Utilization of Leucaena leucocephala and Gliricidia sepium as supplements by goats fed Panicum maximum basal diet

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The objective of this study was to determine the effect of supplementations of Leucaena leucocephala or Gliricidia sepium by goats fed old Panicum maximum...     

The effect of long-term feeding of fresh and ensiled cassava (Manihot esculenta) foliage on gastrointestinal nematode infections in goats

The benefit of long-term feeding of fresh or ensiled cassava foliage on gastrointestinal parasite in goats was evaluated. Eighteen male goats (15.15 ± 2.83kg and between 4–6months) were randomly allocated into three treatments supplemented with 200g of wheat bran head⁻¹ day⁻¹. All groups were fed ad-libitum on either grass (CO), fresh cassava (CaF) or ensiled cassava foliage (CaS). At the beginning of the trial, each goat was inoculated with 3000 L3 containing ≈50% Haemonchus contortus. Individual LWt, FEC and PCV were measured at weekly intervals for 10weeks. At the termination of the experiment all goats were slaughtered for worm recovery and enumeration. The goats in CaF and CaS had similar weight gains while those in CO lost weight (p < 0.05) through the trial. FEC in CaF and CaS were lower (p < 0.05) than CO during the patency of parasite infections, but there was no difference between CaF and CaS goats. PCV of all groups decreased from above 30% to around 25% at the end of the trial. The compositions of established worm burdens were mainly H. contortus (19–40%) and Trichostrongylus colubriformis (55–76%). TWB did not differ among the groups, however, CaS significantly reduced H. contortus burdens, as compared to CaF and CO (p ≤ 0.005). Thus, ensiled cassava foliage reduced the H. contortus population while the fresh foliage only reduced worm fecundity.     

Utilization of unpeeled cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) root meal supplemented with or without charcoal by broiler chickens

A 42‐day feeding trial was conducted using 480‐day‐old, male Marshall broilers to study the utilization of unpeeled cassava root meal (UCRM) supplemented with or without 6 g/kg charcoal. The experimental design was laid out in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments having three inclusion levels of UCRM (0, 100 and 200 g/kg) with or without 6 g/kg charcoal supplementation. Each treatment consisted of 80 birds replicated eight times with 10 birds per replicate. Main effect of inclusion level of UCRM and supplementation of charcoal showed reduced (p < 0.05) final live weight, weight gain, feed intake and apparent crude protein digestibility of the birds with increasing inclusion levels of UCRM. Birds fed diets supplemented with charcoal showed higher (p < 0.05) final live weight, weight gain and feed intake than birds fed diets without charcoal. Supplementation of charcoal in diet containing 100 g/kg UCRM resulted in improved (p < 0.05) weight gain when compared with birds fed similar diet but not supplemented with charcoal. Broilers fed diet containing no UCRM but supplemented with charcoal had the highest overall (p < 0.05) final live weight and weight gain, while birds fed diet containing 200 g/kg UCRM supplemented with charcoal recorded the poorest (p < 0.05) final live weight and weight gain. Serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and serum thiocyanate concentration increased (p < 0.05) with increasing dietary inclusion levels of UCRM. Dietary supplementation of charcoal resulted in increased (p < 0.05) concentration of serum glucose and cholesterol and reduced (p < 0.05) SGOT concentration. Birds fed diets containing UCRM had high (p < 0.05) serum thiocyanate concentration irrespective of dietary supplementation or not with 6 g/kg charcoal. In conclusion, supplementation of diet containing up to 100 g/kg UCRM with 6 g/kg charcoal showed improved weight gain without any deleterious effect on serum metabolites.     

Potential of tannin‐rich plants,Leucaena leucocephala,Glyricidia sepium and Manihot esculenta,to reduce enteric methane emissions in sheep

An in vivo trial was conducted in sheep to investigate the effect of three tropical tannin‐rich plants (TRP) on methane emission, intake and digestibility. The TRP used were leaves of Glyricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala and Manihot esculenta that contained, respectively, 39, 75 and 92 g condensed tannins/kg DM. Methane was determined with the sulphur hexafluoride tracer technique. Eight rumen‐cannulated sheep of two breeds (four Texel, four Blackbelly) were used in two 4 × 4 Latin square designs. Four experimental diets were tested. They consisted in a tropical natural grassland hay based on Dichanthium spp. fed alone (C) or in association with G. sepium (G), L. leucocephala (L) or M. esculenta (M) given as pellets at 44% of the daily ration. Daily organic matter intake was higher in TRP diets (686, 984, 1054 and 1186 g/day for C, G, L and M respectively; p < 0.05) while apparent organic matter total tract digestibility was not affected (69.9%, 62.8%, 65.3% and 64.7% for C, G, L and M respectively; p > 0.05). Methane emission was 47.1, 44.9, 33.3 and 33.5 g/kg digestible organic matter intake for C, G, L and M, respectively, and was significantly lower (p < 0.05) for L and M than for G and C. Our results confirm the potential of some TRP to reduce methane production. The strong decrease in methane and the increase in intake with TRPs may be due to their presentation as pellets.     

