The major histocompatibility complex of West African cattle. Typing of lymphocyte antigens (BoLA) of Baoulé cattle (Bos taurus) and Sudanese zebus (Bos indicus) of Burkina Faso (West Africa)

Lymphocyte antigen (BoLA) typing on 247 Baoule cattle (Bos taurus) and 106 Sudanese zebus (Bos indicus), allowed us to determine gene frequencies of 43 class 1 specificities, as international "W" and European "EU", as African local from Kenya "KN" and Burkina Faso "BF". In comparing these frequencies, it appears that some specificities could be considered as significant breed markers for Baoule cattle and zebus.     

Fertility of N'dama and Bunaji Cattle to Artificial Insemination Following Oestrus Synchronization with PRID and PGF2α in the Hot Humid Zone of Nigeria

A study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of a progesterone-releasing intravaginal device (PRID) and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2alpha) in synchronizing oestrus in N'dama and Bunaji cows and heifers and the fertility following artificial insemination at the synchronized oestrus. A total of 116 cows and heifers (58 N'dama and 58 Bunaji) were used in two separate trials. In the first trial, oestrus was synchronized using a PRID, which was inserted for 12 days; in the second trial, oestrus was synchronized by giving two injections of PGF2alpha 13 days apart. Only animals that did not respond to the first injection were given the second injection. At the end of each treatment period, the animals were observed for oestrus for 7 days and inseminated approximately 12 h following detection of oestrus. Standing to be mounted was the single criterion used to judge an animal to have been in oestrus. PGF2alpha and PRID were both effective in synchronizing oestrus in N'dama and Bunaji cows and heifers. The respective oestrus response rates, pregnancy rate and conception rates for PRID and PGF2alpha were 85.7%, 53.6% and 62.5% for PRID, and 91.7%, 68.3% and 74.6% for PGF2alpha. N'dama cattle showed significantly (p<0.05) better oestrus response rate, pregnancy rate and conception rate than Bunaji cattle following both PRID and PGF2alpha treatments. The pregnancy rate and conception rate following PGF2alpha treatment were better (p < 0.05) than for PRID, although the oestrus response rate did not differ. It is concluded that both PRID and PGF2alpha are effective in synchronizing oestrus in N'dama and Bunaji cattle in the hot humid zone of Nigeria and the fertility to artificial insemination at the synchronized oestrus was normal and acceptable. Thus, PRID and PGF2alpha can effectively be used in intensive breeding programmes for the rapid multiplication and distribution of both cattle breeds, especially the N'dama, which is a unique and beneficial animal genetic resource for the tsetse infested hot humid zone of Nigeria.     

Comparison Study of Growth Performance,Nutrient Digestion,Rumen Fermentation and Blood Physiological Indexes between Yaks (Bos grunniens) and Cattle (Bos taurus) under Low-Concentrate Barn Fattening北大核心CSCD

This study was aimed to compare the growth performance, nutrient digestion, rumen fermentation and blood physiological indexes between yaks (Bos grunniens) and cattle (Bos taurus) under low-concentrate barn fattening, which provide data reference and technical support for breed and feeding technology selection of fattening beef cattle in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. In this experiment, six healthy yaks [(211 ±6) kg] and six healthy Qaidam cattle [(210±7) kg], all castrated and 4 years of age, were selected and raised in individual metabolic cages. The experimental diets consisted of concentrate (2.0 kg / d per head) and forage (ad libitum) . The pre-experiment lasted for 10 days, and the trial lasted for 95 days. The results showed as follows: 1) total dry matter intake were significantly lower in yaks than cattle (P<0.05), whereas average daily gain was not different between yaks and cattle (P>0.05), therefore, feed / gain was significantly lower in yaks than cattle (P<0.05) . 2) There was no difference between yaks and cattle in apparent digestibilities of nutrients (P>0.05) . 3) Ruminal pH tended to be higher (P = 0.083), and the concentrations of iso-volatile fatty acids (VFAs) were significantly greater in yaks than cattle (P<0.05), whereas the concentrations of total volatile fatty acids (TVFA), acetate, propionate and butyrate were not significantly different between yaks and cattle (P>0.05) . 4) Concentrations of ammonia nitrogen, free amino acid nitrogen and soluble protein nitrogen in rumen were significantly greater in yaks than cattle (P<0.05) . 5) The red blood cells (RBC) amount, hemoglobin (HGB) content, hematocrit (HCT) and red blood cell volume distribution width (RDW-CV) were significantly lower (P < 0. 05), whereas mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) content and platelets (PLT) amount were significantly higher in yaks than cattle (P<0.05) . In conclusion, yaks have lower feed intake, but have a greater feed conversion efficiency than cattle, therefore, yaks can produce a greater economic benefits than cattle under low-concentrate barn fattening system. © 2023 Authors. All rights reserved.