EFFECTS OF AESTIVATION DURATION ON TESTOSTERONE, HAEMOLYMPH BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS AND REPRODUCTIVE TRACT DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT OF GIANT AFRICAN LAND SNAIL (Archachatina marginata) DURING DRY SEASON

Aestivation is a process of metabolic inactivity under which energy reserve are manipulated for survival. Reproductive apparatus and haemolymph biochemical agents also undergo phase manipulation as the duration continues. To determine the physiological influence on key hormone of reproduction and reproductive apparatus, seventy five A. marginata snails were used for this study. The snails were divided into five treatments with fifteen replicate each. Treatment include: Zero (0) week, Three (3) weeks, Six (6) weeks, nine (9) weeks and six (6) weeks post-aestivation. Parameters measured were: Testosterone concentration, haemolymph biochemical parameters (Total protein, albumin, globulin, Aspartate transaminase (AST) and Alanine transaminase (ALT), dimensions (length) and weight of the organs and tissues of the reproductive tracts (Ovo-testis, penis, vaginal, oviduct, little hermaphrodite duct, common hermaphrodite duct, vas deferens and albumen gland) gonado-somatic index and percentage mortality. Result showed that level of testosterone at three and six weeks of aestivation significantly reduced compared to the control. Also, at nine weeks of aestivation, the reduction was significantly greater than what was recorded at both three and six weeks of aestivation. But the testosterone levels were reversed at nine weeks post aestivation. Total protein and globulin were significantly influenced with both reaching a peak value at 9 weeks of aestivation while ALT, AST and albumin were not significantly affected. So also, of all the reproductive tract parts measured, organ weight, ovo-testis weight, penis weight and length were significantly influenced (P<0.001; P<0.001; P<0.05; P<0.001). Similarly, vaginal weight, oviduct weight, little hermaphrodite duct weight and length were also significantly affected  together with vas deferens  length and albumen gland length while aestivation duration had no significant influence on reproductive tract weight, ovo-testis length, vaginal length, oviduct length, little hermaphrodite duct length, vas deferens weight and albumen gland weight. Similarly, gonado-somatic index was also not significantly affected by aestivation duration. It was also obvious from this study that the highest mortality was recorded at 6 weeks of aestivation, followed by 9 weeks of aestivation while 3weeks and 6 weeks post-aestivation had the least mortality with the control intact. In conclusion, it is clear from this study that aestivation duration significantly influenced testosterone concentration, haemolymph biochemical parameters and some selected reproductive apparatus of A. marginata.       &nbsp

COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF EGG YOLKS FROM DIFFERENT POULTRY BREEDS ON VIABILITY OF REFRIGERATED SPERMATOZOA FROM WEST AFRICAN DWARF BUCKS

Egg yolk from avian species is used as a common component of most semen extenders because of its wide availability, beneficial effect on sperm viability and protective effect on acrosome against temperature-related damage during semen preservation. This study was carried out to determine the comparative effects of egg yolks from different poultry breeds on viability of refrigerated spermatozoa of West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks. Pooled semen from five intact WAD bucks was diluted with extender containing egg yolks from Normal feather (NF), Nickel neck (NN), Frizzle feather (FF), Nera black (NB), Oba Marshall black (OB) and Yaffa brown (YB) chickens. Following dilution, the semen samples were assessed subjectively after in vitro storage at 5oC for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours as regards progressive sperm motility, acrosome status and abnormalities using a phase-contrast microscope. The results showed that the ability of these egg yolks to sustain progressive motility ranked in this order: OB > NN > NF >YB > NB > FF. Intact acrosome was comparable during the 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours of storage and followed similar trend across the egg-yolk types in the extender. Extender containing YB had the highest percentage abnormality at the end of this study. The findings of this study reveal that OB, NN and NF have better protective ability to maintain motility of refrigerated spermatozoa of WAD bucks.Â

EFFECT OF FEED TYPE ON GROWTH, SPERMATOZOA PRODUCTION AND GONADO-SOMATIC INDEX IN GIANT AFRICAN LAND SNAIL (Archachatina marginata)

A study was conducted on the effect of feed type on growth, spermatozoa production and gonado-somatic index in giant African land snail (Archachatina marginata). Thirty snails (30) of weight range of 150 - 180g were used for this study. Ten snails (10) were assigned to each of the three feed types which included: Poultry layers mash (PLM), dried Pawpaw leaves (PL) and mixture of both Pawpaw leaves and Poultry layers mash (PLM+PL). Weight gain was monitored weekly. At the end of seven weeks, snails were dissected; visceral weight and ovo-testis were measured. Five (5) snails each per treatment were used for both histology and spermatozoa concentration estimation. Ovo-testis was processed for histology while little hermaphrodite duct was used for spermatozoa concentration. Results showed that feed type had significant (P<0.001) effect on sperm concentration. Snails fed on PL had higher sperm concentration, followed by those fed on PL+PLM while the least was found in PLM group. For live weight gain, those fed with PLM had the highest weight followed by those fed with PL+PLM while PL had least weight gain.  Results for gonado-somatic index showed that PL had the highest means while those fed on PLM and PL+PLM were not significantly different from each other. It was also found that snails fed with PL had high spermatogenic activity in the acini of snail ovo-testis while those fed with PLM+PL had medium activity and those fed with PLM had the least activity. The findings from this study suggest that pawpaw leaves have agents which promote spermatogenesis and can therefore be used as diet for breeding snails to enhance spermatogenesis.Â

