Global Journal of Animal Scientific Research
Volume:4 Issue: 3, Summer 2016

The experiment was conducted at the Department of Animal Science Teaching and Research Farm, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria with 12 Yankasa rams aged 6-12 months and live weight of about 15.5 - 20.5kg. The experiment was a Completely Randomised Design in which the rams were randomly divided into 4 treatments with 3 animals per treatment. The treatments were: T1 (groundnut haulms only adlib, control). T2 (groundnut haulms adlib + Cotton Seed cake). T3 (Groundnut haulms adlib + brewers waste).T4 (Groundnut haulms adlib + maize bran). Inadequate quantity and quality of feeds during the dry season lead to reduced feed intake and weight loss of small ruminants in the tropics. Due to some constraints highlighted it calls for supplementation of feeds which will increase feed intake and reduce loss weight of small ruminants. The experiment lasted a period of 74 days plus two weeks adjustment period. Results showed that the highest dry matter intake and live weight gain (850.53g/head/day/) and (96.4g/a/d) respectively was recorded in rams fed groundnut haulms supplemented with cotton seed cake. The highest dry matter digestibility (63.3%) was recorded in T4 while Water intake ranged from 2.9 – 3.4 litre/head /day. Thus, Groundnut haulms supplemented with cotton seed cake is highly efficient in feeding small ruminants in the Zone.

The use of crop residues and agricultural by-products in animal feeding is a very common practice in Myanmar. Nutritive values and fermentation characteristics of natural grass (NG), lablab bean stalk-fresh (LLBF), butter bean residue-dry (BBRD), sesame residue-dry (SRD), sorghum stover-dry (SSD) and sorghum stover-fresh (SSF) were evaluated through in vitro gas production method. The crude protein (CP) content of Lablab bean stalk-fresh (LLBF) was significantly higher than those of other feedstuffs with the least CP obtained from sorghum stover-dry (SSD). The contents of NDF, ADF and EE ranged from 58.95 to 80.03, 36.63 to 67.76 and 2.15 to 2.89, respectively. The cumulative gas volumes at 24 hrs ranked from the highest to the lowest; BBRD, NG, SRD, LLBF, SSD and SSF. However, the gas volume of SSD was significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of other feedstuffs at the 96 hrs of incubation time. The highest gas production rate “c†was found in SRD and the lowest was in SSD. While the fermentation of insoluble fraction “b†of SSD was significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of other feedstuffs, the LLBF was the highest in the fermentation of quickly soluble fraction “aâ€. The estimated total carbohydrate (TC), non fibre carbohydrate (NFC), metabolizable energy (ME), organic matter digestibility (OMD), short chain fatty acid (SCFA) and methane gas concentration are significantly different (P<0.05) among the experimental feedstuffs. According to the findings of this study, all of these conventional feedstuffs have the good potential to be used as ruminant feed.

The production efficiency of farm animals is largely dependent on their reproductive performance, and there are interactions between reproductive performance and mineral status. Minerals are inorganic nutrients, usually required in small amounts and they play an important role in metabolic processes. For optimal productivity, twenty two (22) beneficial mineral elements have been identified and classified. These include copper, cobalt, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, selenium, calcium, iodine, zinc, iron, chlorine, sodium, chromium, molybdenum and among others. Studies have shown that minerals are involved in intracellular detoxification of free radicals, biosynthesis of steroids and cellular metabolism of carbohydrate, protein and nucleic acid. Minerals have beneficial or detrimental effects on animal physiological wellbeing, depending on its balance. Some of the consequences of inadequate (deficiencies) or excesses dietary mineral intake include delayed puberty, impaired spermatogenesis and prolonged postpartum anestrus. The mechanisms by which minerals impinge on reproduction are not completely clear, but evidence exists, that their effects are mainly exerted at the higher neural centres or hypothalamus. Therefore this paper was an attempt to review the interaction between minerals and animal reproduction. It will also review the negative effect of mineral when they are over fed. Furthermore, this review could also serve as a ready source of literature for researchers in animal nutrition and nutritional reproductive physiology.

An experiment has been conducted to evaluate the impacts of acetic acid on gut microflora, blood chemicals, and productive traits of broiler chickens. A total 270 day-old Ross 308 chicks were randomly divided into 6 treatments. Each treatment consists of 45 birds and three replicates of 15 birds per replicate. From day one, birds were fed either a corn-soybean meal basal diet supplemented with different levels of diluted acetic acid (5%) (0, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 10 percent of as fed basis diet). Four birds from each pen (12 per treatment) were randomly selected for slaughter and collection of blood samples and microbial study at day 42. There were no significant effects of experimental treatments on feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and mortality of birds (P>0.05). Relative weight of internal organs was not affected by dietary acetic acid. Acetic acid at the level of 8% significantly increased the blood urea, but other serum components did not influenced by addition of acetic acid to the ration. Unexpectedly, total counts of bacteria at 8 and 10 percent of acetic acid have been sharply increased which might be due to resistance of some bacteria to overuse of this organic acid.

