Udder And Teat Traits As Possible Selection Markers For Milk Yield In Local Goats Of Nigeria

This study was carried out at the Research Farm of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria (October, 2003 – May, 2006) to investigate the effects of some factors (breed, stage of gestation, body condition score and stage of lactation) on udder and teat traits with their relationships with partial daily milk yield (PDM) in goats. The goat breeds studied were Red Sokoto, Sahel and West African Dwarf. The traits studied included udder circumference (UC), udder length (UL), teat length (TL), teat height to ground (THG) and teat circumference (TC). The results showed that during pregnancy these traits were significantly (

Comparative study of goat production and management in Bauchi State, Nigeria

No Abstract.International Journal of Tropical Agriculture and Food Systems Vol. 1 (4) 2007: pp. 310-31

Prevalence of peste des pestits ruminant (PPR) and helminthiasis in sheep and goats in Bauchi, Nigeria

No Abstract Bull Anim. Hlth. Prod. Afr. (2005) 53(2), 131-13

Preference for goat meat and milk products consumption in Bauchi state, Nigeria

This study assessed the consumers' preference towards goat meat and milk products consumption in Bauchi State of Nigeria. Data were collected from 1078 respondents randomly sampled from 100 settlements in the 20 Local Government Areas of the state. The data collected were analyzed using chi-square and simple percentage and mean. The results of the study revealed significant (

Evaluation Of Some Factors Influencing Growth Performance Of Local Goats In Nigeria

This study was conducted at the Research Farm of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria to investigate some factors (breed, season, parity, sex, litter size and body condition score) affecting kids&apos; growth performance at various ages. The daily weight gain (overall) of kids reveals non-significant breed effect whereas season, parity, sex, litter size and body condition score had significant (P<0.05) effects on the kids&apos; daily weight gain. Kids born in the dry season had higher daily weight gain (98.95 ± 4.65g) than those born in the wet season (88.15 + 5.31g). Similarly, kids born in the second (90.58 ± 3.71g) and third (88.28 ± 11.31g) parities gained higher weights daily than kids in the first (86.80 ± 3.25g) parity. There were significant (P<0.05) sex and litter size effects on kids&apos; daily weight gain. The male kids had higher daily weight gain than their female counterparts with respective values of 92.94 ± 5.06 and 84.16 ± 5.46g. Similarly, kids born single gained higher (90.06 ± 4.03g) daily weights than those born as twins (87.04 ± 6.58g). Kids from does with body condition score 4 had the highest (91.61+ 6.61g) daily weight gain followed by 3 (89.37 ± 5.37g) and least value was observed in does with score 2 (84.67 ± 4.95g). Kids&apos; weights at various ages (birth, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days) showed significant (P<0.05) differences except for the effects of litter size (at birth, 60,90 and 120 days) and sex (at 30, 60 and 120 days of life). Similarly, kids&apos; mean daily weight gains at various age intervals (birth – 30, 31- 60, 61- 90 and 91- 120 days) also showed significant (P<0.05) differences in these factors except for the effects of breed (at 61-90 days), sex (at birth – 60 days), litter size ( 61-10 days) and parity ( 31-120 days of life). It is, therefore, concluded that large body size, good body condition, dry season, birth of male kid and single birth and high parity resulted in higher postnatal kid weight and daily weight gain. The Sahel goats are more promising than the other breeds in terms of their growth performance. Improvement of these breeds can be made through crossbreeding with better local or exotic breed. However, these local breeds can be successfully used for quality meat production and supply at an early stage of their life

Some factors affecting birth and weaning weights of Friesian-Bunaji crossbred calves in Vom, Nigeria

The birth till weaning performance of Friesian–Bunaji calves in Vom, Nigeria were assessed during a six-year period 1989-1994. The least squares means (Kg)±C.V (%) for birth weights (BWT), average daily gain (ADG) and weaning weight (WWT) were 31.8±15.9,0.9±17.9 and 83.1±15.5 respectively. Sex, year, parity (

Aspects of the Hematology and Serum Biochemistry of Sahel and Sokoto Red Bucks at Mubi, Adamawa State, Nigeria

