SEASONAL EFFECTS ON LAMB PRODUCTION UNDER TROPICAL CONDITIONS

Observations were made over a period of three years on a total of 336 West African Dwarf (WAD) ewes that were mated to four rams in rotation. Out of a total of 753 lambs obtained, 459 (61%) were produced in the wet season as compared to 294 (39%) produced in the dry season. More lambs were produced as a result of multiple birth (twins and triplets) in the wet than in the dry season. Consequently, the average birth weight of the wet season lambs (1.58kg) was lower than the average birth weight (1.66 kg) of the dry season lambs. Despite this initial disadvantage, the wet season lambs had a higher average weaning weight (9.11 kg) than the dry season lambs (7.83 kg). The effects of season on pre weaning lamb mortality was minimal while the effects of type of birth were quite apparent. Lowest pre-weaning lamb mortality values were recorded for single lambs, followed by twins and triplets, in ascending order. The data also showed that a slightly higher proportion of the male lambs reached weaning age than female lambs. This observation could be associated with reported inverse relationship between lamb birth weight and mortality found in literature.

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Effects of seasonal variation and locations on microbial load in sediment and water of a polluted ecosystem

Journal of Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.4314/jas.v36i1.9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 93-105

Author(s):

A.N. Okereke ◽

J.C. Ike-Obasi

Keyword(s):

Heterotrophic Bacteria ◽

Standard Procedure ◽

Dry Season ◽

Microbial Load ◽

Seasonal Effects ◽

Wet Season ◽

Different Seasons ◽

Dry Seasons ◽

Total Fungi ◽

Hydrocarbon Utilizing Bacteria

Seasonal effects on microbial load of sediment and water at different locations along Bonny Estuary of Niger Delta was investigated for a period of 12 months. All analyses followed standard procedure. Results revealed that total fungi counts in sediment and water at different locations were not significantly different (p > 0.05) at both wet and dry seasons while hydrocarbon utilizing fungi showed significant differences (p < 0.05) at both seasons in both sediment and water samples. During the wet season, total faecal counts ranged from 5.0 to 10.0 x 105 CFU/g for sediment and 4.0 to 7.0x 105 CFU/g in water. In dry season, the concentration of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria in the sediment ranged between 0.1 x 105 CFU/ml/g and 8.0 x 105 CFU/ml/g in wet season while in dry season, the concentration in water ranged between 0.1 x 105 CFU/ml/g and 6.0 x 105 CFU/ml/g at Abuloma. At Okwujagu, total heterotrophic bacteria counts in sediment ranged from 0.1 to 8.0 x 105 CFU/g in dry season. This was higher than the range 0.1 to 6.8.0 x 105 CFU/ recorded in Abuloma, Okwujagu and Slaughter at dry season. The highest vibrio counts in water (11.0 x 105 CFU/ml) for wet and (10.0 x 105 CFU/ml) for dry seasons were recorded at Slaughter. In Oginiba, the feacal count recorded 3.0 x 105 CFU/ml in water during the wet season and 2.0 x 105 CFU/ml for dry season. Generally, there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the bacterial concentrations in both sediment and water. This showed that different seasons favour the growth of certain microbial types.

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Balami Sheep: Performance in North-Eastern Nigeria

Nigerian Journal of Animal Production ◽

10.51791/njap.v17i.2055 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 ◽

pp. 29-35

Author(s):

V. Buvanendran ◽

I. F Adu

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Litter Size ◽

Survival Rates ◽

Dry Season ◽

Wet Season ◽

North Eastern

Balami sheep is the largest indiginous breeds of sheep in Nigeria with a mature ewe weight of 43kg. The performance of this breed was studied using 454 lambing records of 142 ewes during a 6-year period. Lambing occurred throughout the year with a peak during the wet season. First lambing was at 18 months of age and subsequent lambing occurred at approximately 9 months intervals. Mean litter size increased from 1.02 at first lambing to 1.6 at 54 months years of age. Lambing interval was shorter by 50 days for lambing in the wet than in the dry season. Lamb mortality to 10 weeks of age was about 43%. Lambs born during the wet season those from primiparous ewes and twins had low survival rates. Mean birth weight was 3.3kg and weights at 4 and 10 weeks of age were 7.4 and 12.1kg respectively. Type of birth, age of dam and sex had significant effects on weights at all ages. Productivity of ewes estimated as weight of weaned lamb per kg metabolic weight per annum increased with the age of the ewe to about 55 months of age. Repeatability of litter size, lambing interval, birth and 10 weeks were 0.087, 0.091, 0.052 and 0.273 respectively.

