Preweaning performance of kids of the West African Dwarf (WAD) goat in their Naive Environment

Two observations were undertaken in order to study the preweaning performance of kids of the WAD goat. In the first observation, the birthweight, weaning weight at 90 days and the mortality rate were studied in a group of 147 kids delivered between 1982 and 1986. The second study consisted of 15 kids (9 females and 6 males) delivered within four days and were used for a close study of the growth pattern of kids of the WAD goat. The mean birthweight for the 147 kids was 1.16±0.01 kg. Males kids tended to be heavier at birth than female kids (1.20±0.02 vs 1.12±0.03 kg). Litter type affected birthweight and survival rate and birthweight was negatively related to survival rate. The mean weaning weight at 90 days was 6.00±0.21 kg. Males were apparently heavier at weaning than females (6.11 kg. vs 5.82 kg). The pattern of growth was not affected by sex and the maximum weight gain was observed during the first three weeks of life. 24.56% of kids died before weaning at 90 days. Mortality was higher (

Effects on oestrus duration of West African dwarf goats

Standing oestrus in west African dwarf goats averaged 31.1±1.7 h. Oestrus duration was not affected by time of day, although significantly more does (

Age and seasonal changes in the morphomethric development of accessory glands of the West African Dwarf goat

The effects of age and season of birth on the morphometric characteristics of the Vesicular, Cowper's and Ampulla glands were studies in 32 indigenous West Africa Dwarf (WAD) goats aged 1 12 months and 12 adults aged >12 months, in Ibadan. While the vesicular and Cowper's glands weight were highly significantly (p < 0.001) affected by age but not season of birth, the ampullae were stable with age and season of birth. Each of the glands accounted for less than 1% of the weight and tended to increased with age except the vesicular gland in the adults. Result suggest a closer relation in growth with age than season of birth. This supports the non seasonality in breeding behaviour of tropical livestock. KEY WORDS: Age, Season, Growth, Accessory, Glands. [Global Jnl Agric Res Vol.1(2) 2002: 83-88

Cassava as livestock feed in Africa. Proceedings of a workshop

The aim of the workshop is to collect information on traditional African processing technologies with emphasis on cassava as a livestock feed, to review the marketing and economics of cassava by-products, to recommend strategies for future research and development on the processing and utilization of cassava as a livestock feed, and to disseminate up-to-date information on cassava. The papers in this report discusses the utilization of cassava with particular reference to farming systems, traditional processing, effect of protein deficiency on utilization and potential of cassava peels for feeding goats. The other papers looks at varietal improvement of cassava, processing of cassava, and cassava utilization in selected countries

Physiological response of rabbit bucks to dietary fumonisin: Performance, haematology and serum biochemistry

Maize grains contaminated with fumonisin, a metabolite of Fusarium verticillioides was incorporated into matured male rabbits' diet to evaluate its effects on performance, haematology and serum biochemistry in rabbits. Thirty individually caged crossbred adult rabbit bucks averaging 1.36 ± 0.01 kg (about 22-24-week-old) were randomly allotted to three treatment diets comprising a control diet (containing 0.35 ± 0.02 mg fumonisin/kg) and two test diets containing 12.30 ± 0.16 and 24.56 ± 0.14 mg fumonisin/kg, constituting treatments 1 (low infection), 2 (medium infection) and 3 (high infection), respectively, in a five-week feeding trial. Results showed that the dry matter intake (DMI) (g/rabbit) at the end of the feeding trial was significantly (P < 0.05) influenced. The DMI declined with increasing dietary fumonisin by a significant 80% and 95% (P < 0.05) for high and medium levels of dietary fumonisin, respectively, relative to the mean weekly DMI of 609.93 ± 45.08 g by rabbits fed diet with low level of fumonisin. The weekly weight gain tended to decrease with increased dietary fumonisin levels, while the haematological and serum biochemical components examined, were not statistically influenced among the diets when fed to male rabbits for a period of 5 weeks