Effect of feeding cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) root meal on growth performance,hydrocyanide intake and haematological parameters of broiler chicks

The effect of feeding cassava root meal on growth performance, hydrocyanide intake, haematological indices and serum thiocyanate concentration of broiler chicks was investigated using 300-day-old male broilers. There were five dietary treatments arranged in a 2?×?2?+?1 factorial arrangement of two processing methods of cassava root (peeled and unpeeled) included at two levels (100 and 200 g/kg) plus a control diet (maize-based diet, containing no cassava root). Each treatment was replicated six times with ten birds per replicate. The feeding trial lasted for 28 days. Control-fed birds had the highest overall (P?P?P?P?P?P?P?P?P?P?P?P?P?P?相似文献   

Effect of Supplementation of a Basal Diet of Maize Stover with Erythrina variegata,Gliricidia sepium or Leucaena leucocephala on Feed Intake and Digestibility by Goats

Two 4 x 4 Latin square design experiments were carried out. In experiment 1, four mature Anglo-Nubian x Fiji local goats, pre-experimental body weight 25.0 +/- 0.6 kg, 22-24 months old, were used to study the effect of supplementation of a basal diet of maize stover with Erythrina variegata (EV), Gliricidia sepium (GS) and Leucaena leucocephala (LL) on dry matter intake (DMI) and nutrient digestibility. Maize stover treated with urea was used as a control diet. E. variegata was higher in crude protein content than LL or GS. The DMI of the urea treated stover diet was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than that of the diets of untreated stover supplemented with forage legumes. The DMI was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the GS diet than in the EV or LL diets. Significant (p < 0.05) differences existed between the urea-treated stover and the diets of stover supplemented with forage legumes in the digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), organic matter (OM) and energy. In experiment 2, four mature goats, pre-experimental body weight 27.0 +/- 0.3 kg, 24-28 months old, were used to measure their response when the urea-treated maize stover and the maize stover and forage legume diets were sprayed with molasses. The intake of the urea-treated stover diet sprayed with molasses was significantly lower (p < 0.05) that that of the maize stover/forage legume diets sprayed with molasses. The DMI of the diets improved with the addition of molasses. The DMI among the goats offered the maize stover/forage legume diets + molasses did not differ significantly. (p > 0.05). Statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences were obtained in this second study between the urea-treated stover and the stover supplemented with forage legumes in the digestibility of DM, CP, NDF, OM and energy. The stover supplemented with forage legumes had a higher (p < 0.05) nutrient digestibility. The present studies demonstrated that the use of forage legumes as protein supplements improved the feed quality of maize stover in the diets of mature goats. It is suggested that molasses should be sprayed on fresh leaves of Gliricicia sepium and other forage legumes that are initially rejected, in order to improve acceptance and DMI when fed to ruminant animals in confinement or in a cut-and-carry system of production.     

Growth performance and blood profile of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats fed varying levels of treated sweet orange peels

Fifteen West African Dwarf grower bucks of about 6–8 months of age and average weights of 8.39 kg were used in a 70-day study to assess the intake and blood profile of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats fed diets containing graded levels of treated sweet orange peel meal (TSOPM), in a completely randomized design. Sweet orange peels were collected from sweet orange retailers within Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. The peels were packed into synthetic bags, compressed, and allowed to ferment for 12 h before sun-drying. The sun-dried peels were crushed into a meal and used to compound four treatments diets which consisted of 0, 60, and 80% TSOPM, designated diets A, B, and C respectively. Results showed that there were no significant differences (P?>?0.05) among the treatments in all the performance parameters except in the total forage intake values in which treatment A (19.74 kg) was significantly lower (P?<?0.05) than treatment B (21.77 kg) and treatment C (21.96 kg). But between treatment B and treatment C, there was no difference. Effect of treatments was also not apparent on the haematological indices measured, but the serum biochemical parameters showed significant difference (P?<?0.05) among the treatments for total protein values. The total protein value for treatment C (8.02 g/dl) was significantly higher (P?<?0.05) than treatments A (7.10 g/dl) and B (6.62 g/dl). The study showed that treated sweet orange peel meal can be used up to 80% level to replace maize offal in the diets of goats without adverse effects on the performance blood indices.

