SEASONAL VARIATIONS IN SEMINAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF SHEEP IN THE HUMID TROPICS

Semen collected from six mature West African Dwarf (WAD) rams by artificial Vagina, twice weekly for one year, early and late rainy season, and early and late dry season, showed no significant difference in volume of ejaculate and progressive motility of sperm. There was significant difference in sperm concentration, total sperm per ejaculate, total motile sperm per ejaculate and abnormal sperm. Seasonal changes in characteristics of the semen were associated with seasonal changes in temperature, indicating the detrimental effects of heat, even on indigenous stock.

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Reproductive performance of the West African Dwarf and the Nungua Black Head sheep of Ghana

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s0003356100031615 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 249-252 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

L. O. Ngere ◽

G. Aboagye

Keyword(s):

Survival Rates ◽

West African ◽

The West ◽

West African Dwarf ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Black Head ◽

The Mean ◽

Dwarf Type ◽

West African Dwarf Sheep ◽

Dwarf Sheep

ABSTRACTA study was made of some aspects of reproduction in the Nungua Black Head and the Ghanian variety of the West African Dwarf sheep. The gestation period of the two breeds was similar: 150 and 148 days respectively. Ewes mated in August and September tended to have slightly longer gestation periods than those mated in March. The mean birth weights were 2·2 kg in the Nungua Black Head and 13 kg in the West African Dwarf. Type of birth affected the weight of lambs at birth. The Nungua Black Head had no triplets, 0·132 twins and 0·868 singles. The West African Dwarf was more prolific: 0·402 singles, 0·557 twins and 0·041 triplets. The weight advantage of the Nungua Black Head lambs at birth was maintained to weaning and they also had better survival rates. The adjusted 12-week weaning weights averaged 9·8 and 5·8 kg respectively for the Nungua Black Head and West African Dwarf. What the West African Dwarf lost in individual weight it appeared to make up in numbers so that, when the breeds were compared in terms of kg of lamb weaned per ewe mated, there was no significant difference between them.

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Seasonal changes and hypobiosis in Haemonchus contortus infection in the West African Dwarf sheep and goats in the Nigerian derived savanna

Veterinary Parasitology ◽

10.1016/0304-4017(90)90100-p ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 36 (1-2) ◽

pp. 123-130 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

B.B. Fakae

Keyword(s):

Haemonchus Contortus ◽

Seasonal Changes ◽

West African ◽

The West ◽

Sheep And Goats ◽

West African Dwarf ◽

Derived Savanna ◽

West African Dwarf Sheep ◽

Dwarf Sheep

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Rumen Fermentation Characteristics of West African Dwarf Sheep Fed Supplementary Diets Containing Water-Washed Neem (azadirachtaindica A. Juss) Fruit and Garlic (Allium sativum)

Scholedge International Journal of Multidisciplinary & Allied Studies ISSN 2394-336X ◽

10.19085/journal.sijmas030801 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 3 (8) ◽

pp. 135

Author(s):

Joshua Abolade Opeyemi ◽

Ajayi Adeola

Keyword(s):

Propionic Acid ◽

Rumen Fermentation ◽

West African ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Panicum Maximum ◽

West African Dwarf ◽

Significant Difference ◽

West African Dwarf Sheep ◽

Dwarf Sheep

An experiment was conducted for 37 days for the purpose of investigating Rumen Fermentation Characteristics of West African Dwarf Sheep Fed supplementary diets containing Water-Washed Neem (Azadirachtaindica a. Juss0 Fruit and garlic (Alliumsativum). The experimental design used was a completely randomized design and the obtained data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). 12 West African dwarf Sheep were randomly allotted into 4 treatments of 3 replicates per treatment, these treatments were supplements containing 0%, 5%, 10% neem and 1.25% garlic. Panicum maximum was fed as the basal diet. The basal and supplementary diets were fed at ratio 50:50 and at 3% body weight on dry matter bases. At the end of 37 days feeding trial, rumen liquor from the experimental animals were collected for rumen fermentation characteristics and in vitro gas production. The pH of the rumen liquor had values ranging from 6.30 - 7.00 and there was a significant difference between the 4 treatments. Treatment IV had the highest acetic acid and butyric acid production while treatment II had the lowest. However, there was no significant difference amongst the 4 treatments. Propionic acid was highest for treatment I while treatment II had the lowest value. For the propionic acid, the treatment that had no inclusion of neem and garlic (the control treatment) had the highest mean value for the study. The in vitro production obtained for a standard feed sample incubated in the rumen liquor obtained from the 4 treatments were significantly affected by the inclusion of neem and garlic. It is then concluded that the inclusion of neem at 10% and garlic at 1.25% in the supplementary feed of WAD sheep will significantly reduce methane production and support ruminant production.

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