Prediction of body weight from linear body measurement in two breeds of cattle

The study compared live weight and linear body measurements of two breeds of cattle (White Fulani and Muturu Cattle) and regressed linear body measurements on live weight. A total of eighty-six cattle of forty-three per a breed were reared at the cattle production unit of the Teaching and Research Farm, Akwa Ibom State University – Obio Akpa Campus, Nigeria in a semi intensive management system. Parameters measured were; live weight (LW), face length (FCL), head circumference (HC), ear length (EL), neck length(NL), neck circumference(NC), height at wither(HW), body length(BL), body circumference(BC), hind limb(HL), fore limb(FL), and tail length(TL). The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis for morphometric traits and prediction was done through linear model regression method using SPSS statistical software package. Breed of cattle significantly (P>0.05) affected all linear body measurements and live weight exception of NL .Linear body Parameters of both breeds were compared. The mean live weight of White Fulani and Muturu were 251.28kg and 149.81kg, respectively. Means of FL, EL, NL, BL, HL, TL and BC, NC and HW of White Fulani were significantly (P<0.01) higher than Muturu breed but the HC of Muturu was significantly (P<0.01) higher than White Fulani breed. Muturu breed had higher R2 of 0.98 in BL and BC than White Fulani breed. In conclusion, White Fulani was considered a larger breed than Muturu cattle. Live weight can be accurately predicted from linear body measurements through BC and BL in both breeds.

Morphometrics characterization in White Fulani, Muturu and Pasundan cows

<p class="MDPI17abstract"><strong>Objective: </strong>This study was aimed to characterize three different cattle breeds based on the morphometrics.</p><p class="MDPI17abstract"><strong>Methods: </strong>Five (5) morphometrics which include body length (BL), chest girth (CG), withers height (WH), rump length (RL) and chest depth (CD) were measured in each animal. A total of 119 cows belonging to White Fulani (40 heads), Muturu (40 heads) and Pasundan (39 heads) were used in this study. The age of animal study was 20.93±1.62 months (White Fulani), 21.63±1.75 months (Muturu) and 20.46±2.99 months (Pasundan). Hence, two statistical methods of canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) methods were computed in this study to characterize of animals based on their morphometrics using SPSS 16.0 package.<strong></strong></p><p class="MDPI17abstract"><strong>Results: </strong>Mostly<strong> </strong>the morphometrics of White Fulani and Pasundan cows are similar while those of Muturu are significantly lower than the two other breeds. Four morphometric measurements of CG, RL, BL and WH were identified as a discriminator variables in animal study based on the CDA method. The CDA of morphometrics able to classify 85% (White Fulani), 100% (Muturu) and 74.4% (Pasundan) of the animal into their original breed group.<strong></strong></p><p class="MDPI17abstract"><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The closeness between observations from White Fulani and Pasundan might be due to them being both Zebu (<em>Bos indicus</em>) unlike the Muturu with a type breed of <em>Bos bracycheros</em>.<strong></strong></p>

Haematological, Oxidative Stress and Trace Elements Variations Associated with Emaciation in Pre-Slaughter White Fulani Cows

Pre-slaughter White Fulani cows were purposively sampled on the basis of body condition: emaciated (n=37) and non-emaciated (n=37), with the objective of understanding the intricate interplay of oxidative stress, trace elements and haematological variations during emaciation. Blood was drawn from the jugular vein for haematological analysis and accruing serum was used for the evaluation of malondialdehyde (oxidative stress marker), antioxidant enzymes and compounds, serum protein, electrolytes as well as trace elements. Significant (p < 0.05) differences between the emaciated and non-emaciated cows were established only in the values of copper and reduced glutathione (GSH), which were lower in emaciated cows (EC). None of the animals had packed cell volume (PCV) below the normal reference range, however values above the normal (> 46%) were seen, suggesting dehydration. The PCV in emaciated cattle was slightly lower than in non-emaciated cows. The mean malondialdehyde concentration in non-emaciated cattle was higher than that in emaciated ones, however antioxidants SOD, catalase, Vitamin C and zinc were slightly higher in non-emaciated cows (NEC). Overall, the results indicate that emaciation in studied White Fulani cows (WFC) displayed a variable redox homeostasis confounded by dehydration and depletion of antioxidants.

EFFECT OF SEASON ON PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF THREE BREEDS OF CATTLE RAISED IN SUDAN SAVANNA ZONE

This study was conducted to test the effect of season and breed on thermoregulatory parameters of three Nigerian indigenous breeds of cattle raised in Sudan Savanna Zone. A total number of nine (9) cattle aged between 4-5 years were used for this study. Data were taken for sixteen weeks across two seasons; Cold and Hot Season from three indigenous breed of cattle. Rectal temperature was recorded using digital thermometer, pulse rate was determined using stethoscope and respiratory rate was determined by counting of the respiratory movements of flank area. Data of ambient temperature and relative humidity were recorded on daily basis and temperature humidity index was calculated. All data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance using SAS software. Seasons significantly (P < 0.05) affect all the thermoregulatory parameters of with hot seasons having the highest values. Breed influenced (p<0.05) all the parameters measured. Red Bororo had the highest rectal temperature, while Sokoto has the least rectal temperature. Higher respiratory rate was recorded in SokotoGudali. Respiratory Rate of White Fulani are statistically similar with both Red Bororo and SokotoGudali, but Respiratory Rate of Red Bororo cattle has significantly difference (P<0.05) with SokotoGudali breeds of cattle. Pulse rate differs significantly (P<0.05), SokotoGudali recorded the highest rate and the least rate was observed in White Fulani cattle. It was concluded that Season affect all the thermoregulatory parameters and all the tested parameters were higher during hot season and SokotoGudali react more to thermal stress than Red Bororo and White Fulani

