Fatty acid composition of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and Red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus X Oreochromis niloticus) reared in intensive and extensive systems

Fish and marine mammals are among the richest sources of long–chain n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in nature. As farmed fish becomes a major contributor to world fish supplies, hence it is important to maintain the high lipid nutritional quality of the product and to continue to provide large amounts of the health-promoting n-3 and n-6 PUFA to the consumers. Therefore, a study was conducted to examine the nutritional content, mainly fatty acid composition, of Nile (Oreochromis niloticus and Red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus x Oreochromis niloticus), derived from intensive and extensive culture systems. Twenty-two samples of Nile tilapia and 16 samples of Red tilapia cultured intensively and 10 samples of extensively cultured Nile tilapia were used in this study. All samples were subjected to total fatty acids extraction and their fatty acid compositions were determined using gas liquid chromatography. Results showed no significant differences in the concentration of saturated fatty acids (SFA) between intensively and extensively cultured Nile tilapia. For monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), the concentration was higher (p<0.05) in the intensively cultured Nile tilapia compared to the extensively cultured Nile tilapia. For n-3 PUFA, the concentration was higher (p<0.05) in Nile tilapia from the extensive system compared to Nile tilapia from the intensive system. But for n-6 PUFA, the intensively cultured Nile tilapia had a higher (p<0.05) concentration compared to the extensively cultured Nile tilapia. For n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio the intensively cultured Nile tilapia had a higher ratio (p<0.05) than the extensively cultured Nile tilapia. The different fatty acid composition of Nile tilapia cultured in different systems could be due to the different types of feed consumed by the fish. Future research could be directed at increasing the PUFA level in tilapia through the manipulation of the PUFA level in the fish diet

Management practices affecting helminthiasis in goats

The study was conducted to investigate the effects selected management practices have on worm burden in goats as reflected by faecal egg counts. The faecal examination of six goat farms for the quantitative presence of strongyles was conducted in Terengganu. A questionnaire was developed and directed to six farmers on the management practices adopted on their farms. The management practices selected in the study were grazing time, mineral block supplementation, type of drug used, breed, and source of animal, grass type, additional feed, and drenching personnel. The data analysis was done through systematic approaches using t-test, Spearman correlation and ANOVA. Afternoon grazing reduced the mean FEC nearly five-fold compared to morning grazing and mineral block supplementation reduced FEC two-fold compared to unsupplemented goats (P<0.05)

A comparative study of conditioning programs in relation to performance of Malaysian endurance horses

Conditioning provides physiological adaptation, resulting increase in fitness of athletics horses, which eventually increase their performance. The primary aim of a conditioning program is to produce the best performing athletic horse with minimal injuries. A survey was conducted using a questionnaire to identify various conditioning programs practiced by the local endurance horse establishments with regards to techniques and duration of the program. Fifteen athletic endurance horses with three horses each representing five equine establishments were used in this study. The duration of every conditioning program were recorded. Performance parameters that were monitored were the average recovery time, the average speed, the completion rate and the level of performance. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare conditioning programs practiced by different establishments in relation to their performances. The mean of the average speed of horses from different establishments ranged from 9.30 to 15.20 km hr-1. Stable A that practices all basic endurance conditioning techniques with a duration period of conditioning of >3 months showed the highest speed (15.20 ± 0.05 km hr-1) and the shortest mean of the average recovery period (12.28± 1.18 min) with a 100 % completion rate in 120 km endurance race category. Therefore, the conditioning program practiced by Stable A is suggested to be an optimal conditioning program suited for horses under Malaysian conditions in producing good and competitive endurance horses locally

Disease prevalence and clinicopathological changes in senior and geriatric cats presented to University Veterinary Hospital, Universiti Putra Malaysia

This retrospective study reports on the prevalence of disease, clinicopathological changes and diagnosis in senior and geriatric cats presented to University Veterinary Hospital (UVH), Universiti Putra Malaysia between 2009 and 2011. The age distribution of cats presented to UVH, level of preventive health care and cost of treatment per cat per annum were also determined. The majority of the feline patients were less than 3 years old. Senior and geriatric cats made up 1.4% of all cats in the study. Kidney disease, dental disease, neoplasia and feline upper respiratory tract disease were the most commonly reported disorders in senior and geriatric cats. Furthermore, blood lymphocytes count and albumin level were significantly lower in older cats compared to adult as a result of immuno-senescence and age-related physiological changes. Preventive care was poor for senior and geriatric cats, with only 9% presented for wellness examination. In general, cost of veterinary care was significantly lower for those that received preventive health care than those that did not. The results from this study can be used by veterinary practitioners to better understand, anticipate health problems of senior and geriatric cats and to encourage clients to subscribe to a semi-annual wellness programme for their older cats

