Nutritional Assessment of Setaria sphacelata and Cleome gynandra as Potential for Ruminant Feed

Setaria sphacelata is a high and most prevalent tropical grass, while Cleome gynandra is a tropical annual herb which commonly used as vegetables in Africa and Asia. Both plant samples were found to be high in nutritive value especially in protein and very appetizing in ruminants. The main objectives of the study were to measure and compare the nutritional composition of Setaria sphacelata and Cleome gynandra as a function of their nutritional value for ruminants. The two plant samples were collected near the Tembila area, Besut Terengganu. The samples were dried in a furnace below 60 - 70 ˚C and crushed prior to further analysis using proximate analysis. Proximate analysis was used to measure values for moisture, dry matter (DM), ash, crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF), ether extract (EF) and nitrogen-free extract (NFE). The result of this analysis shows that Cleome gynandra had much higher crude protein (CP) (p < 0.05) at 36.86% and ether extract (EF) at 5.50%. Crude protein (CP) is one of the most essential nutrients that ruminants need. Therefore, this study found that Cleome gynandra contains a higher nutritional value in terms of crude protein (CP) than Setaria sphacelate, which can be used as a feed for ruminants.

Skeletal Deformities in Cultured Juvenile African Catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

Skeletal deformities in cultured fish are known worldwide and it had affected the survival, growth and appearance of the fish which contribute to production loss. Clarias gariepinus is known as number one farmed fish in Malaysia. C. gariepinus also effected in these deformities especially in cultured species. The objectives of this study are to identify the skeletal deformities that occur in juvenile stages and to compare the bone structure between the normal and deformed fish. A total of 50 juveniles’ fish were collected from Aquaculture Extension and Community Centre Machang, Kelantan. The juvenile was measured before undergo staining process. The fish were starved for one day then fixed in 70% ethanol for two weeks. The fish were then stained with alizarin red S for cartilage and Alcian blue for bone. The specimens were photographed in order to observe the deformities. The data showed only 13.0% juveniles have skeletal deformities, 10.9% with lordosis and 2.2% scoliosis. The cause of the deformities may be due to the heterogenous growth but other factors might also contribute to the problem. As the conclusion, the skeletal deformities observed in juvenile C. gariepinus were detected with the whole-mount staining method ranged from size 7.3 and 26.0 cm in total length. This study shows there is heterogenous growth rearing at low percentage even from skilled farm. Further study should concentrate on hidden factors that affected the deformity rate and mineralization of the juvenile fish.

Determination of Nickel and Cadmium in Freshwater Fishes at Sungai Kuantan, Sungai Riau And Sungai Pinang

Heavy metal exhibit toxic and persistent characteristics, can enter into the food chains and the ecosystem where they cause adverse impact on the biotic and abiotic components of ecosystem. Heavy metal pollution in Malaysia has become a major health concern for humans. Thus, this study was conducted to determine the level of cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) in the muscle and gill of fishes collected from the Sungai Kuantan and Sungai Riau. Field sampling was conducted between September and December 2017. Five different species of fishes: Barbonymus gonionotus (Lampam Jawa), B. schwanenfeldii( Lampam Sungai), Hampala macrolepidota(Sebarau), Chitala chitala (Belida), and Hemibagrus nemurus(Baung) were digested by using acid digestion method and analysed with Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS). Concentration of Cd among species were in order of: H. macrolepidota >B.gonionotus> B. schwanenfeldii> C.chitala> H.nemurus, whereas Ni level in fishes were: C. chitala> H. macrolepidota> B. gonionotus> H. nemurus> B. schwanenfeldii. Among all the species, H. macrolepidota from Sungai Kuantan had the highest Cd in both muscle (0.1761±0.0062¬mg/kg) and gills (0.2938±0.0066mg/kg) whereas the highest Ni level in muscle was noted in C. chitala from Sungai Kuantan with (0.1473±0.0755 mg/kg) and in gills of B.gonionotus (0.4544±0.0470mg/kg) from the same river respectively. It was obtained that there was a significant difference (p<0.05) of Cd in muscle between species. Ni concentration in fishes was below the permissible limit stipulated by World Health Organizations WHO (1985) and Food and Agriculture Organizations (2012) but the concentration of Cd was recorded high. However, it was still below the World Health Organization (WHO) 1985 and Malaysian Food Act (MFA) 1983.

