Livestock Feeds and Breeds Improvement Research Group

Livestock Feeds and Breeds Improvement Research Group

Main research focus and other areas of research interest of the RG:

• Development of Nigerian indigenous layer, meat-type and dual purpose strains from heavy ecotype chickens.
• Screening for disease resistant strain of the Nigerian indigenous chicken using single nucleotide polymorphism (snps)
• Improvement of the Nigerian indigenous turkey through cross breeding and improved feeding
• Production and distribution of day old chicks from parent lines and grandparent lines
• Application of precision feeding techniques in swine production
• Improving livestock production using locally available feed resources
• Development of feeding strategies for improved meat and egg production
• Utilization of probiotics to improve to improve growth performance in small ruminants
• Enhancing growth performance in non- ruminants by the use of enzymes

 

Title of most recent research project: Growth, oxidative status, nutrient digestibility and intestinal morphology in two meat-type chickens supplemented with lysolecithin in a hot humid tropical environment

A maximum of seven (7) other current or completed research projects:

• Evaluation of the energy and protein requirements of growing local turkeys in a hot humid tropical environment
• Sodium butyrate and rosemary leaf meal inclusion in broiler diet: Effect on immunoglobulin and oxidative status activities of breast meat in broilers
• Sodium butyrate and rosemary leaf meal inclusion in broiler diet: Effect on general performance, carcass traits, organ sizes and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens
• Sodium butyrate and rosemary leaf meal inclusion in broiler diet: effects on gut micro-floral, growth performance, ileum, jejunum and duodenal histological traits
• Sodium butyrate and rosemary leaf meal inclusion in broiler diet: Effect on general performance, carcass traits, organ sizes and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens
• Heritability estimates, biometric and allometric growth traits in f1 progenies of the nigerian local turkeys (Meleagris gallopova).
• Nutrient digestibility, growth, carcass, and bio-marker traits of weaner rabbits fed diets containing graded levels of cowpea

 

Name of the Coordinator: Professor Augustine Ogbonna Ani

UNN email address of the RG: livestockfeeds.rg@unn.edu.ng

UNN email address of the coordinator: augustine.ani@unn.edu.ng

Current webpage of the RG: Not available

Phone number of the RG : 08060711436

Phone number of the coordinator: 08060711436

Base Faculty/Institute/Center of the RG: Faculty of Agriculture

Department of the Coordinator: Department of Animal Science

 Headshot of the coordinator

List and brief profiles of members (one paragraph per member) with their UNN website url to their detailed CVs (hyperlinks are OK)

• Professor Augustine Ogbonna Ani : Augustine O Ani is a Professor of Animal Nutrition and Biochemistry and the immediate past Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He had his secondary education at Washington Memorial Grammar School (WMGS), Onitsha from 1976 to 1981. Augustine O. Ani attended the University of Maiduguri, and obtained a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Zoology with Second Class (Honours), Upper Division in 1988. He obtained his M.Sc. (Animal Husbandry & Management) in 1995 and Ph.D. (Animal Nutrition & Biochemistry) in 2002 from the University of Nigeria Nsukka. He also obtained a Certificate in Aquaculture in 2006 from the Israeli Centre for International Cooperation (MASHAV). Professor Ani has served the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in various capacities; as Associate Dean, Faculty of Agriculture and  Director, University of Nigeria Agricultural Projects Limited; Business Manager of the  Faculty journal, Agro-Science Journal of Tropical Agriculture, Food, Environment and Extension, among others. Professor ANI is an erudite Scholar, innovative Researcher and an accomplished Scientist with over one hundred and seventy-five (175) publications in peer-reviewed journals (Local and International), Conference proceedings, monograph and book chapters to his credit. Professor A.O .Ani has attended many conferences and workshops, nationally and internationally.  He has supervised and mentored many undergraduate and postgraduate (PGD, Masters and Doctoral Research) students. Professor Ani is the immediate past President and a Fellow of the Nigerian Society for Animal Production (NSAP).
• Nkiru Patience Uberu is a Senior lecturer in the Department of Animal Science , University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. She has a Ph.D in Animal Breeding and Genetics. Her research interests are in the area of Nigerian indigenous local Chickens. She has published in both local and international journals.
• Charles Onochie Osita is a lecturer in the Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. He has a Ph.D in Animal Nutrition and Biochemistry. His research interests are in the area of Ruminant and Non-Ruminant Animal Nutrition. He has published in both local and international journals.
• (Mrs.) Eunice Amaka Akuru is a lecturer in the Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. She has a Ph.D in Animal Nutrition and Biochemistry. Her research interests are in the area of Non-Ruminant Animal Production and Nutrition. She has published in both local and international journals.
• Mercy Chinasa Ogwuegbu is a lecturer in the Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. She has a Ph.D in Animal Nutrition and Biochemistry. Her research interests are in the area of Non-Ruminant Animal Production and Nutrition and she is currently doing her post-doctoral research in South Africa. She has published in both local and international journals
• Stanley U. Iloh is a Senior lecturer in the Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. He has a Ph.D in Animal Physiology and reproduction. His research interests are in the area of Animal Production, Physiology and reproduction.
• Fredrick Ugochukwu Udeh is a lecturer in the Department of Animal Science , University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. He is currently doing his Ph.D programme in Animal Breeding and Genetics. He is conducting a genetic study on growth and reproductive traits using selection index, polymorphism and association of prolactin receptor gene in the Nigerian heavy local chicken ecotype.
• Ifeanyi. E. Uzochukwu is a lecturer in the Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. He is currently doing his Ph.D programme in Animal Physiology and Reproduction. He has published in both local and international journals.
• Henry Onyechi Edeh is a lecturer in the Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. He is currently doing his Ph.D programme in Animal Nutrition and Biochemistry with emphasis on the evaluation of the energy and protein requirements of growing local turkeys in a hot humid tropical environment
• Matthew O. Onodugo is a lecturer in the Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. He is currently doing his  Ph.D in Animal Breeding and Genetics. His research interests are in the area of Nigerian indigenous local Chickens
• Valentine C. Udeh is a lecturer in the Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. He has M.Sc. in Animal Breeding and Genetics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and he is currently doing his Ph.D in Animal Breeding and Genetics. His research interests are in the area of promoting food security; improving animal welfare; and conserving indigenous livestock species, through animal breeding and genetics.

