International Journal of Animal Research

The performance of an animal for a particular trait is the result of its genetic merit and the effects of the environment where it exists. To set up genetic improvement in sheep, the genetic component attributed to the trait of interest need to be defined. The aim of this review was to describe major candidate genes influencing growth traits and prolificacy in sheep. Although growth and prolificacy are quantitative traits and are expected to be influenced by many genes with individual genes contributing small effects, there are major genes that have been identified with significant influence on growth and prolificacy. The CLPG, GDF8 and CAST genes are some of the major genes that have strong influence on sheep growth and carcass quality. The CLPG mutation can cause pronounced effect in the muscle found in the hindquarter and is responsible for the muscular hypertrophy phenotype in sheep. The GDF8 gene also play important role in increasing muscle depth due to mutation in the regulatory region and coding sequences. The CAST gene is an endogenous and specific inhibitor of calpain enzyme and thereby regulates the rate and extent of muscle tenderization following slaughtering. For prolificacy, BMP15, GDF9 and BMPR1B have been shown to exert significant influence on ovulation rate and litter size in various sheep breeds in the world. Both of the three genes are member of the TGF-beta family protein that encode protein product responsible for growth, differentiation and proliferation of ovarian follicles. The mechanism of action for such major genes are associated with the existence of mutation in the coding sequence resulting amino acid change as well as in the regulatory region that vary the expression level and inheritance of the genes. Up to now, better attempts have been made to describe the genetic basis of growth and prolificacy in…

This experimental study was performed to investigate the effect of coccidia infestation on biochemical parameters in broiler chicken. The experimental animals (n=100) were randomly allocated into four equal groups, group one (G-I), group two (G-II), group three (G-III) and group four (G-IV) with 25 chickens in each group. The G-I, G-II, and G-III were treatments groups challenged by different Eimeria sporulated oocysts, while G-IV served as the control group. In this study, the infective dose of E. tenella (G-I), E. acervulina(G-II) and mixed Eimeria spp (G-III)was 2×104 sporulated Eimeria oocyst inoculated orally at three weeks of age in broiler chicken and subsequent alterations in different plasma biochemical constituents were evaluated at interval of 5 , 7 and 9 day of post inoculation. Serum total protein values after challenge showed statistically significant decrease in group one, group two and group three in comparison with group four. Further, significant decrease total protien value was noticed on 7 day of post infection in group one and group two.The mean values of serum glucose between the infected and control group at 5, 7 and 9 day of post infection which revealed non-statistically significant difference. Coccidiosis due to E. tenella, E. acervulina and mixed identified Eimeria spp. infectionin chicken showed highly statistically significant increase in serum ALT and AST level as compared with control group. This was also significant increase in infected group on 7 day of post infection. But, no significant variation among the infected groups were on 5 and 9 day of post infection.

Fumonisin B1 (FB1), a secondary metabolite of the fungus fusarium verticillioides is known to be consumed by farm animals and has been reported to be associated with various farm animal diseases. To account for potential reproductive effects \of fumonisin in cocks meant for breeding purpose, sixty pre-pubertal breeder cocks of about 16 weeks of age were randomly assigned to four diets containing 0.2, 5.2, 10.2 and 15.2mg FB1/kg constituting diets 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. After 16 weeks of feeding trial all the pubertal cocks were sacrificed. Their testes and epididimydes were carefully dissected, removed, weighed and recorded. The left and right organs were homogenized separately. Dietary FB1 did not significantly (p> 0.05) influence both the gonadal and extra gonadal weights of the cock. The gonadal sperm reserves (GSR) of cocks fed the control diet (5.54x 107/testis) was significantly superior (p

Many infections are known to be responsible for ruminants of Mycoplasma, especially in Europe and North America all over the world, mainly in cattle, goats and sheep cultivation causes great economic losses. Stress, immune system failure, incorrect antibiotic treatment, animal transport, breeding, artificial insemination with sperm infected with mycoplasmosis in the increase of cases of importance. In this study, Elazig and Malatya lots of sheep and goats belonging to 300 milk collected from sample Agalaksi Contagious (Contagious agalactia) disease molecular methods to detect the presence of (specific PCR). Molecular diagnosis of 300 in the case of milk as a result of specific PCR rate of 45% found positive for Mycoplasma sp. 135 the Mycoplasma sp. positive milk sample was found Mycoplasma agalactiae at 99.

