Assessing the haematology and serum chemistry of Uda rams fed different Kanwa based mineral licks

This study was conducted at the Department of Animal Science’s Teaching and Research farm of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto to evaluate the effect of feeding different kanwa based mineral licks on blood profile of Uda rams. Blood of twenty (20) yearlings Uda rams aged by dentition were used to evaluate the effect of Kanwa¬-based mineral blocks. Four (4) animals were allotted to each treatment (Kanwa block) with each animal serving as a replicate. The Kanwa used were Kanwan Bai-Bai, Kanwan Kolo, Hogga, Balma and conventional mineral lick to represent treatment 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Data was collected at the end of the experiment. The result of haematological analysis showed significant (p<0.05) differences in all the parameters analysed except PCV, MCH, WBC and eosinophil; the result indicated that all the values where within the normal reference range except in MCHC where animals placed in T2 and T3 shows values slightly above the normal range. The result of serum biochemistry showed that all the values measured were within the normal reference range for sheep except the albumin of animals placed in T3 which had values slightly above the normal range. The serum mineral composition showed that Potassium levels were higher in T2 and lower in T4; however, there was no difference between animals placed in treatments 1, 2 and 3, so also between treatments 1, 3 and 4. The study concluded that Kanwa positively affected sheep production with no adverse effect on both haematological and serum chemistry, hence little health hazard is associated with feeding Kanwa-based blocks on growing Uda rams.

Morphometric characteristics of sheep and goat fed silage comprising of cassava peel, gamba grass and Mexican sunflower

The constant demand for less expensive and more easily available alternative feed sources for animal production is on the increase. This is particularly true in the tropics, where feed availability varies according to the season. Based on this necessity, this study aims to evaluate the impact of feeding silage to sheep and goats on growth and development. A total of 22 animals comprising of 11 Yankassa breed and 11 West African Dwarf breed were used for the study. The animals were confined and allowed to acclimatize to the environment for about 14 to 21 days, followed by 5 weeks of study. The forage used for silage was Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus) and Mexican sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) mixed with equal amounts of cassava peel and molasses in different proportions for three different treatments. Body length, neck circumference, height at withers, heart girth, and body weight were significantly higher (p<0.05) in animals fed T3 diets compared to all other diets, while animals on the T2 diet had higher ear length than T3. Except for neck circumference, ear length, and bodyweight of animals raised on diet T1 and the control group were statistically similar, all the test groups were significantly better than the control group in terms of performance. The highest body weight of 16.74 kg was recorded in T3, followed by 15.97 kg in T2, 12.12 kg in T1, and the least value of 10.09 kg in the control group. No apparent adverse effects were noted in the feeding of silage to the animals as the animals were healthy throughout the duration of the study. More research on the use of silage in feeding indigenous goat and sheep breeds is needed to further understand the impact of silage on animal performance and morphometric traits.

Production performance, egg quality characteristics and serum biochemical parameters on Brahma laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) fed with supplemented Chromolaena odorata leaf meal

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of graded levels of Chromolaena odorata leaf meal (COLM) on production performance, egg quality characteristics, and serum biochemical parameters on Brahma laying hens. A total of forty-five local laying hens aged 4 to 5 months were weighed and assigned to three treatment groups in a completely randomized design. COLM was used as a supplement and incorporated into the diets at 0, 1, and 2% in diets T0, T1, and T2 respectively. Data were collected on production performance, egg quality characteristics, and serum biochemistry. Results from the study indicate that body weight gain, average weight, and egg volume were low (p<0.05) with treatment T2 compared to control (T0) and the best was obtained with treatment T1. The Haugh unit and percentage hen day production were not negatively affected by the treatment levels of COLM. There were significant (p<0.05) differences in triglyceride, total cholesterol, and urea. Results obtained from this study revealed that the inclusion of 1% of COLM improved the egg quality as well as the health status of the birds without having any detrimental effect on the birds.

