Reproductive Performances of Local Pigs in West African Countries: A Review

The local pig is reared in all West Africa countries, and especially in small farms, playing so an important role in its preservation. This article reviews work done on reproductive performances of local pigs in West Africa. These performances focus on age at puberty, estrus and sex cycle, gestation length, prolificity, viability and growth before piglets weaning. Factors that can influence these parameters are included. Finally, the contribution of animal biotechnology to these performances improvement is discussed

Health consequences associated with prolonged exposure to counterfeit petrol in different age strata in Benin

Background: Counterfeit fuel is sold in Benin by all socio-demographic groups with serious health consequences. The aim of this study was to assess differences in health consequences associated with exposure to petrol based on the age of vendors. Material & Methods: Data was collected by interviewing 150 petrol vendors in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi and analyzed with emphasis on comparison between age groups using the two-tailed Z test. Results: The present study shows that the proportion of vendors aged 20 to 30 working more than 8 hours per day (27.03%) was significantly higher (p˂0.05) than those under 20, and over 40. Incidents like inhaling and swallowing petrol was more reported (p˂0.05) in vendors aged 20 to 30 than those under 20 and over 40 years old. The respondents, especially those aged 30 to 40, do not protect themselves sufficiently and experience many health problems. The vendors aged 20 to 30 years who experienced headache, dizziness, cough, fatigue, sleepiness, nausea, vomiting and eye irritation was higher (p˂0.05) than those under 20 and over 50. Likewise, the proportion of people aged 20 to 50 years who presented symptoms such as stuffed nose, pressing need to expectorate upon awakening and episodes of rhinorrhea was higher (p˂0.05) than in those under 20 and over 50. Conclusion: In conclusion, people aged 20 to 30 experience more health consequences associated with the sale of counterfeit petrol and must take necessary measures for their protection

Comment concevoir la biosécurité des élevages porcins des milieux lacustres du sud Bénin pour réduire le risque de maintien et de dissémination de la peste porcine africaine ?

L’élevage de porcs est pratiqué en milieu lacustre au Bénin malgré une forte présence d’eau de surface. L’étude vise à identifier les facteurs de risque de la dissémination de la peste porcine africaine (PPA) dans les pratiques d’élevage des milieux lacustres afin de proposer des mesures de biosécurité adaptées à ces milieux. Les données ont été collectées par entretien avec 48 éleveurs de porcs des communes des Aguégués et de Sô-Ava. Une typologie de ces élevages a permis d’identifier trois types d’élevage qui se distinguent sur le mode de logement, les types génétiques élevés, les types d’aliments utilisés, le mode de gestion des déchets et des cadavres des animaux. Le premier type correspond à des élevages en claustration totale qui ont des porcs de type génétique exotique nourris avec des mélanges de matières premières. Ces éleveurs jettent les déjections et les animaux morts dans l’eau du fleuve. Les deux autres sont des élevages en claustration partielle et en liberté qui ont des animaux de type génétique local nourris avec les restes de cuisine et du fourrage. Les déchets sont jetés dans l’espace non occupé par l’eau, mais des cadavres sont parfois enterrés (claustration partielle). Les pratiques d’élevage dans les trois types ne les protègent pas de la PPA. Cette vulnérabilité à la PPA des élevages diffère d’un type à l’autre et la liberté des porcs rend les élevages plus vulnérables. L’étude nous a permis de mettre en évidence une relation entre les différents types d’élevages et les risques de dissémination de la PPA, ce qui nous a conduits à élaborer une série de mesures de biosécurité adaptées à chaque type et destinées aux éleveurs et aux autorités

INFLUENCE OF EXPOSURE TO DOUBTFUL QUALITY PETROL ON SINUS, LUNG AND HEART CONDITIONS IN VENDORS

<p>The gaseous particles of doubtful quality petrol diffuse into the atmosphere and enter the body mainly via the respiratory tract, but its effects on the organs of the respiratory system are hardly understood. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of exposure to doubtful quality petrol on the condition of users sinuses, lungs and heart. The sinuses, lungs and hearts of 80 sellers and 80 consumers of doubtful quality petrol were examined by X-ray. The frequencies of the anomalies recorded were calculated, and Chi² and Z tests were used to compare them among sellers and consumers, and according to the age classes of the respondents. Sinus abnormalities were more frequent (p<0.05) among sellers than the consumers. Maxillary sinus transparency decreased more (p<0.01) among sellers than the consumers. The proportion of sellers with opacity and decreased transparency in the frontal sinuses was significantly higher (p<0.05) than the ones of the consumers. Lung abnormalities included thoracic aorta unwinding, basal interstitial syndrome, localized mammary calcification,costo-diaphragmatic cul-de-sac blunting and bilateral bronchopathy. Among these abnormalities, bilateral bronchopathy was more common (p<0.05) among the sellers than the consumers. The proportion of vendors with a greater cardiothoracic index (CTI) more than 0.5 (42.5%) was significantly higher (p<0.001) than that of consumers (8.75%). Sinus damage varied very little from one age group to another. Sinus damage was reported more frequently (p<0.05) among the20 to 30 years old sellers than among the same age group Consumers. Consumers aged between 20 and 30 showed fewer progressive pleuroparenchymal abnormalities than sellers in the same age group. The proportion of sellers aged 40 to 50 with an ICT greater than 0.50 ishigher than that of consumers. The sale of doubtful quality petrol exposes the population to sinus, pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases.  </p><p> </p&gt

Comparison of reproductive performances of local and improved pigs reared in south Benin.

Benin's domestic production of pork is deficient because of the animals' low productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the zootechnical performances of pigs reared in south Benin. Data on zootechnical performances and reproduction management were collected from 63 farms in the departments of Ouémé and Plateau. These data were analyzed with SAS software, and the Fisher test was used for the significance of the breed, sex, and parity number effect on the zootechnical performances. It appears that estrus detection was mainly based on the observation of signs of vulvar changes and behavior of the sow. These estruses were detected at any time and without the boar. The local sows were mated as soon as estruses were detected while improved sows were mated 36 h after. The pregnancy detection was performed by control of return of estrus, 21 days after the mating by the majority (80.6%) of the respondents. The litter size, the number of piglets born alive, and the weaned piglets of improved sows were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than those of local sows. These parameters increased with the parity number until the 4th parity and decreased after. The litter size was highly correlated with the number of piglets born alive and weaned piglets. The farrowing interval was longer in local sows than in improved sows. The weights at birth, at 1 and 2 months old of improved piglets, were significantly higher than those of local piglets (P < 0.001). The knowledge of these performances will allow actions to be taken for their improvement