Evidence of purifying selection in exon 3 of interferon regulatory factor-5 (IRF-5) gene in Nigerian indigenous chickens

Immune genes are under acute selective pressure in order to resist pathogenic attacks. It is not really clear the type of selective force that acts on immune genes because of diverse pathogen load and host population density, so this experiment studied the selective force acting on exon 3 of IRF-5 gene in Nigerian indigenous chickens. DNA was extracted from 90 Nigerian indigenous chickens and exon 3 of IRF-5 gene was sequenced. The region was tested for deviation from neutrality using DnaSP. The Mean non-synonymous substitutions per non-synonymous site (dN) and mean synonymous substitutions per synonymous site (dS) were calculated to predict likely selective force/event acting on the region using HyPhy software implemented inside MEGA6 software. All the test of neutrality indices obtained for exon 3 of IRF-5 gene in Nigerian indigenous chickens were greater than 1 except Tajima’s D value of normal feather chickens (0.93) and Fu’s Fs value of naked neck chickens (0.71). The dN of 0.00 and negative dS were estimated for exon 3 of IRF-5 gene in all the three genotypes. This study therefore concluded that purifying selective forces are acting on exon 3 of IRF-5 gene in Nigerian indigenous chickens. Keywords: Chickens, co-evolution, immunity, pathogens, selection

Assessing the genetic diversity of South-western Nigerian Indigenous Pig (Sus scorfa) using mitochondrial DNA D-loop sequence

In this study, the maternal genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship of South-western pig population were assessed. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from air-dried blood spotted on Fast Technology for Analysis (FTA) card. The extracted DNA were amplified with predefined mitochondria (mtDNA) primers. A total of 843 base pair fragment of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop region of 30 pigs were analyzed. Seven (7) haplotypes and 64 polymorphic sites were identified, with no insertion or deletion between nucleotide 3 and 835. The mean haplotypic and nucleotide diversity were found to be 0.381±0.058 and 0.315±0.155 respectively. The phylogeny revealed one divergent haplotype clade, suggesting one possible maternal lineage (European domestic pig) in South-west Nigerian pigs. The median joining network formed a star-like pattern, suggesting population expansion from a small number of founding ancestor (IFE1). Genetic variation within and between populations accounted for 63.32% and 36.68% of the total genetic variation respectively. This study concluded that there was relatively high genetic diversity in our indigenous pig population, thus, will probably pave way for preservation and improvement of Nigerian pigs as genetic resources. Keywords: mtDNA, genetic variation, phylogenetic relationshi

Cryptic Eimeria genotypes are common across the southern but not northern hemisphere

The phylum Apicomplexa includes parasites of medical, zoonotic and veterinary significance. Understanding the global distribution and genetic diversity of these protozoa is of fundamental importance for efficient, robust and long-lasting methods of control. Eimeria spp. cause intestinal coccidiosis in all major livestock animals and are the most important parasites of domestic chickens in terms of both economic impact and animal welfare. Despite having significant negative impacts on the efficiency of food production, many fundamental questions relating to the global distribution and genetic variation of Eimeria spp. remain largely unanswered. Here, we provide the broadest map yet of Eimeria occurrence for domestic chickens, confirming that all the known species (Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria brunetti, Eimeria maxima, Eimeria mitis, Eimeria necatrix, Eimeria praecox, Eimeria tenella) are present in all six continents where chickens are found (including 21 countries). Analysis of 248 internal transcribed spacer sequences derived from 17 countries provided evidence of possible allopatric diversity for species such as E. tenella (FST values ⩽0.34) but not E. acervulina and E. mitis, and highlighted a trend towards widespread genetic variance. We found that three genetic variants described previously only in Australia and southern Africa (operational taxonomic units x, y and z) have a wide distribution across the southern, but not the northern hemisphere. While the drivers for such a polarised distribution of these operational taxonomic unit genotypes remains unclear, the occurrence of genetically variant Eimeria may pose a risk to food security and animal welfare in Europe and North America should these parasites spread to the northern hemisphere

Comparative Evaluation of Growth Performance and Feed Utilization of Improved Nigerian Indigenous Broiler and Different Crossbreds

