Describing Growth Pattern of Bali Cows Using Non-linear Regression Models

The objective of this study was to evaluate the best fit non-linear regression model to describe the growth pattern of Bali cows. Estimates of asymptotic mature weight, rate of maturing and constant of integration were derived from Brody, von Bertalanffy, Gompertz and Logistic models which were fitted to cross-sectional data of body weight taken from 74 Bali cows raised in MARDI Research Station Muadzam Shah Pahang. Coefficient of determination (R2) and residual mean squares (MSE) were used to determine the best fit model in describing the growth pattern of Bali cows. Von Bertalanffy model was the best model among the four growth functions evaluated to determine the mature weight of Bali cattle as shown by the highest R2 and lowest MSE values (0.973 and 601.9, respectively), followed by Gompertz (0.972 and 621.2, respectively), Logistic (0.971 and 648.4, respectively) and Brody (0.932 and 660.5, respectively) models. The correlation between rate of maturing and mature weight was found to be negative in the range of -0.170 to -0.929 for all models, indicating that animals of heavier mature weight had lower rate of maturing. The use of non-linear model could summarize the weight-age relationship into several biologically interpreted parameters compared to the entire lifespan weight-age data points that are difficult and time consuming to interpret

Body weight prediction of Brakmas and Bali cattle using body measurements

In the rural areas facilities for farm animal weighing are often difficult to find and the construction of such facilities is relatively expensive. Therefore a study was conducted with the objective to estimate body weight of Brakmas and Bali cattle using prediction equations of linear body measurements. Data of body weight and body measurements, namely withers height, body length and heart girth from 279 heads of Brakmas (age 1 to 10 y old) and 74 heads of Bali (age 1 to 10 y old) cows were collected. The animals were in average body condition of 3 (1= emaciated, 3= moderate fat cover, and 5= excess fat cover). The correlation analysis showed that body weight of Brakmas cattle was highly correlated with its body length, heart girth and withers height with the correlation coefficients of 0.967, 0.964 and 0.942, respectively, while body weight in Bali cattle had the highest correlation with heart girth followed by body length and height at withers with the correlation coefficient of 0.985, 0.954 and 0.945, respectively. Regression analysis showed that body length provided a good estimate of live body weight with high precision as it accounted for 91.6% of the variability in body weight in Brakmas cattle, while heart girth accounted 97.1% of body weight variability in Bali cattle. The combination of body length-withers height, body length-heart girth and body length-withers height-heart girth showed an improvement in terms of predictive precision with the changes of 0.21%, 0.21% and 0.44%, respectively, in coeficient of determination (R2) compared to a single measure of body length in Brakmas cattle. The combination of heart girth-body length did not show any change in R2 in Bali cattle compared to a single measure of heart girth. Combining heart girth-height at withers and the combination of all body measurements showed the increment in coefficients of determination at 0.41% and 0.51%, respectively as compared to heart girth. Although the combination of body measurements showed the highest coefficient of determination, the use of a single measure of body measurement - body length in Brakmas cattle and heart girth in Bali cattle -to predict the body weight is more practical under field condition as they accounted for most of the variability in body weight of Brakmas and Bali cows

Malaysian Society of Animal Production 73 Verification of Caprine Sexed-separated Spermatozoa by Real Time PCR

Abstract Sexed spermatozoa could contribute to increasing profitability of the dairy and beef industries worldwide by producing offspring of predetermined sex. Various methods have been designed to separate sperm population into X-and Y-chromosome bearing spermatozoa. In this study, the caprine semen sample from Savanna (n=2) and Boer (n=4) breeds were sex-separated using free flow electrophoresis. In order to determine the efficiency of sex-separation procedure, a rapid and accurate technique real time PCR (qPCR) was used to validate the X-and Y-chromosome bearing spermatozoa following separation. The primers and probes were developed to detect the X-and Y-chromosome bearing spermatozoa of Capra hircus based on ZFX and SRY genes, respectively, using TaqMan qPCR assay. The amplification of ZFX and SRY genes produced a single fragment of 93 bp and 137 bp, respectively. The primers used in separated spermatozoa by free-flow electrophoresis technique showed that the mean ratio of X-and Y-chromosomes bearing spermatozoa from the cathodic and anodic fractions were 36:64 and 44:56, respectively, compared to unseparated semen was 51:49. Thus, these primers can be used to validate the gene copy of X-and Y-chromosome bearing spermatozoa in caprine semen

