Factors influencing growth of Canadian Holstein calves in Ghana

Factors thought to influence monthly body weight and average daily gain of 122 first and second generation Canadian Holstein calves aged six to 24 months were studied. All factors (generation, sex, parity, season, age and year) studied accounted for 55.9 to 71.2% and 35.6 to 69.1% of the variation in body weight and average daily gain respectively. Parity, year and generation were the most important factors influencing all traits and accounted for 34.4 to 64.3% and 22.9 to 66.8% of the variation in body weight and average daily gain. Least squares means were, for body weight 144.2, 222.6, 330.5 and 377.9 kg at six, 12, 18 and 24 months and for average daily gain 0.42, 0.37, 0.50 and 0.39 kg at six to nine, nine to 12, 12 to 18 and 18 to 24 month intervals. It was concluded that offspring of Canadian Holsteins in this environment under adequate management and nutrition will be of adequate size for heifers to calve under 30 months of age and steers to reach 400 kg slaughter weight in 24 months.     

Administration of probiotic Bacillus licheniformis induces growth,immune and antioxidant enzyme activities,gut microbiota assembly and resistance to Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Litopenaeus vannamei

This study aimed to elucidate the effects of dietary Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 11946 (BL) on the growth, immune and antioxidant activities, intestinal morphology and microbiota, and susceptibility to Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VP_AHPND) in juvenile pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei (LV). Juvenile LV (initial weight = 0.63 ± 0.001) were fed diets containing varying BL concentrations (0 (BL0), 10⁶ (BL1), 10⁷ (BL2) and 10⁸ (BL3) CFU/g feed) for 8 weeks. Growth performance, immune and antioxidant enzyme activities, and intestinal morphology significantly improved in the probiotic‐treated groups than the untreated. Regardless of the treatment group, the two dominant phyla were Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, whereas the two dominant genera were Ruegeria and Vibrio. Increasing inclusion of probiotics in diets led to significant increase in beneficial bacterial genera (Ruegeria, and Pseudoalteromonas) and a significant decrease in some known opportunistic pathogens (Vibrio, Tenacibaculum, Photobacterium, Kangiella and Spongiimonas) with the BL3 group witnessing the best. A 7‐day challenge study with VP_AHPND showed significantly high protection in the probiotic‐treated groups, with the BL3, BL2 and BL1 obtaining 51%, 34% and 22% relative percentage survival, respectively. In conclusion, BL at 10⁸ CFU/g feed should be used to help in shrimp production since it attained the most significant improvement.     

Phenolic Content,Antioxidant Activity,and Consumer Acceptability of Sorghum Cookies

Cookies were produced from different sorghum flours to determine their potential as vectors of antioxidants. Different sorghum cultivars and their flour extraction rates were evaluated for their effects on phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the cookies. Consumer acceptance of the sorghum cookies was compared with that of wheat flour cookies. For each sorghum cultivar, cookies of 100% extraction rate flours had two to three times more total phenolics compared with those of 70% extraction rate flours, while antioxidant activity was 22–90% higher. Cookies of the condensed tannin sorghum had two to five times more phenolics compared with those of condensed tannin‐free sorghum. Antioxidant activity was 145–227 μMol Trolox equivalents (TE)/g in cookies of condensed tannin sorghum compared with 10–102 μMol TE/g in those of condensed tannin‐free sorghum. The sorghum flours had slightly higher phenolic content and antioxidant activity values than their corresponding cookies. Cookies of the red tannin‐free sorghum flours (PAN 8564/8446) were equally liked as wheat flour cookies, except for texture. However, cookies of condensed tannin sorghum were least accepted compared with wheat flour cookies despite their high antioxidant activity.     

Performance of canadian holstein-friesian cattle in the humid forest zone of Ghana

Summary One hundred and three calving records of 35 Canadian Holstein-Friesian cattle introduced in 1974 into Ashanti constituted the data for this study. Age, year, lactation number, season and age × season effects on 305-day yield, lactation length and components of the lactation curve were estimated from 84 complete lactation records.Analysis of variance by General Linear Models Procedure showed significant effect of age and year on all traits studied. Age, year, lactation number, season, concentrate fed and season × age accounted for 61.1, 64.6, 66.9, 68.5 and 38.1% of the variation in 305-day yield, 300-day yield, monthly peak yield, persistency index and lactation length respectively. Age and year significantly affected all traits except lactation length. Lactation number only significantly affected 305-day yield of the traits studied. Season was not an important factor affecting any of the traits. The productive life span of the animals was up to five calvings (eight years). The mean life time milk production was 16,186 kg. Unadjusted means of the 103 records were: 305-day yield 3,878 ± 93.7 kg; actual 305-yield 4,451 ± 102.7 kg; total yield 4,225 ± 160.6 kg; lactation length 332 ± 14.5 days; days dry 96 ± 5.9 and total yield per day of calving interval 10.6 ± 0.33 kg. Performance of Holsteins in Ashanti was better than in most tropical areas.