Water Quality Assessment on Lake A at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) Besut Campus

Water is an essential nutrient in the human body and it plays a vital role. Water is required to work in every system in the body, from cells and tissues to vital organs. About 70% of human-used freshwater goes to cultivation. The study aimed to assess water quality and identify the water category of Besut Campus Lake A. Water Quality Index (WQI) related to this study because it is standard used to classify the class of the water body. Water sampling was done at three sampling stations in two different locations and were sampled from February 2021 until March 2021. According to HACH and American Public Health Associations (APHA) methods, ten water quality parameters were analysed based on in situ and ex situ analysis. The values of pH, TDS, Temp, TSS and AN had been classified under Class I referred to National Water Quality Standard (NWQS). At the same time, DO and BOD were classified under Class II. And COD had been classified under Class III according to NWQS classification. Based on WQI, the water quality status in Campus Besut Lake was classified under Class II with a value of 85.742. It had been considered as Clean which is suitable for recreational activities and safe for body contact as well.

Evaluation of Milk Production and Milk Composition at Different Stages of Saanen Dairy Goats

Milk is an important elements due to its high nutritious and balanced in human diet. In Asian, goat milk is the most consumed because of the unique taste, more nutritious than cow milk. However, milk production and composition values differ at every stage of lactation in goats. Thus, determining the highest milk production and producing the best quality goat milk is essential to satisfy the local market demands. The objective of the present study is to determine the milk yield and milk composition at different lactation stages and to evaluate the lactation curves in Saanen goats. The lactation stages can be categorized into three, early (less than 80 days), mid (80 – 140 days) and late (over 140 days) days in milk (DIM). In total, 90 milk samples were collected from 15 goats representing early (n=5), mid (n=5), and late (n=5) stages of lactation. The Saanen goats were raised under the same conditions, and milking was done early in the morning (9.00am).The milk yield from Saanen goats were collected and measured weekly at each stage of lactation. Milk samples were analyzed for fat, protein, solid non-fat, and lactose. Current result illustrated, there were significant different (p ˂ 0.05) among three stages of lactation in milk yield, solid non-fat, fat, protein and lactose. In terms of food regulation, the Saanen goats almost fully met the standard requirements for milk production and composition. In addition, this study also observes the lactation curves in Saanen goats and analyse the curve shapes and patterns. The average milk yields from three different stages develops a concave downward curve. The results indicated that mid yield increased from early to mid- lactation and decreased thereafter until the end of lactation.

Evaluating the Potential of Tridax procumbens and Asystasia gangetica as Ruminant Feed

Tridax procumbens and Asystasia gangetica are extensively prevalent and can be found from tropical Asia to Africa. Both plant samples were found to have a high nutritional value, especially in protein, and to be highly attractive to ruminants. Therefore, the objectives of the study were to measure and compare the nutrient composition of Tridax procumbens and Asystasia gangetica in terms of the nutritional value for ruminants. Both plants samples were collected at Besut campus, University of Sultan Zainal Abidin. The samples were then washed under tap water to remove foreign matter such as soil to prevent soil contamination in the analysis. Then, the samples were dried in a furnace below 60 - 70˚C and crushed prior to further analysis using proximate analysis. Seven parameters were measured using proximate analysis, which included dry matter (DM), moisture, ash, crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE), and nitrogen-free extract (NFE). The findings in this study show that A. gangetica had significantly higher (p < 0.05) in dry matter (DM) (18.84%), crude protein (CP) (22.27%), and nitrogen-free extract (NFE) (50.25%). However, T. procumbens showed the highest nutrient in moisture (88.70%), ash (12.15%), crude fibre (CF) (25.01%), and ether extract (EE) with 3.71%. Thus, this study revealed that A. gangetica to have a higher potential to be used as an animal feed than T. procumbens.

Treated Cow Milk Quality Analysis in High-Temperature Short Time (HTST) Thermal Treatment using F-Value and Methylene Blue Reduction Test (MBRT)

This study was conducted to evaluate raw and pasteurized cow milk regarding physical properties, microbiological quality, and lethality value ofMycobacterium Paratuberculosis(MAP)at different temperature and time combinations of the pasteurization process.Cow milk samples were pasteurized at high-temperature (70°C, 75°C, and 81°C) and short-time (15s and 25s) high temperature and short time (HTST) combinations. Raw and pasteurized (HTST) cow milk was analyzed, while commercial cow milk that undergo proses (HTST) was used as control. High-temperature short time (HTST) pasteurization showed a significant effect on the colour of raw and pasteurized cow milk (p<0.05) at every temperature. In addition, cow milk also indicated an increase in lightness and yellowness after HTST pasteurization.The microbiological quality of raw, pasteurized, and commercial cow milk is evaluated using the Methylene Blue Reduction (MBRT) test, a common, rapid, simple, and inexpensive method for microbiological quality evaluation.The MBRT on raw milk samples revealed that it was of poor quality. On the other hand, all pasteurized samples were good quality, and the commercial sample was excellent.Based on the evaluated F-values, the most suitable temperature and time combinationsin this study was 70°C and 25s.