Prevalence of noninfectious respiratory disease in thoroughbred racehorses

The objective of the study was to identify the most common noninfectious respiratory diseases in Thoroughbred racehorses and to determine effect on their performance. One hundred and thirty randomly selected records of Thoroughbred racehorses at the Perak Turf Club, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia diagnosed with noninfectious respiratory disease and with complains of poor athletic performance accompanied by coughing, exercise intolerance and abnormal respiratory noises were obtained. Among the data recorded and analyzed were surgery and racing performance records, which were used to determine the most prevalent noninfectious respiratory diseases in the Thoroughbred racehorses. The results showed that the most common noninfectious respiratory disease in Thoroughbred racehorses is exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) 49.2%), recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (28.2%), respiratory allergy (10%), epiglottic entrapment (EE) (7.7%), displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) (3.8%) and subepiglottic cysts (0.8%). The study also showed that surgical correction for recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) (Grade IV and Grade V), epiglottic entrapment, dorsal displacement of soft palate (Persistent) and subepiglottic cysts (SEC) gave good resolution and good prognosis for recovery. Thus surgical treatments of Thoroughbred racehorses with noninfectious respiratory disease can improve their athletic performance

Ovarian follicular wave patterns, oestrus interval and ovulation rate in oestrus synchronised Kedah-Kelantan cows

The relationship between 2- and 3-follicular wave patterns on progesterone hormone profiles, oestrus interval, ovulation time and pregnancy rate in Kedah- Kelantan (KK) cows were studied. A total of 30 primiparous and multiparous KK cows were inserted intravaginally with controlled internal drug releasing device (CIDR®) for 7 days, followed by intramuscular injection of 25 mg prostaglandin 2 days prior to CIDR® removal. The study indicated that the oestrus cycle length and proportion of pregnant cows were not significantly different between the 2- and 3-follicular wave patterns. However, follicle emergence in the 3-wave pattern was 4.1 days later than the 2-wave pattern while the dominant follicle in the 3-wave pattern took 4.3 days earlier to achieve the maximum diameter. The dominant follicle took a respective 6.4 and 5.4 days for 2-and 3-wave patterns to become dominant at days 9.8 and 9.5 respectively. The progesterone concentration at the time of emergence of the first dominant follicle (DF) was lower in 3-wave pattern compared to 2-wave pattern. Oestrus intervals, ovulation time and pregnancy rates were not significantly correlated in the 2- and 3-wave patterns. There was no relationship between ovarian follicular wave patterns, ovulation time and pregnancy rates during the oestrus cycle in synchronised KK cows

Determination of follicular wave development in oestrus synchronised beef cows

A study was conducted to determine the follicular wave development in terms of dominant follicles size, number of follicular waves and follicles existing at pre- and post-ovulation stage, and length of oestrous cycle in oestrus synchronised beef cows. Thirty cows consisting of 3 breedtypes: KK (n=10), Brakmas (n=10), and Charoke (n=10), were inserted with controlled internal drug releasing (CIDR) device containing 1.38 g progesterone for 7 days and given intramuscular injection of a synthetic prostaglandin analogue of 25 mg prostaglandin two days prior to CIDR withdrawal. It was shown of BK, CK and KK cows had 45%, 35% and 20% 3-follicular waves pattern, respectively. BK cows had higher number of cows having 3-follicular waves (P0.05) observed in terms of mean diameter of follicle at emergence stage in the three breedtypes. The mean diameter of ovulatory follicular development was significantly larger (P0.05). Similarly, there was also no significant difference (P>0.05) of the dominant follicle diameter was observed in the second and third (ovulatory follicle) follicular waves patterns among the three breeds of cows studied. The mean diameter of ovulatory follicle in KK was 10.2±0.1 mm, BK 11.6±0.10 mm and CK 10.7±0.1 mm, in KK, BK and KK cows, respectively. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) found among the three breeds of cows studied for mean length of oestrous cycle. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated there was no difference on the follicular wave development in terms of dominant follicles size in pre-ovulation, first, second and third follicular wave development; follicles existing at post-ovulation stage, and length of oestrous cycle in KK, BK and CK cows. However, in terms of the number of follicular waves, BK and CK cows had a higher proportion of 3- and 2-follicular waves development than KK cows. and the number of follicles existing at pre-ovulation stage in KK and BK cows were predominantly higher CK cows

Effect of sublethal unionized ammonia on mortality rate of red tilapia (Orepchromis Spp.) fingerlings in Aeromonas hydrophila infection.

A study was carries out to investigate the effect of sublethal unionized ammnonia concentraction on the mortality rate of tilapia fingerlings in Aeromonas hydrophila infection. Mono-sex tilapia about 5 cm in length was used in this experiment. Sublethal unionized ammonia concentrations were determined and 1.1, 1.7, 2.2, 3.6 and 4.6 mg/L ammonium chloride was chosen for the experiment. The sublethal effects of unionized ammonia concentration on A. hydrophila infection in fish fingerlings were then determined. There were 2 mortalities each at ammonia concentrations of 2.2 and 3.6 mg/L in fingerlings infected with A. hydrophila. However, there seemed to be no association between concentration of unionized ammonia and fingerling mortality suggesting that sublethal unionized ammonia concentrations do not cause death in fingerlings exposed to A. hudrophila infection