The study was made to assess the growth performance of broilers supplemented with Madre de Agua (T. gigantea), Malunggay (M. oleifera) and Pinto Peanut (A. pintoi) leaf meals. Seventy-two (72) male Cobb broilers randomly assigned to four treatments and replicated six times with three birds per replication laid out in a Completely Randomized Design set-up. Data gathered were subjected to one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using Statistical Tool for Agricultural Research (STAR) 2.0.1 and treatment means compared using Least Significant Difference (LSD) Test. The inclusion of 10% leaf meal into the starter and grower rations commenced on the 3rd week until five weeks old. From day 1 to day 14 of the brooding stage, broilers were given chick booster, which gradually shifted to treatment diets from day 15 to 21. The 10% Malunggay Leaf Meal (MLM) inclusion showed significantly (p<0.01) lower average feed intake. The control with commercial ration alone consistently displayed highest feed intake. Higher (p<0.05) ADG was noted on commercial ration, and lowest ADG on 10% Arachis Leaf Meal (ALM). Better (p<0.05) average FCE on commercial ration than rations with leaf meals. Heavier (p<0.05) fasted live weight and dressed weight on commercial ration but dressing percentage was not significant. Relatively lower (p<0.01) feed cost, but lower (p<0.05) ROI on rations with leaf meals.

Supplementation of leaf meals from different plant sources at 10% level of inclusion reduced feed cost; however, it could not offset the higher gain in weight on commercial ration that resulted to significantly Higher Return on Investment (ROI).

We conducted a study to evaluate the effects of dietary protein and fat levels, while maintaining appropriate levels of lysine and protein for nutrition, on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality in finishing pigs. Crossbred pigs (n = 32) were assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of four dietary treatments: two protein levels (20% vs. 23%) and two fat levels (approximately, 2.5% vs. 6.2%). The examined diets were filled lysine content for finishing pigs. Each diet had similar digestible energy content. Average daily gain was not affected by dietary protein levels. No significant differences were observed in carcass characteristics. Intramuscular fat content in the longissimus dorsi muscle increased with higher dietary protein and the moisture and shear force were decreased. Most measurements of meat quality except for fat quality were not significantly affected by dietary fat. Our study indicates that intramuscular fat and marbling increase with increased dietary protein (assuming the diet contains sufficient lysine according to the feed standard), without having an adverse effect on the growth performance of finishing pigs and that intramuscular fat was affected little by dietary fat level.

Background: Several factors could affect physiologic and blood biochemical variables in laboratory animals. Bearing this in mind, it is recommended to characterize the animal´s variables in each laboratory. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of diabetes and gestation on blood biochemical variables in Wistar rats.

Methodology: Female Wistar rats were randomly separated in four groups (healthy non-pregnant, diabetic, healthy mid gestation and final gestation period). Blood concentration of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, uric acid, total proteins and albumin were determined. Statistic studies were performed using t-test and ANOVA with Bonferroni test for those with normal distribution or Mann-Withney U and Kruskal-Wallis with Dunn test for those without normal distribution; significant differences were considered with p<0.05.

Results: Blood concentration of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine and uric acid were significantly higher in diabetic rats compared with healthy non-pregnant rats. Healthy pregnant rats presented significantly bigger concentrations of triacylglycerols and minors of total proteins and albumin than the not have gotten pregnant.

Conclusions: Diabetes and gestation induces modifications in blood biochemical variables in consonance the metabolic changes characteristics of this states and the renal damage caused by diabetes.

A case study of Teuscher investment project in Rwanda was undertaken to examine the adoption of the Supply Chain Management on the project profitability. The study design included use of pre-tested questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions, and questionnaires administered to the selected respondents through drop and pick-later technique in a period of six months. A sample size of 50 respondents was drawn from the sample frame using simple random sampling technique. Data were entered in SPSS statistic version 16 and then analyzed using descriptive statistics that included frequencies, tables, charts and histograms. Levels of statistical significance were determined using chi square. Despite all the interventions, in Rwanda today, there is limited information/data available on the effect of supply chain on product profitability, up-to-date information on challenges and if it serves as a driving force for agriculture project to be more profitable in international market. The result indicated that majority (64%) of the respondents were male, 36% were female while 54% of the respondents were degree holders, 24% diploma, 6% postgraduate and 16% certificate and below. This difference may be due to the nature and employment policy of the work which involves dealing with machines, skills, knowledge and carrying heavy loads which females and persons with low levels of education may not prefer doing or being employed in. Most of respondents (46%) were from production department, 52% worked with the company between 1-5years implying that they have worked for a reasonable period to know about supply chain management, coffee production and business profitability. On supply chain management systems 76% of the respondents agreed that was used in Teuscher Investment, 84% agreed its contribution to the profitability of a company with 28% selected ERP system as very efficient 44% it reduces the chances of human error, shorter planning times and faster inventory turnover. There was a strong positive correlation between supply chain management and profitability (r = 0.914* and significant level = 0.01) meaning that when supply chain management is effective profits will increase. In conclusion SCM system used in Teuscher Investment is ERP system that was an effective realistic and flexible SCM system and had significant benefit for any business when implemented well the main challenges were maintenance, implementation costs and selected training costs. Teuscher Investment should try and improve on supply chain management to meet its set vision, mission and objectives, respond quickly to changes in demand and determine accurate customer delivery dates, partnerships and reduction of long supply chains, putting suggestion boxes for the organization and do more networking and advertising of their products.

The aim of this study is to know the normal movement of the masticatory muscle in sheep. Through estimated values of the physical characteristics of the masticatory muscles. Fifteen heads of sheep (Mean ± SD age: 18 ± 4 month) of both sexes were comprised in this work. Linear measurements of the three types of masticatory muscles were conducted on slaughtered sheep heads. The Physiological Cross- Sectional Area (PCSA), maximal isometric force, torque and kinetic energy were calculated. The Physiological Cross- Sectional Area (PCSA) was 5.08, 3.1 and 6 cm² for the closed, opening and unilateral groups respectively. The maximal isometric force for those muscles was 10.2, 6.2 and 12 cm², respectively. The force of those groups was 5.8, 1.96 and 1.96 N, respectively. The torque of those muscles was 0,588, 0.196 and 5.92 Nm, respectively. While the kinetic energy of the jaw-closed group was 90 Joule, that of the jaw-opening group was 30 Joule while the kinetic energy of the jaw-unilateral group was 40 Joule. This study was done via comparison of the physical characterizes values such as PCSA, force, maximum isometric force, torque and kinetic energy between three different groups of the closed ,opening and unilateral groups. This is suggested to be due to the increased activity of the jaw-masticatory muscles.