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Organ characteristics of male growing male pigs fed low crude protein and low energy diets supplemented with multi-enzyme were determined using 36 hybrid (Landrace x Large white) male pigs of 8-10 weeks old. Two metabolizable energy (3000 and 2600 Kcal ME/kg) and three crude protein levels (14, 16 and 18 % CP) were used to formulate six dietary treatments; T1: control (3000 Kcal ME/kg; 18 % CP), T2 (3000 Kcal ME/Kg; 16 % CP), T3 (3000 Kcal ME/kg; 14 % CP), T4 (2600 Kcal ME/kg; 18 % CP), T5 (2600 Kcal ME/kg; 16 % CP) and T6 (2600 Kcal ME/kg; 14 % CP). The enzyme was added to all the treatments at 1g/kg diet except the control. The treatments were replicated three times with two pigs per replicate. The experiment was a 2 x 3 factorial. The pigs were starved for 12 hours but allowed access to drinking water, stunned and bled completely. It was cut open though the thorax region along the underline to the abdomen, exposing the entire internal organs and GIT contents. The heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen and other internal organs were examined, carefully removed and weighed with a sensitive electronic kitchen scale, model SF-400. Higher (P

Seventy two (72) sexed crossbred rabbits aged 6 months were used to determine the effect of ginger rhizome powder (GRP) supplementation on reproductive organ and serum sex hormonal characteristics of pubertal rabbits. The experimental rabbits were divided into 2 treatment groups comprising 36 males and 36 females. Each group was divided into 4 dietary treatments (BT1, BT2, BT3 and BT4 ) of 9 animals and replicated thrice with 3 animals per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). The animals were fed formulated diet containing 2900 Kcal ME kg-1 and 18% crude protein supplemented with GRP at the rate of 0, 5, 10 and 15 g kg-1 feed respectively. Rabbits in each dietary group were fed 50gms of Guinea grass leaf meal containing 27.6% CF (dry matter basis) occasionally as additional fibre sources. Feed and water were offered ad libitum and the study lasted for 10 weeks. Testosterone values of BT (5.83 ng mL-1) and BT (6.28 ng mL-1) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels of BT (1.15 mIU mL-1) were significantly influenced (p

The management, haematological, serum biochemical and reproductive parameters of rabbits reared in the 3 zones (Okigwe, Orlu and Owerri) of Imo State were investigated. Data for this study were collected through questionnaire, on-the-farm assessment and fluid sample (blood and semen) from the rabbits. The hutch/cage type of housing is the most prevalent in Imo State, constituting 73.58 %. Most rabbit farmers in Imo State (45.28 %) combine concentrate and forage in rabbit feeding, 47.17 % of the rabbit house/environment were fairly clean, 30.19 % dirty and 22.64 % were clean. Rabbits with ages ranging from 5 – 8 months recorded average live weight of 1.91 kg, while annual average kindling and litter size of rabbit does reared in Imo State were 5.67 and 7.43, respectively; with average litter survival rate of 60.16 % between parturition and weaning. Haematological analysis of the adult rabbits recorded 27.80 %, 9.56 g/dl and 3.40 x 106/ml in packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration and red blood cell count, respectively, which were lower than normal reference values. Total serum protein, globulin and urea values were lower than normal reference values recording 4.44 g/dl, 1.57 g/dl and 16.56 mg/dl, respectively. Semen parameters obtained from adult rabbit bucks were inferior to semen parameters of adult rabbit bucks reared in similar geographical locations and environment, but under standard management practices. This study was therefore designed to assess the level of management, blood and reproductive parameters of rabbits in Imo State.Keywords: Management, rabbits, blood parameters, reproductive parameters, Imo State

One of the reliable information for evaluating nutritional status, performance and physiological state of farm animals to nutrient utilization is through haematological indices assessment. Haematological parameters of grower pigs fed low crude protein and low energy diets supplemented with multi-enzyme (enziblend plus+) were determined using 36 hybrid (Landrace x Large white) male pigs of 8-10 weeks old. Two metabolizable energy (3000 and 2600 Kcal ME/kg) and three crude protein levels (18, 16 and 14 % CP) were used to formulate Six dietary treatments; T1 (3000 Kcal ME/Kg; 18 % CP), T2 (3000 Kcal ME/Kg; 16 % CP+ 1g of enzyme/kg diet), T3 (3000 Kcal ME/Kg; 14 % CP+ 1g of enzyme/kg diet), T4 (2600 Kcal ME/Kg; 18 % CP + 1g of enzyme/kg diet), T5 (2600 Kcal ME/Kg; 16 % CP + 1g of enzyme/kg diet) and T6 (2600 Kcal ME/Kg; 14 % CP + 1g of enzyme/kg diet). The treatments were replicated three with two pigs per replicate. The experiment was a 2 x 3 factorial, and T1 served as the control. Blood samples were collected (3mls) via the ear vein from one pig in each replicate, three from treatment for haematological analysis. The results of this study recorded significant differences (P