Surgical management of a case of subcutaneous abscess caused by Staphylococcus aureus in adult White Fulani cow

A White Fulani cow whose record reveals three-year old, weighing about 350kg belonging to DUFARMS of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta was presented with a swelling on the left flank. Clinical evaluation of the animal revealed the following: rectal temperature, 38.2°C, heart rate, 60bpm and respiratory rate, 35bpm. A rectangular shaped mass, soft and warm to touch was palpated on the left flank. Pus was aspirated from the swelling with a sterile needle and syringe, and taken for biogram. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from the aspirate which was sensitive to antibiotic, enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and gentamycin (Table 1). Total surgical extirpation of the encapsulated abscess was carried out aseptically under sedation and local anaesthesia and managed chemotherapeutically using antimicrobial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory agents post operatively.

THE PERFORMANCEOF WHITE FULANI COWS (BUNAJI) IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER TROPICAL CATTLE

Lactation records of White Fulani Cows at the University of Ibadan were compared to those of two Indian Zebus (the deshi and Hariana) and the Horro of Ethiopia. All breeds had been raised and kept in comparable tropical regions. None of the populations had been subjected to a selection and breeding program. With regard to milk yield per lactation and day, cows at Ibadan ranked first; 25% of lactations exceeded 1000 kg approaching the Hariana with 36% while only 5% of the Horro cows gave more than 1000 kg milk and none of the Deshi. Lactation length and the calving interval of the Ibadan cows were nearly as long as those of the two Indian breeds. With age of first calving they ranked second, but calving rate was only 0.8 as compared to 1.0 of Horro cows. Calf mortality was high, but overall viability of White Fulani heifers completing first Lactation surpassed the other cows. Their efficiency was 35% as compared to 26% of the Hariana and 59% of American Holstein with the other two breeds following far behind

EFFECT OF PHOSPHORUS SUPPLEMENTATION ON PREGNANCY IN WHITE FULANI (BUNAJI) CATTLE

THE effect of bone meal supplementation on pregnancy and plasma phosphorus level in White Fulani (Bunaji) cattle was investigated over a 13-month period. The monthly mean plasma levels of inorganic phosphorus for supplemented Cows varied from 4.63mg/100ml in dry season to 8.09mg/100ml in the rainy season in contrast to 3.07 to 7.09/100ml in the dry and rainy seasons respectively, for the controls. Bonemeal supplementation resulted in earlier conception and calving. Fifty percent of the supplemented cows calved by the end of the period of supplementation in contrast to 25 percent of the controls. By two months after the study period, 100% of cows that received the supplementation had conceived compared with 87.50% of the controls. It is concluded from the study that bonemeal is a practical method for improving the fertility of White Fulani cattle in the grazing areas of Nigeria where soil and forage are deficient in phosphorus

STUDIES ON PROTEIN REQUIREMENTS OF STEERS

Comparative studies lasting between 59 - 63 days were carried out using the N-balance method to investigate the effect of groundnut cake supplementation on N-metabolism and digestible crude protein (DCP)requirements of three breeds of steers maintained on all-roughage rations of hay and fresh dry of Cynodon rulenfuensis var robustus The results indicated that N intake (/day) Increased ed appreciably with supplementation. The percentage Increases li the intake were 16.4.40.0 and 18.0 for the White Fulani, crossbred and German Brown Steer respectively. Apparent digestibility coefficients for N also increased by 10%0.6.8% and 7.1% for these steers respectively. Faucal nitrogen output (/day) Increased slightly with supplementation with all breedy of steen, while urinary nitrogen loss decreased with the White Fulani, increased with the German Brown and showed no difference with the crossbreed. Absorbed nitrogen (g/day), N-balance (g/day) und N-retention (%) all increased with supplementations Mean values for both metabolic f al ultrogen (MEN) (N/kgDM consumed und endogenous urinary nitrogen (EUN) (/day/wkg 0.75) decreased with supplementation while the mean Hological value (BV) (197) Increased. The values were 2.4 6N/kg DM consumed, 0.11/dm/wg 0.75 and 75.87 respectively. Digestible crude protein requirements (DCP) decreed with supplementation in all the breeds of steen. The values were 1.06, 0.38 and 0.81 (0.75 + 0.20)/day/wkg 0.75) by the N-balance methods and 1.08, 0.51 und 1.20 (0.93 = 0.21) 2DCP/day/wkg 0.75 by the Nuctoriul methody. The DCP requirements therefore range from 0.75 - 0.93 /day/weg 0.75 for these breeds of steers, While there were decreases of approximately 13.14%. 1.99 and 6.4% In the mean DM Intake.

AN ABATTOIR STUDY OF BOVINE MASTITIS IN INDIGENOUS BREEDS OF CATTLE IN NIGERIA

An abattoir survey of the macroscopic examination of the udder of cattle was carried out on, 2,392 heads of cattle originating from different states in Nigeria. 38.75% of these were female animals. The overall incidence of bovine mastitis was 12.30%. Majority of the confirmed cases were aged cows, (70.18%). The view was expressed that the White Fulani breed offers tremendous potential for the dairy industry in Nigeria.