The effect of in ovo injection (IOI) of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D complex (CaDPhos) was studied on post-hatch bone parameters and broiler chicks performance. Fertilized eggs (n=480) were distributed into 4 groups of 120 eggs. On 1st day of incubation, two groups were used as sham control (injected with 0.5 mL physiology serum) (T1) and un-injected control (T2). The other 2 groups were injected with 0.5 mL of 50 or 100% CaDPhos complex/egg (T3 and T4, respectively). The hatched chicks from each group were randomly assigned to 4 replications of 20 chicks and reared similarly. The hatchability percentage and body weight of hatched chicks was greater for T4 compared with other treatments (P<0.05), although had no significant differences with T3. Moreover, alkaline phosphatase activity was greater for T4 chicks at d 1 and for T3 and T4 at d 42 compared to other treatments (P<0.05). The broiler chicks with IOI of CaDPhos complex have significantly higher bone dry matter, P, and Cu concentration at d 1, as well as bone Ca and P concentrations at d 21 of rather both controls (P<0.05), whereas, the lowest bone dry matter was obtained for T2 (P<0.05). The results indicated that T3 and T4 increased feed intake of broiler chicks from d 1 to 21 (P<0.05). These preliminary results suggest that growth and maturation of bone cells may be accelerated through IOI of CaDPhos complex at levels of 50% or 100%/egg on 1-d of incubation.

By-products - tomato pomace (TP) and powdered invert sugar (IS, to enhance palatability) - were substituted at low concentration in commercial Layena® crumble(L) diets of second and third cycle laying hens to simulate feeding of backyard layers for 2 wk. to determine the effect on several production measurements.  In Experiment I, 1-yr-old layers were fed L as the control, LTP (90.0% L plus 10.0% ground TP) or LTPIS (90.0% LTP plus 10% powdered IS). Feed consumption was similar (p < 0.05) across diets and hens fed L maintained BW for 2 wk in contrast to those fed LTP and LTPIS. Hen-day production for L, LTP and LTPIS was similar (P < 0.05) while yolk color for eggs from hens fed TP was significantly (P < 0.05) darker than that of eggs from hens fed L. Egg shell thickness values for all eggs in Experiment I were similar (P < 0.05). To compare the form of diets containing TP, in Experiment II, 2-year-old hens were fed LTP as the control or diets that were pelleted, then crumbled (LTPp or LTPISp). Hens fed LTP did not maintain BW for 2 wk while those fed LTPp had BW equal (P < 0.05) to that of their initial BW by the end of wk 2. Hens fed LTPISp maintained BW for 2wk. Pellet formation caused statistically (P < 0.05) lower yolk color compared to that from eggs of hens fed LTP. Age and strain of hens produced low hen-d egg production of 20 to 30 %, likely obfuscating the effect of diet.  Egg shell thickness values for eggs from hens given LTPp met the standard (33 mm) while that (32 mm) for eggs from hens administered LTP and LTPISp did not. Older layers will need excess supplemental calcium when fed pellet-crumble diets with TP at 10.0%. Pellet formation will add extra cost to backyard production and negatively affect consumer preference for darker yolks. Â

In animal husbandry, embryo transfer has become the most powerful tool for animal scientists and breeders to improve genetic construction of their animal herds and increase quickly elite animals. It is a technique by which embryos are collected from a donor female and are transferred to recipient females. It could send female and male genetics worldwide in a cryopreservation tank without the hassle and complications of exporting live animals and the associated risk. The success and economics of cattle embryo transfer programme is dependent on several factors; skill and experience of the embryo transfer operator, selection and management of recipient animals, close synchrony of oestrus between donor and recipient, quality of embryos transferred and methods used in embryo handling and transfer on the farm. The potential donor cow should be reproductively sound to produce maximal results. She should have a normal reproductive tract on rectal palpation and have a normal postpartum history, especially with regard to cycle lengths of 18 to 24 days. Superovulation of the cow is the next step in the embryo transfer process. Superovulation is the release of multiple eggs at a single estrus. Cows or heifers properly treated can release as many as 10 or more viable egg cells at one estrus. Approximately 85% of all normal fertile donors will respond to superovulation treatment with an average of five transferable embryos. Using high quality semen with a high percentage of normal, motile cells is a very critical step in any embryo transfer program. Early collection techniques involved surgically or non surgical removing the oviducts from live females at 72 hours post ovulation so that the embryos could be recovered by flushing. Recipients must have a proven reproductive performance, free of congenital or infectious diseases to obtain high conception rates and have a sturdy body size to avoid problems of dystocia. The transfer must be to a recipient in the same stage of cycle as the donor. For non surgical transfer, the deposition of the embryos in the uterus horn with corpus luteum is performed under rectal control with a transfer catheter similar to the technique of flushing for embryo collection. Success rates with embryo transfer in many commercial situations are consistently high, often exceeding 70% pregnancy rates. Non surgical embryo transfer techniques utilized today involve the use of an artificial insemination pipette and more recently, specialized embryo transfer pipettes. The intercontinental transport of a live animal is coasty. Where as an entire herd can be transported, in the form of frozen embryos, for less than the price of a single plane fare. There are several potential problems which must be overcome in order to make the international movement of embryos commonplace. Many factors may influence the embryo transfer technology that may be beyond the control of practitioners. Travel problems sometimes means traveling to a farm a day or two late, which mandates working with older embryos than planned. The risk of transmitting genetic disease via embryo transfer is the same as that involved in natural mating or artificial insemination. It is recommended the process for production, selection of donor and recipients, and transfer procedures of embryos as well as in recipient management will be needed to know before embryo transfer.

