Survivability,immunity, growth and production traits in indigenous and White Leghorn breeds of chicken

ABSTRACT

1. The survivability, innate and adaptive immunity, growth and production traits up to 72 weeks of age were determined in Ghagus, Nicobari (unimproved indigenous) and White Leghorn (WLH) breeds and the study investigated links between innate and adaptive immunity and survivability and production traits.

2. At 20 and 40 weeks of age, there was a significant effect of breed on innate immunity assessed by measuring titres of natural antibody (NAb) binding to rabbit red blood cells (RRBC) and adaptive immunity assessed by measuring specific antibody titre (SpAb) to Newcastle disease virus.

3. Highest survivability was in WLH (91.6%) followed by Nicobari (87.1%) and Ghagus (82.9%) breeds. Growth traits at different ages were higher (P< 0.001) in Ghagus followed by WLH and Nicobari breeds. Egg production up to 72 weeks was higher (P < 0.001) in WLH followed by Nicobari and Ghagus breeds, whereas egg weight at different ages was higher (P < 0.001) in WLH than Ghagus and Nicobari breeds.

4. NAb titres measured at 20 weeks were significantly (P = 0.002) associated with the survivability of hens during 20 to 72 weeks of age. Breed-wise analysis showed a significant (P = 0.019) association between NAb titres at 20 weeks and survivability in the Ghagus breed. Furthermore, NAb titres at 20 weeks were higher in hens which survived to 72 weeks compared with those that died (P = 0.002).

5. Measuring NAb titres to RRBC is quick, economical and simple. This method has potential to be used in a breeding programme to increase survivability of laying hens.     

Effects of genetic and environmental factors on pre-weaning and post-weaning growth in West African crossbred sheep

Effects of genetic and environmental factors on pre-weaning and post-weaning growth were studied in West African crossbred sheep. Effects of lamb genotype (7/8 Sahelian–1/8 Djallonké, 3/4 Sahelian–1/4 Djallonké and 1/2 Sahelian–1/2 Djallonké; hereafter denoted 7/8Sa, 3/4Sa and 1/2Sa, respectively), parity, type of birth, sex of lamb and year-season of lambing on birth weight, weaning weight, 8-month weight and pre- and post-weaning growth rates were determined. At birth 7/8Sa and 3/4Sa lambs were heavier (p<0.01) than 1/2Sa lambs. Lambs born to first-parity ewes were lighter (p<0.01) at birth than lambs of older ewes. At weaning and 8 months of age, lambs born to fourth-parity ewes were heavier (p<0.05) than those born to ewes of the other parities. Parity did not have any significant effects on pre-weaning growth rate. Lambs born in the rainy season of 2001 were significantly heavier at birth and at 8 months of age than those born in the dry season of 2001/02, but there was no difference between the two groups at weaning. Pre-weaning growth rate was significantly faster in lambs born in the dry season of 2001/02 but the reverse was true for post-weaning growth rate.     

Commercial crocodile farming in Botswana

A survey-based study was carried out to assess the state of crocodile farming in Botswana. A prepared, structured questionnaire was dispatched to crocodile farmers based on a directory provided by the Fisheries section of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks in the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and National Parks. The oldest farm was established in 1986. An average of three farms have been in operation since then, all of which obtained their stock from the Okavango and Thamalakane rivers in Botswana. The current stock averages 5 419 animals as follows: breeders 4%, hatchlings 56%, and growers 40%. The average clutch size and average hatchability were 47 eggs/clutch and 67% respectively. Mortality among hatchings and growers averaged 8.3% up to 12 weeks of age. Only one farm encountered some problems with Salmonella and fungal infections of the belly. Raw skins are sold to South Africa as a result of the absence of a tannery. Crocodile farming should be encouraged in Botswana since a good market for crocodile products already exists.     

Optimizing the growth and immune system of dairy calves by subdividing the pre-weaning period and providing different milk volumes for each stage

In systematically considering the advantages and disadvantages of complementarity in high or low milk feeding, novel milk feeding schemes involving altering the volume of supplied milk in different stages of the pre-weaning period but maintaining the total milk feeding volume were tested. Twenty-seven newborn male Holstein calves were selected and randomly assigned to 3 treatments. Calves in the control (CON) group were fed 7 L of milk daily from 4 to 66 d of age. Calves in the low-high (LH) group were fed 6 L of milk daily at the beginning, and then the daily feeding volume was later increased to 7 to 8 L of milk, which served as the early-period low-volume feeding group. The calves in the high-low (HL) group were fed 7 to 8 L daily at the beginning, and then the daily feeding volume was decreased to 6 L of milk, which served as the early-period high-volume feeding group. Then all calves were fed 3 L of milk daily from 67 to 70 d of age, weaned at 70 d of age, and then fed starter feed to 100 d of age. All calves had access to the starter feed from 15 to 100 d of age. The diarrheal condition of calves was recorded daily and the growth performance including the starter feed intake and body weight of calves was recorded at 70 and 100 d of age. Then, five 100-d-old calves from each treatment were sampled for measurement of plasma indices, ruminal morphology, and volatile fatty acids. When compared with the CON and LH groups, calves in the HL group exhibited a significantly increased body weight and lower diarrhoeal rate. When compared with the CON group, calves in the HL group exhibited a significantly increased average daily feed intake, ruminal epithelium papillae length, total volatile fatty acids, and percentages of propionate and butyrate. Moreover, the significantly increased plasma immunoglobulin G (IgG) content and a trend of decreased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) content (P = 0.083) were also identified in the HL group when compared with the CON group. Overall, the early-period high-volume feeding for calves produced greater body weight gain and a lower incidence of diarrhea.     