This study was conducted to investigate effects of year, age, season and breeds on aspects of the hematology and serum biochemical indices of Sahel and Sokoto red bucks in Mubi, Adamawa state, Nigeria. Blood and serum samples were used to determine PCV, Hb, RBC and WBC, and while serum protein (BSP) and minerals respectively. There was no significant (p&gt;0.05) differences between year x age in packed cell volume (PCV), Hemoglobin count (Hbc) and protein but there were significant (p&lt;0.001) differences in red blood count, calcium (Ca+) and iron (Fe) values of the bucks. Significant (p&lt;0.001) season x breed differences were observed on almost all the parameters except Hbc, Mg and ABNTY. Sahel bucks recorded highest RBC (11.97&plusmn;0.06 x 106) and PCV (23.69&plusmn;0.14%), in early dry season, while Sokoto red recorded the highest Ca (10.69&plusmn;0.08 mg/ 100m), P (5.30&plusmn;0.05 mg/100ml), Mg (3.23&plusmn;0.09 mg/100) and ABNTY (0.04&plusmn;0.03) during late dry season. During the same season, Sokoto red had highest number of ABNTY (0.03&plusmn;0.03) cases. Sokoto red also had least RBC (10.75&plusmn;0.06 x 106) in early wet season, while the Sahel recorded low RBC (22.42&plusmn;0.12 x 106) during same season. It is concluded that year, age, season and breeds had great influence on hematological and biometrical indices of Sahel and Sokoto red bucks. And because of this, it may be difficult to formulate a universal metabolic profile test for goats in Nigeria. There is the need to establish appropriate physiological baseline values for various breeds of livestock in Nigeria

Influence of insemination time on fertility of Rhodes island white chicken (Gallus domestica) raised in northern guinea savannah zone of Nigeria

No Abstract.International Journal of Tropical Agriculture and Food Systems Vol. 1 (4) 2007: pp. 378-38

Evaluation of the reproductive problems of Friesians, Bunaji and crossed cows in a subtropical environment

Herd health fertility records of 248 cows comprising 103 Friesians, 84 Bunaji and 61 Crossbreeds in Vom from 1992-1999 were utilized to study the incidence of reproductive problems. The overall incidence of various reproductive problems was 54.4% and this was more frequent (P&lt;0.001) in crossbred cows (72.6%) than in Friesians, (59.9%) and in Bunaji (32.7%). Second Calvers (67.1%) were more susceptible (P&lt;0.01) to reproductive problems than heifers (56.0%) and mature cows (45.3%). The incidence of still birth (8.10%) and relative infertility (8.2%), were influenced by genotype (P&lt;0.05); similarly genotypic differences (P&lt;0.001) were observed in the incidence of retained placenta (7.4%). Abortion (5.6%), dystocia (12.2%) and repeat breeding (12.5%) were uniformly distributed among genotypes. Parity of dams had marked influence (P&lt;0.001) on dystocia, still birth and retained placenta. Significant differences (P&lt;0.01) were also observed on the incidence of relative infertility, but the rate of dystocia (P&lt;0.01), abortion and repeat breeding (P&lt;0.001) varied with the years. The results emphasize the need for greater management intervention to reduce the incidence of reproductive problems in sub tropical cattle herds.Keywords: Cattle, Reproductive problems, Subtropi

Short Communication: Seasonal abattoir foetal wastage, food security and the National economy

The study was conducted to evaluate seasonal abattoir foetal wastage and assess its impact on the national economy and food security in Nigeria. A total of 10,176, 19,078 and 16,226 fetuses were recovered from cattle, goats and sheep at three abattoirs located in three towns namely: Michika, Uba and Mubi over a period of four years (2005-2008) to assess the extent at which fetuses wasted affect farmers and the national GDP. Estimated market value of the fetuses from the three abattoirs assuming they were given the opportunity to survive and attain maturity before sales were N712,320,000, N228,936,000 and N243,390,000. This amount of money would have been added to the national domestic revenue. On the average, 2,544 calves, 4,769.75 kids and 4,111.5 lambs valued at N178,070,000, N57,237,000 and N61,672,500 are lost every year. On monthly bases, Nigeria is losing the sum of N59,360,000, N14,078,500 and N2,028,200 through foetal wastages from two local governments areas alone. Season has high significant effect (P&lt;0.01) on the number of fetuses wasted especially during the dry seasons. Means of foetal recovery were highest in the year 2006, and lowest from cattle and sheep in the year, 2008. Higher number of foetal recovery was recorded in Mubi abattoir followed by Uba and then Michika. This practice of killing pregnant animals has enormous consequences on the farmers, other stake holders in the livestock industry and the national GDP.Keywords: Foetal Wastage, Food Security, National Economy, Nigeri