AGRIBUSINESS:10,000 farmers to benefit from World Bank-assisted project in Lagos .

AGRIBUSINESS:10,000 farmers to benefit from World Bank-assisted project in Lagos .No fewer than 10,000 farmers in Lagos State are to benefit from the World Bank-assisted agricultural scheme, under the Agro-processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support, APPEALS, project. APPEALS, which revolves round training, is designed to build capacities of actors in the rice, aquaculture and poultry value chains. The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Gbolahan Lawal, disclosed this on Thursday, during a ministerial briefing to commemorate first anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in office. He said the project is aimed at attaining large-scale production and processing of rice, eggs, poultry and fish and ultimately to boost food production in Lagos. Lawal said the efforts were targeted towards increasing the state’s self-sufficiency from less than 20 to 40 percent of its food needs by 2023. He expressed the present administration’s commitment to improving the red meat value chain through the establishment of standard operating procedures in processing, packaging and sales of red meat in the state. The purpose, he said, was to ensure the provision of wholesome and hygienically processed beef for the populace, boost beef processing to international standards to facilitate export, and also stimulate foreign investment into the value chain. He added that the implementation of the reform strategies were immediate, intermediate and long term. The immediate strategies include identification and classification of abattoirs, butchers and markets using a colour code, linkage of EKO refrigerated meat vans to identified abattoir for supplies to the markets classified with codes, accompanied with issued veterinary health certificate as evidence that the meat has been inspected.

AGRIBUSINESS: 9 RULES FOR RAISING RABBITS.

AGRIBUSINESS: 9 RULES FOR RAISING RABBITS.If you want to offer your bunny the utmost comfort, you have to be careful when choosing his/her new home from all those multiple types of cages for rabbits.

Also, the right rabbit diet is extremely important because it will help your little friend stay healthy and strong, both physically and mentally.

 When adopting animals we take full responsibility for their well-being because they will rely on us to make the best choices on their behalf. That is why we need to do extensive research to find out all the necessary information in order to keep them healthy and strong. A well-balanced diet Food plays an essential role in everyone’s life, including our bunnies.

 When they are young, they need specific nutrients in order to enjoy proper growth. And, when they are adults they have specific nutritional requirements, which, if not met, can lead to severe health issues. And, we are aware that some nutritional deficiencies can even lead to death.

 That is why your rabbit needs a complete and well-balanced diet packed with all the necessary minerals and vitamins that will help him/her thrive. Also, in order to have a healthy digestive system, your bun-bun requires high amounts of fiber.

                 Health care.
MANGE IN RABBIT. Mange in rabbit is caused by mite infestation.This tiny creatures burrow into skin,ear and feet region resulting in crusty scabs .There are patches of hair loss on coat resulting in bald areas.

VETERINARY MEDICINE: MANGE IN RABBIT. The mite infestation results in unthrifty condition in the rabbit because of constant scratching and pulling of affected areas,there is loss of weight and in severe condition fluids oozing out of scratched areas ,this predisposes the rabbit to secondary bacteria infection. Handling rabbits.

 Rabbits are tender and should be handled with care.They should never be pulled by ears or scruff,without support to feet and abdominal region.When rabbits are carried by ears,leaving feet dangling, they will struggle and likely snap their spine. see the pic.
  A Complete Guide to the Best Rabbit Breeds

A clean and safe environment Your rabbit needs to live in a clean environment, and that is why you should clean his/her cage once every week. The  bun bun’s litter box should be cleaned with white vinegar, or if it has deep and visible stains you can even soak it.
  Remember that spot cleaning must be done daily, in order to offer your bunny a nice-smelling and safe habitat.
 In order to prevent any allergies or health issues, you should clean your bunny’s food bowl every day. Bear in mind that his/her food needs to be changed daily as well.

DOGS: LEARN ALL ABOUT CANINE INFLUENZA.