Human motion detection framework

Ordinary CCTV can only be used to record incidents if it occur. It works without preventing it and it is only useful to be an evidence for the investigation. The purpose of developing this project is as the earlier prevention to avoid crime by giving alert or feedback from the object that was detected from captured video. The captured video in this project will be convert into frame of images and being analyze by using MATLAB software that already consist all the techniques of image processing. The output of this project will be classified if there is any motion or not by using the value of total sum of pixel value from each image data. The classification is actually based on the threshold value. This project indirectly reduce weakness and careless of human guard observation as it give continuous 24-hour monitoring of surveillance video to alert security officers to an intruder potential

Something important for special education in Malaysia

Special education has always been special in the framework of the Malaysian education system. Discussions on special education are incomplete if not instilled with love and concern for students with special needs (MBK). Special education makes all parties involved always sensitive to the needs of MBK. In the face of various changes and current needs, special education must always be relevant and consistent in providing the best for all involved. Special education needs to be strengthened as much as possible so that consistency in service can be maintained. To ensure the sustainability of the best services to MBK which consists of various categories such as vision problems, hearing problems and learning problems, several things need to be improved in line with the current situation. This brief descriptive study was conducted to obtain general views from special education teachers on aspects that need to be given attention by the ministry of education Malaysia to make special education always at the forefront. The survey was conducted online to special education teachers around the district of Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia for that purpose and the data obtained were analyzed descriptively using SPSS. The findings of this study indicate 11 important aspects that need to be improved for special education. It is hoped that the results of this study are given due attention by the authorities to make the management of special education always the best

Factors affecting customer satisfaction towards online food delivery services

Online food delivery services became important among society during this pandemic Covid-19. This research about customer satisfaction towards online food delivery services. The research was conducted among communities that basically used online food delivery services. This research was observed based on the food quality, service quality and convenience towards online food delivery services. Besides, this study also to know the reasons in choosing online food delivery services among communities. From the research, the level of customer satisfaction towards online food delivery services can be determined. The suggestions and recommendations also provided to improve online food delivery services and it can also be used for the future study

Microsatellite-based genetic characterization of the indigenous Katjang goat in Peninsular Malaysia

The Katjang goat is the only indigenous domestic goat breed in Malaysia. Following a national baseline survey from 2001 to 2002, this breed was reported to the FAO as being at risk of extinction. In this study, 36 microsatellite markers were screened, and 25 polymorphic markers were used to analyze the genetic structure of the Katjang goat breed in Peninsular Malaysia. A sample set of data derived from another 10 populations from three published research studies was used as an outgroup for an inter-population genetic study. The analysis showed that the mean value of the observed heterozygosity was 0.29 ± 0.14, and the expected heterozygosity was 0.72 ± 0.14, which indicated low genetic diversity. The inbreeding coefficient, FIS, was high, at 0.46. Significant (p < 0.01) deviations from the Hardy Weinberg equilibrium were noted for all loci. The bottleneck analysis using the Wilcoxon Rank test under the two-phase model of mutation was significant (p < 0.01) for heterozygosity excess, which suggested that the Katjang breed had undergone significant population reduction in the past. Through combined analysis of data from publicly available research, almost the entire population of Katjang goats represent the centroid and are grouped together on a multidimensional scaling plot, except for the Terengganu population. Network analysis revealed that the goat population from Pahang formed the centrality of the network