International Journal of Animal Research

The objective of the study is to correlate between udder traits with breed, live weight, age and parity in respect to milk production of indigenous goats in Adamawa State, North-Eastern Nigeria. Thirteen households were randomly selected for the study from which 55 semi-intensively managed indigenous goats comprising of 13 Sahel, 20 Sokoto Red and 22 Non-descript Does within the age limits of 1, 2, 3 and 4 years and parities of 1, 2, and 3 respectively. Age, parity, live weight (Lwt) and udder parameters, like: teat floor (TF), teat angle (TA), udder length (UL), udder volume (UV) and teat length (TL) were measured. The Sahel does have higher values of Lwt, TF, TA, UL, UV, and TL respectively. The three breeds did not differ significantly in TA. The difference between Sokoto Red and Non-descriptive goat was only in TF distances. Sokoto Red goats had significantly higher (P < 0.05) value of TF than Non-descript goats. All other udder traits increased numerically with advance in age except for TA. There was a significant (P < 0.05) effect of parity on Lwt, TF, and UV. The values of all the parameters measured increased with increase in parity, except TA that was highest in does in their first parity. There was significant (P < 0.01) age x breed interaction effect on all parameters investigated except TA. The Sahel does exhibited higher superiority in all the parameters measured over other breeds at various ages except in does aged ≥ 4 years. The Sahel does across all age groups compared with the other two breeds have the highest values of TF, TL UL and UV. The results of breed x age and breed x parity interactions showed significant effect only in TF distances which is an indication of growth in relation to skeletal development among...

This study was conducted to determine the consumers understanding regarding the food labels in the dairy products and to find out its utility in consumers daily life. Primary data was collected by interviewing 200 consumers (NDRI and GADVASU milk parlor), who were the regular consumers of the milk products in the two distinct areas of northern India to find out the differences in their purchasing pattern. The result revealed that majority of the consumers reads the food labels on initial purchase of their food items. Consumers were well comprehended with the food labels used in the food items. Different kinds of information like Expiration Date (99.50%), Ingredients (78.40%), Health claims (66.80%) and Nutritional information (65.30%) were mostly used by the consumers, and they look for it in the dairy food products labels. Expiry Date was most commonly used by consumers as an indication of freshness, shelf life and food safety across a range of foods. The findings proposed the improvement of consumers knowledge regarding food labels used in the dairy products.

The effects of probiotic, prebiotic and synbiotic preparations on hemato-biochemical parameters, metabolic hormones, biometric measurements and carcass characteristics of growing lambs were studied. Twenty four growing Noemi male lambs were randomly allocated into 4 groups (n=6/group) in a complete randomized design and blocked according to their initial weights. Lambs in the first group were orally given 50 ml of physiological saline (0.9% NaCl) and served as control (CON), while lambs in other three groups were orally given 50 ml of aqueous dandelion extract (PRE) or fermented cow’s milk supplemented with lactic acid bacteria (PRO) or their mixture (1:1, SYN) every other day for 8 consecutive weeks. The results indicated that treatment had no effects on hematological parameters, except leukocytes number which was elevated (P

Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) is a Gram-positive anaerobic spore-forming bacterium that is widespread in environmental soil and sewage, as well as in animal intestines. C. perfringens is an important pathogen in both human and veterinary medicine. The incidence and numbers of C. perfringens in the intestinal contents of 100 cattle, 86 turkey and 177 chickens from September 2015 to April 2016 were determined. C. perfringens was found in 26%, 22% and 40% of intestinal contents of cattle, turkey and chickens, respectively. In this research samples were tested for isolation of C. perfringens by culturing and biochemical method and then they were confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. We suggest that PCR assay could be a replacement of the culture method for quantifying C. perfringens in the intestinal tracts. These research helping us to establish the role of each C. perfringens toxin in animal disease, to investigate the in vivo mechanism of action of these toxins, and to develop more effective vaccines against diseases produced by these microorganisms.

