Evaluation of Resveratrol Supplementation on Laboratory Animals, Cats, Pigs, Horses, Dogs, Cattle, and Birds

This chapter evaluated resveratrol supplementation on laboratory animals, cats, pigs, horses, dogs, cattle and birds. Resveratrol (3, 5, 4′-trihydroxystilbene) is a stilbenoid, a derivate of stilbene. It is found in some plants such as red grape, grape products, cocoa, peanuts, raspberries, mulberries, strawberry and Japanese knotweed roots. The most important dietary source of resveratrol is red wine, and it is often assumed to be an important factor in the French Paradox, a term used to describe the observation that the French population has a very low incidence of cardiovascular disease, despite a diet high in saturated fats. Research has shown some therapeutic effects of resveratrol ranging from antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, antiatherogenic, antiaging, antiplatelet aggregation, anticancer, antidiabetic, antitumor, and immunomodulatory activities. In laboratory animals, benefits of resveratrol comprise antitumor effects while in cats it has shown to improve hepatic function. In pigs, the antibiotic and antiviral effects of resveratrol have been illustrated. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties of resveratrol in horses and cattle were also reviewed. The supplement was shown to be useful as an antibiotic and an aid in improving alertness in dogs. Resveratrol also showed to increase growth performance in birds. It is therefore concluded that use of resveratrol is a potent aid in improving animal production and health

Observation on the Age at First Calving in the Savannah Breeds of Cattle in Northern Nigeria

A total of 35 herds of cattle from 2 inistitutional farms, and 6 privately-owned farms which were semi-intensively managed, and 17 nomadic Fulani herds were studied between January 1984 and December 1993 to evaluate the age of first calving (AFC) in the three major indigenous breeds of the Savannah zone of Northern Nigeria: the White-fulani (bunaji), Sokoto-Gudali (Bokoloji) and red Fulani (Rahaji). The AFC of heifers at first calving ranged from 30 to 42 months (mean, 37±0.57 months) with no breed differences. The AFC of heifers from Semi-intensively managed herds (institutional and privately-owned farms) was 30 to 40 months ( mean, 36±1.05 months) and that from nomadic herds was 33 to 42 months (mean, 37±1.31 months). The much lower AFC range observed in this studycompared to the highervalues (33 – 60 months) reported by pervious investigators is due to the increased awareness of livestock owners for the need to improve feed supplementation for livestock in particular during the dry season. The nomadic herdsmen ensure a ready supply of cereal bran, cotton seed (meal or cake) crop residues such as groundnut and bean hulls, corn stalks in addition to salt (mineral) licks during the harsh dry season. Institutional and private herds are provided with legumes and grass silages and hay in addition to cereal bran, cotton seed meal and salt licks during the dry season. Nomadic herdowners now realize the importance of supplementary feeding and maintenance of good herd health in the prevention of malnutrition and diseases. This results in a consistent improvement in growth and productivity as evidenced by the lower AFC values observed in this study

Isolation and identification of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides in cattle from south-east Nigeria

Background: Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides is the causative organism of Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP). It is a trans-boundary disease and an endemic in Nigeria having caused serious financial loss for the country’s economy.Aim: This study was undertaken to isolate and confirm the presence of M. mycoides subsp. mycoides (Mmm) in cattle, from three selected South-Eastern states of Nigeria.Method: A total of 90 bovine samples (25 pleural fluids and 65 lung tissues) suggestive of CBPP were collected from different abattoirs in the three selected South-eastern states of Nigeria (Anambra, Enugu, and Imo), for the isolation of Mmm by employing cultural method, whereas for confirmation polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approach was used. The collected samples were cultured on Pleuropneumonia like organism (PPLO) agar according to specific protocols.Results: Twenty five of the samples (lungs and pleural fluid) were positive for Mmm on PPLO agar giving an isolation rate of 27.7%. Only 21 of the isolates were further confirmed using PCR. The PCR amplification of the isolates produced a product of 1.1 kbp which is specific for Mmm. No positive isolates were recovered from Imo state.Conclusion: This study confirms the presence of Mmm as the causative organism of CBPP in Southeast Nigeria. It is recommended that active surveillance and vaccination protocol should be undertaken in the region for the control and prevention of this disease