Pregnancy diagnosis is an important part of good management and helps to maximizereproductive performance. Over time, different methods for detection of pregnancy in cows and other female domestic animals have been developed which include observation, physical examination, chemical tests and electronic instruments. Seed germination inhibition technique was carried out to detect pregnancy in Zebu cows. The urine samples collected from four pregnant cows, four non pregnant cows, four bulls and water (control) were subjected to seed germination test using maize seeds. Urine was collected between 5 and 7 am. Pregnant cows were confirmed by rectal palpation. The pH of the urine samples was determined before and after dilution and consequently, the urea concentration was also analyzed in the laboratory. The urine was diluted at the ratio of 1:4 with distilled water. Control test was also carried out with the addition of water only to the maize seeds. In each sterile Petri dish fifteen maize seeds were taken on the filter paper and 15mL of diluted urine was added. The seed germination inhibition percentages were observed after five days while shoot length growth inhibition was also observed after five days. Germination inhibition percentage of pregnant cows (64.16%) was significantly (P<0.05) higher compared to nonpregnant cows (34.18%), bull urine and water control. Shoot length of seeds germinated with distilled water had the highest value (4.38cm), seeds germinated with bull urine and non pregnant cow urine showed similarities while seeds germinated with pregnant cow urine had the least value (1.37cm) across the observations for shoot length growth inhibition. The result on pH showed clear differences in the pH of urine from pregnant (8.11- 8.25), non pregnant cows (6.05-7.04) and bull urine (6.35-7.34). The pH of the urine samples for nonpregnant cow and bull urine samples were similar to that of the control. Urea concentration of pregnant cow urine (11.06 mg/dL) was higher than that observed in bull urine 4.56 mg/dL and non pregnant cow urine 1.39 mg/dL. The study was able to validate that at 60% and above inhibition there is an indication of pregnancy while inhibition less than 60% shows the cow is non pregnant. Increased mean germination inhibition percentage and reduced shoot length in pregnant cow urine were indicative of pregnancy state.
An experiment was carried out to investigate the performance and nutrient digestibility ofWcst African dwarf growing rams*/ mixture of Panicum maximum and Tridax procumbens supplemented with Cajanus cajan leaves for 56 days feeding trial. A total of twelve WAD rams were randomly allocated to three treatments with four animals per treatment while two animals served as replicate. The experimental diet was fed at 3% body weight of individual animals while Cajanus cajan leaves were supplemented at varied inclusion levels. The results revealed that animals led T, recorded the least weight gain* (36.96g/day) while the highest weight gain (56.42g/day) was recorded for T3 The daily weight gain of animals wa.s. significantly different across all treatments (P<0. 05). The highest DMI (18.30kg) was recorded on the T1, and the least value of DM1(17,40kg) was recorded in T3. The highest led efficiency ratio (0.18) and the lowest value (0.11) were observed in animals fed T, and T, diet respectively. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the nutrient digestibility parameters of the experimental animals. The results showed that T1(100% sole Cajanus cajan leaves) promoted the best thy matter (DM) digestibility (89.56%) which was enough to meet the production and maintenance requirement of small ruminants while the lowest value (88.67%) of DMD was recorded in T2. The highest crude protein (CP) digestibility (13.20%) was observed in T, diet. The highest value for crude, fibre digestibility (38.95%) and the lowest value (35.35%) were observed in animals. T, and 'litho` respectively. In conclusion, supplementation of Cajanus cajan1 leaves with mixture of-Tridar procumbens and Punicum maximum as basal diet for feeding sheep enhanced nutrient intake, growth performance and improved nutrient digestibility without health challenges to the animals
Browse legume plants particularly pigeon pea forage generates a lot of underutilized leaves which if properly harnessed can be a cheaper source of nutrients for small ruminant animal production, during dry season feed shortages. In this study, the nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilization of West African dwarf growing rams fed differently processed Cajanus cajan leaves and Panicum maximum basal diet for 56 days feeding trial. A total of sixteen(16) growing WAD rams between 6 - 9 months with an average body weight of 7.00 - 12.00k were randomly allocated to 4 treatments with 4 rams each and 2 rams per replicate. The experimental diet was fed at 3% body weight of individual ram while fresh, wilted, and dried forms of Cajanus cajan leaves supplemented at varied inclusion levels (0%, 30% fresh, 30% wilted and 30% dried) with Panicum maximum. There were significant (P<0.05) differencesin all parameters determined on nutrient digestibility across the dietary treatments. Animals maintained on T (70% Panicum maximum and 30% dried Cajanus cajan leaves) had the 4 highest dry matter digestibility (60.46%), while the lowest value (48.56%) for DMD was recorded in T diet. Rams fed T diet had the highest mean crude protein digestibility (CPD) 1 2 value of 11.30%, followed by T (10.68%), 10.02% for T , while T diet had the lowest mean 2 1 4CPD of 9.21%. Rams fed T diet had the highest mean crude fibre digestibility (CFD) value of 1 37.65%, while 35.03, 33.18 and 32.71 were recorded for T , T and T diet respectively. T was 4 2 3 4 observed to have the highest mean ash digestibility value of 17.07% with T , T and T having 3 1 2 the value of 16.02, 14.28 and 13.36 respectively. There were significant (P<0.05) differences in all parameters determined on nitrogen utilization across the dietary treatments. Rammaintained on T diet had the highest mean intake of 4.42g/d while T diet had the lowest 2 1 mean value of 2.64g/d. The lowest mean nitrogen balance (NB) of 0.43g/d was observed in rams fed T diet while rams on T diet had the highest NB value of 2.18g/d. Rams fed T diet 1 2 4 had the highest faecal nitrogen value of 2.14g/d. However, rams maintained on T diet had 4 the highest value urinary nitrogen of 1.07g/d. The nitrogen utilization fluctuatedsignificantly (P<0.05) across the dietary treatments. It can be concluded that supplementation of fresh Cajanus cajan forages at 30% inclusion with Panicum maximum at 70% for growing rams can enhance nutrient utilization in terms of crude protein digestibility and nitrogen utilization without any deleterious effects on the animals.
Lablab purpureusis a perennial legume, is a valuable feed resource for livestock production. The foliage of three cultivars of Lablab purpureus (Tln-43, Tln-49 and Tln-51) were evaluated for their proximate, minerals compositions and anti- nutritional factors in a completely randomized block design experiment. Results showed significant differences among cultivars in (P<0.05) crude protein (16.97%), ether extract (5.9%EE) crude fat (27.37%CF), ash (9.98%) and drymatter (72.44%) contents. Similarly,minerals contents of phosphorus (0.37%P), potassium 0.89%K), calcium (0.26%Ca), magnesium (0.29%Mg), iron (192.60mg/kg Fe), and Zinc (55.28mg/kg Zn) were influenced by cultivars Lablab purpureus The values of anti-nutritional factors in the three cultivars of Lablab purpureus leaves ranged from 0.44 to 0.73% for Saponin, Oxalate (0.40-0.53%), Phytate(0.62 to 0.85%), tannin(0.04-0.06%), trypsin inhibitor (20.24-21.78mg/g)and HCN (1.65- 2.37mg/g). It was concluded from this study that, nutrient contents, anti-nutrient factors as well as mineral contents were influenced by cultivars of purpureus, though their antinutrients contents cannot poses any deleterious effect to ruminant animal's feed and feeding regime.
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