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Productividad Del Ganado Holstein-Friesian Canadiense En La Zona Boscosa Humeda De Gana. I. Produccion De Leche

Resumen Los datos para este estudio, salieron de 103 registros de pariciones pertenecientes a 35 Holstein-Friesian Canadienses, introducidas a Ashanti en 1974. Se estimaron la edad, año, número de lactancias, estación y edad × effectos estacionales 305 días de producción, duración de la lactancia y componentes de la curva de lactancia, con base en 84 registros completos de lactancia.El análisis de varianza, efectuado por el procedimiento de Modelos Generales Lineares, mostró efectos significativos de edad y años sobre todos los rasgos estudiados. La edad, año, número de lactancias, estación, alimento concentrado y estación × edad, influyeron en 61.1, 64.6, 66.9, 68.5 y 38.1% de la variación en 305 días de producción, 300 días de producción, pico mensual de producción, índice persistente y duración de la lactancia, respectivamente. La edad y el año afectaron significativamente todos los rasgos, excepto la duración de la lactancia. El número de lactancias solo afectó significativamente la producción de 305 días, de todos los rasgos estudiados. La estación tampoco fué factor importante para los rasgos. La vida productiva de los animales estuvo por encima de las 5 pariciones (8 años). La media de producción de leche durante la vida productiva, fué de 16.186 kg. Las medias sin ajustar de los 103 registros fueron; producción de 305 días 3.878±93.7 kg; producción actual de 305 dias 4.451±102.7 kg; producción total 4.225±160.6 kg; duración de la lactancia 332±14.5 días; días secas 96±5.9 y producción total por día de intervalo de parto 10.6±0.33 kg. La productividad de las Holstein en Ashanti, fué superior a la de la mayoría de áreas tropicales.

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Performances De Bovins Canadiens Holstein-Frisons En Zone Forestiere Humide Au Ghana. I. Production Laitiere

Résumé 103 relevés de vêlage de 35 bovins canadiens Holstein-Frisons importés en 1974 à Ashanti ont fourni les données de cete étude. L'âge, l'année, le nombre de lactations, la saison, les effets conjugués de l'âge et de la saison sur une production de 305 jours, la durée de la lactation et les composantes de la courbe de lactation ont été évalués à partir de 84 relevés de lactation complète.L'analyse de variance par le modèle linéaire général a montré que l'âge et l'année avaient un effet significatif sur tous les paramètres étudiés. L'âge, l'année, le nombre de lactations, la saison, le concentré donné et l'effet saison/âge étaient responsables de 61,1; 66,9; 68,5 et 38,1 p.100 de la variation pour respectivement une production de 305 jours, une production de 300 jours, les pointes de production mensuelle, l'index de persistance et la durée de lactation. L'âge et l'année avaient un effet significatif sur toutes les performances sauf la durée de lactation. Le nombre de lactations n'avait un effet significatif que sur la production de 305 jours des traits zootechniques étudiés. La durée de vie productive des animaux allait jusqu'au cinquième vêlage (8 ans). La production laitière moyenne sur un temps de vie a été évaluée à 16 186 kg. Les moyennes non-ajustées des 103 relevés ont été les suivantes: production de 305 jours: 3878±93,7 kg; production de fait de 305 jours: 4451±102,7 kg; production totale: 4255±160,6 kg; durée de lactation: 332±14,5 jours; jours de tarrissement: 96±5,9 et production totale journalière pendant l'interval entre vêlages: 10,6±0,33 kg. Les performances des Holstein à Ashanti ont été meilleures que dans la plupart des régions tropicales.

     

Occurrence and Location of Tannins in Finger Millet Grain and Antioxidant Activity of Different Grain Types

Grain of 22 finger millet types obtained from Southern and East Africa were analyzed to determine the influence of grain type on tannins, antioxidant properties, and tannin localization in the grain. Four grain types were creamy white and 18 were brown. A high proportion (80–100%) of kernels of all but two of the pigmented types stained black with the bleach test, while the light types did not stain black. There was a wide range of total phenolics, condensed tannin content, and antioxidant activity across the grain types. Light-colored grain types had much lower total phenolics and tannins relative to the pigmented types, and types that stained black with the bleach test had much higher tannin content and much higher antioxidant activity. Light microscopy revealed that kernels that stained black with the bleach test and had high tannin content had a dark-colored testa layer, indicating that the tannins were located in that layer as in sorghum. This is the first report that the bleach test can be used to detect tannin in finger millet types. The work demonstrates that occurrence of tannins in finger millet grain is a varietal property, as in sorghum.     