This study was conducted for 4 months in the quest to discover natural materials, especially of plant origin, capable of substituting the roles of synthetic materials, especially drugs, in reproductive enhancement of livestock species. Such natural materials will help eliminate the menace of residual effects of synthetic materials on livestock products and probably attract more revenue from them. A total of 24 New Zealand White (NZW) weaned rabbit bucks were used and the study was carried out in a Complete Randomized Design (CRD), comprising three treatments replicated four times; MT1 (control), MT2 and MT3 , containing 0, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of Panax ginseng extracts (PGEs), respectively. Assessment for attainment of puberty started from the age of 11 - 14 weeks on a weekly basis and at 72 h interval thereafter by examining their ejaculate and preputial fluid smeared on a glass slide under a microscope for sperm cells. Semen was collected twice a week for 3 weeks after maturity (6 months old) with the aid of an artificial vagina (AV), using rabbit does as teasers. Semen analysis was done within 20 minutes of collection, following standard procedures. Libido was determined weekly for 3 weeks by recording the time it took the matured rabbit bucks to sniff, groom, and mount the rabbit doe in the initial instance (reaction time); and by counting the number of times the matured buck attempts to mount the doe per minute (libido score). Data generated from this study was analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Age at puberty (MT1 = 116.00 days; MT2 = 112.50 days; MT3 = 100.50 days) was significantly (P

Blood chemistry of growing male pigs fed low crude protein (CP) and low-energy diets supplemented with multi-enzyme was determined using 36 male pigs aged 8–10-weeks old. Two metabolizable energy (3000 and 2600 kcal ME /kg) and three protein (18, 16, and 14% CP) levels were used to formulate 6 treatment diets: T1 (3000 kcal ME/kg and 18% CP), T2 (3000 kcal ME/Kg and 16% CP), T3 (3000 kcal ME/kg and 14% CP), T4 (2600 kcal ME/kg and 18% CP), T5 (2600 kcal ME/kg and 16% CP) and T6 (2600 kcal ME/kg and 14% CP). T1 served as the control diet, while T2–T6 was supplemented with 1.0 g enzyme/kg feed each. The treatments were replicated thrice with two pigs per replicate in a 2 × 3 factorial and analysed statistically. Serum total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin/globulin ratio, urea, creatinine, urea/creatinine ratio, cholesterol, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were analysed. Low-energy diets (3000 and 2600 kcal ME/kg) plus enzyme supplementation did not affect (P > 0.05) any of the serum parameter measured. Also, dietary low CP level plus enzyme supplementation influenced (P < 0.05) aspects of the serum parameters. Higher (P < 0.05) total protein, albumin and creatinine were noticed in pigs fed with T2 diet; while pigs fed with T4 diet had higher (P < 0.05) urea compared with those on the other 5 treatment diets. Significant dietary interaction effects (P < 0.05) were observed on cholesterol, ALT, AST and ALP. The quadratic regression model revealed that aspects of serum parameters in pigs were optimized at different low-protein and low-energy levels. In conclusion, the results suggest that pigs on T2 diet had the best serum parameters.

This study was conducted to evaluate the hematological and serum biochemical parameters of growing New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits administered Panax ginseng extracts (PGEs). A total of 48 NZW growing male (M) and female (F) rabbits (24 each) were used and the experiment lasted for 28 days. It was carried out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), made up of T1 (0.0 mg/ml of PGEs), T2 (200.0 mg/ml of PGEs), and T3 (400.0 mg/ml of PGEs) which was replicated thrice and sex served as the block. Packed cell volume (PCV) (34.03%), red blood cell (RBC) (5.52 × 106/μl), white blood cell (WBC) (7.60 × 103/μl), and heterophil (34.00%) counts of the growing male NZW rabbits were significantly (P