Effects of monosodium-L-glutamate administration on serum levels of reproductive hormones and cholesterol, epididymal sperm reserves and testicular histomorphology of male albino rats

This study investigated the effects of administration of monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) on serum gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH), luteinising hormone (LH), testosterone and total cholesterol (TC), cauda epididymal sperm reserves (CESR) and testicular histomorphology of adult male albino rats. Eighty-four rats, randomly assigned to 7 groups of 12 rats each, were used for the study. Varying low doses (0.25, 0.50 or 1.00 g/kg body weight) of MSG were administered orally or subcutaneously at 48-h intervals for six weeks. Serum GnRH, LH, testosterone and TC, and CESR were evaluated on days 14, 28 and 42 of MSG administration. Testicular histomorphology was evaluated on day 42. The results showed that the mean serum GnRH, LH and testosterone levels, and the CESR of all the treated groups were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of the untreated control on days 14, 28 and 42 of MSG administration. The mean serum TC levels of all the treated groups were also significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of the control group on days 14 and 28. No lesions were observed on sections of the testes. It was concluded that MSG administration for 14, 28 and 42 days led to significantly lower serum levels of GnRH, LH, testosterone and TC, and significantly lower CESR

Association of IGF 1 gene polymorphisms with some morphometric traits of Nigerian indigenous sheep breeds

The relationship between IGF 1 gene polymorphisms and some morphometric traits of the Balami, Uda and Yankasa sheep breeds of Nigeria was investigated. Blood samples and morphometric measurements were obtained from 150 sheep (50 for each of the three breeds) at the Maiduguri Livestock market and abattoir while DNA was extracted at the Biotechnology laboratory of the University of Maiduguri. Evaluation of results revealed 2 alleles (A and B) and 3 genotypes (AA, AB and BB) for all the breeds. The Uda and Yankasa breeds had higher frequency of allele B (0.64 and 0.56, respectively) while Balami had higher allele frequency for A (0.61). Balami and Yankasa had high heterozygosity for IGF-1 gene while Uda had high homozygosity for B. For Balami sheep, the genotype BB had higher (P &lt; 0.05) body weight and heart girth (56 kg and 79 cm, respectively) than AB for body weight (45.80 kg) and BB for heart girth (69.67 cm). Conversely, genotype AA had higher body length (94.33 cm) than AB (73.80 cm). IGF 1 gene polymorphisms did not significantly (P &lt; 0.05) affect most morphometric traits of the Yankasa and Uda sheep except height at withers where the genotype AB had higher (P &lt; 0.05) height at withers (71.77 cm) than AA (53.50 cm) for Yankasa sheep. Thus, the three breeds were found to be 100% polymorphic at the regulatory region of IGF-1 locus and this gene may be used as a marker for some morphometric traits in Nigerian indigenous sheep.Keywords: body weight, heart girth, height at withers, breeds, shee

EFFECT OF FEEDING DIFFERENT BLOOD-RUMEN CONTENT MIXTURES ON BLOOD PARAMETERS AND CARCASS MEASUREMENTS OF GROWING RABBITS

ABSTRACT A ten-week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of blood-rumen content mixtures (BRCM) on the blood parameters and carcass measurements of cross-bred (Dutch x New Zealand) growing rabbits aged between five and seven weeks. Forty-five rabbits were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments and nine per treatment in randomized complete block design. Blood-rumen content mixtures (BRCM) of bovine, camel, sheep and goat were used in the diets. Diets 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 contained 0% BRCM, 40% bovine blood-rumen content mixture (BBRCM), 40% camel bloodrumen content mixture (CBRCM), 40% goat blood-rumen content mixture (GBRCM) and 40% sheep blood-rumen content mixture (SBRCM) respectively. The response showed that the haematological parameters were not significantly affected (P&gt;0.05) by the test material in the diets. Similarly, the serum biochemical components were also not affected by the inclusion of different blood-rumen content mixtures; only total protein and calcium were significantly affected (P&lt;0.05) by the test materials in the diets. The thighs, lungs, kidneys and body length were not significantly (P&gt;0.05) different among the treatment groups. The slaughter weight, dressed weight, dressing percentage and the other carcass components not mention above were significantly (P&lt;0.05) different but no discernible trend was observed. The study indicated that up to 40% of the different blood-rumen content mixtures can be included in the diets of growing rabbits without adverse effect on blood and carcass parameters

GROWTH AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER CHICKENS FED MAIZE, SORGHUM, MILLET AND THEIR COMBINATIONS IN THE SEMI ARID ZONE OF NIGERIA