Effect of feed restriction and ascorbic acid supplementation on growth performance, rectal temperature and respiratory rate of broiler chicken

A total of 252 two-week old Marshall broiler chickens were used in a 4 x 3 factorial experiment to determine the effect of feed restriction and ascorbic acid supplementation on growth performance, rectal temperature and respiratory rate of broiler chickens. The birds were weighed and randomly allotted to 12 treatments with 3 replicates of 7 birds each, subjected to 4 feed restriction levels: full feeding (AD), skip a day feeding (SAD), skip two days feeding (S2D) and skip three days feeding every week (S3D) for 24 hours from 15th to 35th day of age and 3 levels of ascorbic acid supplementation (0, 150, 300 mg/kg feed). Feed was provided ad libitum from days 36 to 56. Ascorbic acid supplementation had no effect (p>0.05) on the performance parameters measured during feed restriction. Birds on S3D fed diets containing 300 mg/kg ascorbic acid had the highest (

Effects of feed restriction and ascorbic acid supplementation on serum biochemical composition of Marshall broiler chickens

252 two-week old Marshall broiler chickens were used in a 4 x 3 factorial experiment to determine the effects of feed restriction and ascorbic acid supplementation on serum biochemical composition. The birds were distributed after balancing for live weights into 12 treatments with 3 replicates of 7 birds each, subjected to four feed restriction levels: full feeding (AD), skip a day feeding (S1D), skip two days feeding (S2D) and skip three days feeding every week (S3D) for 24 hours from 15th to 35th day of age and three levels of ascorbic acid supplementation (0, 150, 300 mg/kg feed). Feed was provided ad libitum to all the birds from 36 to 56 days of age. Birds on S2D fed diets containing 300 mg/kg ascorbic acid had the highest (

ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science EFFECTS OF FEED RESTRICTION AND ASCORBIC ACID SUPPLEMENTATION ON CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS, BREAST MEAT CHOLESTEROL AND TRIGLYCERIDES OF MARSHALL BROILER CHICKENS

ABSTRACT To determine the effects of feed restriction and ascorbic acid supplementation on carcass characteristics, breast meat cholesterol and triglycerides of broiler chickens, 252 two-week old Marshall broiler chickens were used in a 4 x 3 factorial experiment. The birds were weighed and randomly distributed into 12 treatments with 3 replicates of 7 birds each, subjected to four feed restriction levels: full feeding (AD), skip a day feeding (SAD), skip two days feeding (S2D) and skip three days feeding every week (S3D) for 24 hours from days 15 to 35 and three levels of ascorbic acid supplementation (0, 150, 300 mg/kg feed). Feed was provided ad libitum to all the birds from days 36 to 56. Birds on full feeding regime containing 0 mg/kg ascorbic acid had the highest (P<0.05) live weight, dressing percentage, plucked weight, eviscerated weight, thigh, back, wings and heart. Breast was highest (P<0.05) in birds on full feeding regime containing 150 mg/kg ascorbic acid. Birds on skip two days feeding regime containing 300 mg/kg had the lowest breast meat cholesterol and triglycerides though not statistically (p>0.05) different from other treatments. In conclusion, feed restriction regimes and ascorbic acid supplementation did not improve carcass characteristics in the feed-restricted birds; however, 150 mg/kg ascorbic supplementation improved the breast weight of the fully fed Marshall broiler chickens

Effect ofMucunaprurienson the Reproductive Tract of Giant African Land Snail (Archachatinamarginata)

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Mucuna pruriens on the reproductive tract of Giant African Land snail (Archachatina marginata).Thirty (30) snails weighing between 100 to 150g were used with ten replicate per treatment. Feed given were: concentrate, mixture of concentrate and Mucuna seed meal and Mucuna seed meal only. Parameters measured include: Organ weight, Tract length, Tract weight, Ovo testis weight, shell parameters (Shell weight, Shell length, Shell width and Shell circumference) and egg number. Snail weight, organ weight, tract weight and ovo testis weight were measured with sensitive scale, while tract length, shell length, shell width and circumference were measured with tape rule. Egg number laid was manually counted after laying. Gonado Somatic Index (GSI) was also calculated as ratio of ovo testis to organ weight. At the end of eight weeks, results showed that snails fed with concentrate had higher Organ weights (119.672±6.551 vs 100.278±6.551 vs 78.915±6.551), Tract length (23.460±1.197 vs 23.270±1.197 vs 19.200±1.197), Tract weights (23.87±1.646 vs 21.805±1.646 vs 13.329±1.646), Ovo testis weights (7.853±0.0402 vs 7.307±0.0402 vs 5.318±0.0402), Shell length (11.062±0.095 vs 10.467±0.095 vs 10.735±0.095), Shell width (6.063±0.055 vs5.765±0.055 vs 5.835±0.055), Shell circumference (18.559±0.145 vs 17.590±0.145 vs 17.725±0.145) and egg number (17 vs 5 vs 0) compared to those given mucuna seed meal and mixture of mucuna seed meal and concentrate. Gonado somatic index was not significantly affected by the three feed used in this study, while those snail fed concentrate alone laid higher number of eggs compared to other feed. It was concluded from this study that concentrates support egg number, organ weight, reproductive tract development and shell increase in size. It is recommended that functionality of organ weight and reproductive tract be assessed via histological study to further evaluate the actual cellular influence of both concentrate and Mucuna seed meal.Keywords: Mucuna pruriens, Reproductive tract, Archachatina marginata, Snail