Constraints to adoption of artificial insemination techniques in livestock production in Bauchi LGA

constraints to adoption of artificial insemination techniques by livestock owners in Bauchi LGA were  investigated using some randomly selected respondents. Of the constraints considered, the most  important among the village livestock owners was lack of artificial insemination facilities (84. 3%) while the least was the free-range system of animal husbandry (18.9%). Conversely, some respondents  considered the greatest contraint to be the lack of well-defined breeding objectives (66.7%). While  personal dislike was the least (0.0%) considered constraint, others included unavailability of cryogens (66.7%), shortage of trained artificial insemination personnel (66.7%), lack of organisation to monitor the promotion and control of animal breeding (60.0~o), the extensive system of animal husbandry  (60.0%), etc. It can therefore be concluded that most Uvestock owners are prepared to use artificial insemination techniques in their breeding programmes if objectives are well defined and adequate artificial insemination facilities are made available and affordable. However, it is necessary that infrastructural facilities be developed in an integrated manner with essential manpower, financial input and built-in educational and training programmes, for bringing about the attitudinal change in the potential adoptors of Al.Key words: Artificial insemination, adoption, constraints

Comparisons Of Some Reproductive Parameters In Red Sokoto And Kano Brown Breeds Of Bucks

Some reproductive parameters of one-year-old 20 of each Red Sokoto and Kano Brown bucks were investigated. For the Red Sokoto and Kano Brown breeds of bucks, the mean (±S.E.) body weight, body condition score, scrotal circumference, testes weight, testes volume, epididymal length, epididymal volume, epididymal weigh~ testes sperm and epididymal sperm were 13M± 0.54 vs 11.69+ 0.35kg, 2.15±0.08 vs 2.10± 0.07, 19.83± 0.36 vs 18.27±. 0.49cm, 36.41± .1.89 vs 29.70± 1.98g, 35.63± 1.87 vs 29.48± 1.9ml, 10.67± 0.20 vs 9.66± 0.25cm, 6.16± 0.23 vs 5.44± 0.31m.J 6.46± 0.24 vs 553± 0.34g, 0.24± 0.02 vs 0.16± 0.01 x 109 a(ld 2.47± 0.16 vs 1.59± 0.16 x 109 respectively, and were significantly different between the breeds. The percentage epididymal segments mass and sperm were also depicted. There were highly significant correlations between many of the reproductive parameters in both breeds. The Red Sokoto bucks seem more adapted than the Kano Brown in terms of their reproductive make-up.Keywords: Reproductive parameters, Red Sokoto Bucks, Kano Brown Buck

Assessment of the productivity of livestock in and outside the Wase grazing reserve

The performance or livestock in Wase was assessed using flocks and herds in and outside the Wase Grazing Reserve. Age at first calving of cattle in and outside the grazing reserve was 5 years. The corresponding calving interval was 2 years. The calving percentage or 92 ror cattle in the grazing reserve was higher (P < 0.05) than that of 54 for cattle outside the grazing reserve. Ages at first lambing of sheep in and outside were 12.5 and 13 months respectively. Lambing interval however, was 8.6 months while corresponding lambing percentages were 75 and 71. Average age at first kidding in goats in the grazing reserve was 12 months while outside was 12.5 month. The kidding interval was 8 months while kidding percentage on the other hand was 56 in the reserve and 46 outside the reserve. The average lactation yield of cows (P > 0.05) in the grazing reserve was 401.5 litres while outside was 486.0 litres. The mean growth rates of calves between 6 and 12 months in and outside the grazing reserve were 9.8 and 5.6 kg/month respectively. The mean growth rates or lambs in and outside the grazing reserve were on the other hand 1.9 and 1.7 kg/month respectively, while the corresponding kids growth rates were 1.6 and 1.3 kg/month. Mortality rates recorded in adult cattle, lamb and kids in the grazing reserve were 4.8%, 7 and 7% while the rates outside the reserve were respectively 2.4, 5 and 18%.Keywords: Livestock, productivity, grazing reserve

Some quality parameters of local and exotic chicken eggs under different storage conditions

No Abstract

An abattoir study of caprine mastits in Bauchi, Nigeria

No AbstractBulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa Vol. 55 (2) 2007: pp. 138-14