INFLUENCE OF GENES, MORPHOLOGY, PHYSIOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT ON REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIGENOUS GOATS IN NIGERIA: -A REVIEW

The objective of this paper is to review influence of gene, morpho-physiology and environment on reproductive characteristics of indigenous goats in Nigeria. Planned breeding requires an understanding of characteristics of goats that are transmitted from one generation to another which is concerned with genetics of the entire goat population. However, the major objective of animal breeding is to increase the frequencies of desirable genes as to achieve the ideal genotype which will give the desired traits in a given population. Important traits in animals are influenced by factors like the environment as well as the genes over which man has no control. Reproductive potentials of a female animal is measured by the number of young ones produced per year, which depends on the age of the animal at first kidding, litter size, kidding interval and kidding rate. There is a considerable potential for increased goat production, provided that proper management is employed. Much will depend on recognition of their values as domestic animals. Substituting goat for cows in terms of milk production can increase the goat contribution to animal production, particularly with the small scale subsistence farmers. Better use can be made of scarce resources in developing areas because of potentially higher fertility of goats and higher feed conversion efficiency in relation to body mass for meat and milk production. Indigenous breeds of goats have the ability to adapt and reproduce under harsh environmental conditions. Goat primarily produces meat but also produce milk and their contribution to the nutrition of the rural poor are significant. They supply precious proteins of higher biological value in the form of meat and milk. Potential productivity of goats is constrained by poor understanding of the many values of goats and of strategies for improved natural resource management in the target environments. False perceptions that: 'environmental degradation, bias inadequate official support and resources use' are the major belief of people to rule against goat production. Goats are termed as destroyer of vegetation; this somehow hindered the farmers from exploiting the full potential of these animals. Theft, predation, poor veterinary services, poor hygiene and incidence of diseases and parasites in ascending order appears to be the most important problem limiting goat production in most tropical parts of Africa. Sound extension education program to overcome problems could be of great benefit to the rural farmer and the national economy

Performance and nutrient digestibility of rabbits fed urea treated cowpea husk

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of varying levels of urea treated and untreated cowpea husk on the performance of weaner rabbits. Thirty-two mongrel weaner rabbits of both sexes, 6 – 8 weeks old with an average weight of 822g were randomly distributed to four dietary treatments with four rabbits per treatment. The experiment lasted for a period of six weeks. Four diets were formulated in which cowpea husk was included at 40% untreated control, and 40, 50 and 60% urea treated cowpea husk at 4%, designed as diets 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The rabbits were weighed at weekly interval to observe body weight changes. Fresh clean water was supplied ad libitum and 100 g of feed were offered to each rabbit on daily basis. Growth performance, nutrient intake and their digestibility were not affected by dietary treatment. The result indicates that urea treatment of cowpea husk does not enhance the performance or confer any economic advantage on rabbits and therefore not recommended. Keywords: Performance, nutrient, digestibility, urea, cowpea husk, rabbits > Animal Production Research Advances Vol. 2 (4) 2006: pp. 213-21