Nutritional evaluation of differently processed plant protein sources on the performance of broiler chickens

An eight-week feeding trial was conducted to assess four differently protein sources on performance of broiler chickens. Two hundred and fifty (250) day old unsex Anak 2000 broiler chicks were randomly allotted to four differently processed plant protein sources i.e. cooked soybean, salt treated African locust bean and sprouted Bambara nut with groundnut cake (GNC) based diet as control, the treatments were replicated five times (12 birds per replicate) in a Completely Randomized Block Design (CRBD). Results showed that daily feed intake, daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio were affected by different protein sources (p<0.05) at starter, finisher and overall phase. The carcass characteristics showed that live weight (1988-2160 g), slaughter weight (1610-1965 g) and plucked weight (1600-1814 g) were affected by different protein sources(p<0.05). The dressing percentage (83.31-86.25%) are not affected by different protein sources (p>0.05). The abdominal fat (0.61-0.64%), gizzard (1.61-1.77%), small intestine (40.80-43.20 cm) and large intestine (141.80-201.60 cm) were affected by the different protein sources (p<0.05). All the prime cuts were significantly (p<0.05) affected by the dietary protein sources. Total feed cost is highest in soya-bean based diet (N 379.30). The highest body weight (4.53 kg) is in soya bean-based diet. The feed cost per kg gain is highest in GNC based diet (N 158.34) and lowest in soya bean based diet (N 126.43). All the protein sources enhanced the growth performance of broiler chickens; however, soybean was more effective in enhancing the performance of broiler chickens.

Acute phase proteins in veterinary medicine: A review

The acute phase proteins (APPs) are a group of blood proteins that contribute to restoring homeostasis and limiting microbial growth in an antibody-independent manner in animals which are exposed to different pathological conditions like infection, inflammation, surgical trauma and stress. In the last two decades, many advances have been made in monitoring APPs in both farm and companion animals for clinical and experimental purposes. Also, the mechanism of the APPs response is receiving attention in veterinary science in connection with the innate immune systems of animals. This review describes the many of new results of research and role APPs in farm animal, with special reference to their functions, types, induction and regulatory expression, some of biological functions, and their current and future applications to veterinary diagnosis and animal production.

Estrous synchronization and fertility of cross-bred dairy cows using prostaglandin F2α and gonadotropin releasing hormone

A comparative hormonal study of prostaglandin, gonadotropin releasing hormone and their combination was conducted on 30 randomly selected cross-bred dairy cows of SEMEX project for artificial insemination in Hillat Kuku, Khartoum North, Sudan. The study attempts to determine the response of the animals to hormonal induction and synchronization of estrous as well as fertility following fixed time artificial insemination. Three treatment groups of 10 cows each were undertaken. Groups 1, 2 and 3 involved administration of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and a combination of PGF2α + GnRH, respectively. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. The results revealed that all the three protocols induced and synchronized estrous were almost synchronous in all the treated groups. However, protocol 3 revealed a significantly (p<0.05) better result of 70% pregnancy rate compared to other two protocols that equally provided 50% pregnancy rates. The study resolves that protocol 3 be highly recommended to change the mindset of farmers about the spread of reproductive technology in Sudan. Protocols 1 and 2 provided acceptable pregnancy rates that can be enhanced with the improvement of management.

Performance of broiler birds fed graded levels of clove (Syzgium aromaticum (L.) buds powder in semi-arid region, Nigeria

The study was conducted on broiler chickens to investigate the effect of graded levels of clove buds powder fed on performance. A total of 288 broiler chickens were being used. The broiler chickens randomly divided into four treatments groups (four experimental diets): T1 (control), T2 (0.5 kg/100kg), T3 (1 kg/100kg) and T4 (1.5 kg/100kg). At the starter phase of experiment, the broiler chickens in treatment 4 (1.5 kg/100kg cloves) show better performs (p<0.05) in final body weight, body weight gain and body weight gain per bird compared to birds in treatment 1(control) and treatment 2 (0.5 kg/100kg). The final phase of the study shows significantly (p<0.05) decreases in feed intake, average daily feed intake and mortality rate with increasing levels of the clove buds powder fed, while body weight and weight gain were increase significantly (p<0.05) with increasing levels of the clove buds powder fed. The study concludes that the use of ingredients of the cloves in poultry diet significantly (p<0.05) improves performance at 1.5 kg/100kg fed inclusion for broiler birds at starter and final phase.

