Effect of graded levels of dried ginger (Zingiber officinale) root meal on the performance and carcass parameters of growing rabbits

Twenty-four (24) apparently healthy rabbits of mixed sexes were used to determine the effect of dried ginger root meal (GRM) on feed and water intake, body weight gain and carcass parameters. The rabbits were randomly assigned by weight to four experimental treatments of seven replicates each. The feeding trial lasted for eight weeks. GRM was incorporated in the diets of rabbits at 0%, 15%, 25% and 35% for groups T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively. Rabbits were housed in individual cages. Water and feed were administered ad libitum. Data was collected on water and feed intake, body weight gain, and carcass indices. Data was subjected to analysis of variance and significant differences separated using Least Significant Difference. The results showed inclusion of ginger root meal in rabbit diets significantly (p<0.05) influenced weekly feed intake in the 7th and 8th weeks. Weekly water intake was significantly (p<0.05) affected in the 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th week. Ginger root meal had no effect (p>0.05) on final body weight, weight gain, eviscerated weight and singed weights. The finding of this study showed that feed and water intake were influenced by GRM inclusion in rabbit diet while up to 35% GRM can be included in rabbits diet without debilitating effect on their body weights Keywords: Feed additive, Phyto-additive, Root meal, Grower Rabbi

Breed and gender effects on blood profile of Muturu and Bunaji cattle in Benue and Ogun State, Nigeria

This research was conducted to study the blood profile of Bunaji and Muturu cattle in Benue and Ogun States. Four hundred and eighty cattle comprising 240 of each breed and 120 of either gender at each location were sampled. The experiment was set in a 2×2×2 factorial format in a CRD with location, breed and gender as factors. Samples were collected five times at each location. Blood parameters analyzed were PCV, Haemoglobin (Hb), Red Blood Cell Count (RBC), Lymphocytes, Granulocytes and Monocytes. The results showed that Muturu cattle presented significantly (p<0.05) higher mean PCV, Hb, WBC, percent Lymphocyte and Monocytes. It was also observed that Muturu cattle at Benue State showed higher (p<0.05) mean PCV, RBC and percent granulocyte while the Bunaji presented higher (p<0.05) mean MCHC, with the bulls presenting significantly (p<0.05) higher mean MCHC (39.45g/dl) than the cows (36.38g/dl). Similarly, higher mean MCHC were observed in Muturu bulls (31.02g/dl) compared to the cows (28.90g/dl) of Benue State. These variations in mean MCHC were not observed among cattle in Ogun State. Mean lymphocytes and granulocytes varied significantly (p<0.05) with Bunaji gender in Ogun State. The study concluded that location and breed affected haematological parameters of the cattle breed investigated. Key words: Blood; Breed; Bunaji; Gender; Mutur

COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF EGG YOLKS FROM DIFFERENT POULTRY BREEDS ON VIABILITY OF REFRIGERATED SPERMATOZOA FROM WEST AFRICAN DWARF BUCKS

Egg yolk from avian species is used as a common component of most semen extenders because of its wide availability, beneficial effect on sperm viability and protective effect on acrosome against temperature-related damage during semen preservation. This study was carried out to determine the comparative effects of egg yolks from different poultry breeds on viability of refrigerated spermatozoa of West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks. Pooled semen from five intact WAD bucks was diluted with extender containing egg yolks from Normal feather (NF), Nickel neck (NN), Frizzle feather (FF), Nera black (NB), Oba Marshall black (OB) and Yaffa brown (YB) chickens. Following dilution, the semen samples were assessed subjectively after in vitro storage at 5oC for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours as regards progressive sperm motility, acrosome status and abnormalities using a phase-contrast microscope. The results showed that the ability of these egg yolks to sustain progressive motility ranked in this order: OB > NN > NF >YB > NB > FF. Intact acrosome was comparable during the 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours of storage and followed similar trend across the egg-yolk types in the extender. Extender containing YB had the highest percentage abnormality at the end of this study. The findings of this study reveal that OB, NN and NF have better protective ability to maintain motility of refrigerated spermatozoa of WAD bucks.Â