This research investigated the growth and other production traits of four distinct lines (L1, L2, L3, and L4) of Japanese quail (Cortunix japanoica) kept in the tropical climate of Tamil Nadu, India. ...The traits related to body weight at different weeks and weight gain were measured in 180 birds (90 males and 90 females) per line up to the fifth week of age, and then 90 birds (females only) from the sixth to the 16th week of age, with egg production and feed efficiency parameters measured in 10 observations per line. The traits were analysed using the General Linear Model procedure, and Tukey's HSD was used to test for statistical differences (
< 0.05) between the means for subclasses under a specific effect. The results revealed a highly significant difference (
< 0.01) in body weight from hatch to fifth week of age. At 5th week of age, the L3 and L2 did not differ (
> 0.05) based on Tukey test; therefore, both presented the highest values and were statistically significant (
< 0.01) with L4 with a lowest value of 203.62 g. The cumulative fifth week feed conversion ratio showed non-significant difference (
> 0.05) at first and second week, and highly significant difference (
< 0.01) from third to fifth week of age. The age at 50 per cent egg production was 60.2 (L4), 61.4 (L2), 65.1 (L3) and 66.0 (L1) days and the L1 egg production differed significantly (
< 0.01) from L4 line. The highest bodyweight (g) during the laying period (at 15 weeks of age) was observed in L2 (327.08) and L3 (326.54) and differed significantly (
< 0.01) from L1 (309.24) as well as L4 (288.69) lines. The mean egg weight (g) of different lines showed non-significant difference (
> 0.05) at all weeks, except at 11th week of age (
< 0.01). The mean feed consumption (g)/bird/day differed significantly (
< 0.01) from 6th to 16th week of age, except at sixth and eighth week of age, where it was non-significant (
> 0.05). The overall feed efficiency/dozen of eggs (from 6th to 16th weeks) ranged from 1.33 (L1) to 1.98 (L3). The livability from 6 to 16 weeks of age was 100 per cent in all the lines. In order to boost Japanese quail production in the tropics, L3 and L4 may be selected for body weight and egg production, respectively.
Six non-linear regression models (3P and 4P Gompertz, 3P, 4P and 5P Logistic and Neural network) were computed to construct the growth curves of 50 South African non-descript indigenous goats (males ...= 20 and female = 30) from birth to twelve months of age, raised at the University of Limpopo Experimental Farm, South Africa. Candidate non-linear models were compared for the best predictive values based on the adjusted coefficient of determination (AdjR
2
), root mean square error (RMSE), Akaike's information criterion (AIC) and Bayesian information criterion (BIC). The results suggest that South African non-descript indigenous goats' growth curve was best reconstructed in males using Logistic 4P, while Logistic 5P for the females. The growth parameters obtained from the current study might be used to define the feeding programmes to meet nutritional needs of South African non-descript indigenous goats from birth to one year of age.
This study was carried out to predict average number of kits per birth and mortality number of non-descript rabbits in Plateau State, Nigeria using artificial neural network (ANN). Data were obtained ...from a total of 100 rabbit farmers. The predicted mean value for number of kits per birth using ANN (6.60) was similar to the observed value (6.52). As regards mortality, the predicted mean value using ANN (17.75) was also similar to the observed value (17.80). Primary occupation, experience in rabbit keeping, flock size and credit type were the parameters of utmost importance in predicting number of kits per birth. The fairly high coefficient of determination (R2) (55.7%) and low root mean square error (RMSE) value of 1.22 conferred reliability on the ANN model. The R2 value obtained in the prediction of mortality using ANN implies that 61.1% of the variation in the number of mortality can be largely explained by the explanatory variables such as flock size, age of farmers, experience in rabbit keeping and average number of kits per birth. The low RMSE value of 3.82 also gave credence to the regression model. The present information may be exploited in taking appropriate management decisions to boost production.
