Effects on oestrus duration of West African dwarf goats

Standing oestrus in west African dwarf goats averaged 31.1±1.7 h. Oestrus duration was not affected by time of day, although significantly more does (

Case report - Achondroplastic syndrome in a West African dwarf lamb

A three week old, male, West African Dwarf (WAD) lamb presented with disproportionate hind limb was diagnosed of having achondroplastic syndrome by physical and radiological examination. Physical examination showed the right hind limb was deformed at the level of the tarsus, metatarsus and phalanges. Radiological examination showed that the tarsal bones were small and laterally compressed, while the lateral sesamoid bone was absent. The right metatarsal bones were rudimentary while the phalanges were only represented by soft tissue structure. The serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transarninase (ALT) were higher in the achondroplastic lamb than the normal flock mate used as control. Based on the radiographic findings, it was concluded that ectrodactyly was the only feature of the achondroplastic syndrome in the lamb

Preweaning performance of kids of the West African Dwarf (WAD) goat in their Naive Environment

Two observations were undertaken in order to study the preweaning performance of kids of the WAD goat. In the first observation, the birthweight, weaning weight at 90 days and the mortality rate were studied in a group of 147 kids delivered between 1982 and 1986. The second study consisted of 15 kids (9 females and 6 males) delivered within four days and were used for a close study of the growth pattern of kids of the WAD goat. The mean birthweight for the 147 kids was 1.16±0.01 kg. Males kids tended to be heavier at birth than female kids (1.20±0.02 vs 1.12±0.03 kg). Litter type affected birthweight and survival rate and birthweight was negatively related to survival rate. The mean weaning weight at 90 days was 6.00±0.21 kg. Males were apparently heavier at weaning than females (6.11 kg. vs 5.82 kg). The pattern of growth was not affected by sex and the maximum weight gain was observed during the first three weeks of life. 24.56% of kids died before weaning at 90 days. Mortality was higher (

Case report - Achondroplastic Syndrome in a West African Dwarf Lamb

A three week old, male, West African Dwarf (WAD) lamb presented with disproportionate hind limb was diagnosed of having achondroplastic syndrome by physical and radiological examination. Physical examination showed the right hind limb was deformed at the level of the tarsus, metatarsus and phalanges. Radiological examination showed that the tarsal bones were small and laterally compressed, while the lateral sesamoid bone was absent. The right metatarsal bones were rudimentary while the phalanges were only represented by soft tissue structure. The serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transarninase (ALT) were higher in the achondroplastic lamb than the normal flock mate used as control. Based on the radiographic findings, it was concluded that ectrodactyly was the only feature of the achondroplastic syndrome in the lamb

Peripheral plasma levels of progesterone and oestradiol-17B of West African Dwarf goats during the oestrous cycle

Oestrus was synchronised with PGF2-alpha in four pluriparous West African Dwarf (WAD) goats and blood collected through jugular venupuncture. The length of the oestrous cycle and oestrus duration were observed in three successive cycles while peripheral plasma progesterone and oestradiol-17B levels were determined by the radioimmunoassay technique. The mean oestrous cycle lengths and oestrus duration were 19.4 ± 1.7 d and 33.3 ± 6.6 h, respectively. Progesterone levels were very low during the first four days of the cycle (day 1 = day of oestrous) with the lowest level of 0.3 ± 0.02 ng/ml being recorded on day 2 of the cycle. There was a steady rise in the levels during the cycle until day 15 when the highest level of 2.2 ± 0.05 ng/ml was recorded which was followed by a sharp decline on day 20 (P <0.05). The profile of oestradiol-17B was erratic during the cycle. Mean maximum and minimum concentrations were recorded on day 1 (152.6 ± 31.6 ng/ml) and day 2 (58.8 ± 22.6 ng/ml), respectively. These results showed that while progesterone and oestradiol profiles in the WAD goat followed the luteal and follicular phases of the oestrous cycle, progesterone profile is more reliable in assessing the phases of the oestrous cycle

Progesterona plasmática e fertilidade de fêmeas caprinas submetidas à sincronização do estro com prostaglandina F2α

Avaliou-se a resposta ao protocolo de sincronização do estro com duas doses de prostaglandina F2a (22,5µg) intervaladas de 10 dias, por meio da mensuração da concentração de progesterona plasmática, bem como a taxa de concepção das cabras após a inseminação artificial, de acordo com as diferentes respostas obtidas. Utilizaram-se 23 fêmeas e dois reprodutores da raça Toggenburg. A mensuração da progesterona plasmática foi realizada no dia da primeira aplicação de PGF2a (D0), no D5, no dia da segunda aplicação de PGF2a (D10), no D15, no D20 e no D33. A resposta positiva à PGF2α foi determinada pela queda da concentração de progesterona a valores abaixo de 1,5ng/mL, mensurada nos dias cinco e 15. As fêmeas foram distribuídas em três grupos. O grupo I foi composto por fêmeas que responderam às duas aplicações; o grupo II por fêmeas que não responderam à primeira aplicação e responderam à segunda aplicação; e o grupo III por fêmeas que responderam à primeira aplicação e não responderam à segunda aplicação, foram inseminadas e não conceberam. A presença de um corpo lúteo funcional, no momento das aplicações, determinou a resposta ao protocolo. As diferentes respostas das fêmeas ao protocolo, grupo I e II, não influenciaram as taxas de concepção