Global Journal of Animal Scientific Research
Volume:6 Issue: 2, Spring 2018

In this research, to evaluate the lactation curve of Khuzestani buffaloes and to determine its describing function, 89140 test day records of buffaloes, collected in 1991 to 2015, were used. All the studied functions (Wood, Wilmink, Parabolic, Mixed Logarithmic and Inverse Polynomial models) were fitted using NLIN procedure of SAS 9.1 software. The results showed that the lactation curve of Khuzestani buffaloes became more typical from 4th and 6th lactation, as it was completed with three steps of increasing production, peak yield and decreasing phase in the 7th and 8th parities. Based on the criteria, studied functions did not have the same performance for lactation curve so that the Wood function was the best model. According to best function, peak of milk production increased from the first lactation and its maximum value was obtained for the 8th lactation. The time of peak yield for the studied curves were vary variable (between 79 and 90 days). In terms of estimated amount for persistency, there was not much difference among curves of different lactation, so that obtained values were very close together. We can say the lactation curves of studied buffaloes were flat, as the difference between the beginning and the end of production was very low. The results also showed that among different calving seasons, the Parabolic function had the best fitting for lactation curve of buffaloes with calving in spring, autumn and winter seasons and the Mixed Logarithmic function was the best for buffaloes with calving season of summer.

This study have been carried out smallholders in local collectivity belong to rural Municipality of Sabotsy Namehana, in Highlands of Madagascar. This aimed at diagnosing farming, mastitis of dairy cows with 80 sampled milks involved in two tests realized in farms and in laboratory. The test types have considered the bacteriological identification such as California Mastitis Test and classic microbial analysis for pathogen agents. The microbiologic identification has been followed by antibiogram test for microbial reactions assessment. As results, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus spp. have been important pathogen agents for bovine mastitis with highest infection rate (83.71 % of samples milks). Farming system and characteristics of site have been some effects in infection rate such as 83.16 ±2.88 % with CMT and confirmed with 90.12±5.24 % in microbial test. Consequently, there are significant different between two tests types (in farm and at laboratory with p<0.05) but there are a supplementary. And, middle performant dairy races have been more influenced in mastitis. Among others, frequent infection has been recorded with least respect hygiene especially in traditional farming with higher infection of pathogens agents Gram+. In fact, the mastitis makes up a major problem in dairy production. Curative treatment with antibiotics is possible to improve production capability and net return in smallholders.

An experiment was conducted to study the performance and nutrients digestibility of broilers chicks fed diets in which yellow corn was replaced with barley   and barley without supplemented with   a commercial digestive enzymes β-glucanase xylanase ( Lohmann LTG – GMBH Germany) at the rate of 1kg enzyme per 1000Kg diet. A total of 720 day-old broiler chicks were randomly divided into 9 treatments of four replicates each comprising 20 chicks reared in battery cages under controlled environment condition until the age of 56 days. The control group was fed yellow corn-based diet (60% yellow corn , 0 % barley). Yellow corn was replaced by barley making 8 experimental diets were prepared using 25, 50, 75 and 100% barley and 25, 50, 75 and 100%  barley  supplementation with   β-glucanase xylanase.  Feed and water were provided ad-libitum. Feed intake and gain-feed ratio  was significantly (p<0.05) improved in chicks fed β-glucanase xylanase supplemented diets compared to non-supplemented diets. Broiler chickens in the enzyme-supplemented groups had better body weight gain as compared to those without supplementation.  Barley in all levels supplemented with enzyme gave a significantly (p<0.05) improvement in apparent protein and fat apparent digestibility over non supplemented barley, the results revealed no significant differences over the corn basic diet. Dramatically, a significant (p<0.05) improvement in the digestibility of fat and fiber in feeding supplemented barley with β-glucanase  in comparison with yellow corn diet or with non supplemented barley diet. Regarding, NFE   diets of barley replacer by 50, 75 and 100%   supplemented with β-glucanase  enzyme revealed a significant (p<0.05) improvement over the non supplemented.  Results from this experiment suggest that enzyme supplementation can improve nutritive utilization of barley broiler diets. Broiler chicks can grow faster and more efficiently on a diet containing fiber degrading enzymes than on a diet without enzymes.

In an experiment to determine the efficacy of an extract from the leave and root of Ixora coccinea plant on the Organoleptic properties, physical properties and carcass characteristics of broiler chicken. Two hundred and seventy (270) day old Ross broiler chickens were in complete randomized design using analysis of variance (ANOVA), Duncan multiple range test was used to differentiate the means. There were four treatments each for root and leave extract and one antibiotic control treatment, each of the treatment having 3 replicates with 20 birds per replicate. The root extract (R1, R2, R3, & R4) and leave extract (L1, L2, L3 & L4) were administered at the rate of 2mls, 4mls, 6mls and 8mls while the antibiotics was applied at 1g per liter of water. The experiment lasted for four (4) weeks. The result of Organoleptic properties for colour, flavour, aroma, texture, juiciness and overall acceptability shows that there was no significance (p>0.05) in the control, 2mls, 4mls and 6mls, except for 8mls with the lowest score across all the Organoleptic parameters for both root and leave extract. In both the root and leave extract cooking loss was higher (p>0.05) in control compared to other treatment, thermal shortening and cooking yield were lower (p>0.05) in control compared to other while water holding capacity have no significant different (p<0.05) for both root and leave extract. There was significant different (p>0.05) in most of the carcass characteristics except for internal organs, head, neck, shank and back which were not significant different (p<0.05) for root extract. The level of the crude extract of Ixora coccinea used in this study enhance the carcass characteristics, physical and organoleptic properties of broiler chicken, with the best achieved at 2mls, 4mls and 6mls respectively.

This experiment was carried out to determine the effects of natural zeolite on performance, carcass traits and the content of blood protein and calcium of broilers. A total of 240 Ross unsexed broiler chicks (one d old) were allocated into one control treatment and 3 zeolite treatments each containing 60 chicks, with 5 replicates and 12 birds each. Natural zeolite was added at the level of 0%, 0.5%, 1% and 1.5% for the first as control, second, third and fourth treatments, respectively. Results indicating an effect (P < 0.05) on live body weight, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio in the grower period (d 22 to 42) and entire period (d 1 to 42) by adding 1.5% natural zeolite comparing to others treatments. On the other hand, no differences were observed in feed intake, carcass yield and the relative weights of thigh (d 21 and 42). However, adding of 1.5% zeolite increased significantly (P < 0.05) the relative weight of breast, edible organs (heart, gizzard, liver) and the weight of tibia. The zeolite addition did not affect the blood protein, but the content of blood calcium was increased significantly by 1.5% zeolite in the diet. In conclusion, adding of 1.5% natural zeolite to broiler diet improved the live body weight, feed conversion ratio, tibia weight and increased the content of blood calcium without any adverse effects on birds.