Effect of testosterone enanthate on the growth rate of large white pigs reared in South-West Nigeria

A total of 48 large white pigs were used in an experiment to investigate the use of exogenous testosterone on the growth of pigs. The pigs were randomly selected as day old piglets, balanced for weight with equal number for each sex, and allotted to two treatment groups, T1, which received Testosterone Enanthate (TE), intramuscularly, weekly, for 24 weeks and T2, the control, which received no hormone but blank injections. Dosage was based on live weight (1.2mg/kg live weight). Corn oil served as the vehicle. The parameters measured include Total weight gain (TWG), Average Daily Gain (ADG),Average Daily Feed Intake (ADFI) and Feed Conversion Ratio. The results obtained showed that exogenous testosterone increased weight gain significantly (p<0.05) in both sexes than their respective controls. The same trend was observed for feed intake and feed conversion. Exogenous testosterone also indicated pronounced sex effect on the pigs in this study with males having significantly (p<0.05) higher values than females. It can be concluded from this study that exogenous testosterone can be used to accelerate growth thereby finishing the pigs early. A withdrawal period of 4 weeks before slaughter is however recommended.Key words: Testosterone, Large White, Pigs, Growth, exogenou

Effect of Exogenous Progesterone on Growth Rate of Large White Piglets in a Humid Environment

A total of 48 large white piglets were used in an experiment to investigate the use of exogenous progesterone on growth of pigs. The pigs were randomly selected as day old piglets and balanced for weight with equal number for each sex. The grouping was into two (2) for progesterone injection (test group) or blank injection (control group) with corn oil as the vehicle. Injections were administered intra muscularly based on live weight once weekly for 24 weeks. The dose rate was 1.0mg progesterone per kg body weight. The parameters measured include weight gain (TWG), average daily gain (ADG), average feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio(FCR) was calculated.  The results obtained showed that exogenous progesterone increased weight gain significantly (p<0.05) in both sexes than their respective controls. The same trend of result were observed for feed intake and feed conversion. Exogenous progesterone also indicated pronounced sex effect on the pigs in this study with males having significantly (p<0.05) higher values than females. It can be concluded from this study that exogenous progesterone can be used to accelerate growth thereby finishing the pigs early.Keywords: exogenous, progesterone, pigs, humi

Survey of meat preference within the working class of Oyo state, Nigeria: a case-study of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo

The study considered the meat preference within the working class of Oyo state using Emmanuel Alayande College of Education as a case study. The survey covered the three campuses of the College namely, Erelu, Isokun and Lanlate. A total of 50 structured questionnaires were administered in each of the three campuses, making 150 in all. Random sampling of the respondents was carried out covering both the senior and the junior staff. The result obtained shows a general preference for beef (31.33%), bush meat (24.66%), chevon (15.33%), chicken (13.33%), pork (10%) and mutton (5.33%) in reducing order of importance. Also, in terms of meat texture, 55.33% and 35.33% of the respondents preferred medium and soft meat respectively. The respondents also preferred fish (60.67%) to meat (39.33%) as their animal protein source. Frying (50%) was the preferred processing method, followed by boiling (36.66%) and smoking (13.33%). The meat cuts of preference to the respondents are thigh (37.33%), offals (18%), and, cow leg and skin (16.66%). However, majority (62%) of the respondents in the College surveyed had no knowledge of cholesterol.Keywords: Meat preference, working class, Oyo stat

Effect Of Exogenous Progesterone On Blood Chemistry Of Large White Pigs

Exogenous hormones are major economic factors in swine production. This study evaluate the effects of exogenous administration of progesterone on the blood chemistry of pigs.Experiment involved weekly injections of progesterone to 24 pigs (12 males and 12 females)from day old to 24 weeks and only corn oil to another 24pigs (12 males and 12 females) also for the same duration. Hormone administration was by intramuscular injections. Serum samples were collected at specific intervals and analysed for total protein (TP) which was determined using the Biuret method. Cholesterol level (CL) was determined by enzymatic end point and aspartate amino transferase (AST) determined by Kinetic method were read in a spectrophotometer. Blood samples were also collected at the same interval for haematological analyses (Packed Cell Volume-PCV; Haemoglobin-Hb; Red Blood Cell count-RBC; White Blood Cell count-WBC; while Mean Corpuscular Volume-MCV, Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin-MCH, and Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration-MCHC were derived). All analyses were done according to standard methods and procedures. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance. Results show that sex effect was significant at 5 weeks for PCV, Hb, RBC, WBC, MCV, MCH and MCHC. Males hadlower values for values for all haematological parameters except for WBC. There was no sex effect observed for serum chemistry at the periods of sampling. TP and AST values of 7.7 g/dl and 22.7i. u/l were higher compared to 6.8 g/dl and 21.0i. u/l for the control respectively. Meanwhile CL was higher in control animals than in progesterone injected groups. The result of this present study, suggests that progesterone can be useful in pig production without compromising the health status of the pigs and end users of their meat