Minerals play an important role in bulls as they function to form mucles of and maintain the quality of sperm. Zn mineral in the diet will also affect the levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Zn supplementation on the levels of calcium and phosphate serum in Friesian Holstein bulls. This study used ten Friesian Holstein bulls, 16-18 months old and divided into two groups, consisting of five bulls each, i.e. with no added Zn (control) and 60 ppm of Zn supplementation, respectively. Zinc was administered daily for four months. Blood samples were taken before treatment and after the four- month treatment for the examination of calcium and phosphate levels. The result showed that 60 ppm Zn supplementation was not significantly different (p>0.05) on the blood calcium and phosphate levels. However, the calcium level tends to increase while that of phosphate tends to decrease.

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the efficiency of supplementing ram semen extender with melatonin on cryopreservation capacity of spermatozoa. A total of 80 ejaculates were collected from 5 Barki rams, 16 ejaculates each, by an artificial vagina throughout the period from January – February, 2017. Ejaculates of each collection session were pooled and diluted (1:10) with glycerolated Tris-citric egg yolk extender, and were split into 4 portions. The first portion served as control (melatonin-free), whereas the other 3 portions were supplemented with 0.1, 0.2 or 0.3 mM melatonin. The post-thaw objective assessment of cryopreserved spermatozoa, in all groups, was conducted by a computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system. The results revealed that melatonin supplementation was positively correlated (P

The objective of the study was to determine the hatchability rate of African cat fish eggs under artificial condition in Adamawa State, the guinea savannah zone of Nigeria. The female fish was artificially induced using ovaprim at 0.2ml in the cool hours of evening. The eggs were stripped in the morning hours after 12 hours of stimulation and were fertilized externally with sperms collected from the male fish. Fifty percent (50%) of the eggs were observed to have hatched successfully within 12 hours though; the entire system ran out of water supply in the middle of the night. This led to the death of all the fry and prevented all the other eggs from hatching resulting to 0% fingerlings. The quality of water used was not ascertained because, it was not tested and the source unknown. The climatic conditions were observed to be favourable because, the work was performed during the raining season between August and September, 2017. It was observed that, in most of the African catfish hatcheries, fry ‘come out’ from eggs under an artificially controlled condition in commercial numbers. Water quality forms part of the most important factors in achieving high hatchery success rate. These fry grow into fingerlings and they later become juveniles. These fry need consistent good food provided in sufficient quantities at regular intervals for smooth transitional growth. A lot of uncertainties have been linked to the propagation of African Catfish and this may be probably due to inadequate knowledge of the fish. Therefore, a successful hatchery relies on efficient facilities and equipment that match excellent up to date technical know-how, standard procedures, and dedicated and skilled personnel.

This experiment was designed to scrutinize effects of inclusion of Gum Arabic versus egg yolk in either fresh or frozen extender for Herri ram’ semen on subsequent pregnancy rate. Semen ejaculates were collected from two rams. Two trials were attempted. Trial I, semen ejaculates were diluted with freshly prepared extenders either contained 10% EY (Control) or 6% GA (GA). Ewes were randomly selected and subdivided into 2 groups and inseminated. Trial II, extenders were frozen (-20°C) for 30 days before using, thawed and semen ejaculates from same rams were diluted and used in inseminations. Ewes were subdivided into 2 groups and inseminated with semen diluted in either control or GA6 extender. Results revealed that using fresh extender surpassed frozen one in achieving better pregnancy of the artificial insemination. Pregnancy rate derived of inseminations prepared by GA6 extender was significantly higher (P

The current study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of supplementing ram semen extender with melatonin on chilled storage capacity of spermatozoa. Eighty ejaculates were collected from 5 Barki rams, 16 ejaculates each, using an artificial vagina throughout the period from January – February, 2017. The ejaculates of each collection session were pooled and diluted (1:10) with Tris-citric egg yolk extender, and were split into 4 aliquots. The first portion served as control (melatonin-free), whereas the other 3 portions were supplemented with 0.1, 0.2 or 0.3 mM melatonin. Thereafter, the samples were stored at 4 oC for 48 hrs, during which sperm physical and morphological properties were evaluated at 24 hr interval. Simultaneously, oxidative stress indices in terms of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde concentration (MDA), resazurin reduction test, in addition to enzymatic activities of AST, ALT and ALP were determined. The results revealed that, over the 48 hr preservation period, level of melatonin in the diluent was positively correlated (P

A two year study was conducted to investigate the effects of breed, year, season, age and body condition score on litter sizes of goats reared in Mubi, guinea savannah zone of Nigeria. Data was collected on fetuses recovered, and the grafian follicles as well as the presence of corpus luteum, which are direct measures of litter size from female Sahel and Sokoto Red goats of different age groups and body condition scores across four seasons for two years. It was discovered that, there were significant (P