二步倍增东方百合“星球战士”及提高组培苗移栽成活率的研究

采用二步倍增法直接再生了东方百合“星球战士”。鳞片切块培养在MS＋4．4μmol／L BA＋0．5μmol／L NAA的培养基上50d后,再生出大量丛生芽。将丛生芽切块置于同样的培养基上进行诱导,40d后,从基部短缩茎切片上诱导出了大量不定芽,但是根切段上不再生芽。一个中等大小的东方百合“星球战士”鳞茎120d就可以再生出97200个独立完整的新植株。研究还发现：加椰糠的培养基质最适于组培苗的驯化培养因而获得最高的移栽成活率。组培苗移栽后生长正常,2a后正常开花。     

Patterns of crossfostering and piglet mortality on commercial U.S. and Canadian swine farms

A data base of 300 farms using computerized records was used to examine the extent and timing of crossfostering being practiced in commercial herds in the Midwestern U.S. and Canada in 1994–1995. Crossfostering was used on 98% of farms. Across all farms, the mean percent of piglets crossfostered was 8.6%. Farms varied greatly in the age at which they moved piglets. The 20 farms that moved piglets the earliest after birth were classified as early-move farms and the 20 that moved the oldest piglets were classified as late-move farms. Early-move and late-move farms did not differ in herd size (P = 0.14), average parity of farrowed sows (P = 0.47) or age at weaning (P = 0.37). There were differences between early-move and late-move farms in percent of piglets fostered (P = 0.0001), pigs born alive/litter (P = 0.04), and pre-weaning mortality (P = 0.0005). A subset of late-move farms that were part of an integrated production group had unique production parameters that suggested inaccurate record-keeping.     

仔猪源罗伊氏乳酸杆菌生物学特性的研究

 研究了罗伊氏乳酸杆菌的生物学特性包括生长曲线、耐热存活率、耐酸存活率、贮藏存活率以及发酵参数。采用均匀设计的试验设计对影响乳酸杆菌发酵较大的6个因素如碳源、氮源和时间进行优化。试验结果表明,罗伊氏乳酸杆菌的浓度在开始时有所下降,经过2 h之后从1.0×10³数量级迅速上升,到第22 h接近1.0×10¹⁰数量级,到40 h细菌的数量级开始缓慢下降。75 ℃处理15 min之后存活率为31.3%,经过1个月贮藏存活率为85.5%,pH 2.0处理6 h的存活率为72%. 优化的发酵参数为:时间20 h;葡萄糖10 g/L;蔗糖60 g/L;胰蛋白胨30 g/L;酵母浸粉5 g/L;柠檬酸铵12 g/L. 试验表明了罗伊氏乳酸杆菌具有良好的抗逆性,生长繁殖迅速,可以用作益生菌生产菌种。     

Birth weight,birth type and pre-weaning survivability of West African Dwarf goats raised in the Dangme West District of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

A study was conducted on 441 West African Dwarf goat (WADG) kids born from September 1999 to August 2002 at three locations in the Dangme West District of the Greater Accra Region in Ghana to determine the effect of environmental factors on birth weight, birth type and pre-weaning survivability. The overall mean birth weight was 1.32 ± 0.01 kg. Birth weights were similar (p >0.05) between single births (1.43 ± 0.04 kg) and twins (1.34 ± 0.03 kg), but singles were significantly heavier (p < 0.05) than triplets (1.24 ± 0.05 kg). Kids born in the major wet season recorded the best mean birth weight (1.37 ± 0.04 kg). Sex, parity of does, and year of birth of kids had no significant (p > 0.05) effect on birth weight. Mean litter size was 1.93 ± 0.03. Does that kidded in the dry season had a significantly (p < 0.05) higher litter size (2.05 ± 0.06) than those that kidded in the minor wet season (1.80 ± 0.10). Litter size of first-parity kids was significantly smaller (p < 0.05) than in subsequent parities. Litter size dropped significantly (p < 0.05) from year 2 (2.03 ± 0.07) to year 3 (1.83 ± 0.07). Pre-weaning survivability was 79.1% and season of kidding had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on survivability. Survivability of quadruplets (61.8%) was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than in the other birth types.