Hematological, serum biochemical and histopathological effects of selected herbs and combinations on Trypanosoma brucei infected West African dwarf sheep

Olatunde OA, Jegede HO, Ameen SA. 2021. Hematological, serum biochemical and histopathological effects of selected herbs and combinations on Trypanosoma brucei infected West African dwarf sheep. Asian J Nat Prod Biochem 19: 10-16. The present work was carried out to study the hematological, serum biochemical and histopathological effects of selected herbal diets on trypanosome infected West African dwarf sheep. Five herbal incorporated diets were tested where A is control diet, B is Citrus aurantifolia; C is Ocimum gratissimum, D is Vernonia amygdalina + Citrus aurantifolia and E is Ocimum gratissimum + Vernonia amygdalina. Sheep on Diets E, A, C, B, and D consumed 856.4g/d, 830g/d, 750.0g/d. 734.0g/d and 687.0g/d respectively showing more acceptability to diet E. Additionally, sheep on Diet E was highest in RBC, WBC, Hb, lymphocyte, PCV and basophils. The least hematological indices were recorded for the animals on Control diet (A) showing that all herbal diets improved blood indices of the infected sheep. The ALP concentration was significantly different (17.000i.u/l) in Diet B compared to other Diets while the least ALP was noted for sheep on Diets A and B. Herbs and combinations used in this study significantly improved both hematological and pathological lesions seen in experimental trypanosomosis caused by Trypanosoma brucei infection in sheep. Best results were gotten from Diet E combinations.

OPTIMAL BREEDING AGE FOR THE WEST AFRICAN DWARF SHEEP IN IBADAN

Observations on the age at first breeding of West African Dwarf Sheep at the University of Ibadan. Nigeria showed that the optimal age and weight at 1st breeding of young ewes was not less than eleven months and at least 13kg respectively When mated earlier, the incidence of abortion in­creased and lambs tended to the smaller at birth. In ewes mated at older ages the lengthening of the generation internal was unacceptable. The relalionuship between weight (4 ) and age (X) from four to 56 weeks was estitnated as: Y (kg) = 3.12 + 9.62 x — 0.02 x 2 + 0.0002 x 3 for singles. or Y =2.59 + 0.46 x = 0.01 x2 + 0.0001 x 3 for Mins.

The West African Dwarf Sheep I. Reproductive Performance and Growth

THE study of the West African Dwarf flock at the University of Ibadan revealed that these sheep under moderately improved management, but without a breeding and selection programe were considerably better than they have been generally given credit for. West African Dwarf ewes are prolific and early maturing. The sheep are small and have finished their growth by the age of two years. Average daily gain up to three months was 85 g and from three months to two years, 31 g. Mortality of lambs with 20% up to three months of age, however, is still too high and should be reduced by improved pest and disease control.

The West African Dwarf Sheep II. Carcass Traits Mutton Quality

CARCASSES of thirty African Dwarf ewes had a yield of 42.5%, about 5 mm backfat thickness and a loin eye of about 8cm2 Primal cuts made up 85% of the carcass. The best carcasses came from ewes slaughtered between two and four years of age. Average composition of retail cuts was 66.5% muscle, 26.5% bone and 7.0% fat. Young ewes were superior to young rams both in dressing percent (yield) and primal cuts. The ewes dressed 44% as compared to 40%; their retail cuts contained 67% muscle and 26% bone against 65% and 28% respectively for rams. Compared with mutton sheep of the temperate zone the West African Dwarf stand only 4/5 as high and are 2/3 long, while weighing only 1/4 to 1/3 that of European sheep. Yet the leg, the preferred cut, was 36% of the dressed carcass is compared to European mutton.

Effects of Leucaena leucocephala supplementation to basal hay on Energy and Protein metabolism in West African. Dwarf sheep

Energy and protein utilization and quantitative retention of protein, fat and energy was investigated with twelve castrated West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep averaging (23.0 h 2.4 kg BW) in nitrogen and energy balance trials. Dried leaves of Leucaena leucocephala were offered as supplement at two levels 25% (diet 2) and 50% (diet 3) of dry matter intake (DM1), replacing hay in the basal hay diet. The basal hay diet without supplementation was the control. Measurements were performed by means of nitrogen and carbon balances and with the use of indirect calorimetry The digestibility and utilization of protein were influenced (P<0.05) by supplementation. Metabolisability of energy (ME/ GE) was on the average 42.9 (SEM 4.3)% being significantly (P<0.05) different among treatments. Diet 2 had a higher (P<0.05) retained protein (9.6 g/d) compared with the control diet and hence a superior (P<0.05) protein utilization than the control and diet 3, respectively. It was concluded that Leucaena leuccocephala improved protein utilization and retention in WAD sheep.

