Utilization Of Crude Testis Extract To Enhance Broiler Production In The Humid Tropics

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the possibility of using aqueous testis extracts as growth promoters. In the first experiments, 100 Abore Acre chicks were assigned to four treatments in which the birds were given 0, 10,15 and 20% of a 3.3 % aqueous bull testis extract in drinking water ad libitum from week four to week eight while in the second experiment, 100 Anak broiler chicks were placed in five treatments with 0, 10, 15, 20 and 30% of the testis extracts, respectively from week two to week eight. Throughout the studies feed and water were supplied ad libitum. Live weight of the birds and weight gain were significantly (

Thermorespiratory Response of West African Dwarf Does to Progestagen Injection

The physiological responses in terms of respiration rate (RR) and rectal temperature (RT) of 30 West African Dwarf (WAD) does were monitored after a single im injection of different doses of progestagens meant for synchronising oestrus. The treatments involved im injection of 1) 2 ml of sterile water (Control); 2) 25 mg Medroxy Progesterone Acetate, MPA; 3) 50 mg MPA; 4) 50 mg Progesterone and 5) 100 mg progesterone. The RR and RT of each animal were measured at 9:00, 13:00 and 17:00 h for 21 days after each injection. In all the treatment groups the RT did not change significantly (P> 0.05) during the weeks following treatment. On the contrary the RR was significantly higher (P< 0.05) in the week after injection than in the pre-injection period. Both the RR and the RT were higher at 13:00 h and 17:00 h than at 9:00 h. The RR was more influenced by the animal body size than the RT, while the ambient temperature and humidity affected both the animal's RT and RR. These results indicate that the thermorespiratory function of WAD does under their native humid environment is not negatively affected by injecting ≤ 100 mg progesterone or ≤ 50 mg MPA to synchronize oestrus

Microarray-Based Approach Identifies Differentially Expressed MicroRNAs in Porcine Sexually Immature and Mature Testes

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNA molecules which are proved to be involved in mammalian spermatogenesis. Their expression and function in the porcine germ cells are not fully understood.We employed a miRNA microarray containing 1260 unique miRNA probes to evaluate the miRNA expression patterns between sexually immature (60-day) and mature (180-day) pig testes. One hundred and twenty nine miRNAs representing 164 reporter miRNAs were expressed differently (p<0.1). Fifty one miRNAs were significantly up-regulated and 78 miRNAs were down-regulated in mature testes. Nine of these differentially expressed miRNAs were validated using quantitative RT-PCR assay. Totally 15,919 putative miRNA-target sites were detected by using RNA22 method to align 445 NCBI pig cDNA sequences with these 129 differentially expressed miRNAs, and seven putative target genes involved in spermatogenesis including DAZL, RNF4 gene were simply confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR.Overall, the results of this study indicated specific miRNAs expression in porcine testes and suggested that miRNAs had a role in regulating spermatogenesis

Sperm production rates in European Boars raised and maintained in the humid tropics with a note on Sorbitol dehydrogenase activity as an index of spermatogenesis

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Studies on cock semen. I. Effects of frequent ejaculation and breed on physical characteristics

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Changes in acetylcholinesterase activities in the developing and aging pig brain and hypophyses

Changes in the activities of Acetylcholinesterase (AChE, E.C. 3117), the enzyme which catalyses the hydrolysis of Ach, thereby mediating in food and water intake, aggressive sexual behaviour and body development were studied in aging pig brains and hypophyses using 88 crossbred Large White pigs. Results from this study indicated highly significant (

Spermatogenesis and daily sperm production of rabbits fed diets with different levels of copper sulphate

Thirty-two male growing rabbits of similar weights were grouped into four treatments A, B, C and D of eight rabbits each. Treatments B, C, and D were administered with copper sulphate in feed at the following rates: 100ppm, 200ppm and 300ppm respectively to study the effect of supplemental copper sulphate on the reproductive efficiency. Treatment A served as control in which copper sulphate was not added into feeds. There were no significant differences in paired testes weight, relative testes weight, testes density, testicular element and daily sperm production from gonadal sperm reserve. However, gonadal sperm reserves and daily sperm production by quantitative testicular histology were significantly (p Journal of Agriculture, Forestry and the Social Sciences Vol. 3 (2) 2005: pp.126-13

Haematological and serum biochemical response of growing rabbit bucks fed dietary fumonisin B1

An experiment was conducted with 48 crossbred rabbits (49 days old) averaging 757.5 ± 0.50 g to assess haematological and serum biochemical response of growing rabbits exposed to varied levels ofdietary fumonisin of 0.1, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 mg fumonisin B1/kg diet containing in diets 1 (control) 2, 3 and 4 respectively, for a period of 12 weeks. Blood samples were collected from the animals through theear vein, after the feeding trial, for haematological studies and serum biochemistry. Results showed that packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration and erythrocytes of rabbits fed diets containing7.5 and 10.0 mg fumonisin B1/kg were significantly (P 0.05) different amongdietary treatments. However, lymphocytes of animals fed control diet were significantly (P 0.05) different among the diets. Serum total protein, albumin and albumin-globulin ratio significantly (P < 0.05) decreasedwith increase in the dietary fumonisin levels. Serum total protein of rabbits fed diets 3 (5.20 g/dl) and 4 (5.03 g/dl) were identical but both were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those fed diets 2 (5.60 g/dl)and the control (6.20 g/dl). Urea decreased while creatinine increased apparently with increase in the dietary fumonisin levels. Among the serum enzyme activities examined, AST and ALP were significantly (P < 0.05) elevated in the serum of animals fed diets 3 and 4 than those fed diets 2 and the control. ALT, AST and ALP were significantly (P < 0.05) highest (94.33, 70.00 and 17.37 i.u/l respectively) in animals fed diet 4 containing 10 mg fumonisin B1/Kg. These results suggest thatfumonisin B1 above 5.0 mg kg-1 in the diet of growing rabbits significantly altered haematological parameters and induced anaemic condition in the animals. It also depressed serum total protein andenhanced abnormal increase in serum enzyme activities, which is an indication of organ toxicity by cellular destruction induced by the toxin most especially when fed at 7.5 and 10.0 mg fumonisin B1/Kgdiet

economics importance of replacement of groundnut cake with full fat extruded soyabean meal on broiler production

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Effects of artificial heat source on the behaviour and thermorespiratory characteristics of piglets in the humid tropics

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