Study on Marine Water Quality Parameters in Keluang Kecil River Estuary at Bukit Keluang, Terengganu

This study presents marine water quality status of river estuarine in Keluang Kecil River Estuary at Bukit Keluang. River estuarine water is classified in Class E in MWQI. In the subsequent MWQI with 0 to 100 scales, marine water quality at 0 will be described as “Poor” and 100 as “Excellent”. This study aims to determine water quality parameters and the water quality status of river estuarine by using Malaysia Marine Water Quality Index (MMWQI). In-situ and ex-situ analyses in this study were conducted for five sampling points that had been selected in the Keluang Kecil river estuary. In-situ parameters, dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, temperature, salinity and ammonia, were measured using YSI Professional Plus Series Multi-parameter during sampling. At the same time, water samples for total suspended solids, phosphate, nitrate and faecal coliform were collected and analysed in the laboratory using a standard procedure based on American Public Health Association (APHA), 2017 and HACH methods and then were compared with the Malaysia Marine Water Quality Standard (MMWQS). The average value of ammonia, nitrate, phosphate and TSS were not within the acceptable limit or standard value set by Department of Environment (DOE) except for dissolved oxygen and faecal coliform. Based on the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) result, there are significant differences (P < 0.05) in DO, pH, temperature, salinity, ammonia, TSS and FC in water between stations except for nitrate and phosphate. Marine Water Quality Index (MWQI) was measured for all the sampling stations (S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5) using a formula set by DOE (2019). The mean of MWQI for the Keluang Kecil river estuary measured was 43.45. Thus, the river estuary is classified as Poor (0 – 49). This study can maintain the marine water quality to conserve estuary biodiversity. This study was needed to prevent the possibility of water pollution and water quality can be monitored in that area in the future. The understanding of this study about water quality is to maintain the water quality and facilitate the management as actions can be taken by local authorities and other government agencies to maintain and improve the water quality and create boundaries and regulations that can bring back nature.

Assessment of Water Quality Parameters and Heavy Metals Analysis at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin Besut Campus Lake

Water is the most crucial element for living organisms as a component for survival. Even water has become the habitat for some organisms. Therefore, assessment of water quality is vital to keep water in good condition. This study aimed to determine the water quality of Besut Campus Lake by assessing the physicochemical parameters. Water Quality Index (WQI) is related to the process of determining the status class of water according to beneficial use, with a higher index value indicate good water quality. National Lake Water Quality Standard (NLWQS) was also applied in determining the category of enclosed water systems like ponds and lakes. Water samples were taken from sampling stations at Besut Campus Lake and undergo in – situ and ex–situ analyses involving nine physicochemical parameters. In addition, heavy metal analyses were conducted in the laboratory according to American Public Health Association (APHA) methods. Based on the research conducted, Besut Campus Lake was classified as Class Ⅱ with an index value of 78.23 from the Malaysia Water Quality Index (MWQI), which means recreational activities can be conducted within the lake area involving body contact. Meanwhile, according to National Lake Water Quality Standard (NLWQS), the water category of Besut Campus Lake can be categorised as Category B, which means recreational activities with secondary body contact. Further in-depth analyses involving other microbiological parameters should be carried out before the water can be recommended for primary contact recreation such as swimming.

Population Abundance of Flies Collected in Different Traps in Small Ruminants in Ladang Pasir Akar, Besut, Terengganu

Flies are common ectoparasites to livestock. Some species of flies are important to small ruminants because they can spread disease and cause disturbance to animals, thus lowering their productivity. Considering the impact of flies to the productivity of small ruminants, it is important to identify the species of flies that occur in an area for early control actions. The study was aimed to determine the species of flies in Diptera family that occur in Ladang UniSZA Pasir Akar and their population abundance. The flies were collected using three types of traps: Malaise trap, yellow pan trap and yellow sticky trap for three consecutive weeks. The traps were set up in three different locations in small ruminants rearing area in the farm. Nine Diptera families significant to livestock were identified: Calliphoridae, Ceratopogonidae, Culicidae, Muscidae, Psychodidae, Rhiniidae, Sarcophagidae, Simuliidae and Tabanidae. The family Sarcophagidae recorded the highest abundance in the farm (26.57%), while the lowest of flies count was from the family Tabanidae (0.82%). The most diverse family of Diptera was collected by Malaise trap and the lowest diversity was recorded from yellow pan trap. The results from this study had provided the first insight of the flies important to small ruminants occurred in this farm.