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Analysis of errors in barometric elevations in northern Nigeria

Geophysics ◽

10.1190/1.1441113 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 45 (7) ◽

pp. 1144-1152 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

P. J. T. Verheijen ◽

D. E. Ajakaiye

Keyword(s):

Dry Season ◽

Pressure Variation ◽

Northern Nigeria ◽

Autocorrelation Analysis ◽

Wet Season ◽

Tropical Conditions

We present an analysis of errors contributing to the inaccuracy of aneroid altimeter observations under tropical conditions. Instrumental errors were investigated experimentally, while errors due to meterological factors were analyzed using an autocorrelation analysis of actual pressure observations. For an estimated accuracy of ±1.2 to ±2.5 m, it is recommended that a diurnal pressure variation be eliminated from the altimeter field readings and that measurements be restricted to 0500 to 1400 hours LST in the wet season and from 0500 to 1100 hours LST or 1500 to 1830 hours LST in the dry season.

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PHOTOSYNTHETIC ACTIVITY AND EARLY GROWTH OF FOUR CACAO GENOTYPES AS INFLUENCED BY DIFFERENT SHADE REGIMES UNDER WEST AFRICAN DRY AND WET SEASON CONDITIONS

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479712001007 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 49 (1) ◽

pp. 31-42 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

K. ACHEAMPONG ◽

P. HADLEY ◽

A. J. DAYMOND

Keyword(s):

Leaf Area ◽

Photosynthetic Activity ◽

Vapour Pressure Deficit ◽

Dry Season ◽

West African ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Genotypic Differences ◽

Wet Season ◽

Photosynthetic Rates ◽

The Difference

SUMMARYThe physiological performance of four cacao clones was examined under three artificial shade regimes over the course of a year in Ghana. Plants under light shade had significantly higher photosynthetic rates in the rainy seasons whereas in the dry season there was a trend of higher photosynthetic rates under heavy shade. The results imply that during the wet seasons light was the main limiting factor to photosynthesis whereas in the dry season vapour pressure deficit was the major factor limiting photosynthesis through stomatal regulation. Leaf area was generally lower under heavier shade but the difference between shade treatments varied between clones. Such differences in leaf area allocation appeared to underlie genotypic differences in final biomass production in response to shade. The results suggest that shade for young cacao should be provided based on the current ambient environment and genotype.

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Reproductive performance and superovulatory endangered Cameroonian Namshi breed (Bos taurus)

Nigerian Journal of Animal Production ◽

10.51791/njap.v31i1.1492 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 112-118

Author(s):

L. D. Massoma ◽

N. M. Ngo ◽

J. Tchoumboue ◽

O. Messono

Keyword(s):

Mortality Rate ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Bos Taurus ◽

Ovarian Response ◽

Dry Season ◽

Wet Season ◽

Average Birth Weight ◽

Oestrus Cycle ◽

Calf Mortality ◽

Calving Rate

This study was undertaken to determine the reproductive performance of the endangered Bos-taurus Namshi breed of Cameroon. Ovarian response to superovulatory treatment was also evaluated. The following observations were recorded. The average calf mortality rate was 25.71% while the average birth weight was 12.22±0.82kg. The percentage of animals in oestrus during the wet and dry season was respectively 60% and 33.4%. The oestrus cycle length and the oestrus duration were respectively 20.80±1.20d and 7.00±0.80h: corresponding dry season figures for those parameters were 19.00±0.94d and 6.00±0.7h respectively. In the dry season the manifestation of oestrus was 80º during the day and 20º at night while in the wet season it was 55.55% and 44.5% respectively. Postpartum oestrus was at 18 months. The ovarian response to superovulatory treatment was about 6.40±2.50 ovulations per cow. Results indicate that the scarcity of Bos-taurus Namshi breed in Camerron could be attributed to high calf mortality rate, low calving rate and long postpartum periods. Embryo transfer could be a way to rapidly multiply this breed.