The study was carried out as part of efforts to improve the performance of the Nigerian indigenous chicken and improve potentials of indigenous broiler strains to provide higher quality of meat at a reduced cost. The study compared the growth and feeding traits of three different chicken crossbreds with the generated lines of Improved Nigerian indigenous broiler (FUNAAB-Alpha) using the Arbor Acre broiler as the experimental control. Males of three broiler breeds types (Kuroiler, Sasso and Arbo Acre) were mated with a total of 120 improved Nigerian indigenous pullets (FUNAAB-Alpha) to generate 360 crossbred broilers. 120 each of Arbor Acre and FUNAAB-Alpha improved line were also reared in a separate pen for comparison. Growth performance, feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency of all the chicken breeds were recorded for 8 weeks and compared. Two way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for the analysis with consideration of the effect of breeds, sex and its interaction. The results revealed a significant (P < 0.05) influence of the breeds on the traits across all ages. FUNAAB-Alpha broiler consumed the least quantity of feed/bird/day followed by the Sasso-FUNAAB-Alpha crossbred throughout the period of the experiment. However, Sasso-FUNAAB-Alpha chicken had the highest mean value for body weight and other linear body parameters among the crossbreds. Despite of the improvements achieved in FUNAAB-Alpha crosses, there is a need for further analysis and research in order to achieve the maximum potential of the improved broiler strai

Combining abilities of growth traits among pure and crossbred meat type chickens

Five thousand one hundred and nineteen chicks were obtained from a diallel combination of four breeds of chickens; (Anak Titan (A), Alpha (B), Giriraja (G) and Normal indigenous (N) chickens) in a broiler improvement program. The chicks were reared to 12 weeks in which data on weekly body weight (BW), breast girth (BG) and tibia length (TL) were recorded. Sire and dam genotype significantly (p<0.05) affected all traits. Anak Titan cocks and hens performed best in body weight (BW) with values ranging from 38.45 ± 0.74 g and 40.21 ± 0.66 g at day old to 1135.93 ± 35.67 g and 953.38 ± 35.38 g at week 12 respectively. Normal and Alpha improved indigenous performed better in linear body parameters. Results of diallel analysis to test for general and specific combining abilities of breeds on traits showed that additive genetic effects were important in determining BW and dominance effects were important for BG, while both effects were important in determining TL. This indicates that selection, crossbreeding and combination of both are tools needed to improve BW, BG and TL, respectively. Anak Titan had the best general combining ability (GCA) of 19.49 ± 0.42, 288.54 ± 7.52, 458.78 ± 12.15 and 769.30 ± 4.80 for BW at weeks 1, 4, 8 and 12, respectively and therefore recommended as a good breed for BW in the improvement program. GB crosses had the best SCA for BG and TL of 7.43 ± 0.11, 8.21 ± 0.16, 11.82 ± 0.22, 5.90 ± 0.29; 8.50 ± 0.10, 9.68 ± 0.10, 7.92 ± 0.34, 0.86 ± 0.30 at weeks 1, 4, 8 and 12 respectively. It is recommended that an impro- vement process that involves all the breeds should be adapted using reciprocal recurrent selection or modifications of it.Cinco mil ciento diecinueve pollos fueron ob- tenidos, en un programa de mejora de pollos de engorde, a partir de una combinación dialélica de cuatro razas: Anak Titan (A), Alpha (B), Giriraja (G) y Normal indígena (N). Los pollos fueron criados a 12 semanas en las que se registraron los datos sobre peso corporal por semana (BW), circunferencia del pecho (BG) y longitud de la tibia (TL). El genotipo de machos y hembras afectó significativamente (p<0,05) a todos los caracte- res. Los gallos y las gallinas Anak Titan mostraron el mejor comportamiento en peso corporal (BW) con valores que van desde 38,45 ± 0,74 g a 40,21 ± 0,66 g al día de edad hasta 1135,93 ± 35,67 g y 953,38 ± 35,38 g en la semana 12, respectivamen- te. Las razas indígenas mejoradas Normal y Alpha obtuvieron mejores resultados en los parámetros lineales del cuerpo. Los resultados del análisis dialélico para probar las capacidad general y específica de combinación de las razas en los caracteres, mostraron que los efectos genéticos aditivos fueron importantes en la determinación BW y los efectos de dominancia fueron importan- tes para BG, mientras que ambos efectos son importantes en la determinación de TL. Esto indica que la selección, el mestizaje y la combinación de ambos son las herramientas necesarias para mejorar la PN, BG y TL, respectivamente. Anak y Titan han mostrado la mejor aptitud combinatoria general (GCA) de 19,49 ± 0,42; 7,52 ± 288,54; 458,78 ± 12,15 y 769,30 ± 4,80 para BW en las semanas 1, 4, 8 y 12, respectivamente, por lo que se recomienda como una buena raza para el programa de mejora de BW. Los cruces GB pre- sentaron la mejor SCA para BG y TL de 7,43 ± 0,11; 8,21 ± 0,16; 11,82 ± 0,22; 5,90 ± 0,29; 8,50 ± 0,10; 9,68 ± 0,10; 7,92 ± 0,34 y 0,86 ± 0,30 en las semanas 1, 4, 8 y 12, respectivamente. Se reco- mienda que un proceso de mejora continua que involucre a todas las razas debe adoptarse me- diante selección recurrente recíproca o modifica- ciones del ella

