainfall, sunshine among others are known to influence fruiting, seed formation and quality of food crops by different mechanisms. Levels of nutrients, anti-nutrients and mineral composition of periodically harvested seeds of Treculia africana (a legume) during the fruiting season were assessed to determine the influence of season on quality parameters. Standard methods of analysis were used to evaluate protein, fat, crude fibre, ash, carbohydrate, moisture hydrogen cyanide, phytate, tannin, oxalate, alkaloid, saponinns and minerals. Highest nutritive and anti-nutrient values of seeds occurred at mid season and late season development periods respectively. Observed quality parameters were 14.55% protein, 5.74% fat, 2.10% crude fibre, 1.45% ash, 33.20% moisture, 50.14% carbohydrate, 0.45mg/100g HCN, 0.8 phytate 6.10mg/100g, 0.45mg/100g 1.65mg and 0.77mg/100g for early season seeds. The mid season seeds quality parameters increases were protein (5.1%) fat (0.34%) ash (0.22%), moisture (2.40%) carbohydrate (4.87%) and mean increase of 3.88% for anti-nutrient. Phytate, oxalate and phenolic values were highest at late season seeds. The mineral contents were comparable among the seasons. Calcium (20.0mg) and magnesium (280mg) recorded the least values in late season seeds. The relationship between seasonal changes in nutrients, anti-nutrients and seasons was significant (P < 0.05). The quality parameters are within the Recommended Daily Allowance for Nutrients, anti-nutrients and minerals but for calcium and magnesium. The seasonal changes posit Treculia africana as multi-purpose nutritional and health maintenance food crop.

A total of 56 kids produced from four breeding goat units consisting of pure Red Sokoto (RS ×RS), pure West African Dwarf (WAD × WAD), main cross (RS × WAD), and reciprocal cross (WAD × RS) were used to investigate performance and cost benefit of producing progenies of these indigenous goat breeds in a rain forest zone of South Eastern Nigeria. The experimental design was a completely randomized design with genetic group as the factor of interest. Data obtained showed that at birth, the male RS × RS kids weighed significantly (P

Flours from African breadfruit, corn and defatted soybean were thoroughly mixed in a Hobart_-mixer at three variable, with the following combinations 40:5:55, 55:5:40, 70:5:25, 85:5:10 and 100:0:0% for African breadfruit, corn and soybean, respectively. These combinations were hydrated to moisture contents of 15, 18, 21, 24, and 27% and extruded at screw speed of 100, 120, 140, 160 and ISOrpm in a Brabender laboratory single-screw extruder. Effects of extrusion cooking and process variable conditions on nitrogen solubility index and amino acid profile were investigated. Nitrogen solubility index decreased with extrusion cooking by more than 50% in all the point blends. Soybean lowered nitrogen solubility index while African breadfruit increased it from 17 to 22% in the raw and 7.25 to 9% in the extruded samples. The model developed in the study accounted for 60.21% of the total variation in nitrogen solubility index and significantly (p