Sex Comparison of White Fulani Cattle Blood Profile in Southwestern Nigeria

Sexual dimorphism has been established in the brain regions of farm animals and poultry, but for their blood, reports do not agree as to differences at the same age. While some reports show no differences except for pregnant and lactating females, others indicate otherwise. This study was carried out to investigate the blood of white Fulani breed of cattle in southwestern Nigeria if there could be differences at same mature age (4yr). A total of 100 cattle were used consisting of 50 bulls and 50 cows. Full haematology was investigated using the Vet AutoHaemoanalyser machine. Some serum metabolites were also investigated including total Protein, Albumin and total cholesterol. Data obtained were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (AOVA). The results show that white blood cell count (WBC) was significantly (P<0.05) higher in females (17.23±1.08) than in males (12.25±0.77). Mean Corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) also showed sex differences with females having higher and significant (P<0.05) average value (33.8±0.19) than males (32.6±0.24). The results from Serum analysis show that bulls (with 37.8±0.54) have higher and significant (P<0.05) Albumin values than cows (34.9±0.29). Though the results obtained in this study fall within normal ranges for this species, it however does not indicate any specific sex effect for this breed.Keywords: cattle, blood, se

A Fischery Closing Proposal in Ayamé's Dam in Order to a Rational Management (Ivory Coast)

The exploitation of 10 main commercial fish species of Ayamé man-made lake, Ivory Coast, is discussed and their reproductive cycles are analyzed. Two proposals are made for rational stock management, based on the protection of the breeding seasons of the major species, particularly Sarotherodon melanotheron, which forms more than 50% of the landed biomass. The first proposal is to declare a three-month universal closed season from March to May, coinciding with the sexual maturation peak of Sarotherodon melanotheron as well as with a period of intense fishing activity. The second proposal, which takes into account the lake's two-compartment morphology, and the duration of the breeding season of Sarotherodon melanotheron, is to proclaim alternating closed seasons in the two compartments throughout that three-months breeding season

Effect of Egg Weight on Hatching Weight and Incubation Period in Giant African Land Snail (Archachatina marginata)

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of egg weight on hatching weight and incubation period in Giant African land snail. A total of 30 Archachatina marginata eggs comprising of four weight range categories (1.24-1.55, 1.56-2.14, 2.15-2.83 and 2.84-3.20 g) were obtained from Dams of different body weight ranges ( 100g-150g, 151-200g, 201- 250g) from Snail Physiology Research Unit of the College of Animal Science and Livestock Production, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. Eggs were incubated, after which both incubation period and hatching weight after hatching were monitored. Results obtained showed that egg weight group had significant effect (P<0.001) on hatching weight. Egg weight with weight range of 2.84-3.20 had the highest hatching weight, followed by 2.15-2.14 while other two (1.24-1.55 and 1.56-2.14 g) were not significantly different from each other. Furthermore, egg weight had no significant effect (P>0.05) on incubation period. Positive significant correlation was obtained between egg weight and hatching weight, and also dam weight and hatching weight. It was concluded that egg weight had effect on hatching weight of eggs. It was also discovered that egg weight had no meaningful effect on incubation period.Keywords: Egg weight, Incubation period, Hatching weight, Archachatina marginat

Prevalence and distribution of Wuchereria bancrofti in Ose Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is one of the neglected tropical diseases endemic in Nigeria. Epidemiological studies were conducted to determine the prevalence, distribution and clinical signs of the disease in three communities of Ose LGA, Ondo State from October 2014 to January 2015. One thousand and ninety consented participants enrolled for the study. 100 μl of blood from finger-prick, were tested using the Binax Now® Immunochromatographic Test (ICT) which detects Wuchereria bancrofti antigens. Physical observations were conducted for clinical signs of LF in addition to demographic parameters. Chi-square test was used to establish statistical significance of relationship between variables (p<0.05) using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 19.0. Of the 1,090 blood specimens examined, 291 (27%) were positive for infection with W. bancrofti. Analysis of the infection across the communities revealed a significant (p<0.05) relationship in the distribution of the infection. Further analysis of results showed that 108 (27%) out of the 394 males were positive and 183 (26%) of 696 females were positive for LF. However, the distribution of infection among the sexes were not significant (p>0.05). Infection among age-groups was higher in the 36-45 age-group (36%) and varied among the other age-groups but with no significant difference (p>0.05). Infection was significantly (p<0.05) higher among the public servants with 34% than the other groups and the least among students (15%). Clinical manifestations found in the study were hydrocele (0.3%) and leg lymphoedema (0.7%). Detection of W. bancrofti antigens indicates that an entomological study has is recommended to determine the transmitting vector and advocate an effective control.Keywords: lymphatic filariasis, immunochromatographic test (ICT), distribution, prevalence, Ose LG