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Please cite this article in press as: Baxter, E.M., et al., Achieving optimum performance in a loose-housed farrowing system for sows: The effects of space and temperature. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. (2015), http://dx. a b s t r a c tPiglet survival relies on interactive influences of the sow, her piglets and their environment. There are a number of design challenges in a loose-housed farrowing and lactation system to optimise this dynamic, including achieving farrowing in the desired location (i.e. a protected nest area) and minimising crushings. The PigSAFE (Piglet and Sow Alternative Farrowing Environment) pen was developed with these challenges in mind. It has different areas to fulfil different biological and managerial needs, including a solid-floored nest area with piglet protection features (sloped walls, heated creep) intended for farrowing. Two hypotheses regarding pen design features to optimise farrowing location and improve piglet survival were tested: (i) greater space would improve maternal behaviour; and (ii) a heated nest-site would be more attractive to the farrowing sow. PigSAFE was adapted to give a LARGE treatment, 9.7 m 2 in total with a nest area of 4.0 m 2 , and a SMALL treatment, same design but 7.9 m 2 in total with a nest area of 3.3 m 2 . The nest floor was heated to either 30 • C (T30) or 20 • C (T20) from 48 h before until 24 h after farrowing. A 2 × 2 factorial design saw 88 Large White × Landrace sows randomly assigned to space and temperature treatments. Generalised linear mixed models were used to analyse performance data. Farrowing location analysis involved dividing the pen into seven areas (L1-L7); L1 deemed the safest location for the piglets to be born (in the nest, furthest from dunging area, closest to creep) and L7 the least protected (in the dunging area). Of all the piglets born 97% were born in the nest area. The majority of sows started farrowing in L1 (56%), with 39% of remaining piglets being born in this location. There was a significant Space × Temperature interaction for farrowing location (P = 0.011) with SMALL T20 achieving the most L1 births. Temperature had no significant influence on piglet survival (Total mortality P = 0.401; Live-born mortality P = 0.826). However space influenced mortality, with significantly greater live-born mortality when sows were afforded a larger farrowing space (LARGE = 18.1% vs. SMALL = 10.9% P = 0.028). There were no significant interactions between space and temperature for either total mortality (P = 0.394) or live-born mortality (P = 0.685). The overall design successfully promoted farrowing in the nest location, irrespective of nest size and floor temperature. The higher piglet mortality in the LARGE treatment suggests that the larger nest size was less protective for the piglets and thus a smaller nest, within an adequate total pen size for differentiation of functional areas, would be recommended.

The influence of increasing the dosage of ketamine on anaesthesia induced by a combination of ketamine, xylazine and midazolam in pigs was determined by assessing the onset of action (OAN), duration of analgesia (DAN), anaesthesia time (ANT), and recovery time (RCT) in 10 growing pigs (Mean weight: 18.2 ± 1.65 kg) receiving either 10 mg / kg intramuscular (i.m) injection of 10 % ketamine, 2 mg / kg i.m injection of 2 % xylazine and 0.25 mg / kg i.m injection of 0.1%midazolam (K10XM) or 20 mg / kg i.m injection of ketamine and 2 mg / kg i.m injection of xylazine and 0.25 mg / kg i.m injection of 0.1 % midazolam (K20XM). In addition, the heart rates (HR), respiratory rates (RR) and rectal temperatures (RT) were determined immediately after drug administration and at 10 minute intervals over a period of 60 minutes. Analgesia was assessed by the response of the pigs to artery forceps applied at the interdigital space. Recovery was determined as pigs' ability to stand without ataxia. Data were expressed as mean ± SEM while anaesthetic indices were compared using Student's t-tests. AP value of 0.05 was accepted as significant in all cases. In this study, both the OAN and RCT were significantly (P < 0.05) shorter in K10XM (1.4 ± 0.2 min; 7.8 ± 2.2 min) than in K20XM (2.2 ± 0.2; 18.6 ± 1.4 min) respectively. Similarly, the duration of anaesthesia was significantly (P < 0.05) shorter in K10XM (55.4 ± 8.4 min) than in K20XM (92.0 ± 13.6 min). The pigs that received K20XM combination had analgesia of duration of 41.4±12.6 min while those that received K10XM combination had no analgesia. However, the HR, RR, and RT were not significantly (P > 0.05) different between K10XM and K20XM. It was therefore concluded that the lower dose ketamine combination is better for the induction of anaesthesia, while the higher dose ketamine combination is preferable for surgery of short duration in pigs