Conventional mineral licks used in livestock production in tropical Africa, are usually imported, highly expensive and their cost/benefit ratio is often questionable. The broad objective of the study is to survey the production technique, utilization and marketing process of novel mineral licks (toka) in Adamawa State, North-Eastern Nigeria. Fifty (50) household producers of novel mineral licks (toka) were purposively selected for oral interviews, discussions and on-field observations. The results indicate that, ninety percent (90%) of novel mineral licks producers are between the ages of 20 and 50 years. Hundred percent (100%) of the people engaged in the business in the study area are women. Ninety percent (90%) of them are married with eighty percent (80%) of them having attended adult education. They had enough experience in the business with seventy percent (70%) having 5 – 15 years and all (100%) of them from minority tribes who are mostly Muslims. The common raw materials used for the production of novel mineral licks in Adamawa State include twelve (12) different plants and fifteen (15) different animal parts. The findings show that, novel mineral licks are utilized by livestock and humans in 6 different ways and, there is no elaborate and well developed marketing structure in the study area. The results indicate that, all the producers (100%) are responsible for retailing and selling of their products to earn additional income to augment the family revenue from sale of their annual farm products.

Bovine herpes virus type 1 (BHV-1), the causative agent of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, is a DNA virus. This pathogen is represents the most common viral pathogen found in cattle semen. The aim of the present study was to set up a of BHV-1 detection assay in bovine blood in Lorestan province using PCR assay. The blood samples of 285 cattle in Khoramabad, Azna, Aligoodarz, Borujerd and Poldokhtar were collected, total DNA was extracted and the region encoded the gI glycoprotein was amplified by PCR using specific primers. Out of 285 blood samples, 56 (19.64%) were positive for BHV-1 (468 bp). The highest and lowest frequencies of the bacterial infection were observed in Khoramabad and Borujerd cities with 21 and 12%, respectively. The results of this study demonstrated that PCR assay represent an excellent (suitable) alternative or additional tool for BHV-1 isolates detection. Finally the study revealed a high incidence of BHV-1 in the blood of Iranian cattle. Thus all cattle must be tested periodically for BHV-1 infection and antimicrobial drugs, to prevent BHV-1 occurrence in cattle must be used. The cattle must be free BHV-1 infection prior to use.

A cross – sectional study was conducted from November 2016 to May 2017 in Dairy cattle in and around Asossa town in order to estimate the prevalence of mastitis, to identify S. aurues from mastitic lactating cows, to evaluate its antimicrobial resistance pattern and to identify risk factors associated with mastitis. A total of 384 Dairy cows milk samples were collected using purposive sampling techniques. The overall prevalence of mastitis at cow level was 39.32 % with 11.45 % and 27.86 % of clinical and subclinical mastitis, respectively. In this study, the subclinical mastitis was significantly higher than clinical mastitis. For all except Age and parity, the multivariable logistic regression analysis for intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors showed significant difference in the prevalence of mastitis in the study area (P˂0.05). From 151 mastitis infected lactating cows, 436 milk samples were cultured and 22.14% S.aureus were isolated. Presumptively identified S. aureus isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility test and 63(74.11%) MRSA have been identified from a total of 85 S. aureus using cefoxitin through disk diffusion method. The present result showed a significant association of resistance pattern with S.aureus isolates, particularly to penicillin G (95.55%), Cefoxitin (77.19%), Tetracycline (63.41%), Streptomycin (60.78%), Gentamycin (59.37%), Vancomycin (56.75%), Clindamycine (54.35%) and Bacitracin (53.65%). In this study, 77.19 % S.aureus isolates were found resistant against Cefoxitin. There were also observed multidrug resistance, mainly to Penicillin G, Streptomycin and Tetracycline. The present study revealed higher prevalence of mastitis and occurrence of multidrug resistance S.aureus specifically which belongs to the MRSA which are dependent on multiple associated risk factors. Hence, regular resistance follow-up, using antimicrobials sensitivity tests helps to select effective antimicrobials and to reduce the problems of drug resistance developments towards commonly used antimicrobials.

