Phenotypic relationship between body weight and subsequent milk production of Friesian-Bunaji halfbreds

The study reported was conducted to investigate if fast growing heifers eventually become good milkers in a bid to assist dairy farmers in selecting their replacement stock at an early age. The data analysed consisted of body weight records at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age of half-bred Friesian-Bunaji heifers as well as records on their subsequent lactation length, total lactation yield and estimated 305-day yield, collected over a twenty-three year period (1967-1989). Phenotypic correlations between body weights at fixed ages were all positive and highly significant (P<0.01), ranging from 0.30 to 0.79. The same trend was obtained for correlations among milk traits, the range being 0.74 to 0.95. Correlations between body weights and milk traits on the other hand, were very low and non-significant, ranging from 0.01 to 0.14. Equations fitted from simple, multiple and polynomial regressions of body weights on total lactation yield gave very low R-squared values. It was therefore concluded that body weights at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age have little value in the prediction of future milk yield of Friesian-Bunaji heifers

Effect of level of concentrate feeding on the performance of Bunaji bulls grazing natural range

Twenty Bunaji bulls averaging 178.5kg live weight were blocked by weight and randomly allotted to four treatments (5 bulls per treatment) to determine the level of concentrate feeding on the performance of bulls grazing natural range and the practicability of fattening on range. The treatments consisted of four levels of concentrate feeding, i.e 0, 2, 3 and 4 kg/head/day. The concentrate was compounded as 60% maize offal and 40% cotton seed cake with a crude protein level of 17.6%. The trial lasted 105 days. Criteria investigated were live weight gain and body condition score of the animals, dry matter yield and nitrogen content of the forage from range grazed by the animals. Bulls receiving 4 kg/head/day (treatment 4) had the highest average daily gain (0.70kg/head/day). This was different (P&lt;0.05) from treatments 1 (0.36kg/head/day) and 2 (0.46kg/head/day) but similar to treatment 3 (0.50kg/head/day). Though there was no significant difference (P&gt;0.05) in body condition score (BCS) between the treatments, bulls not given concentrate feeding (0 level) had the least BCS. There was no marked difference between DM yield of the forage grazed during the sampling period. However, there was a decline in DM yield in the later part of the trial. It is concluded from this study that bulls can be fattened on range with minimum supplementation. It is therefore recommended that bulls being fattened on range be given a minimum of 2kg/head/day of concentrate supplementation.Keywords: Bunaji, live weight, condition scor

Assessment of electrocardiographic parameters of Red Sokoto goats

The study was necessitated due to the economic importance of Red Sokoto goat, its resilient nature and limited literature on electrocardiographic parameter of the breed. The research was conducted using thirty goats comprising of 15 does and 15 bucks within the ages of 1-3 years and an average weight of 35kg. Electrocardiographic parameters were recorded using the three standard limb leads (I, II and III) as well as the  augmented limb leads (aVR, aVL and aVF). Various forms of negative and positive wave deflections were recorded. Positive P and T waves were predominant in all the leads (standard limb leads and augmented leads). Typical QRS complex was predominant in all the leads with little qR in leads II, III and aVF. The mean electrical axis was between -178° and +170°. Cardiac rhythm was determined using P wave orientation and most of the animals had sinus rhythm. The mean heart rate was 141 ± 4.8 beats per minute and ranged from 92 to 164. The various forms of  electrocardiographic waves recorded in Red Sokoto goat differ from those of other breeds of goats. The records obtained suggest that Red Sokoto goat has faster cardiac electrical conduction.Keywords: Assessment, Electrocardigraph, Parameters, Rhythm, Red Sokoto goa

Comparative assessment of a DNA and protein Leishmania donovani gamma glutamyl cysteine synthetase vaccine to cross-protect against murine cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. major or L. mexicana infection