     

Replacement effects of Panicum maximum with Ficus polita on performance of West African dwarf goats

The replacement value of Ficus polita for Panicum maximum was evaluated on 32 female post‐weaned West African dwarfs goats. Ficus polita was fed with P. maximum at different proportions of 0:90 (F. polita:P. maximum), 30:60, 60:30 and 90:0 constituting diets 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Each diet was supplemented with 10% cassava peels. Dry matter intake per kg metabolic weight of goats was not significantly (p > 0.05) influenced by the dietary treatments. However, crude protein intake per kg metabolic weight was higher (p < 0.05) in animals fed 60% and 90%F. polita than those fed sole P. maximum diet. Daily weight gain of goats fed diet 3 (60%F. polita) was higher (p < 0.05) (27.3 g) than those fed diets 4 (18.9 g), 2 (20.8 g) and the control (6.6 g). Dry matter (DM), organic matter, crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fibre digestibilities were higher (p < 0.05) in goats fed 60%F. polita than those fed other diets, except for DM digestibility which was statistically similar to diets 2 and 4 but higher than those fed diet 1 without F. polita. Organic matter and CP digestibility were highest (72.0 and 65.7% respectively) in animals fed 60%F. polita. Nitrogen retention of goats fed 60%F. polita (diet 3) was higher (p < 0.05) than that obtained with other diets. The results suggest that feeding combination of F. polita and P. maximum at ratio 60:30 respectively has associative effects that can enhance growth rate, feed intake, nutrients digestibility and nitrogen utilization for goat production during dry season in the tropics.     

Evaluation of the virulence of some strains of peste-des-petits-ruminants virus (PPRV) in experimentally infected West African dwarf goats

Different isolates of peste-des-petits-ruminants virus (PPRV) from outbreaks in Africa and India were investigated for virulence in West African dwarf goats in the Ivory Coast. Six groups of five animals received a virulent suspension of various strains of virus at a concentration of 10³ TCID₅₀/mL and the goats were observed for 15 days after infection. The Côte-d’Ivoire 89 (CI89), Guinea Conakry and Bissau Guinea PPRV strains caused a peracute disease; the India-Calcutta strain caused acute disease; the Sudan-Sennar strain produced an acute to mild disease, while the Nigeria 75/1 wild-type strain caused a mild disease and the animals recovered. The viruses studied contained examples of PPRV from specific lineage groups based on their nucleoprotein PPRV gene. This experiment indicated that virulence characteristics might be a useful marker to help classify PPRV isolates.     

A comparative study of peste des petits ruminants and Kata in West African dwarf goats

Summary Experimental infections of West African Dwarf goats with Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) and Kata were indistinguishable clinically and pathologically. Goats convalescent from Kata resisted infection with rinderpest virus. Heterologous stimulation of secondary antibody response was observed.

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Sumario Las infecciones experimentales de cabras enanas de Africa Occidental con la peste de los peque?os ruminantes y con Kata fueron clinicamente y patoligicamente indistinguibles. Cabras que convalecieron de Kata resistieron a la infección con el virus de la peste bovina. Se observó una estimulación heteróloga de la respuesta inmunitaria secundaria.

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Résumé L’infection expérimentale de chèvres naines de l’Afrique de l’Ouest par le virus de la peste des petits ruminants (PPR) et par le virus du Kata a montré que les deux maladies ne présentaient pas de différences cliniques ni pathologiques. Des chèvres convalescentes de Kata ont résisté à l’infection par le virus de la peste bovine. Une stimulation hétérologue de la réponse d’anticorps secondaires a été observée.

     

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Effects of supplementing rice straw with Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) and Madras thorn (Pithecellobium dulce) foliages on digestibility,microbial N supply and nitrogen balance of growing goats

A total of 12 crossbred (Boer × Anglo‐Nubian) goats were chosen from a commercial farm on the basis of similar body weight (25.0 ± 3.1 kg). The goats were housed in individual pens and allowed 3 weeks to adapt to experimental conditions. The goats were randomly allocated to three treatments in a 3 × 3 Latin square experiment (replicated four times). Within each period, each goat was given rice straw as roughage plus the respective treatment diet. The diets were iso‐nitrogenous and iso‐energetic containing cassava pulp, molasses, urea and commercial mineral and vitamin mix. The experimental treatments were (i) soybean meal (SBM), (ii) partial substitution of SBM with Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) foliage and (iii) partial substitution of SBM with Madras thorn (Pithecellobium dulce) foliage. Nutrient intakes, ruminal characteristics (pH, ammonia nitrogen and volatile fatty acids), nitrogen balances, plasma urea nitrogen and microbial N supply were not significantly different among treatments. The results of this study indicate that protein foliages from locally grown shrubs and trees can substitute imported feedstuff concentrates (e.g. SBM) as protein supplement for goat production.     