The objectives of the study were to investigate the socio-cultural, herd structure and reproductive practices of pastoralist cattle producers in Nigeria. The study was carried out with the aid questionnaires, oral interview and field observations on 300 respondents spread across the three study LGAs. Pastoral cattle production in Adamawa state was predominated by highly experienced (80 – 85%), married (75 – 88%), male (75 – 90%) Fulani (95 – 65%) Muslims (75 – 80%) aged mostly 31 – 40 years (48 – 55%) and having limited western education. White Fulani (50.00%) was the most common breed in Gombi LGA, while Red Bororo (53.00%) and Adamawa Gudali (50.00%) were the most predominant breeds in Mubi North and Jada LGAs respectively. Most of the pastoralist (40 – 50%) maintained herd size of 41 to 50 heads and reared cattle for multiple purposes such as breeding, milk, meat and traction. Farmers practiced uncontrolled breeding, with bull to cow ratio of 1:10 (75.00% at Mubi north LGA). First mating (50 – 60%) was done between 4 and 5 years, while age at first calving (73 -75%) was mostly 5 – 7 years indicating serious reproductive life wastage. Most pastoralists (55 – 65%) use ethno-veterinary practices to enhance cattle reproductive performance. Calving rates (75 – 85%) were more during late rainy season (LRS), while (90.00%) depended on natural pastures for feeding their cattle. Cattle graze 21 different species of grasses and 19 legumes during the wet periods, while 12 crop residues, 7 by-products and 10 browse plants were offered during dry periods as supplements. Most of the pastoralists (70.00 – 90.00%) depended solely on natural flowing streams and rivers for the supply of water to their cattle. The major production constraints (43.33%) identified was diminishing natural resources characterized by shrinking land and vegetal resources. The…

The precarious supply of animal products to Nigerian populace may worsen if livestock production is still based on the use of multipurpose indigenous cattle breeds with genetically low productive potentials. The main objective of this study was to determine the reproductive performance of Zebu cattle in an AI program in The Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Livestock Farm, Adamawa State, North-Eastern Nigeria. Twenty (20) female Zebu cattle comprising heifers and cows were selected at random from the cattle herds, February to March, 2016. The insemination was performed via recto-vaginal technique following estrus synchronization, using prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α). The results of the study showed animal age ranging from three (3) to ten (10) years old with parity from 0 to 5. The body condition scores of the animals vary from 2.0 to 2.5 indicating poor nutrition and management practices at the period. There was 100% estrus detection rate since all animals displayed signs of heat and were turned in for insemination. The findings showed a low success rate of 25% with higher failure rate of 75%. It was concluded that, Ayrshire and Brahman crossed Zebu female cattle through AI, though gave low fertility rates at the first attempt, is still the rapid means of improving milk production and reproductive efficiency of the combined adaptability and hardiness of the Zebu cattle (Bos indicus) with the genetically high reproductive and milk yield potentials of the exotic breeds (Bos taurus). There is still room for an in-depth future study of the effects of upgrading indigenous Zebu cattle crossed with exotic bulls to maximize production. This is important in realizing the goal of increasing the production and reproductive efficiency of the indigenous cross-bred cattle in the country. This would also ensure sustainable food security in the North-East and Nigeria as a whole.

This study aimed at investigating effects of drenching low and high dosage of L-arginine alone, combined with propylene glycol or propylene glycol alone during the eight weeks during late ewe’s gestation on the litter weight and survival at birth and maternal progesterone (P4). Thirty four adult Najdi ewes were randomly allotted into six groups (G). G1 (C, control, n=6) ewes orally given 50 ml physiological saline daily, G2 (LA, n=6) ewes given 50 ml containing 37.5 mg L-arginine/kg/day, G3 (HA, N=6) ewes given 50 ml containing 75 mg l-arginine/kg/day, G4 (P, n=6) ewes given 50 ml propylene glycol, G5 (LAP, n=5) ewes given 50 ml containing 25 ml propylene glycol and 25 ml LA and G6 (HAP, n=5) ewes given 50 ml containing 25 ml propylene glycol and 25 ml HA. Jugular blood samples for serum P4 were collected once a week from the beginning of treatment till parturition. At parturition litter size, litter weight, neonatal birth weight and viability were determined. Mean lamb birth weight was 3.75, 5.44, 5.72, 5.75, 7.33 and 5.6 kg in C, LA, HA, P, LAP and HAP, respectively. Survival rates at birth were 75, 87.5, 100, 83.3, 83.3 and 100% in C, LA, HA, P, LAP and HAP, respectively. The highest P4 level with typical profile was found in LAP ewes. In conclusion, administration of a combination of l-arginine (37.5 mg/kg/d) with propylene glycol during eight weeks of late sheep pregnancy not only enhanced fetal growth and survival of neonates but it also enhanced maternal corpus luteum function.