This trial was carried out to determine the responses of two broiler strains of chicken to different post-hatch access to feed. 180-day old chicks (Arbor acre and Marshal strains) with initial weight range of 39.36–42.24 g were used for this study. Each strain was divided on weight equalization into three treatment groups consisting of three time-periods with access to feeds (4 h, 24 h, 48 h) post hatch in a 2 × 3 factorial experiment after which they were fed ad-libitum. Thirty (30) birds were assigned to each treatment which comprised of three replicates of ten birds. Data collected on serum biochemical constituents and gut morphology were measured and subjected to analysis of variance in a randomized design. The Marshal strain recorded a higher (p < 0.05) final live weight (2420.00 g/bird) than the Arbor acre strain (2218.30 g/bird). Birds fed at 4 h and 24 h post-hatch recorded higher (p < 0.05) final live weights (2402.00 and 2391.00 g/bird) than those fed at 48 h post-hatch (2133.00 g/bird). Interaction effects showed that the Marshal strain fed at 4 h post-hatch had the highest (p < 0.05) final live weight (2594.00 g/bird). Highest (p < 0.05) serum total protein and albumin (37.3 and 22.8 g/l) were recorded in birds fed at 4 h post-hatch when assessed at 4 weeks of age. Furthermore, birds fed at 4 h and 24 h post-hatch recorded higher (p < 0.05) serum total protein and albumin than those fed at 48 h post-hatch. Birds fed at 4 h post-hatch recorded the highest (p < 0.05) duodenal villus height at 4th and 8th week of age and highest (P < 0.05) jejunal villus height when assessed in the 2nd week of age. It was concluded that Marshal strain fed at 4 h post-hatch elicited the highest growth performance and the most developed gut morphological features.

In this study, the maternal genetic diversity, phylogenetic relationship and effect of natural selection on indigenous chickens from Nigeria were assessed. A total of 397-bp fragment of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop region of 171 indigenous chickens from four populations of Nigeria and four commercial egg line strains (two Anak titan, one Giriraja and one Yaffa) as out-groups were analysed. Thirty-one haplotypes (28 from Nigerian chickens and three from commercial strains) and 34 polymorphic sites were identified. The mean haplotypic and nucleotide diversity were found to be 0.39 ± 0.05 and 0.02 ± 0.02, respectively. Majority of Nigerian chicken haplotypes observed were grouped into haplogroup D which originated from Indian subcontinent, suggesting a single maternal lineage. Genetic variation within and between populations accounted for 97.30 and 2.70% of the total genetic variation, respectively, which is in agreement with a recent and maternal founding effect. High number (4) of negatively selected sites observed based on single likelihood ancestral counting (SLAC) model indicated that the sampled Nigerian chicken populations were undergoing purifying selection. This study concluded that there was relatively high genetic diversity and differentiation, thus, this information will probably paveway for further evaluation studies, preservation and improvement of Nigerian chickens as genetic resources towards ensuring food security.

Humans are daily exposed to 7,12‐dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA), a well known polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). This study investigated the role of dietary intake of Vitamin K (VK), a polyphenolic compound, with potential antioxidative properties, against DMBA‐induced hepatotoxicity. Sixty experimental animals (120‐150 g) were divided into six groups (A‐F): Control, DMBA (80 mg/kg bw) only, VK (0.00 g/10 kg) diet only, VK (7.5 g/10 kg) diet only, DMBA + VK (0.0 g/10 kg) diet and DMBA + VK (7.5 g/10 kg) diet. Single oral administration of DMBA (80 mg/kg body weight) to Wistar rats resulted in hepatic damage after 16 weeks. DMBA significantly (P < .05) decreased the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and Vitamin C were significantly decreased with increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in serum and liver. Aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), γ‐glutamyltransferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities were significantly (P < .05) elevated in the serum but reduced in the liver of DMBA‐administered group. Ingestion of 7.5 g/10 kg VK diet prevented the up regulations in inflammatory biomarkers (granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) and interleukin 17A (IL‐17A)) which elicited liver damaged in the DMBA‐treated group. DMBA induced hepatic alterations in DMBA‐treated group but was restored to near normal in VK (7.5 g/10 kg) diet group. These findings suggest the protective potential of increased dietary intake of vitamin K against DMBA‐induced hepatic dysfunction.

The study assessed the benefits of a mechanical maize sheller made by a local artisan based on data from 90 farmers selected randomly and equally from Igabi, Chikun and Kajuru Local Government Areas of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Results of the study showed that 76.7% of the respondents adopted the maize sheller made by the local artisan as compared to 23.3% still engaged in hand-shelling of maize. Regarding performance of the maize sheller, 93.3% of the respondents indicated that they were very satisfied, while 3.3% stated that they were satisfied. Farmers agreed that the maize sheller was beneficial to them in 'terms of time saving, ease of operation, availability of the sheller in the community, local arrangement for maintenance, reduction in wastage of grains, creation of employment for youth and access to the equipment by female farmers. However, most of them felt it was not affordable. The results of the study have shown that it is possible for local artisans, and farmers to play a significant role in the process of developing innovations that will enhance agricultural productions. Hence, convergence of ideas and expertise from both formal and non-formal institutions in a multistakeholder framework is likely to be more beneficial to farmers.