Volume 46 (2013): Issue 3 (September 2013)

The effects of replacing groundnut cake (GNC) with urea-treated and fermented brewer’s dried grains in weaner rabbits diets on the performance, haematology and serum chemistry was investigated. Urea-treated and fermented brewer’s dried grains were used to replace GNC at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% levels in weaner rabbits´ diets. Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric to provide 18% crude protein and 11.00 MJ/kg metabolizable energy. Weaner rabbits of mixed breeds and sexes, aged 8 weeks, were randomly allocated to five treatment groups on equal weight and sex basis. They consisted of two rabbits per replicate and six rabbits per treatment. They were fed ad libitum in hutches for ten weeks. Significant (P < 0.05) differences were observed in final body weight, daily body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, white blood cell count (WBC), glucose and sodium content for all treatment groups. Results indicate that urea-treated and fermented brewers dried grains can be used to replace up to 75% GNC (18.00% of the diet) as an alternative plant protein source. Mortality level (3 - 7%) was normal and evenly spread across treatment groups.

We have used a discriminant function analysis to compare morphology of five Czech autochthonous breeds (including two colour varieties as independent breeds) to test whether a small number of basic morphological variables (wither height, thoracic, nose and shin perimeter, length of head) can discriminate them. The breeds included Czech Warmblood, black and grey colour variety of the Old Kladruby horse, Czech-Moravian Belgian horse and Silesian Noriker. The tested individuals were assigned with overall 81.9% classification success to correct breed. The best classification result reached Czech Warmblood 95.7%, the black Old Kladruby horse 87.5% and Silesian Noriker, respectively, 85.7%. Czech-Moravian Belgian horse showed a poorer success of classification (60%). Discrimination analysis identified the most important variables related to their head (nose perimeter and length of the head). Based on discrimination model both colour varieties of the Old Kladruby horse clustered more closely. Similarly both cold-blooded breeds (Czech-Moravian Belgian and Silesian Noriker) grouped more together and locations of the Czech warmbloods were more apart from all others. Such result is in concordance with the origin history of these horses.

Field experiment was conducted at the Federal University of Agriculture in 2004/2005, 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 cropping seasons to investigate the effects of cowpea varieties on succeeding of maize crop. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design and the treatment replicated three times. The main plot treatment was sprayed and unsprayed cowpea (Vigna unguculata L.) while variety constituted the subplot treatment (IT90K-76, IT90K-277-2, Drum, Olo, Oloyin, Mallam and Sokoto varieties). Maize variety cv TZESR-W was planted as the test crop in the early cropping season of 2005, 2006 and 2007 on each subplot of the preceding cowpea. The biomass of cowpea in the spray plots were higher than those of unsprayed at 8, 10 WAP in 2004. Olo variety had significantly lower biomass compared to others in 2004. The grain yield of cowpea from the sprayed plots was significantly higher than the unsprayed plots in all the years. IT90K-76 variety had the highest grain yield whereas Mallam and Drum had the lowest in all the years. Maize grain yields from the preceding cowpea plots were significantly higher than that of 0 N kg/ha. The fertilizer equivalent of the preceding varieties of cowpea ranges between 24 and 38 N kg/ha. Thus, preceding cowpea enhances the performance of succeeding maize.

A survey was carried out between March and August 2010 to identify insect pests of stored yam chips in Ogbomoso Metropolis, Nigeria. Dried yam chips were randomly obtained from old stocks in 6 local markets within the metropolis on monthly basis. There was a significant (P < 0.05) difference in insect abundance based on month of sampling and insect species. Dinoderus porcellus (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae) was the most abundant species. Other species encountered were Araecerus fasciculatus (Degeer) (Coleoptera: Anthribidae), Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Tribolium castaneum Herbst (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). When chips were infested with Dinoderus porcellus and stored for 3 months, reconstituted thick paste (amala) was made from the flour and was evaluated for consumers’ acceptability. Sensory characteristics such as odour, colour, texture, appearance, taste and overall acceptability were significantly (P < 0.05) affected when compared with the paste prepared from the uninfested chips.

Saliva sampling is a non-invasive, simple and low-cost procedure. The aim of this study was to confirm the presence and changes of saliva crystallization in domestic cattle during synchronized oestrous cycle and early pregnancy. We verified saliva crystallization as a method for early pregnancy diagnosis. Eight Holstein cows were included into the research. The samples were collected daily from 16^th day before to 34^th day after artificial insemination (in total 51 days). We observed the following types of crystallization: none, dotted, branch-like, fir-like, fern-like and combinations of them and an atypical pattern. We confirmed the presence of saliva crystallization in cattle and its changes during oestrus synchronization process, insemination and post-insemination periods. We found significant differences in pregnant and non-pregnant animals between 20^th and 29^th day after insemination. We concluded that pregnancy diagnosis by saliva crystallization might be possible but the practical application of this method is currently unfeasible.