Physiological responses of transported goats treated with ascorbic acid during the hot-dry season

The aim of the present study was to determine the physiological responses of transported Red Sokoto goats (RSG) treated with ascorbic acid (AA). Ten RSG treated orally with ascorbic acid served as experimental subjects, while seven goats treated with sterile water served as the control. The goats were transported for 8 h. The ambient temperature and relative humidity during the study period fluctuated between 21 and 38°C and 51 and 91%, respectively, which indicated that the season was thermally stressful and did not favor transportation of goats. The rectal temperature obtained in the control goats was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than the value in the experimental goats after transportation. There was a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in eosinophil counts and an increase (P < 0.01) in neutrophil counts and neutrophil : lymphocyte ratio recorded in the control goats after transportation, which suggested that the control goats were physically and emotionally stressed. The control goats lost 11.9% of their initial liveweight, while the experimental goats lost only 1.04% after transportation. Multiple stresses, including extreme meteorological factors, acted upon the transported goats and impaired their homeostatic mechanism. In conclusion, AA administration in goats reduced the adverse effects of road transportation stress.     

The farmer-based small-farm schemes of the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority,Southwestern Nigeria

This paper analyses the strengths and weaknesses of the innovative small-scale farming scheme of the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority in southwestern Nigeria. Two project sites, Ofiki and Mokoloki, situated in contrasting ecological zones are used as case studies. In general the scheme has achieved a large measure of success in both areas, but, the future of the scheme appears brighter and more assured in the Ofiki area, situated in the economically depressed and rural savanna region, than in Mokoloki situated in the forest region where tree crop cultivation is prevalent and urban influence very strong. There are still many unresolved issues, solutions to which may determine the sustenance of the scheme. Such issues include the question of land rights; the negative attitude of the farmers to the system of sole cropping, pricing policy and payment of their share of farm proceeds; low initial returns from the projects; and operational bottle-necks.     

Studies on Nutrient Distribution in Some Zambian Soils with Special Reference to Sulphur Using GIS (Geographic Information Systems) I. Total Sulphur Distribution in Major Zambian Soils

Total sulphur content of some benchmark soils was evaluated by correlating with the contents of soil organic C and amorphous oxides (Al and Fe), and the particle size distribution. An equation model to calculate the content of total soil sulphur was first obtained by regression analysis. Introducing these chemical and physical data of all the map units except for the wetlands into the equation model, the sulphur level on a national scale was estimated for each soil mapping unit in the exploratory soil map of Zambia. Second, the total sulphur content was rated into 3 classes based on the frequency distribution of the total sulphur content in the benchmark soils. Finally, the rated total sulphur content was incorporated into the national soil map database of GIS to produce a map with the total sulphur content of Zambian soils. The extent of each class was calculated and the distribution of the areas was examined in relation to rainfall and soil formation.     

Prevalence of mange among West African Dwarf sheep and goats and associated haematological and biochemical parameters

This study was carried out to assess the prevalence of mange in sheep and goats in five local government areas (LGAs) of Ogun State in South Western Nigeria. A total of 4,973 sheep and 7,902 goats of West African Dwarf breeds were sampled of which only 4 (0.08%) of sheep and 42 (0.53%) of goats were confirmed positive for mange infestation. In all the LGAs sampled, Odeda LGA had the highest concentration of sheep (39%) and goats (51%) while Abeokuta South had the least percentage of sheep (1%) and goats (1%). All the mange-infested cases in sheep were recorded in just one LGA (Ewekoro) which constituted 0.24% of the population within the location. For goats, three out of five LGAs namely: Obafemi Owode, Ewekoro and Abeokuta North had prevalence of 1.46%, 0.53% and 0.72% respectively. There was no significant (P > 0.05) difference between non-infested and infested animals in terms of packed cell volume (31.79 ± 0.87% vs. 31.41 ± 1.13%), haemoglobin (10.51 ± 0.21 g/100 ml vs. 10.28 ± 0.37 g/100 ml) and red blood cells (8.71 ± 0.29 × 10(12)/l vs. 9.40 ± 0.37 × 10(12)/l). The infested group however showed significantly (P < 0.01) higher white blood cells count (7.60 ± 0.22 × 10(9)/l) than the non-infested animals (6.81 ± 0.17 × 10(9)/l). Neutrophil, eosinophil, basophil and monocyte as well as chloride were not significantly affected by the health status of the animals. There existed significant (P < 0.01) difference between non-infested and infested animals in terms of total protein (5.42 ± 0.16 vs. 4.75 ± 0.20 g/dl), sodium (137.98 ± 1.53 vs. 128.92 ± 1.92 mEq/l) and potassium (4.04 ± 0.14 vs. 3.46 ± 0.18 mEq/l). It can be concluded from this study that the prevalence of mange mite infestation varied with location and was generally low or absent in some of the LGAs considered. Goats were particularly more susceptible to mange infestation than sheep. More concerted effort is needed to control mange in order to avoid spread since it is a contagious disease.     

Changes in feed consumption and water intake among broiler chickens subjected to melatonin treatment during the hot-dry season

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The experiment was conducted to evaluate changes in feed consumption and water intake among broiler chickens subjected to melatonin treatment during the...     