This study was conducted to characterise phenotypically helmeted Guinea fowls in three agro-ecologies in Nigeria using multivariate approach. Eighteen biometric characters, four morphological indices ...and eleven qualitative physical traits were investigated in a total of 569 adult birds (158 males and 411 females). Descriptive statistics, non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis H test followed by the Mann-Whitney U and Dunn-Bonferroni tests for post hoc, Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), Univariate Analysis, Canonical Discriminant Analysis, Categorical Principal Component Analysis and Decision Trees were employed to discern the effects of agro-ecological zone and sex on the morphostructural parameters. Agro-ecology had significant effect (P<0.05; P<0.01) on all the colour traits. In general, the most frequently observed colour phenotype of Guinea fowl had pearl plumage colour (54.0%), pale red skin colour (94.2%), black shank colour (68.7%), brown eye colour (49.7%), white earlobe colour (54.8%) and brown helmet colour (72.6%). The frequencies of helmet shape and wattle size were significantly influenced (P<0.01) by agro-ecology and sex. Overall, birds from the Southern Guinea Savanna zone had significantly higher values (P<0.05) for most biometric traits compared to their Sudano-Sahelian and Tropical Rainforest counterparts. They were also more compact (120.00 vs. 110.00 vs. 107.69) but had lesser condition index (7.66 vs. 9.45 vs. 9.30) and lower long-leggedness (19.71 vs. 19.23 vs. 9.51) than their counterparts from the two other zones. Sexual dimorphism (P<0.05) was in favour of male birds especially those in Southern Guinea Savanna and Sudano-Sahelian zones. However, the MCA and discriminant analysis revealed considerable intermingling of the qualitative physical traits, biometric traits and body indices especially between the Sudano-Sahelian and Tropical Rainforest birds. In spite of the high level of genetic admixture, the Guinea fowl populations could to a relative extent be distinguished using wing length, body length and eye colour. Generally, the birds from the three zones appeared to be more homogeneous than heterogeneous in nature. However, further complementary work on genomics will guide future selection and breeding programs geared towards improving the productivity, survival and environmental adaptation of indigenous helmeted Guinea fowls in the tropics.
The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on smallholder farming households (SFH) includes increased poverty, and loss of livelihoods. Provision of livestock to SFH is a helpful intervention to mitigate this ...impact. This study provided a total of 150 smallholder poultry farmers, randomly selected from three states (Kebbi, Nasarawa, and Imo) in Nigeria, with ten 5-week-old chickens (mixed sexes) each, of either FUNAAB Alpha or Noiler chicken genetics. The improved, dual-purpose chickens were evaluated for growth performance (GP), survivability and profitability. The birds were managed under semi-scavenging production system. Body weight, mortality, and cost of production (COP) were recorded every 4 weeks until 21 weeks of age. Profitability was a function of the COP, and the selling price for live-birds (cocks). Body weight of Noiler (1,927 g) birds was not significantly (
> .05) higher than FUNAAB Alpha (1,792 g) at 21 weeks. Agroecology and genetics had significant (
< .05) effects on GP and survivability. Survivability of FUNAAB Alpha was higher (
< .05) than Noiler, with Nasarawa (81%-96%), having the highest (
< .0001) survival rate compared to Imo (62%-81%), and Kebbi (58%-75%). At 21 weeks, the number of cocks and hens differed significantly (
< .05) within the states (Imo: 2.4 ± .2 and 5.4 ± .3; Kebbi: 2.6 ± .2 and 5.5 ± .3; and Nasarawa: 2.9 ± .2 and 5.8 ± .3). Nasarawa (NGN 7,808; USD 19) ranked best for profitability, followed by Kebbi (NGN 6,545; USD 16) and Imo (NGN 5,875; USD 14). Overall, this study demonstrates that provision of improved chickens to vulnerable SFH in Nigeria holds great potential for economic growth, and resilience during emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Camels (
) in Africa are adapted to arid and the semi-arid environmental conditions, and are valuable for meat, milk and fiber production. On account of the growing demand for camels in this ...continent, there is a need for knowledge on their phenotypic and genetic diversity. This is fundamental to sustainable herd management and utilization including the design of appropriate breeding and conservation strategies. We reviewed studies on the phenotypic and genetic characterization, breeding objectives, systems of production, productive and reproductive performances, and pathways for the sustainable rearing and use of camels in Africa. The morphological and genetic diversity, productive and reproductive abilities of African camels suggest the existence of genetic variations that can be utilized for breeds/ecotypes' genetic improvement and conservation. Possible areas of intervention include the establishment of open nucleus and community-based breeding schemes and utilization of modern reproductive technologies for the genetic improvement of milk and meat yields, sustainable management of rangelands, capacity building of the pastoralists and agro-pastoralists, institutional supports, formation of centralized conservation centres and efficient and effective marketing systems.
