Antistress evaluation of xylazine and ascorbic acid doses using biomarkers and chevon characteristics sequel to stocking and 28-hours road transportation

Transportation of animals cannot be avoided in animal husbandry and when they are subjected to psychological and physiological stress could compromise product. Thirty-two apparently healthy Sahel bucks were subjected to an experimental journey. Four groups were randomly assigned into control none treated, xylazine (0.02 mg/kg) and ascorbic acid (200 mg/kg), xylazine (0.01 mg/kg) and ascorbic acid (400 mg/kg), xylazine (0.015 mg/kg) and ascorbic acid (300 mg/kg) each group had four animals each in both high and low stocking density sub-groups. The xylazine was administered intravenous while ascorbic acid was administered orally. Group (0.02mg/kg) xylazine and (200mg/kg) ascorbic acid at high stocking rate significantly (p <0.05) increased the dressing percentage, while low stocking rate decreased using the same combination significantly (p <0.05) decreased dressing percentage. Group of (0.015mg/kg) xylazine and (300mg/kg) ascorbic acid at high stocking rate significantly (p <0.05) increased the excitatory score at slaughter. There were also interactions of treatment on excitatory score, dressing percentages and triiodothyronine. This means that the treatment using the two drugs influenced these parameters. It infers the antistress treatment influenced some meat characteristics. Conclusively, groups (0.02mg/kg) xylazine and (200mg/kg) ascorbic acid, and (0.015mg/kg) xylazine and (300mg/kg) ascorbic acid improved some meat characteristics in bucks, withdrawal period of xylazine must be considered. Key words: Doses; Xylazine-ascorbic acid; Improved; Chevon; Stres

Effects of doses of ascorbic acid on physio-biochemical parameters of Sahel bucks exposed to stocking and 28 –hour road transportation (North Western – South Western, Nigeria)

Sahel bucks were used in evaluating doses of ascorbic acid exposed to long term transportation stress. Their ages ranged between 1.5-2 years, their body condition score was 3 out of 5 scale. Test groups were ascorbic acid at 400mg/kg orally administered; ascorbic acid at 300mg/kg PO; ascorbic acid at 200mg/kg PO and control group without ascorbic acid administration. Thus, 16 animals were used for high stocking rate and 16 stocked using low stocking rate in the experiment. Physiological and biochemical parameters were assessed. The heart rates of the bucks treated with 200mg/kg ascorbic acid midway into the journey were low (P<0.05) compared to those treated with 300 and 400mg/kg, and the control group. High dose of ascorbic acid (400mg/kg) produced significantly higher values of sodium and chloride serum concentrations. Mg levels were significantly (P<0.05) lowered with lower doses of ascorbic acid treatment compared to the control. In contrast, T4 values in all treated groups were lower than that of the control animals. Ascorbic acid caused a significant (P<0.05) increase in red blood cells; the leucocytes and lymphocytes counts. Conclusively, ascorbic acid at 300 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg had better anti-stress property that could be used to improve animal welfare in bucks exposed to long road transportation. Key Words: Ascorbic acid; Doses; Stress; Sahel bucks

Effects of electromagnetic radiations on the male reproductive system

Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitting from the natural environment, as well as from the use of industrial and everyday appliances, constantly influences the body of the animal. It is expected that the interactions between electromagnetic radiation and the living organism would depend on the amount and parameters of the transmitted energy and type of tissue exposed. Electromagnetic waves exert an influence on the male reproductive system causing spermatozoa to have decreased motility, morphometric abnormalities, increased peroxidation due to oxidative stress, histological aberrations in the testes and in some cases atrophy of the testicular tissue. This review presents from literature some of effects of electromagnetic radiations on the male reproductive system.Keywords: Electromagnetic Radiations, Male Reproductive System, Animals, Human

The Physiological potentials of Ghrelin in enhancing Feed intake in Livestock

Ghrelin is an orexigenic protein with a unique lipid chain modification and is known to be an important gut-brain signal for appetite control and energy balance. It is neuroendocrine hormone secreted mainly by the oxyntic cells of gastric fundus and travels to the brain. There it interacts with both the hypothalamus (the brain’s physiological eating center) and the brain’s pleasure centers to arouse hunger. The ghrelin receptor, growth-hormone secretagogue receptor type 1a, is able to bind acylated ghrelin. The first recognised effect of ghrelin was the induction of growth hormone release from the somatotroph cells of the anterior pituitary. It is also expressed in the pancreatic islets, hypothalamus, pituitary and several tissues in the periphery. The aim of this review is to see some of the effects of ghrelin on feeding behaviour in selected livestock specie

In vivo antitrypanosomal evaluation of some medicinal plant extracts from Ogun state, Nigeria

Aqueous extracts of 5 medicinal plants comprising of the root bark of Morinda morindiodes and leaves of Tithonia diversifolia, Lippia multiflora, Ocimum gratissimum and Acalypha wilkesiana were investigated for antitrypanosomal activities in albino rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei. The plant extracts at 400mg/kg body weight (of rats) were administered once daily for 7 days in an established infection of 5 x 106 parasitaemia before starting treatment. There was significant reduction in parasitaemia (P< 0.05) on the 3rd day of treatment in rats treated with Morinda morindiodes, Tithonia diversifolia and Acalypha wilkesiana but parasitaemia later increased till survival time. Morinda morindiodes, a plant well known for its potents antimalarial effect, has it root bark extracts exhibiting the highest value of mean survival time (12.6+0.7) days this study. The result may probably suggest reduction in parasite virulence by Morinda morindiodes root bark extract. Keywords: Antitrypanosomal, evaluation, medicinal plants, in vivo, Ogun State, Nigeria