Leishmaniasis is a major health problem and it is estimated that 12 million people are currently infected. A vaccine which could cross-protect people against different Leishmania spp. would facilitate control of this disease as more than one species of Leishmania may be present. In this study the ability of a DNA vaccine, using the full gene sequence for L. donovani gamma glutamyl cysteine synthetase (?GCS) incorporated in the pVAX vector (pVAX?GCS), and a protein vaccine, using the corresponding recombinant L. donovani ?GCS protein (Ld?GCS), to protect against L. major or L. mexicana infection was evaluated. DNA vaccination gave transient protection against L. major and no protection against L. mexicana despite significantly enhancing specific antibody titres in vaccinated infected mice compared to infected controls. Vaccination with the Ld?GCS protected against both species but only if the protein was incorporated into non-ionic surfactant vesicles for L. mexicana. The results of this study indicate that a L. donovani ?GCS vaccine could be used to vaccinate against more than one Leishmania species but only if the recombinant protein is used

Relationships between milk yield, post-partum body weight and reproductive performance in Friesian x Bunaji cattle

The data consisted of 369 lactation records for calvings over a sixteen-year period (1972-1987) and included only cows that had normal milk records. The data were analysed using a linear model containing the fixed effects of parity, year of calving and season of calving. The least squares means S.E. were 1,273 58.4 kg for milk yield, and for post-partum body weight (kg) at 2, 3 and 4 months after calving were 343.40 3.96, 346.10 4.10 and 352.54 4.26, respectively. With the exception of season of calving, the effects of parity and year of calving were significant (p<0.01) on the performance of the animals. Thus, the mean milk yields 1162, 1351 and 1350, were similar for pre-, peak- and post rainy seasons, respectively. On the other hand, as parity increased from 1 to 3, milk yield also increased, but thereafter, there was a gradual decline in milk yield. Similarly, post-partum body weight also increased with parity. However, no consistent pattern for year effect was observed which probably was a reflection of the variation in climatic conditions, or forage quality and/or availability. The phenotypic correlations between milk yield and post-partum body weights were negative and small (ranging from -0.01 to -0.08). However, high milk production in cows was associated with longer calving interval. The implications from the phenotypic correlations are suggestive of one or two possibilities. Firstly, selection for increased body weight may actually result in decreased milk yield. Also, a substantial genetic antagonism may exist between milk yield and fertility in the crossbred cows. Therefore, it is important that selection to improve milk production should take into consideration the reproductive performance of the cows

Assessing the nutritional status of Bunaji bulls fattened on varying inclusions of groundnut haulms and maize offal using some blood metabolites

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of inclusion levels of groundnut haulms (GH) and maize offal (MO) on some blood metabolites from twenty Bunaji bulls. The bulls were divided into four groups in a completely randomized design. They were fed signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens) hay ad libitum and concentrate diets containing groundnut haulms (GH) and maize offal (MO): 80:20% GH: MO, 60:40% GH: MO, 40:60% GH: MO and 20:80% GH: MO, respectively. The animals were fed the diets over a period of 90 days and their nutritional status ascertained from the serum metabolic profile.Keywords: Groundnut haulms, maize offal, packed cell volume, blood metabolites, bunaji bull

Eficácia de plantas para o controle de nematóides gastrintestinais de pequenos ruminantes: revisão de estudos publicados Plant efficacy in small ruminant gastrointestinal nematode control: a review of published studies

As helmintoses gastrintestinais constituem um dos principais fatores limitantes para a ovinocaprinocultura em todo o mundo e a saúde dos rebanhos depende de um efetivo controle antiparasitário. A resistência aos anti-helmínticos representa um dos entraves para esse controle e a busca por novas bases tem sido um desafio constante. A utilização da fitoterapia na medicina veterinária constitui um campo promissor de pesquisas. Estudos nesta área necessitam da inserção em um contexto agroecológico, tendo como fator limitante o manejo sustentável dos recursos naturais envolvidos. O presente artigo apresenta uma revisão dos estudos de plantas cientificamente testadas no Brasil e em outros países para o controle das parasitoses gastrintestinais em pequenos ruminantes.<br>Gastrointestinal helminthiasis has been one of the main limiting factors to small ruminant breeding around the world and the health of these animals depends on an efficient parasitological control. Resistance to anthelmintics represents one of the barriers to this control and the search for new bases has been a constant challenge. The use of phytotherapy in Veterinary Medicine is a promising research field. Studies in this area require the insertion into an agroecological context, presenting as limitation the sustainable management of the involved natural resources. This paper presents a review of studies on plants scientifically tested in Brazil and other countries for gastrointestinal nematode control concerning small ruminants