Assessment of antimicrobial consumption in food animals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Monitoring antimicrobial use in food-producing animals is one of the global strategies to tackle antimicrobial resistance. The purpose of the present study is to generate quantitative information on antimicrobial use pattern in Dar es Salaam, which will be used as an approach for future monitoring and surveillance of antimicrobial quantities consumed in food animals. A 3 years (2016-2018) retrospective survey of antimicrobial usage in food-producing animals in three selected districts of Dar es Salaam city, Eastern Tanzania was conducted. Data on antimicrobial quantities consumed was obtained from five purposively selected licensed veterinary pharmaceutical sales/outlet establishments in the study area, based on keeping detailed sales records for the study period. Data analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 20. Animal population data were from FAO-Stat database used to extrapolate the quantity consumed in food animals to the entire population during the study period in Tanzania. The antimicrobials were analysed based on class, importance for human medicine and route of administration. The study revealed that 178.4 tonnes of antimicrobials (by weight of active ingredients) were consumed during the 3 years period, with an average of 59.5 ± 3.8 tonnes/year. The commonly consumed antimicrobials were tetracycline (44.4%), sulphonamides (20.3%), aminoglycosides (10.3%) and beta-lactams (7.4%). In relation to veterinary antimicrobial use importance to human medicine, 34.4% were of critically important antimicrobials; 4.1% reserve and 51% watch group according to AWaRe categorization of WHO. Most of the antimicrobials were administered orally. Overall, a mean of 7.44 ± 0.81 mg/PCU (population correction unit) was consumed by food-producing animals during the 3 years period. This finding can help improve monitoring and control of veterinary antimicrobial use in Dar es Salaam in particular and Tanzania in general by preserving the efficacy of antimicrobials for future animal and human generations.

Effect of processed doum palm (Hyphaene thebaica) pulp meal on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics and haematological indices of broilers

The increase in human population, particularly in the developing countries like Nigeria and the demand for animal protein intake has necessitated different approaches of solving protein shortage. A 28-day study was carried out to determine the performance of finishers fed on different hourly soaked doum palm (Hyphaene thebaica) pulp meal (DPPM) diets. Two hundred and sixteen (216) finishers (4 week-old) were randomly allotted to six dietary treatments. Each treatment consisted of 36 birds with three replicates (12 birds per replicate) in a completely randomized design (CRD). Six experimental diets were formulated and designed as follows: T1 (Control) contained 0% DPPM while T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 contained 12.5% each of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 hours soaked DPPM as substitute for maize, respectively. Feeds and water were provided ad libitum for all treatment groups. The average body weight gain (40.44- 42.71 g/b/d), average feed intake (87.52-96.73 g/b/d) and feed conversion ratio (2.14-2.34) were non-significant (p>0.05) regardless of the dietary treatments. Statistical differences (p<0.05) were observed in some carcass parameters such as thigh (13.40-14.98%), neck (5.32-6.55%), shank (3.81-5.2 %), wing (9.80-11.41%), head (2.43-3.74%) and two haematological indices; white blood cell (160.67-189.53 X 103/mm3) and eosinophils (0.33-2.00%) across the treatment groups. The processed DPPM could serve as a rich energy source in broiler feeds with the raw doum palm pulp containing 2987.45 kcal/kg. Also, soaking the pulp for 2 to 10 hours before been included in broiler diet improved the nutritional content, acceptability, palatability and utilization of the feed by the broilers. Thus, up to 12.5% processed DPPM can be included in the diets of broiler chickens without adverse effect on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics and haematological indices of chickens.

An investigation on faecal N and lipid excretions in growing broilers fed false yam (Icacina oliviformis) tuber meal

This study was conducted to determine the effect of False Yam (Icacina oliviformis) on the growth performance, some biochemical alterations of growing broiler. For this experiment, 50, 20-day old growing broilers were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments: Raw tuber- (without alcohol treatment) @ 6%, raw tuber (70% alcohol treated) @ 6%, raw tuber @ 9%- were incorporated in a maize-soy based diet while commercial practical diet was used as control diet. Both control and treatment group were fed 60 gm feed daily (restricted feeding) up to the end of the experiment. The completely randomized design of the experiment was used. Pre-treatment of the meal with ethanol resulted in a significant increase in N intake and apparent digestibility and as well as the body weight gain. However, the Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) was found to be increased as compared to those non-alcohol and control groups. Broilers fed on diet based on 9% of the soaked tuber showed an elevated level of fat excretion as compared to those of others. Although, false yam supported the growth, however, apparent N retention could not have been improved by pre-treatment with alcohol and thus, the growth well below those expected. This was partly due to depression in digestion of the false yam protein and possibly to the presence of ant-nutritional factors in the meal that interfered with digestion, absorption and retention of N and lipid. The results showed that there was a significant decline (p<0.05) in the values of weight gain as the levels of false yam was increased in the diet. The results also showed that false yam may be added to broiler diets less than 6% without any detrimental effects. Furthermore, false yam may have contained potentially nephrotoxic agents that have been made- available for absorption due to ethanol treatment. Possible involvement of fibre and flatus compounds may have been linked to reduced N retention in broilers.