 

10 key publications of the RG from 2019 till date:

·Ogwuegbu, M.C., Ani, A.O., Oyeagu , C. E., Edeh1, H.O., Onodugu1 M. O. and Ilo, S. U.(2022). Immunoglobulin and Oxidative Status Activities of Breast Meat in Broilers Fed Different Levels of Sodium Butyrate and Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L) Leaf Meal. Egypt. J. Vet. Sci. Vol. 53, No. 2, pp. 273-284. ·Ani, A. O.,  Akuru, E. A.,  Edeh, H. O.,  Omeke J. N.(2021). Energy and protein requirements of local pre-starter turkey poults in a hot humid tropical environment, International Journal Agriculture and Environmental Research, 7(2): 344-361. ·Ogwuegbu MC, Ani AO, Oyeagu CE, Osita CO, Oyeagu U, Ugwuoke WI, Lewu FB (2021). Sodium butyrate and rosemary leaf meal inclusion in broiler diet: effects on gut micro-floral, growth performance, ileum, jejunum and duodenal histological traits. Adv. Anim. Vet. Sci. 9(7): 1095-1112. ·Edeh Henry Onyeji, Ani Augustine Ogbonna, Osita Charles Onochie,  Ogwuegbu Mercy Chisara and Ilo Stanley Uzochukwu (2021). Growth Performance, Nutrient Retention, Serum Biochemical Indices and Carcass Characteristics of Broiler Finisher Birds served Aloe vera Gel Extract Supplement.” International Journal of  Agriculture and Environmental Research, vol. 07, no. 01, 2021, pp. 35–50., doi:DOI:          https://doi.org/10.51193/IJAER.2021.7103. ] ·Akuru Eunice Amaka , Ani Augustine Ogbonna , Juliet Adaku Orji , ChikaEthelbert Oyeagu , Charles Onochie Osita , Monday EmrobowansanIdamokoro , Mercy Chisara Ogwuegbu & Francis Bayo Lewu, (2021) Nutrient digestibility, growth, carcass, and bio-marker traits of weaner rabbits fed diets containing graded levels of cowpea (Vignaunguiculata) hull meal, Journal of Applied Animal Research, 49:1, 39-45. ·Oyeagu CE, Ezeuko AS, Lewu FB, Akuru EA, Ogwuegbu MC, Osita CO, Ani AO, Mlambo V (2021). The impact of Covid-19 on the livestock industry and the way forward: A review. Adv. Anim. Vet. Sci. 9(6): 941-955. ·Ogwuegbu, M.C, Oyeagu, C.E,  Edeh, H.O, Dim, C.E,  Ani, A.O,  Lewu, F.B,  (2021).  Effect of Sodium butyrate and rosemary leaf meal on general performance, carcass traits, organ sizes and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens. Iranian Journal of Applied Animal Science, Iranian Journal of Applied Animal Science (2021) 11(2), 375-389. ·Uberu, N.P., Oleforuh-Okoleh, V.U., Ndofor- Foleng, H.M., Agaviezor, B.O., Ohagenyi. J.I., Udeh, F.U., Ani.A.O., Nwosu, C.C. and Akuru, E.A.(2021). Molecular Evaluationof Prolactin Gene Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Nigerian Chicken Ecotypes and their Association with Light Ecotype Chickens’ Egg Traits. Int. J. Vet Sci.,  11(1): 91-97. ·Uberu, N.P., Emmanuel-Udeozor, J.I., Akuru, E.A., Ani.A.O., Okuli, E. C.and Oyeagu, C. E (2021). Heritability Estimates, Biometric and Allometric Growth Traits in F1 Progenies of the Nigerian Local Turkeys(Meleagris gallopova). Int. J. Vet Sci., 11(1): 68-73. ·Charles O. Osita, Augustine O. Ani, Chika E. Oyeagu, Eunice A. Akuru1, Leonard C. Ugwuowo, Valentine C. Udeh and Uzochukwu J. Oliobi (2020). Effect of different levels of dietary inclusion of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on growth performance and hematological parameters in broiler birds. Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science, 26 (No 5) , 1024–1028

Members Google Scholar Citation links ·Augustine Ogbonna Ani – https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=gqWHwHMAAAAJ&hl=en   Members Research gate links ·Augustine Ogbonna Ani – https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Augustine  -Ani ·Dr. Nkiru Patience Uberu  -(researchgate.net) ·Dr. Charles Onochie Osita  – (researchgate.net) ·Dr. (Mrs.) Eunice Amaka Akuru – (researchgate.net) ·Dr. Mercy Chinasa Ogwuegbu – (researchgate.net)