Haematological and serum biochemical parameters of West African Dwarf goats fed dried cassava leaves-based concentrate diets

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding different levels of dried cassava leaves at 0%, 20%, 40% and 60%, respectively, using guinea grass as basal feed, on the haematological and serum biochemical parameters of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats. The study lasted for 116 days during which haematological and serum biochemical parameters were monitored in 40 male goats before and after, using a completely randomized design. At the start of the experiment, packed cell volume (PCV) ranged from 21.5% to 25.5% while haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and RBC significantly (P < 0.01) ranged from 7.3 to 8.6 g/dl and 10.4 to 13.2 × 10¹²/l, respectively. White blood cells reduced significantly (P < 0.05)) from 16.4 to 11.7 × 10⁹/l) as dried cassava leaves increased in the diets. At the end of the trial, there was a slight increase in the values of PCV and Hb in the diets (P > 0.05). Lymphocyte reduced significantly (P < 0.05) from 50.0% to 63.5% in the diets. Neutrophils, however, increased (P > 0.05) at the 0% to 40% levels and reduced at the 60% level of dried cassava leaves inclusion. At the start of the experiment, values for glucose significantly (P < 0.05) ranged from 40.1 to 56.0 mg/dl. Total protein and albumin values ranged significantly (P < 0.05) from 56.0 to 68.5 g/dl and 30.6 to 38.4 g/dl, respectively. At the end of the experiment, serum creatinine increased significantly (P < 0.05) as the level of dried cassava leaves increased from 0% to 60% in the diets. The study revealed that inclusion of dried cassava leaves in the diets of West African Dwarf goats had no deleterious effects on the haematological and serum biochemical parameters of WAD goats and could therefore be included in ruminant diets up to 60%.     

Utilization of citrus pulp based diets and Enterolobium cyclocarpum (JACQ. GRISEB) foliage by West African dwarf goats

Sixteen West African dwarf goats weighing 5.0–5.6 kg were used in an experiment that lasted 112 days to investigate the utilization of citrus pulp based diets and E. cyclocarpum. A control diet which contained 88.5% dried brewers' grains (DBG) and other three experimental diets in which DBG was replaced with dried citrus pulp (DCP) at 25, 50 and 75% levels, respectively constituted the four treatments. The goats were divided into four groups of four animals each to balance for variation in live weight before they were assigned to the four different experimental diets. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were obtained in growth rate with (22.14–34.02 g/d) the highest and lowest value from 50 and 75% DCP inclusion respectively. The digestibility coefficients of DM, Ash, NFE, NDF, ADL, cellulose and hemicellulose increased with increasing levels of dried citrus pulp in the diets and were highest at 75% level of replacement. However, the CP digestibility of 83.85% was highest in the control diet and was significantly (P < 0.05) different from other diets containing citrus pulp. Nitrogen intake (g/d) decreased significantly (P < 0.05) with increasing levels of dried citrus pulp in the diets from 45.57–33.28 and was lowest in the control diet. Nitrogen balance also followed the same trend, being highest (42.07 g/d) at 25% DCP and lowest at 75% DCP. The Packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (Hb), red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC) and total blood protein (TBP) were significantly (P < 0.05) different across the dietary treatments at the start and end of the trial. The values for PCV, RBC, MCH, glucose and total protein decreased slightly in the control diet. Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) values also increased significantly (P < 0.05) with increasing levels of dried citrus pulp in the diets at the end of the experiment and were highest (6.50 IU/L) at 75% level of citrus pulp. Therefore, the efficient utilization of citrus pulp and E. cyclocarpum by WAD goats was attained at the 50% level of inclusion in the diets.     

Effect of Ctenocephalides felis strongylus infestation on the performance of West African dwarf sheep and goats

Summary

A study of Ctenocephalides fells strongylus and of its effect on the performance of sheep and goats was made.

Fleas showed more affinity for sheep than goats. There was a high concentration between lamb and kid mortality and the degree of flea infestation. The clinical effects of flea infestation are highlighted. The factors responsible for flea infestation and its control are discussed.     