Effects of Age and Sex on Liveweight and Body Composition of the West African Dwarf Sheep

SIXTEEN animals selected from the sheep flock of the University were divided into four age-groups [4, 30, 150-180 and 360-420 days) with each group consisting of two males and two females. They were weighed just before slaughter to obtain their live-weights. Weights of drainable blood, head, hot carcass, trotters, intestinal and stomach contents, liver, kidney, heart, spleen and lungs were recorded and expressed as percentage of the ingesta-free body or empty body weight [E.B.W.]. All body components measured increased in weight with increasing age, but when expressed as percentage of the E.B.W., showed a progressive decrease with advancing age, except the stomach and intestinal contents. The percent moisture content of the visceral organs decreased with advancing age while the percent crude protein and ether extracts increased with age. Sex effects on live-weight and weights of some body components were not apparent at the early age-groups. At maturity however, the males generally had higher values for the various body components. Similarly, the chemical composition of the visceral organs showed very little sex differ ences before maturity; after this stage the males consistently had higher moisture and crude protein values and lower either extracts values than the females.

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE BLOOD MINERAL STATUS OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF SHEEP AND GOATS MANAGED UNDER EXTENSIVE AND SEMI-INTENSIVE SYSTEMS OF MANAGEMENT

A total of eighty (80) animals comprising of forty (40) each of West African Dwarf sheep and goats, averagely weighting 25.33 ± 2.50kg and 15.13 ± 1.0kg, respectively were used in an experiment at the Small Ruminant Unit of the Teaching and Research Farms of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta and Olugbo village via Odeda in Odeda Local Government area of Ogun State. The forty animals from each species were divided into two groups of twenty (20) animals each and were randomly selected and managed under extensive system (ES)and semi intensive system (SIS0. 10ml) of blood sample from individual animal was drawn from each animal and analyzed for their mineral concentration of Ca, P, K, Na, Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn. The main effect of the system of management significantly influenced the concentration of both major and trace minerals of sheep and goats except P and Cu. Sheep and goats under ES had higher (P < 0.05) concentration of Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn and Mn. The concentrations of K and Na were higher (P < 0.05) in sheep and goats under SIS. No significant (P > 0.05) interaction effect on Ca and P concentration was 0bserved, although goats raised under both systems exhibited higher Ca and P concentrations than sheep. However, significant interactions (P < 0.05) of animal special and management systems was observed in the plasma concentrations of Mg, K, Na, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn with no noticeable trend being following. It was concluded that irrespective of the animal species (Sheep or goats) and management systems, Ca and P supplementation is necessary to ensure optimum productivity of the animals

Storage characteristics, digestibility and nitrogen balance in west african dwarf sheep fed preserved elephant grass, caged layer waste and cassava peel diets during dry season

The storage characteristics, digestibility and nitrogen balance of three experimental diets consisting of elephant grass at 45, 40 and 35%, and caged layer waste at 25, 30 and 35 %, respectively with fixed quantity of cassava Deels and sawdust ash at 28 % und 2 %, respectively were assessed using West African Dwarf sheep. Result showed that there was a significant (P<0.05) reduction in the nutrient composition of the feed in terms of DM, CP, ash, NFE, Pand K while the contents of EE, NDF, ADF, ADL, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn were not influenced (P>0.015) by the length of storage. Apparent digestibility of DM, CP, ash and NDF was high but not significantly affected by the composition of the experimental diets. However, digestibilities of CF, ADF and ADL were significantly higher (P<0.05) in rams offered diets 1 and 2 than the rams fed diet 3. Nitrogen balance in the rams fed the experimental diets was high (69.04 to 74.90% of intake) but similar (P>0.05) among the treatments. It was concluded that the experimental diets have good potentials for dry season feeding of small ruminants.

Milk yield of West African Dwarf sheep as affected by udder stimulation, stage of lactation and parity

This study was conducted to investigate the milk yield of West African Dwarf sheep as affected by udder stimulation, stage of lactation and parity. The study involves 12 matured lactating ewes weighing between 16 and 24 kg live weights in a semi intensive system of management. For udder stimulation, the animals were divided into 2 groups; 6 animals were stimulated by massaging, cleaning and drying the udder for 2 minutes before milking while the other 6 were not stimulated, the udder were just milked. Stage of lactation was divided into 4; early, mid, late, and very late respectively with 3weeks interval for all the animals. 4 animals were on first parity while 8 animals were on second parity. The animals were allowed to graze on an established paddock consisting of Stylosanthes hamata, Panicum maximum, Pennisetum purpureum etc. for 5 hours and then supplemented with concentrate (17% CP at 5% body weight). Each quarter of the udder was hand milked unilaterally twice per week at 8.00am for 12 weeks. The result of the study showed that daily milk yield in each of the quarter of the udder (left and right) was not significantly (P>0.05) different. Udder stimulation and stage of lactation had significant (P<0.05) effect on daily milk yield while parity and mammary gland position (left and right ) did not significantly affect daily milk yield. The interaction between udder stimulation and stage of lactation as well as interaction between udder stimulation and parity had significant (P><0.05) effect on daily milk yield in WAD sheep. Therefore it is recommended that sheep udder be stimulated at late and very late stages of lactation to enhance milk production. ><0.05) effect on daily milk yield while parity and mammary gland position (left and right ) did not significantly affect daily milk yield. The interaction between udder stimulation and stage of lactation as well as interaction between udder stimulation and parity had significant (P<0.05) effect on daily milk yield in WAD sheep. Therefore it is recommended that sheep udder be stimulated at late and very late stages of lactation to enhance milk production.