This study evaluated the effects of replacing wheat bran (WB) with deoiled rice bran (DORB) in concentrate diets on growth performance, nutrient utilisation, carcass characteristics, and economic returns in Sokoto Gudali bulls. Twenty-five bulls (18 months old; 210 ± 0.4 kg) were randomly assigned to five diets in which WB was substituted with DORB at 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100%. Concentrate was fed at 2% of body weight, while Digitaria smutsii hay was provided ad libitum for 70 days. Data on intake, weight gain, digestibility, serum metabolites, carcass traits, and economics were analysed using one-way ANOVA. Bulls fed the 50% DORB diet had significantly higher final body weight (278.7 kg), average daily gain (984 g/day), and total dry matter intake (10.68 kg/day), along with the most efficient feed conversion ratio (10.85). Serum glucose, total protein, albumin, and urea remained within normal physiological ranges across all treatments. Carcass characteristics differed significantly with the 50% DORB group recording the highest hot carcass weight and rib-eye area. Economic analysis showed that the 50% DORB diet generated the greatest net profit ($144.11), lowest feed cost per kilogram of gain ($12.48), and highest benefit-cost ratio (1.17). Overall, a 50% replacement of wheat bran with deoiled rice bran produced the most favourable biological and economic outcomes under the conditions of this study, indicating potential for efficient utilisation of DORB in feedlot diets for Sokoto Gudali bulls.

Growth Hormone (GH), Pituitary-specific Transcription factor (PIT), and Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1), are critical regulators of growth and productivity in poultry. This study aimed to compare the sex-specific expression of these three genes in the hypothalamus, liver, and breast muscle of Normal feather indigenous chickens from South-Western Nigeria, a valuable but underutilised genetic resource. Using RT-qPCR techniques, tissue samples were analysed from a cohort of male and female birds at 8 weeks of age. Our findings reveal significant sex-specific differences in gene expression across these tissues. Specifically, GH and PIT expression levels were consistently higher in males, particularly in the breast muscle, while IGF-1 expression was significantly more pronounced in females in the hypothalamus and liver. GH expression in the male hypothalamus was significantly higher than in the female (p < 0.001), and PIT expression in the male breast muscle was also highly significantly higher (p < 0.001). These results indicate that growth-related gene expression in indigenous chickens is shaped by both genetic and sex-linked factors. This study provides foundational molecular insights into the sexual dimorphism of growth in Nigeria’s indigenous chicken breed, suggesting that GH and PIT expression could be explored as targets for improving muscle development in male lines.

Heterobranchus longifilis is a hardy fish species known for its ability to withstand stress in aquaculture, resistant to diseases, gives high yields, exhibits high fecundity and grows fast in cultured enclosures. For Clariid species to thrive in enclosures, periodic tank washing and salt application are mandatory. Low levels of salt used to wash fry tanks are reported to be beneficial for growth and survival of fish through minimising stress and eliminating ectoparasites. This study aimed to demonstrate that regular application of salt and tank washing improve hatchery output. Using a factorial experimental design, six thousand Heterobranchus longifilis fry were allocated to the following four treatments in triplicates: 1) Neither washing nor salting, 2) washing and salting only, 3) washing only, and 4) salting only. The experimental duration was thirty-five days. Twelve fry plastic tanks measuring 0.8 x 0.8 x 1.1m ² were used. Stocking was five hundred fry per tank, each with an initial average body weight of 352 g. Results showed that final weights ranged from 409 to 516 g. Percentage survival rates were 80 in the washing and salting treatment, 71in the washing only treatment, 51in the salting only treatment and 45 in the neither washing nor salting treatment. Condition factor ranged from 1.1 to 1.5, an indication of fish wellness. Water quality parameters were within expected normal range. This study concludes that periodic washing and salt application significantly improve water quality, prevent diseases, minimise stress and support growth and survivability of fish in cultured enclosures.

Evaluating the distribution of animal disease burden across the value chain and its impact on the economy informs relevant policy development and facilitates targeted investment in sustainable livestock production. The Nigerian agricultural sector contributes about 24% to the GDP and employs 34% of the national workforce. However, animal diseases threaten this sector due to weak veterinary infrastructure, fragmented vaccination campaigns, inconsistent surveillance, and reactive responses to disease outbreaks. Whilst the threats of animal diseases to the profitability and sustainability of the livestock sector is worldwide, in Nigeria, these threats emanate from both the negative economic impacts and weak preventive measures taken to minimise the introduction or spread of animal diseases. Designing a robust national control plan remains limited due to the lack of systemic and locally contextualised evidence. This review aimed to access, retrieve, critically synthesise, and assess scattered reports of animal diseases in Nigeria to provide a comprehensive information that is essential for the development of relevant evidence-based disease control policies. The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, BASE, AJOL, and ARTOAJ databases to identify relevant publications from 2000-2025 based on data availability.  Articles were included if they clearly quantified economic losses from animal diseases in Nigeria. Articles were excluded if they were not in English, not focused on Nigeria, or if the full text was unavailable. A total of 2318 articles were screened, 50 were sought for retrieval and 27 were included in the review. Losses ranged from USD 15.87 (5,005.85 Nigerian Naira) to USD 456,905,311.00 (700,304,123,857.00 Nigerian Naira). The review also highlights the need for the use of economic models to capture invisible losses across the value chain, providing further insight into the impact of livestock diseases in Nigeria.