Oestrus patterns of progesterone-treated Yankasa ewes in the hot dry and late wet seasons

Differences in oestrus patterns of 20 Yankasa ewes of 2 age groups (Adult vs Yearling) in hot dry and late wet seasons were investigated in a 2 X 2 X 10 factorial experiment. Mean oestrus cycle length was significantly (p0.05). Season significantly affected the frequency of oestrus, while age group did not. No behavioural oestrus were observed for 60 and 0% of the ewes in the hot dry and late wet seasons, whereas 25, 15 and 0% of the ewes in the hot dry and 5, 10 and 85% of the ewes in the cold dry season came on heat once, twice and thrice respectively, within a period of 40 days. The observed disruptions in the oestrus cycle of the ewes in the hot dry season confirm the heat stress effect on the reproductive behaviour of ewes

Genetic and environmental factors affecting weaning weight in rabbits

A total of 139 kid records collected over a 9-month period was analysed to evaluate the effects of parity, breed, litter size born alive (LsizeA), sex and season on the weaning weight of rabbits. Parity, breed and sex had no effect on weaning weight. However, litter size born alive and season significantly (P<0.01) affected weaning weight. Kids born to Chinchilla does were heavier (525.9 g) than those born to New Zealand White (500.5 g) and California (490 g) does. There was no particular trend on the effect of litter size born alive on weaning weight. However, litters in LsizeA of 2 (523.2 g) and four (572 g) were superior to the other litter sizes, while kids in LsizeA of 5 were the lowest (463 g). Kids born during the late wet season (627 g) were also superior to those born during the early wet season (451 g) and late dry season (439 g) (P<0.01)

Environmental factors affecting litter size and gestation length of three breeds of rabbits

Data consisting of 303 records on three different breeds of rabbits ((New Zealand White (NZW), Californian White (CW) and Chinchilla (CH)) were subjected to least squares analysis to ascertain the effects of breed, parity, season and year of breeding on gestation length (GL), litter size at parturition (LSP), alive (LSA) and at weaning (LSW). Least squares means ± SE for GL, LSP, LSA, LSW were 32.4 ± 0.32, 4.7 ± 0.19, 3.7 ± 0.16 respectively. GL was significantly (P<0.01) affected by breed, parity, season and year of breeding, while LSP and LSW were significantly (P<0.01) affected by breed, parity, season and year of breeding. LSA was however, affected by parity and season of breeding only (P<0.001)

Appropriate breeding strategies for small ruminant production in West and Central Africa

Small ruminant production is widespread throughout all the ecological zones of West and Central Africa. The seasonal climate of the area influences growth and reproduction of the animals through its effects on forage availability and disease prevalence. Distribution of the breeds show evidence of ecological adaptation, the dwarf, trypanotolerant breeds being predominant in the humid areas while the larger, long-Iegged breeds predominate in the drier areas. There exist at least 11 sheep and 4 goat breeds indigenous to the regions but many are still poorly characterized. There is a great need for the standardization of breed names across national boundaries. Large gaps still exist in the available performance data for most of the breeds. Generally however, their reproductive rates are fairly high while growth rates and milk yields are low. Genetic improvement should be focussed on growth and reproductive traits. I for breed improvement on a national or regional scale, an open nucleus breeding scheme is recommended, involving central nucleus, multiplier and farmers flocks. Such a scheme should be backed by an effective extension service for maximum effect

Actividades de enzimas exógenas en el intestino anterior y medio del caracol africano (Archarchatina marginata)

Se estudió el efecto de la administración de un suplemento con Selenio y/o Zinc, sobre la fertilidad, prolificidad y producción de carne en ovejas Merinas Australianas pastoreando campo natural de basalto, en la Región Norte del Uruguay. Se diseñaron cuatro lotes: 1.Selenio (Se) inyectable, 2.- Zinc (Zn) bolo intraruminal de óxido de zinc, 3.- Selenio- Zinc (Se-Zn), y grupo Control (C). Veintiún días pre-cubrición se suplementó y, 21 días preparto se formaron subgrupos, alimentando a un subgrupo con 5mg de selenito de sodio por animal. Los grupos suplementados pre-cubrición mostraron diferencia significativa en la fertilidad sobre el grupo C. Los lotes 1.- y 3.- presentaron el mayor porcentaje de partos respecto a los lotes 2.- y C (p</jats:p

Exogenous enzymes activities in the fore- and mid-gut of the African snail (Archarchatina marginata)