Comparative evaluation of carcass composition of FUNAAB Alpha broiler with two exotic broiler breeds

The contribution of local chickens to meat supply in Nigeria is considered appreciable even though they have been poorly exploited. Thus, this study was conducted to compare the carcass performance of FUNAAB Alpha broilers to Arbor Acre and Cobb 500 breeds. A total of 50 FUNAAB Alpha, 50 Arbor Acre and 50 Cobb broilers were reared for a period of 8weeks. Data collected were in percentage to the total dressed weight and Arcsine transformed to be used as absolute data Analysis of variance (ANOVA). The Cobb 500 breed had the highest value for bled, de-feathered and eviscerated weight (1621.64±93.14g, 1533.14±93.37g and 1254.71±80.19g respectively) followed by the Arbor Acre and FUNAAB Alpha breed. However, the FUNAAB Alpha broiler strain had the highest percentage of heart weight (3.12±0.30), empty gizzard weight (2.34±0.10), liver weight (2.45±0.10), thigh weight (11.21±0.21) and the neck weight (5.45±0.09) while Cobb 500 and Arbor Acre broilers showed higher percentage for wing weight (9.73±0.12), leg weight (4.64±0.12) and drum stick weight (10.78±0.13). The study concludes that the FUNAAB Alpha broilers have good potentials for meat production and could serve as an additional source of animal protein for the rural poor in Nigeria

Water restriction in goats during hot-dry season in the humid tropics: feed intake and weight gain.

Twelve non-pregnant female goats (West African Dwarf, WAD and Red Sokoto, RS) were used to investigate the effect of volumetric (0%, 33% and 67%) water restriction on feed intake and weight gain over a period of eight weeks. The goats are of 2 age groups: younger and older than 1 year. The experiment was arranged in a modified cross-over design with three treatment periods of 1 week each. In-between each treatment period was a 2-week wash-out period, when the effect of the previous was expected to have worn off. The average water intake (WI) was determined for the first 7 days of the experiment when all the animals were given water ad libitum. The 3 treatments were: (i) ad libitum supply of water every day; (ii) 33% reduction from average WI; and (iii) 67% reduction. Water drunk had positive and significant (p1 year old; r= 0.615). All the four classes of goats showed positive highly significant (pDoce cabras no preñadas (West African Dwarf, WAD y Red Sokoto, RS) fueron empleadas para investigar el efecto de la restricción volumétrica (0%, 33% and 67%) del suministro de agua sobre la ingestión de alimento y ganancia de peso durante ocho semanas. Los animales se agruparon por edad en menores y mayores de un año. El experimento se dispuso según un diseño cruzado, modificado con tres periodos de tratamiento de una semana cada uno. Entre cada periodo se intercaló uno de lavado de dos semanas durante el que se eliminaba el efecto del experimento precedente. La ingestión media de agua (WI) fue determinada para los siete primeros dias del experimento durante los cuales a todos los animales se suministraba agua ad libitum. Los tratamientos fueron: (i) suministro de agua ad libitum, (ii) reducción del 33% sobre la ingestión media y (iii) 67% de reducción. El agua bebida mostró correlación positiva (

Predilection and growth performance of FUNAAB-Alpha chicken under different compact fluorescent light colours

The predilections of FUNAAB-Alpha chicken for Compact Fluorescent Light colours (CFL) and their effect on growth performance were&nbsp; evaluated. Three hundred and ninety six (396) FUNAAB-Alpha chickens were randomly divided into three treatments, each contained a coloured CFL light bulb of 45W and equal light intensity: T1 (Yellow CFL), T2 (Blue CFL), T3 (White CFL). Artificial lighting was provided for 8 hours from 8pm-4am. Dark to&nbsp; light predilection test was carried out at 2nd week of age. Birds under yellow light had enhanced (P&lt; 0.05) frequency of feeding behaviour (3.6) compared to those under blue (1.1) and white (0.7) light respectively. Moreover, birds that preferred yellow light exhibited higher frequency (P&lt; 0.05) of drinking behaviour (0.6) compared to those that preferred other lights. Growth performance result revealed that birds reared under blue&nbsp; light had enhanced average feed intake (77.4) compared to birds reared under white (69.2) and yellow (70.0) light colours. The result of the growth performance revealed that birds under blue light had improved feed intake. Yellow light is recommended for rearing of FUNAAB Alpha chickens at&nbsp; the early stage. Keywords: Behaviour, growth performance, predilection test, FUNAAB Alpha chicken