Effect of suckling on reproductive activities of Bunaji cows during the postpartum period

The effects of suckling on calving interval, intervals from calving to conception and pregnancy rate at 60 to 90 days postpartum are investigated. Forty-one cows were used, twelve of which were used to study serum concentrations during the postpartum period. The overall mean calving interval and interval from calving to conception for all cows were 426.7 and 146 days, respectively, with a conception rate of 48.8 percent. The serum progesterone concentrations of cows ranged from 0.1 to 6.9 ng/ml during the non-fertile cycle and 0.1 to 15 ng/ml at pregnancy. Suckling interfered with ovarian activities and thus conception during the postpartum period, resulting in a prolonged calving interval

Some factors affecting the reproductive performance of White Fulani (Bunaji) cattle

An analysis of reproductive data on White Fulani (Bunaji) Zebu cattl of Northern Nigeria was carried out. The season and year of birth had no effect on age at first calving (P>0.1). The mean age at first calving was 40.4± 0.7 months. The distribution of heifers, classified according to age at first calving, appeared to be normal. Subsequent calving intervals for heifers that had their first calf in the dry and wet seasons were 458 and 540 days, respectively. The difference was highly significant (

Semen quality of Yankasa rams

Presents results of a study carried out to determine the ejaculate characteristics of Yankasa rams in Nigeria. Three rams of proven fertility from the breeding herd at shika, of average age of 29 months were investigated. Ejaculates collected during the wet season had higher volume, pH, sperm motility and percentage of normal sperms than those collected in the dry season. Differences between rams were insignificant for all traits except ejaculate volume and sperm motility. The average sperm output per ejaculate was 2.558 x 109 spermatozoa, sufficient to inseminate between 5 and 20 ewes depending on condition of storage. Yankasa rams produced semen which compared favourably in terms of total sperm output per ejaculate and qualitative traits to values for semen of better known temperate breeds of sheep. The observed differences did not appear severe enough as to prevent all year round breeding

Variations in liveweight gains, mild yield and composition of Red Sokoto goats fed crop-residue based supplements in the sub-humid zone of Nigeria

Variations in weight gain, milk yield, milk composition, nutrient intake and digestibility of Red Sokoto goats supplemented with crop-residue-based rations during the long, dry period were investigated. Ration A, the conventional concentrate ration, was used as the positive control, Rations B and C were the two crop-residue test diets, while Ration D the unsupplemented treatment, was used as the negative control. Each of the supplementation rations was fed at 1 and 2% of the goat's body weight (designated as 1A, 2A, 1B, 2B and 1C, 2C, respectively). The supplemented group of goats had significantly higher (P,0.05) dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) intakes as well as nutrient digestibilities than the unsupplemented groups. DM digestibility improved with supplementation by a range of 4.1–27.9%, while CP digestibility improved by 17.1–42.2%, the highest value being in does on Ration A. It was evident that supplementation significantly (P,0.01) influenced weight gains and milk yield of dams. Goats on ration 2C recorded the highest average daily gains of 39.29 g/day while their counterparts fed rations 1B and D lost 28.57 and 92.86 g/ day, respectively. Ration 1C which comprised mainly of crop residue with much lesser protein levels than the concentrate ration, produced 54 kg of milk over a 90-day lactation period averaging 0.60 kg per day. Goats on Ration D had the shortest lactation length of 41 days and the least total and average daily milk yields of 10.2 and 0.25 kg, respectively. Milk from does on ration 2A contained the highest percentages of fat (6%), protein (6.33%), total solids (21.85%) and solids-not-fat (15.85%). Milk from goats on ration D ranked least with respect to all parameters studied. It was concluded that the goats made appreciable gains in the long dry season on crop-residue-based diets that compared favourably with the conventional concentrate rations. Ration C fed at 1% level was a good supplementary feed package for increased liveweight gains and milk production in Red Sokoto goats

Studies on effects of lactose on experimental <i>Trypanosoma vivax</i> infection in Zebu cattle. 2. Packed cell volume

The ability of intravenously administered lactose in normal saline to prevent a decline in packed cell volume (PCV) during experimental trypanosomosis was studied in Zebu cattle. During the lactose infusion period, the PCV was stable up to Day 5 post-infection (p.i.) in a lactose-infused group, compared to that in an uninfused group in which the PCV dropped significantly (P < 0.05) as shown by the values of cumulative percentage change. Furthermore the mean rate of change in PCV was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the uninfused group relative to the lactose-infused group during the same period. While the PCV fell markedly in the lactose-infused group a day after lactose infusion was stopped (Day 13 p.i.), subsequent PCV values were significantly (P < 0.05) higher compared to those in the uninfused group, up to the end of experiment on Day 17 p.i. However the mean rates of change in PCV did not vary significantly (P > 0.05) between the groups during the period in which lactose infusion was stopped. The mean levels of parasitaemic waves and parasitaemia were higher, more prolonged and more frequent in the lactose-infused group. It was inferred that the lactose was able to prevent an early onset of anaemia in the Trypanosoma vivax-infected Zebu cattle