The experiment was conducted to determine the effect different levels of purslane (P. oleracea L.) meal on broiler performance. One hundred and eighty one-day old unsexed (Ross-308) broiler chicks were randomly divided into five groups each represent a treatment (36 birds/treatment), with six replicates, (6 birds/replicate). A Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was used, with different levels of purslane meal (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8%). The experiment was continued for six weeks. Feed intake and body weight were recorded and determined on weekly basis with body weight gain and feed conversion ratio throughout the experimental period. The results of weekly performance indicated significant differences (P<0.05) among the dietary treatments (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8% purslane meal) for feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. The differences among the dietary treatment for, the overall feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and dressing percentage, were significant (P<0.05) except feed conversion ratio. It is concluded that the use of 4% is not suitable for broiler feeding.

Lactogenic and reproductive potentialities of Commelina diffusa and Ficus ingens were studied using twenty-four (24) nulliparous New Zealand White does. The does were mated to mature bucks, and divided into four (4) treatment groups of six per treatment. Each treatment was replicated three times, two does constituting a replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). Treatment one (T1) (control) was concentrate diet, treatment two (T2) comprised of Commelina diffusa (leaves and stems), treatment three (T3) was made up of Ficus ingens (leaves), while mixed forages (Calopogonium mucunoides, Centrosema pubescens, Tridax procumbens, Panicum maximum and Gomphrena spp.) constituted T4. Within the four weeks lactation period, weekly milk yield (kg) of the does were significantly (P<0.05) different during the second and third week of lactation. In the second week, does on T4 (1.63 kg) recorded significantly (P<0.05) higher values than does on T2 (1.05 kg) and T3 (0.93 kg), which were similar (P>0.05). Does on T1 (1.28 kg) recorded similar (P>0.05) values to T2, T3, and T4. In the third week, T1 (1.52 kg) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than T4 (0.93 kg), but similar (P>0.05) to T2 (1.28 kg) and T3 (1.40 kg); and T2 and T3 were similar (P>0.05) to T4. Total milk yield (kg) (1 – 28 days) during the period of lactation recorded significantly (P<0.05) higher value in does on T1 (4.67 kg) than does on T3 (3.64 kg), but similar (P>0.05) to T2 (4.08 kg) and T4 (4.20 kg); and T3 was similar (P>0.05) to T2 and T4. Comparison of peak, total and average daily milk yield of the rabbit does, shows that Commelina diffusa effected lesser peak milk yield, but a higher total and average daily milk yield than Ficus ingens. Mean litter weights (g) of kits of does on T1 (201.40 g) and T2 (207.14 g) were similar (P>0.05), but significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of T3 (177.74 g); and T4 (196.43 g) similar (P>0.05) to T1, T2, and T3. This study demonstrates that Commelina diffusa and Ficus ingens, despite being fed as single forages, had appreciable impact on milk yield and reproductive performance component (litter weight gain). They are therefore recommended for inclusion in forage combinations for feeding rabbits.

This study was conducted to evaluate the performance and carcass parameters of broiler birds administered water from four different sources: rain (Treatment 1; T1), borehole (Treatment 2; T2), pipe-borne (Treatment 3; T3), and river (Treatment 4; T4), lasted for eight weeks, and consisted of two hundred and forty broiler birds; randomly divided into the four treatment groups of eighty birds per treatment, and replicated three times each. Performance result of this study recorded significant (P<0.05) differences in water intake of the birds which affected weight gain. Significantly (P<0.05) higher values in final body weight (T1 = 2170.05 g; T2 = 2140.71 g; T3 = 2168.26 g; T4 = 2263.68 g) and total body weight gain (T1 = 1975.57 g; T2 = 1947.34 g; T3 = 1974.26 g; T4 = 2069.00 g) were recorded for birds on T4 than for those on other treatments which were similar (P>0.05). Carcass parameters indicated that significant (P<0.05) weight gain of the birds was as a result of significant (P<0.05) differences recorded mainly in breast (T1 = 477.18 g; T2 = 469.05 g; T3 = 474.77 g; T4 = 488.32 g), thighs (T1 = 496.04 g; 487.13 g; T3 = 481.81 g; T4 = 501.68 g), and intestine (T1 = 91.67 g; T2 = 84.85 g; T3 = 87.14 g; T4 = 96.73 g) weights of the birds. It could therefore be inferred from this study that different water sources affects water intake and body weight gains of broiler birds.