This study investigated the enzyme activities of two (2) microbial organisms in the fore- and mid- gut regions in the gastrointestinal tract, in Archarchatina marginata, a giant Land snail from the region of West Africa. Microbial analysis was conducted to verify the microbial organisms present in different parts of the snail gut while enzyme assay was performed to determine the type and level of enzyme activities taking place in the mouth and stomach regions. Results revealed the different bacteria inhabiting the regions of the alimentary tract in Archarchatina marginata. Azobacter chroococcum and Pseudomonas syringae, the two bacteria isolate that were further investigated, effectively digested starch, cellulose and casein. However, P. syringae exhibited the highest enzymatic activities for cellulase (8.72μmol/min/ml at 18h) and amylase (9.05 μmol/min/ml at 24h) while Azobacter chroococcum exhibited the highest enzymatic activity for protease (17.18 μmol/min/ml at 24h) during incubation. Consequently, the study validated amylolytic, cellulolytic and proteolytic bacterial activities within the digestive tract of A. marginata. This knowledge is informative for research and an aid to snail farmers in the choice of feeding materials for these land snails.Este estudio investigó las actividades enzimáticas de dos (2) organismos microbianos en las regiones del intestino anterior y medio del tracto gastrointestinal, en Archarchatina marginata, un caracol terrestre gigante de la región de África Occidental. Se realizó un análisis microbiano para verificar los organismos microbianos presentes en diferentes partes del intestino del caracol, mientras que se realizó un ensayo enzimático para determinar el tipo y nivel de actividades enzimáticas que tienen lugar en las regiones de la boca y el estómago. Los resultados revelaron las diferentes bacterias que habitan las regiones del tracto alimentario en Archarchatina marginata. Azobacter chroococcum y Pseudomonas syringae, las dos bacterias aisladas que se investigaron más a fondo, digirieron eficazmente almidón, celulosa y caseína. Sin embargo, P. syringae exhibió las actividades enzimáticas más altas para celulasa (8,72 μmol / min / ml a las 18 h) y amilasa (9,05 μmol / min / ml a las 24 h) mientras que Azobacter chroococcum exhibió la mayor actividad enzimática para la proteasa (17,18 μmol / min / ml a las 24 h) durante la incubación. En consecuencia, el estudio validó las actividades bacterianas amilolíticas, celulolíticas y proteolíticas dentro del tracto digestivo de A. marginata. Este conocimiento es informativo para la investigación y una ayuda para los criadores de caracoles en la elección de materiales de alimentación para estos caracoles terrestres

Comparative morphology and ph of the alimentary tract in Archachatina marginata and Achatina achatina

A study was carried out to investigate the comparative morphology and pH of the gut in the Giant African Land Snails, in Archachatina marginata and Achatina achatina respectively. The crop is long, distended and less fleshy with reddish brown coloured juice (5.8 ml volume) in A. marginata, while it is short, compact and fleshy with greenish brown coloured juice (3.2 ml volume) in A. achatina. The digestive gland was heavier (17.36 vs. 15.74 g) in the latter than the former. The absolute weight of the crop in A. marginata was significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher than in A. Achatina, however, the absolute and relative weights of the digestive gland in A. achatina was significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher than in A. marginata. There were significant (p&lt;0.05) differences in linear measurements of the salivary gland and crop for absolute values and the salivary gland, crop, stomach and digestive gland for relative values. Archachatina marginata had significantly (p&lt;0.05) longer salivary gland and crop than Achatina achatina for absolute length values and significantly (p&lt;0.05) longer salivary gland, crop and digestive gland for relative length values. However, the relative stomach length in A. achatina was significantly (p&lt;0.05) longer than in A. marginata. The gut pH was more acidic in the crop (5.38 and 4.83) than in the mouth (6.93 and 6.82) where it tended towards neutrality in A. marginata and A. achatina respectively. The pH profiles in the two species, decreased by 1.65 and 1.99 from the mouth to the crop while it increased by 1.46 and 1.97 from the crop to the distal digestive gland in A. marginata and A. achatina respectively. In the herbivorous snails, the pH along the gut regions remained acidic all through (5.38 – 6.93 and 4.83 – 6.82) in A. marginata and A. achatina respectively, confirming the herbivorous habits in these snail species. The longer gut and distended crop with higher volume of crop juice in A. marginata, implies its ability to store, utilize and digest more food materials than A. achatina. These results provide the basis for a better understanding of the physiology of the digestive processes in these snails.</jats:p

Semen quality of Yankasa rams

Presents results of a study carried out to determine the ejaculate characteristics of Yankasa rams in Nigeria. Three rams of proven fertility from the breeding herd at shika, of average age of 29 months were investigated. Ejaculates collected during the wet season had higher volume, pH, sperm motility and percentage of normal sperms than those collected in the dry season. Differences between rams were insignificant for all traits except ejaculate volume and sperm motility. The average sperm output per ejaculate was 2.558 x 109 spermatozoa, sufficient to inseminate between 5 and 20 ewes depending on condition of storage. Yankasa rams produced semen which compared favourably in terms of total sperm output per ejaculate and qualitative traits to values for semen of better known temperate breeds of sheep. The observed differences did not appear severe enough as to prevent all year round breeding

Evaluation of Udder traits in West African Dwarf Goats

Udder traits of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats and factors influencing them were studied using 185 does located in South Western Nigeria. Traits evaluated were udder length (UL), udder width (UW), udder circumference (UC) and udder volume (UV). Others were teat length (TL), teat width (TW), teat circumference (TC), distance between teats(DT) and height of teat from the ground (HTG). Udder length was significantly (