ABSTRACT A study was carried out to investigate the effect of dietary replacement of maize with soghum and millet on the growth performance and carcass measurements of broilers chickens in a forty two (42) day feeding trial. Two hundred and seventy (270) unsexed broiler chicks weighing averagely 366.13 g were randomly allotted to six (6) experimental diets. The design of the experiment was Randomized Complete Block Design consisting of 45 birds replicated three (3) times with 15 birds per replicate. The control (T1) contained 100% maize, T2 (100% Sorghum), T3 (100% millet), T4 (50% maize and 50% sorghum), T5 (50% maize and 50% millet) and T6 (50% sorghum and 50% millet). The maize sorghum and millet served as the major energy source for the broilers. The result shows that there were significant differences in the final weight and overall weight gain. Treatment 4 (50% maize and 50% sorghum) recorded the highest final liveweight (2472.10 g) and the lowest (2251.80 g) was observed in treatment 3 (100% millet). The same trend was observed for overall weight gain. There were no significant (P&gt;0.05) differences in daily feed intake, daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio among all the treatment groups. For carcass measurements, dressing percentage was highest (81.25%) in treatment 2 (100% sorghum) although they were not different from treatment 1 (100% maize) and 6 (50% sorghum and 50% millet). There were no significant (P&gt;0.05) differences among treatments for breast and thigh weights. These results suggest that maize could be replaced by low tannin sorghum and millet in the diets of broilers without adverse effect on their performance

Evaluation of yam - sweet potato peels mixture as source of energy in broiler chickens diets

In the search for alternative energy sources for poultry feeding, a 9-week experiment was conducted to ascertain the replacement value of yam-sweet potato peels mixture (YSPPM) for maize in broiler chickens diets. One hundred and eighty (180) Anak-2000 broiler chicks aged 6 days were randomly assigned to 12 floor pens containing 15 birds each. Four diets, based on 23 and 20% crude protein in the starter and finisher respectively, were formulated to contain 0, 15, 30, and 45% YSPPM as replacement for maize grain. Each of the diets was fed to 3 pens of 15 birds in a completely randomized design. Data were collected on growth indices, haematological profile, and carcass measurements and organs weights. During the starter period (7-28 days), daily feed intake and feed cost/kg gain were not adversely affected by feeding the test ingredient, but weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were depressed above 15% replacement of maize with the test material. In the finisher phase (28-63 days), feed intake was significantly increased on the 45% replacement diet compared to the control but did not differ statistically amongst the YSPPM-based diets as well as amongst the control, 15 and 30% replacement diets. The highest daily gain was recorded on the 15% replacement diet, but its values did not differ markedly amongst the control, 30 and 45% diets. Feed conversion ratio was significantly increased above 15% replacement of maize with YSPPM. Feed cost per kg gain was significantly reduced on the 15 and 45% replacement diets. The results of haematology did not show any depressive effect of feeding YSPPM. Similarly, the results of carcass measurements and organs weights did not show any disadvantage of feeding YSPPM, but there were beneficial effects of its feeding over the control maize-based diet with respect to breast meat and abdominal fat deposition. It was concluded that YSPPM can replace maize up to 15 and 45% in broiler starter and finisher diets respectively without adverse effects on the growth, haematological profile and carcass measurements

Economic Analysis of Maize Grain Residue in Broiler Diets and Haematological Implications in Nigeria

A six-week experiment was carried out to determine the haematological and serum biochemical indices and cost effectiveness of broiler chicken fed maize grain residue (pap sievette). A total of 150 broiler chickens were used for the experiment. The birds were randomly assigned to five (5) dietary treatments in groups of 30, with each treatment consisting of three replicates of 10 chickens each. Maize grain residue (MGR) replaced maize at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% levels in Diets 1 (Control), 2, 3, 4 and 5. The experimental diets were fed ad-libitum throughout the experimental period. For haematological values, there were no significant (P&gt;0.05) differences among treatments for haemoglobin, white blood cells, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, neutrophils, monocytes and basophils, except the packed cell volume, red blood cells, mean corpuscular volume, eosinophils and lymphocytes. Serum biochemical values of total protein, albumin, glucose, total cholesterol, creatinine and phosphorus were not significantly (P&gt;0.05) different while globulin, urea and calcium values recorded significant (P&lt;0.05) difference among treatments. Urea and calcium values in the 75% MGR and 100% MGR were significantly (P&lt;0.05) different from T1 (0% MGR) and T3 (75% MGR). The economic analysis showed that T5 (100% MGR) has the lowest values of feed cost/kg weight gain of N129.71/kg and highest percentage reduction in cost/kg weight gain of 17.11% with an incremental reduction in cost as the amount of residue increases. Based on these, maize grain residue (MGR) could replace maize in broiler chicken diets without adverse effect on performance. However, further studies should cover laying hens and the need for proper drying of maize grain residue to prevent fungal infection and the development of offensive fermentative odour