There is a growing risk of antibiotic resistance (AR) in smallholder poultry (SP). This study, therefore, aimed to investigate AR pattern of bacterial isolates from SP in the Guinea Savanna ...agro-ecological zone of Nigeria. A total of 120 fresh poultry droppings were aseptically collected, randomly, from two tropically adapted (FUNAAB Alpha and Noiler) and local chickens. The chickens were raised either using ethnoveterinary medicines (n = 60) or antibiotics (n = 60). Bacterial isolates were characterized and analyzed using standard protocols, and appropriate statistical tools. Compared to Pseudomonas spp. (2.5%) and Klebsiella spp. (5.8%), Salmonella spp. (57.5%) and Escherichia coli (34.2%) were the most prevalent (χ2 = 96.67; p < 0.001). Prevalence of bacterial species was significantly (p = 0.024; Odds Ratio = 2.552) influenced by antibiotics usage. All four species were multi-drug resistant. In total, 30% of the isolates had a multiple AR index ≥ 0.2. Bacterial isolates from FUNAAB Alpha (58.0%) and Noiler (44.0%) were highly resistant to quinolones, while isolates from the local chickens (22.6%) were most resistant to aminoglycosides. Bacterial species isolated from FUNAAB Alpha and local chickens exhibited the lowest and highest percentage of AR, respectively. Clustering of isolates with similar antibiogram revealed inter-species dependence with possibility for inter-species gene transfer. These findings provide a background to investigate the metagenomics of local and improved chickens for AR.
Genetic variants at heat shock protein 70 gene and their influence on heat stress (HS) tolerance were studied among selected Nigeria zebu, namely, 25 White Fulani (WF), 21 Sokoto Gudali (SG), 21 Red ...Bororo (RB), and 23 Ambala (AM). Detection of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) followed by determination of genotype and genotypic frequency was made among the selected breeds. The heat tolerance coefficient (HTC) was determined from thermo-related parameters including body temperature, rectal temperature, and respiratory rate. Thermo-Tolerance was evaluated through the SNP-thermo-parameter relationship. Statistical analyses were done using the GLM procedure in SAS. A quantitative real-time/high-resolution melting-based assay detected twelve genetic variants. Five of these were common and shared across all breeds of cattle. Of the remaining seven variants, three were specifically identified in AM, two in SG, and two in RB. Also, SNPs were evaluated and four unique SNPs (C151T, C146T, G90A, and C219A) were identified. Heterozygous animals had lower HTC suggesting their potential to withstand HS than homozygous counterparts. The WF and RB animals had significantly lower values for all parameters (BT, RT, RR, and HTC) compared to AM and SG breeds. Thermo-related parameters were significantly different (
< 0.001), and it is recommended that screening of SNPs in zebu is needed to enable selection for improved thermo-tolerance.
Background. Pig farming is one of the most important livestock raised in Nigeria by smallholder farmers. Objective. To determine the breeding practices and breeding traits of preference by pig ...farmers in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Methodology. A total of 120 pig rearers (62 males and 58 females) were randomly sampled. Primary data were collected through individual structured questionnaire administration. Chi square (χ2) statistics was used to compare categorical variables. Arithmetic means and their standard errors of continuous variables between gender were tested using T- Test. Ranking of the eight traits of preference (body size, body conformation, mothering ability, survival, heat tolerance, disease resistance, fertility and temperament) was carried out using the non-parametric Friedman Test (Wilcoxon Signed-rank test for post hoc analysis) as well as Kruskal–Wallis H Test (with Mann– Whitney U Test for means separation). Multivariate Clustering Analysis was also explored to group the farmers on gender basis. Results. The source as well as the number of foundation stock varied between the sexes (P= 0.048 and 0.028, respectively). Average flock size was higher (20.31±2.21 versus 14.78±1.53; P<0.05) where the pigs were under the management of male farmers. This reflected more in pigs of mixed genotypes compared to the indigenous ones. The number of piglets/sow/annum (14.77±0.77 versus 12.29±0.54; 16.36±0.76 versus 14.02±0.58; P ≤ 0.05) was also higher in flocks of male farmers for both indigenous pigs and those of mixed blood. Between-gender, all the preference traits were ranked similarly (P>0.05) apart from temperament which was more highly rated by the males. However, the multivariate analysis revealed that body size and body conformation were more associated with the female farmers while survival, disease resistance, heat tolerance, mothering ability and temperament were more preferred by their male counterparts. Implication. The traits of economic importance obtained in this study may guide future community-based pig genetic improvement programmes in a tropical environment. Conclusion. The present study revealed the importance of body size, body conformation, mothering ability, survival, heat tolerance, disease resistance and fertility in the selection of breeding pigs. However, these traits were differentially rated by male and female farmers.
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