Effect of incorporation of thermo-regulatory genes into exotic layers on egg production and quality under tropical environment

A breed development strategy aimed at making exotic layers (Lohmann Brown) more productive under tropical environment using thermo-regulatory genes is underway at Akate Farms in Kumasi, Ghana. The present experiment was carried out to find out the effect of the genes on egg production in hot and humid environments. Three genetic groups comprising naked-neck, frizzle and their normally feathered sibs were obtained after successive generations of crossing between naked-neck and frizzle cocks and Lohmann brown hens. A total of 270 18-week-old pullets, 90 each of the 3 groups, were selected randomly and assigned to a completely randomized design experiment with 3 replicates, with 30 birds in each replicate group and kept up to a period of 72 weeks. The birds were kept in a partitioned open-sided deep-litter house constructed with sandcrete blocks with 30 pullets in each compartment. They were fed ad libitum with layer diets containing 18 % crude protein and 2,800 kcal ME/kg. Results obtained showed that the crossbred naked-neck and frizzle phenotypes produced eggs at a significantly (P?<?0.05) higher rates than their normally feathered sibs and also out-performed their normally feathered sibs in other egg production parameters measured, even though they all segregated from similar parents. This is an indication of the favourable effect of the genes on egg production under hot and humid environments.     

Performance of canadian Holstein-Friesian cattle in the humid forest zone of Ghana

Summary Birth weights, weaning weights and average daily gains of 97 calves born to 27 Holstein-Friesians imported from Canada were used. Adjusted mean birth weight, weaning weight and daily gain were 35.6, 104.6 and 0.5 kg respectively. Of the three variables studied sex of calf significantly influenced only birth weight whereas season of birth, sire of calf, parity of dam and year of birth significantly influenced weaning weight and daily gain but not birth weight. Sex, season, sire, parity and year all together accounted for 18.35, 43.49 and 46.09% of the variation in birth weight, weaning weight and daily gain respectively. Birth weight increased by 0.29 kg/day increase in gestation length and 0.027 kg/kg increase in calving weight, whereas weaning weight increased by 1.31 kg/kg increase in birth weight. Birth weights, weaning weights and daily gains observed here are similar to previous reports from other tropical environments.

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Productividad Del Ganado Canadiense Holstein-Friesian En La Zona Boscosa Humeda De Gana. II. Productividad Antes Del Destete

Resumen Se utilizaron los pesos al nacer, al destete y el promedio de ganancia diaria de 97 terneros nacidos de 27 Holstein-Friesians importadas del canada. Las medias ajustadas de peso al nacer, peso al destete y la ganancia diaria de peso fueron: 35.6, 104.6, y 0.5 kg respectivamente. De las 3 variables estudiadas, el sexo de los animales influenció significativamente los pesos al nacer; mientras que la estación del año al nacer, sire y paridad de la madre y año de nacimiento, influenciaron significativamente el peso al destete y la ganancia diaria de peso, pero nó el peso al nacer. El sexo, estación, sire, paridad de la madre y año, en conjunto, influyeron en 18.35, 43.49 y 46.09% de la variación de peso al nacer, al destete y en la ganancia de peso diaria respectivamente. Los pesos al nacer se incrementaron 0.29 kg por incrementó día en duración de la gestación y 0.027 kg por incremento de kg en peso al nacer; mientras el peso al destete se incrementó 1.31 kg por incrementó de kg en peso al nacer. Los pesos al nacer, al destete y la ganancia diaria de peso observadas aquí, son similares a aquellas publicadas en otros informes de trabajos en condiciones tropicales.

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Performances De Bovins Canadiens Holstein-Frisons En Zone Forestiere Humide Au Ghana. II. Performances Avant Sevrage

Résumé Les poids de naissance, les poids au sevrage et les gains journaliers moyens de 97 veaux nés de 27 Holstein-Frisons importés du Canada ont été utilisés. Le poids de naissance moyen ajusté, le poids au sevrage et le gain de poids journalier étaient respectivement de 35,6; 104,6 et 0,5 kg. Sur les trois variables étudiées, le sexe du veau avait seulement une influence significative sur le poids de naissance tandis que la saison de mise bas, le père du veau, le range de gestation influençaient de façon significative le poids au sevrage et le gain journalier mais non le poids de naissance. Le sexe, la saison, le père, le rang de gestation et l'année réunis étaient responsables de 18,35; 43,49 et 46,09 p. 100 des variations respectives du poids au sevrage et du gain journalier. Le poids de naissance a augmenté de 0,29 kg par jour supplementaire de durée de la gestation et de 0,027 kg par kg supplémentaire du poids de mise bas tandis que le poids de sevrage a augmenté de 1,31 kg par kg supplémentaire du poids de naissance. Les poids de naissance, les poids de sevrage et les gains journaliers observés ici sont semblables aux observations faites précédemment dans d'autres milieux tropicaux.