A retrospective evaluation of four surgical methods of treating canine transmissible venereal tumour

A total of 109 lesions were treated in a total of 109 dogs and bitches using simple surgical excision or diathermy, with or without the simultaneous removal of the gonads. Evaluation of the case, 49 months after surgery, showed that 35 (32.1 per cent) of the tumours had regressed completely whilst 74 (67.9 per cent) had recurred. Excision using diathermy was the more effective treatment irrespective of whether the gonads were removed. There was a significant difference in the frequency of recurrence and the time interval for it to recur (P < 0.05 and P < 0.25 respectively) when the methods of treatment were compared, however castration of either males or females had no significant effect upon the frequency of recurrence.     

Studies on Nutrient Distribution in Some Zambian Soils with Special Reference to Sulphur Using GIS (Geographic Information Systems) II. Evaluation of Plant-Available Sulphur and Its Distribution in Major Zambian Soils

Relationship between the contents of soil sulphur and plant sulphur was studied in order to evaluate the distribution of plant-available sulphur in Zambian soils. Four soils series with distinct differences in texture and organic carbon content had been selected among representative benchmark soil series and used to cultivate maize ( Zea mays L.) as a test plant in pots. From the results of the pot experiment, critical levels of sulphur deficiency in plants and soils were evaluated and the levels of available sulphur for maize nutrition were rated into four classes using data on the relative yield of maize. The optimum method to determine the available sulphur content of the soils was applied to the analysis of other benchmark soils. Satisfactory regression models for assessing the relation between the content of available soil sulphur with other soil constituents among benchmark soil could not be identified. A distribution map for available sulphur was drawn in a step-by-step format by using a different scale of the soil map, soil units and the legends of soil map databases. As a result, it was confirmed that sulphur-deficient and marginal areas were widely distributed throughout the country. Finally, soil acidity problems associated with sulphur application, the inconsistency of the content of available sulphur with that of total sulphur and limitation of the map utility were examined.     

Rectal temperature responses of donkeys administered with ascorbic acid and subjected to load carrying (packing) during the harmattan season in Nigeria

The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the effect of 4-h load carrying (packing) on donkeys administered with ascorbic acid (AA) during the harmattan season. Six donkeys administered orally with ascorbic acid (200 mg/kg) and subjected to packing served as experimental animals, while six others given only distilled water served as control animals. The rectal temperature (RT) of each donkey and dry-bulb temperature (DBT) and relative humidity (RH) of the research pen were recorded at 0600 hours pre-packing; while post-packing, the values were obtained at 1430, 1600 and 1800 hours. The DBT values (ranges) recorded before, during and after packing were 13.7?±?1.3 °C (11–15 °C), 28.4?±?1.0 °C (22.7–30.3 °C) and 30.6?±?3.0 °C (19.8–45 °C), respectively. The highest temperature–humidity index (THI) of 83.4?±?6.9 was obtained at 1430 hours after packing, and the value decreased to 64.2?±?5.8 at 1800 hours. The thermal environmental conditions were outside the thermoneutral zone for the donkeys. The RT values recorded immediately after packing did not differ (P?>?0.05) in experimental and control donkeys; but at 1600 and 1800 hours, values obtained in control donkeys (38.48?±?0.12 and 38.12?±?0.12 °C, respectively) were significantly higher (P?<?0.05) than those recorded in experimental donkeys (38.16?±?0.14 and 37.85?±?0.14 °C, respectively). In conclusion, administration of ascorbic acid reduced the rise in RT due to packing and may be of value in the amelioration of adverse effects of heat stress associated with work in donkeys.     

Genetic structure of wild and domesticated grasscutters (Thryonomys swinderianus) from south-western Nigeria

Grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) is a large rodent distributed across sub-Saharan Africa that is highly valued as a source of protein. There has been little effort to evaluate the genetic structure of grasscutters despite long-term harvesting pressure and over 40 years of grasscutter domestication in West Africa. Our objectives were to quantify the genetic structure of wild grasscutters, and to compare genetic variation from wild samples to those from various farmed samples within south-western Nigeria. We genotyped 145 wild and 88 domesticated individuals at 11 microsatellite loci and present results quantifying regional genetic structuring and the relative patterns of diversity among wild and domesticated grasscutter populations. Our data reflect high differentiation between wild and domesticated grasscutters, and significantly greater allelic richness and gene diversity in the former. Despite this, domesticated populations appear to have similar levels of observed heterozygosity and comparable levels of differentiation among domesticated samples relative to wild samples. This may be the result of high turnover within captive colonies, or frequent infusion of new animals. More detailed molecular and quantitative genetic studies are recommended on this species to be able to understand their natural variation, degree of connectivity and to improve strategies for domestication.     

Hemato-biochemical responses to packing in donkeys administered ascorbic acid during the harmattan season

Experiments were performed to investigate the effect of ascorbic acid (AA) in reducing hemato-biochemical changes in pack donkeys during the cold-dry (harmattan) season. Six experimental donkeys administered orally AA (200 mg/kg) and six control donkeys not administered ascorbic acid were subjected to packing. Blood samples were collected from all donkeys for hematological and biochemical analyses. In the control donkeys, packed cell volume (PCV), erythrocyte count and hemoglobin concentration (Hb) decreased significantly (P<0.05) at the end of packing. In the experimental donkeys, there was no significant difference between the pre- and post-packing values of PCV, erythrocyte count and Hb. In the control donkeys, the neutrophil and neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio increased significantly (P<0.05) post packing, but in the experimental donkeys, the pre- and post-packing values were not significantly different. The eosinophil count increased significantly (P<0.05) in experimental and control donkeys post packing. In conclusion, packing exerted significant adverse effects on the hematological parameters ameliorated by AA administration. AA may modulate neutrophilia and induce a considerable alteration of erythroid markers in donkeys subjected to packing during the harmattan season.