Uporaba egzogenog melatonina u ouled djellal ovaca i ovnova izvan sezone parenja

The study aimed to investigate the effect of exogenous melatonin treatment on the ewe’s and ram’s reproductive activity, out-of-season breeding, usually matching with spring. The eighty four adult ewes and 16 genitor rams of Ouled Djellal breed, taken randomly out of a 176 ovine flock were treated with respectively 1 or 3 melatonin subcutaneous ear implants (Melovine). The 76 non-treated remaining ewes served as the control group. The rams, kept separately from the females, had scrotal perimeters measured before (PS1) and 47 days after (PS2) melatonin treatment, before they were allowed to run with the ewes. The analysis of the lambing rates had not shown any significant difference (P>0.05) between the melatonin treated ewes and those of the control group (90.4% vs. 97.3%) which proves that their sexual activity is not under photoperiod control. However, the analysis by the t-test of the paired samples of the ram’s scrotal perimeters had shown a significant difference (P0,05) između ovaca tretiranih melatoninom i onih iz kontrolne skupine (90,4 % u usporedbi s 97,3 %) što dokazuje da na njihovu spolnu aktivnost ne utječe broj sati svjetla u danu (fotoperiod). Međutim, analiza t-ispitivanja uparenih uzoraka opsega skrotuma ovnova pokazala je značajnu razliku (P<0,05) između mjerenja prije i nakon tretiranja melatoninom u ovnova što dokazuje potencijalni učinak ovog hormona na dnevnu proizvodnju sperme. Tijekom razdoblja studije, nije uočen nikakav učinak na spolnu aktivnost ženki. U ovaca pasmine ouled djellal, uporaba melatonina nije preporučena u ovaca, ali može biti korisna u ovnova, jer povećava spolni kapacitet tijekom parenja

Seroprevalence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in cows of North-Eastern Algeria

Aim: The present cross-sectional study aimed at assessing the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum infection both at herd and within herd and at determining risk factors that are associated with its seropositivity. Materials and Methods: A total of 90 cows distributed over seven herds located in two North-Eastern Algerian provinces were blood sampled in order to be tested for the presence of antibodies against N. caninum using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results: The individual seroprevalence of N. caninum was found to be 12.22%, and six of the seven herds tested had at least one seropositive cow. The logistic regression model revealed that abortion (odds ratio [OR]=29.15) and parity (OR=7.38) were positively associated with the seropositivity of animals on an individual basis. Conclusion: The study confirms the existence of N. caninum infection in cattle in North-Eastern Algeria. However, a widespread infection rate of 85.71% and its significant statistical association with previous abortion (OR=29.15) need further investigations

The PGF2α, a less costly and invasive means than progestogens to manipulate the sexual activity in out-breeding season of the “Ouled Djellal” Algerian ewes

The sexual activity of 237 ewes of the most representative of Algerian sheep breeds (about 70%): the "Ouled Djellal", was studied during the anestrous season i.e. in spring (April 2016), in Constantine, a north-eastern Algerian province. A number of 50 ewes, chosen randomly from the flock, were subjected to a double injection of PGF2α at an 11 days’ interval and the 187 females remaining have served as a control group. 80% of the ewes treated started mating about 60 hours after the release, with the whole flock, of 14 rams that have been previously separated from the flock but not sensory isolated. A lambing percentage of 90 spread over 23 days and 98.9 spread over 47 days occurred respectively in the treated and control group. Both treated and untreated ewes with PGF2α exhibited estrus (April and May), got pregnant and lambed within a period of less than 2 months. The use of PGF2α, through the luteolysis it induces during spring: first confirms the results of previous studies reporting the ability of “Ouled Djellal” ewe to exhibit sexual activity throughout the year, second shortens considerably the laming period and last and more importantly can be substituted to the use of the progestogens impregnated sponges, far more invasive, time consuming and more costly, as a means to manipulate the female sexual activity

Herd-Level Risk Factors for Lameness, Leg Injuries, Thin Body Condition and Mastitis on Algerian Dairy Farms

This present study aims to investigate the relationship of herd characteristics and management practices with the prevalence of clinical and severe lameness, hock and knee injuries, thin cows, and mastitis at the herd level on Algerian dairy farms. Altogether 1210 dairy cows from 107 farms were examined and the clinical aspects related to studied affections were recorded. Multivariable regression models were built to analyse the relationship between the risk factors and the occurrence of health indicators. Overlay, the health outcomes were multifactorial, with pasture access (P < 0.001), scraping frequency (P < 0.01), and floor regularity (P = 0.05) as the main factors causing lameness. Factors associated with both hock and knee injuries (score ≥ 2) were lower cow number (P < 0.01), more days spent on pasture (P < 0.001), and poorer straw amount for bedding (P < 0.001). Some farming practice, in particular, providing proper amount of concentrate feeds (P < 0.001), higher scraping frequency (P < 0.01), thicker bedding (P < 0.001), and having younger dairy cows (P = 0.058), were associated with a lower within-herd prevalence of thin cows. While, more days on pasture increased the percentage of under-conditioned cows (P < 0.01). The inadequate hygienic conditions of the floor (P < 0.001), improper milking procedures (P < 0.05), and shorter dry period (P < 0.05) increased the clinical mastitis occurrence. Our results highlighted the specific management practices responsible for increasing health risks and provided useful information for the farmers and veterinarians to make preventive and controlling strategies for lameness, leg injuries, low body condition and mastitis on dairy farms