DOGS: LEARN ALL ABOUT CANINE INFLUENZA.Canine Influenza – A Year Round Concern.The cold winter months are typically peak flu season, right? Well, in humans that’s true. But when it comes to the furry members of our family the flu is a year round canine health concern. It’s vital for every dog owner to know the risks of canine influenza, the dog symptoms to watch for and what to do if you have a sick dog. Flu Facts Canine flu is a fairly recent problem having been first diagnosed in 2004. It originally mutated from equine influenza and was initially detected among the greyhound population found in racing kennels. Over the past 10 years, the dog flu has spread and become more common among all dog breeds. Currently there has never been even one case of canine influenza being transferred from a dog to a person. However, flu viruses have been known to successfully modify themselves to infect other animals so there is always a possibility that people could be at risk. NewsCosmic bursts solve Universe's 'missing matter' problem Canine flu is highly infectious. Dogs who are exposed to it have close to a 100% chance of getting the flu. Senior dogs and puppies are more susceptible to serious illness if infected. Since it is spread via airborne particles, being on the receiving end of another pooches’ sneeze or cough is enough to make your dog sick. Also, the virus has the ability to survive on surfaces for up to 48 hours so sharing a toy or food bowl with an infected friend can spread it more quickly. More from DR POL HERE

COVID19: Japan Ends Coronavirus Emergency With 850 Deaths and No Lockdown.

COVID19: Japan Ends Coronavirus Emergency With 850 Deaths and No Lockdown.Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has announced the end of his state of emergency declaration for the novel coronavirus pandemic, with just 851 deaths reported and without ever implementing a lockdown. "I have decided to end the state of emergency across the nation," Abe said during a televised press conference on Monday. "In just over a month and a half, we almost brought (the infection) situation under control." Abe cautioned that lifting the order did not mean that the novel virus was gone from Japan. "Our battle against the virus will continue," he said, while urging the Japanese people to continue following stringent social distancing guidance.

COVID-19:A close relative of SARS-CoV-2 found in bats offers more evidence it evolved naturally.

COVID-19:A close relative of SARS-CoV-2 found in bats offers more evidence it evolved naturally.There is ongoing debate among policymakers and the general public about where SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, came from. While researchers consider bats the most likely natural hosts for SARS-CoV-2, the origins of the virus are still unclear. On May 10 in the journal Current Biology, researchers describe a recently identified bat coronavirus that is SARS-CoV-2's closest relative in some regions of the genome and which contains insertions of amino acids at the junction of the S1 and S2 subunits of the virus's spike protein in a manner similar to SAR-CoV-2. While it's not a direct evolutionary precursor of SARS-CoV-2, this new virus, RmYN02, suggests that these types of seemingly unusual insertion events can occur naturally in coronavirus evolution, the researchers say.

AGRIBUSINESS: How fishmeal and oil alternatives can support aquaculture growth.

AGRIBUSINESS: How fishmeal and oil alternatives can support aquaculture growth.As the world increasingly turns to aqua farming to feed its growing population, there's no better time than now to design an aquaculture system that is sustainable and efficient. Researchers at UC Santa Barbara, the University of Tasmania and the International Atomic Agency examined the current practice of catching wild fish for forage (to feed farmed fish) and concluded that using novel, non-fishmeal feeds could help boost production while treading lightly on marine ecosystems and reserving more of these small, nutritious fish for human consumption.

COVID-19: PPE, plus training, lowers risk of COVID-19 for health care workers.

PPE, plus training, lowers risk of COVID-19 for health care workers.Health care workers carry a significant burden of coronavirus infections worldwide, but a new evidence review shows the rate can be lowered with the use of personal protective equipment combined with proper training in infection control. Adequate supplies of personal protective equipment such as masks, gowns and eye protection have been the subject of heightened attention throughout the pandemic. Chou said the evidence suggests that lowering the rate of infection among health care workers must also include adequate training and education to ensure workers use the equipment properly. "Infection control training is important," Chou said. "It's not just about providing the equipment, but helping health care workers understand how they need to use it. Training and education were consistently associated with decreased risk of infection."