In vitro activity of neem (Azadirachta indica) and cassava (Manihot esculenta) on three pre-parasitic stages of susceptible and resistant strains of Teladorsagia (Ostertagia) circumcincta

Canines are definitive hosts of Neospora caninum (Apicomplexa). For horizontal transmission from canines to occur, viable oocysts of N. caninum must occur in the environment of susceptible intermediate hosts. Canids in Australia include wild dogs and Aboriginal community dogs. Wild dogs are those dogs that are not dependent on humans for survival and consist of the dingo, feral domestic dog and their hybrid genotypes. Aboriginal community dogs are dependent on humans, domesticated and owned by a family, but are free-roaming and have free access throughout the community. In this study the extent of N. caninum infection was determined in a total of 374 dogs (75 wild dogs and 299 Aboriginal community dogs) using a combination of microscopic, molecular and serological techniques. Oocysts of N. caninum were observed in the faeces of two juvenile Aboriginal community dogs (2/132; 1.5%). To estimate N. caninum prevalence, a new optimised cut-off of 18.5% inhibition for a commercial competitive ELISA was calculated using a two-graph receiver-operating characteristic (TG-ROC) analysis and IFAT as the gold standard resulting in equal sensitivity and specificity of 67.8%. Of the 263 dog sera tested the true prevalence of N. caninum antibodies was 27.0% (95% confidence limit: 10.3-44.1%). The association between the competitive ELISA results in dogs less than 12 month old and older dogs was significant (P=0.042). To our knowledge this is the first large scale parasitological survey of the Aboriginal community dogs and wild dogs from Australia. The high prevalence of N. caninum infection in Aboriginal community dogs illustrates that horizontal transmission of N. caninum is occurring in Australia. These results demonstrated that N. caninum in dogs is widespread, including the semi-arid to arid regions of north-western New South Wales and the Northern Territory. The populations of free-ranging dogs are likely to be important contributors to the sylvatic life cycle of N. caninum.     

Health and productivity of traditionally managed Djallonke sheep and West African dwarf goats under high and moderate trypanosomosis risk.

Trypanosome infections, packed red cell volume levels (PCV), body weight and nematode faecal egg counts of village-based small ruminants were monitored in two areas in The Gambia with either moderate or high trypanosomosis risk for 24 and 30 months respectively. Outflows from the flock and new-born animals were recorded and data on housing and management were compiled. Reported mortality rates were higher in goats than in sheep, but for both species highest in the moderate risk area. The peak of trypanosome infections lagged the peak of tsetse densities by 1-3 months in both areas. Trypanosoma vivax was the predominant species found in the infected animals, followed by T. congolense. Trypanosome prevalence was, in general, higher in sheep than in goats but only significantly higher during Year 1 in the moderate risk area. Trypanosome infection reduced the PCV level significantly and seasonal effects indicated significantly lower PCV levels during the rains. Trypanosome infection significantly depressed weight gain in both species at periods where infection rates were highest. In both species considerably lower weight gains were observed during the rainy season. Abortion rates were higher in goats than in sheep in both study sites, and highest in the high-risk site. Trypanosome infection in ewes in the high risk area increased lamb mortality significantly but had no effect on birth weights, nor on growth rates up to 4 months. Offspring mortality up to 4 months was generally high at both sites. Trypanosome infection in the dam between 3.5 to 7 months post parturition significantly increased parturition interval in both species. Peak faecal egg output occurred at the end of the rainy season and was highest for both species in the moderate risk site. Poor grazing management was found responsible for a seasonal nutritional constraint. Based on these results, these breeds of sheep and goats can be considered as trypanotolerant since they are able to remain productive under high and moderate levels of trypanosome challenge. Nevertheless, trypanosomosis affected their health and production level as shown by reduced PCV levels, depressed weight gains, longer parturition intervals and higher lamb mortality. In addition, during the rains, helminth infections and poor management leading to nutritional constraints had also a negative impact on health and production and therefore influenced the innate resilience to trypanosomosis in those indigenous breeds. Adaptations in management may have an equal impact as certain disease control measures to improve biological and economical returns from small ruminants in tsetse infested rural areas.     

Replacement of alfalfa hay (Medicago sativa L.) with subabul (Leucaena leucocephala) leaf meal in diets of Najdi goats: effect on digestion activity of rumen microorganisms

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study investigated the effect of replacing alfalfa hay by subabul leaf meal (SLM) on digestion, fermentation parameters and rumen bacteria and fungi...