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FACTORS AFFECTING LIVEWEIGHT OF GOAT AND SHEEP IN TWO LOCATION WITHIN OGUN STATE.

Nigerian Journal of Animal Production ◽

10.51791/njap.v23i1.2023 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 12-15

Author(s):

C. O. N. IKEOBI ◽

O. A. FALETI

Keyword(s):

Dry Season ◽

West African ◽

Wet Season ◽

The West ◽

Southwestern Nigeria ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

West African Dwarf ◽

Ogun State ◽

West African Dwarf Goat ◽

The Mean

A study was conducted over two years With the to determine the changes in the liveweight of Yankasa sheep and Maradi goat in goats and sheep in two locations in Ogun State, South-Western Nigeria Factors found to be important included breed of goat, season, location, and sex of the animal. The Maradi goat had a greater variation in its liveweight than the West African' dwarf goat. The mean weekly gain in the liveweight of goats was 0.18±02 dry season and 0.26±0.05 kg in the wet season. Liveweight changes were greater in yearling Yankasa sheep reared in this part of the Southwestern Nigeria than in older ones; these differences were significantly greater in the dry than in the wet season.

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Estimasi Korelasi Genetik antara Bobot Lahir dengan Bobot Sapih pada Kambing Saburai di Sentra Pembibitan Kabupaten Tanggamus Provinsi Lampung

Jurnal Ilmu dan Teknologi Peternakan Tropis ◽

10.33772/jitro.v7i2.5628 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 247

Author(s):

Muhammad Dima Iqbal Hamdani ◽

Kusuma Adhianto ◽

Sumarni Sumarni ◽

Sulastri Sulastri

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Genetic Correlation ◽

Survey Method ◽

Data Recording ◽

Breeding Area ◽

Weaning Weight ◽

Average Birth Weight ◽

Weaning Age ◽

Keywords Birth Weight ◽

Birth Type

ABSTRAKPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui estimasi nilai korelasi genetik antara berat lahir dan berat sapih pada kambing saburai di Kabupaten Tanggamus. Penelitian dilakukan pada bulan Juli-Agustus 2018, berlokasi di Sentra pembibitan kambing saburai di Kabupaten Tanggamus. Materi penelitian ini sebanyak data 136 indukan dan data 150 anakan kambing saburai. Metode penelitian yaitu survei menggunakan data recording dan kuesioner. Variabel yang diamati adalah berat lahir dan berat sapih induk, berat lahir dan berat sapih cempe, umur sapih, umur induk saat melahirkan, tipe kelahiran cempe, dan jenis kelamin cempe. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa berat lahir dan berat sapih induk masing-masing adalah 3,10±0,47 dan 12,15± 2,29; berat lahir dan berat sapih cempe masing-masing adalah 3,25±0,48 dan 12,60± 2,77. Korelasi genetik berat lahir dan berat sapih di Sentra Pembibitan Kabupaten Tanggamus adalah 0,37. Kesimpulan dari penelitian ini adalah seleksi peningkatan bobot lahir akan meningkatkan bobot sapih kambing saburai.Kata kunci: bobot lahir, bobot sapih, kambing saburai, korelasi genetikABSTRACTThis study aims to determine the estimation of genetic correlation values of birth weights and weaning weights in Saburai goats in Tanggamus regency. The study was conducted in July-August 2018, located in the breeding area, Tanggamus Regency. The materials of research were data from 136 doe and 150 kids. The research was conducted by survey method using the recording data and questionnaire. The variables observed were birth weight and weaning weight of doe, birth weight and weaning weight of the kid, weaning age, doe’s age at parturition, birth type of kid, and sex of kid. The results of this study indicate that the average birth weight of doe was 3.10±0.47, the weaning weight of doe was 12.15±2.29, the birth weight of kid was 3.25±0.48, and weaning weight of kid was 12.60±2.77. It can be concluded that the estimation of genetic correlation between birth weight and weaning weight of saburai goat was high with score of 0.37. Selection on birth weight can increase weaning weight in saburai goat. Keywords: birth weight, weaning weight, saburai goat, genetic correlation