     

Dermacozine N,the First Natural Linear Pentacyclic Oxazinophenazine with UV–Vis Absorption Maxima in the Near Infrared Region,along with Dermacozines O and P Isolated from the Mariana Trench Sediment Strain Dermacoccus abyssi MT 1.1T

Three dermacozines, dermacozines N–P (1–3), were isolated from the piezotolerant Actinomycete strain Dermacoccus abyssi MT 1.1^T, which was isolated from a Mariana Trench sediment in 2006. Herein, we report the elucidation of their structures using a combination of 1D/2D NMR, LC-HRESI-MSⁿ, UV–Visible, and IR spectroscopy. Further confirmation of the structures was achieved through the analysis of data from density functional theory (DFT)–UV–Visible spectral calculations and statistical analysis such as two tailed t-test, linear regression-, and multiple linear regression analysis applied to either solely experimental or to experimental and calculated ¹³C-NMR chemical shift data. Dermacozine N (1) bears a novel linear pentacyclic phenoxazine framework that has never been reported as a natural product. Dermacozine O (2) is a constitutional isomer of the known dermacozine F while dermacozine P (3) is 8-benzoyl-6-carbamoylphenazine-1-carboxylic acid. Dermacozine N (1) is unique among phenoxazines due to its near infrared (NIR) absorption maxima, which would make this compound an excellent candidate for research in biosensing chemistry, photodynamic therapy (PDT), opto-electronic applications, and metabolic mapping at the cellular level. Furthermore, dermacozine N (1) possesses weak cytotoxic activity against melanoma (A2058) and hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) with IC₅₀ values of 51 and 38 μM, respectively.     

Variability of Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) fruits’ physical characteristics and nutrient content in the West African Sahel

The present study was carried out to evaluate variability in fruit characteristics and nutritional quality of Baobab fruits with the aim of providing the background to select trees bearing fruit with desirable characteristics for further utilisation. Vitamin C, total sugar and ash contents were assessed in 178 Baobab fruit samples from 11 sites in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Furthermore the following tree and fruit physical characteristics were recorded: tree height, bark colour, fruit size, pulp weight, seed weight, seed size and pulp colour. The content (mean?±?SD) of vitamin C was 4.78?±?1.02?g?kg^?1, sugar 514?±?72?g?kg^?1 and fruit weight 293?±?96?g. There was a significant correlation between annual precipitation of the tree population site and vitamin C content but not with sugar content. For sugar, there were significant positive correlations with latitude and longitude. Negative correlations were found between fruit size and both longitude and latitude with smaller fruits generally being found to the north/east. No relation was found between pulp or bark colour and the sugar or vitamin C content. The contents of protein, lipid, carbohydrates, ash and moisture in the seeds ranged from 156 to 159, 143 to 150, 641 to 652, 44 to 49 and 50 to 55.7?g?kg^?1 respectively. The variation for vitamin C and sugar found within populations is a first indication that valuable gains could be made by selection of superior trees.     

Iron bioavailability of different sources in juvenile grouper Epinephelus coioides

A 70‐day experiment was implemented to study the iron (Fe) bioavailability of three Fe sources in Epinephelus coioides (initial weight, 12.19 ± 0.14 g). Treatments consisted of 0, 50, 90, 130, 170 and 210 mg supplemental Fe/kg from iron sulphate (FeSO₄), ferric citrate (Fe‐citrate) and hydroxy methionine analogue iron (Fe‐MHA). The results showed that the growth performance was not affected by Fe level regardless of Fe sources. Hepatic catalase activity (CAT), the haematocrit value (Hct), haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and Fe content in whole body or liver firstly increased significantly and then plateaued as Fe level increased regardless of the Fe source, except significant decreasing of Hct in 210 mg Fe/kg group from FeSO₄. Manganese (Mn) content decreased significantly and then kept stable in the whole body and liver whatever the source was. The slope‐ratio method using FeSO₄ as the reference and Hb content, CAT activity, body and hepatic Fe concentration as the response parameter showed the average relative bioavailability of Fe‐citrate and Fe‐MHA was 103.25 ± 4.35 (n = 4) and 134.5 ± 15.67 (n = 4), respectively, with the maximum value of Fe‐MHA in any case. In conclusion, Fe‐MHA was the most effective to meet preferable haematological index, CAT activity and mineral deposition, with little difference between Fe‐citrate and FeSO₄, athough Fe levels with different sources failed to influence the growth in grouper.