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The annual migrations of three species of West African fruit bats (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae)

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z83-299 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 61 (10) ◽

pp. 2266-2272 ◽

Cited By ~ 61

Author(s):

Donald W. Thomas

Keyword(s):

High Amplitude ◽

Dry Season ◽

West African ◽

Wet Season ◽

Forest Zone ◽

The North ◽

Large Colony ◽

Males And Females ◽

Catch Rates ◽

Eidolon Helvum

The seasonal movements of Eidolon helvum, Myonycteris torquata, and Nanonycteris veldkampi were studied over a 2-year period in West Africa. During the dry season, E. helvum roosts in at least one large colony (ca. 500 000 individuals) in the southern forest zone of Ivory Coast. Following the birth of young in February, males and females move into the savanna zones, and the progressive establishment and decline of colonies along a south–north axis indicates that E. helvum migrates at least to the Niger River basin by the middle of the wet season (July). During the dry season, both M. torquata and N. veldkampi are absent from savanna sites, but are common in the forest zone. With the onset of the rainy season in March, catch rates of both species increase first at a southern Guinea savanna site and subsequently at a savanna site 400 km to the north, indicating that both species migrate at least to the southern Sudanese savanna zone during the wet season. Both sexes of N. veldkampi migrate, but the migration of M. torquata is restricted to the immature male cohorts. I argue that the high amplitude of the seasonal fluctuations in fruit abundance at savanna sites creates a wet-season surplus of food which results in low intra- and inter-specific competition levels at these sites relative to the forest zone. This may provide the conditions leading to the observed annual migrations.

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SEASONAL EFFECTS ON OESTRUS PATTERNS AND PROGESTERONE PROFILES OF YANKASA EWES OF DIFFERENT AGE-GROUPS IN THE SUB-HUMID TROPICS

Nigerian Journal of Animal Production ◽

10.51791/njap.v28i2.1938 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 211-216

Author(s):

B. S. OLADIMEJI ◽

O. A. OSINOWO, ◽

J. P. ALAWA ◽

J. O. HAMBOLU

Keyword(s):

Age Groups ◽

Reproductive Behaviour ◽

Dry Season ◽

Seasonal Effects ◽

Age Group ◽

Wet Season ◽

Serum Progesterone ◽

Oestrus Cycle ◽

Hot Dry Season ◽

The Mean

Oestrus patterns and serum progesterone profiles of 10 adult and 10 yearling Yankasa ewes were investigated in the late hot-dry and late-wet seasons in the subhumid tropical climate of Zaria, Nigeria. The proportions of ewes which came on heat once, twice or thrice within the experimental periods in the late hot-dry and late-wet seasons were 25, 15 and 0%, and 5, 10 and 85% respectively, while mean oestrous cycle length was significantly longer (P<0.001) in the hot-dry season than in the late-wet season (30.9 vs 18.4 days) due to the higher incidence of anoestrus in the former. However, the mean duration of oestrus was not affected by season. Mean serum progesterone levels were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the late-wet season than in the late hot-dry season (1.57 vs 0.52 ng/ml). However, there was a highly significant (P<0.001) interaction between season and age group in mean serum progesterone levels due to a relatively greater depression in progesterone levels in yearling ewes during the hot-dry season compared with adult ewes. The observed disruptions in the oestrus cycle and serum progesterone levels of the ewes in the hot-dry season confirm the adverse effect of heat stress on the reproductive behaviour of ewes.

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