Journal of Applied Animal Research

Vol.24 No. 2           December 2003

(Abstracted/indexed in AGRIS Database, Biosis Database, CAB Abstracts,Chemical Abstracts, CURRENT CONTENTS (AB and ES), Food Science and Technology Abstracts, Indian Science Abstracts, RESEARCH ALERT, SCISEARCH)

Feedlot performance and slaughter traits of Friesian (F, n=7), Piemontese x Friesian (PixF, n=7) and Limousin x Friesian (LixF, n=7) young bulls, housed on tied stalls and fattened intensively until 460 days of age, were evaluated. Feedlot performance traits were not affected by genotype. Crosses gave higher dressing per cent than F. Among non-carcass parts and body organs, only hide, liver and lungs including trachea were affected by genotype. It is concluded that despite significant difference in weight at birth, the three genotypes performed similarly.

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The present study was designed to investigate effects of population size and habitat fragmentation on the long-term survival of giant panda. Genetic diversity including band-sharing coefficient, gene frequency, heterozygosity, numbers of alleles and genetic variability were estimated in two populations of the giant panda, which inhabited in Liangshan Mountain and Qionglai Mountain, respectively. The results showed that the decrease of genetic variation caused by genetic drift in Liangshan panda population coincide with the fact that this isolated population had less immigration individuals from the other populations. On the contrary, the Qionglai panda population possessed relatively high genetic variation due to the possible gene flow among the fragmented populations inside the Qionglai Mountain. This finding also indicates that the fragility of giant panda may be more sensitive to the population size than the habitat fragmentation. It was proved to be possible to enhance the genetic variation of the giant panda by promoting the immigration of the individuals among the different populations.

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The study was conducted on 1/2 HarianaX1/2 Holstein Friesian (FH cross), 1/2 Holstein Friesian x 1/4 Brown Swiss x 1/4 Hariana (FBH cross) and 1/2 Holstein Friesian x 1/4 Jersey x 1/4 Hariana (FJH cross) cattle to find out the effect of polymorphism at growth hormone gene on milk quality traits. A fragment of 223 bp spanning over fourth quarter of 4th intron and almost whole 5th exon except last triplet codon was amplified and digested with Alu I restriction enzyme. Two groups of genotypes namely, LL and LV along with two types of alleles (L and V) were observed in three lines of crossbred cattle where the frequency of LL genotype and L allele was found to be comparatively higher. The growth hormone gene polymorphism had significant effect (P£0.05) on total and daily milk fat and protein yield in first three lactations. LL genotype produced highest amount of daily fat, protein and total fat yield, whereas, LV genotype produced highest amount of total protein yield in crossbred cattle.

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To evaluate the efficacy of estrus synchronization procedures 60 Awassi and 44 Red Karaman ewes were equally divided into 2 groups each. To synchronize estrus sheep in one group from each breed (group 1 and 2) were injected intramuscularly with PGF2a (1 ml) 10 days intervals, other two groups (group 3 and 4) ewes were treated with intravaginal sponges containing fluorogestone acetate (FGA; 40 mg) for 14 d. On the day of the PGF2a injection or at sponge removal, rams were placed with the ewes. The variability (standard deviation) of hours to estrus synchronization was significantly (P<0.01) different for both breeds within treatment groups (PGF2a and sponges). The time of the estrus was significantly (P<0.01) shorter in group 3 and 4 than in group 1. The number of ewes in estrus was greater (P<0.05) in groups 3 and 4 than in groups 1 and 2. The time taken for onset of estrus for group 1, 2, 3 and 4 was 48.05±0.32, 45.45±0.17, 41.02±1.11 and 41.44±3.75 h, respectively. Estrus was induced with sponge withdrawal in almost 100 per cent sheep while about 80 per cent of ewes had been observed in estrus after the PGF2a injection within 3 d. It is concluded that Progestagen was better than PGF2a for synchronization of estrous in Awassi and Red Karaman ewes.

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To examine the effects of different vegetable and animal fat sources on some enzyme activities and protein metabolism, 270 laying hens were randomly divided into 9 groups of 30 each (one control and 8 experimental groups). In experiment 1 and 2, four experimental groups (II, III, IV and V) each were fed with a diet supplemented with 2% or 4% tallow (TO), mixture of tallow-flaxseed oil (1:1 w/w) (MTFO), sunflower (SO) and flaxseed oils (FO), respectively for 8 wks. The serum AST, ALP, ALT and LDH activities in groups of 4% TO and MTFO were higher than that of control group (P<0.05). The 2% level of TO, MTFO (1:1 w/w), SO and FO and 4% of SO and FO did not affect various tissues. However, 4% TO and MTFO (1:1 w/w) significantly affected various tissues. It is concluded that 4% TO and MTFO, used as energy sources in diet of layers, are harmful for laying hens.

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Blood samples were collected from 16 apparently healthy adult roseringed parakeets (Psittaculla krameri) of both sexes and hematological values were estimated. The mean values of RBCs, Hb, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC and WBCs were 4.68±0.68x10⁶/µl, 16.53±0.53g/dl, 48.24±1.24%, 103.51±19.17 fl, 35.44±6.98 pg, 34.29±4.56 g/dl and 4.02±0.88x10³/µl, respectively. The leukocytes had 58.43, 38.18, 2.63, 0.43 and 0.32 per cent lymphocytes, heterophils, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils, respectively. Sex of the birds did not affect these values.

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Thirty experimental rabbits were fed sublethal levels of crude oil (0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 or 0.20%) in their diets for 84 days and their blood assayed for cortisol, glucose, total protein, albumin, amylase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase. Activities of these parameters showed a progressive increase with increasing concentration of crude oil indicating significant differences (P<0.05) between controls and crude oil treated animals. The elevated biochemical changes indicate that ingestion of crude oil fractions imposed a physiological and homeostatic stress in the animals.

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The study was carried out in four Indian sheep breeds namely, Marwari, Mandya, Madras Red and Muzaffarnagari maintained at different organised herds of the country. A total of six oligonucleotide primers were subjected to perform random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting to estimate genetic relationship (relatedness) among different breeds of sheep. All the six primers showed polymorphism in producing bands. The average number of bands in different breeds ranged from 6 to 15 with size of 0.3 to 1.9 kb. Out of six primers, OPM-2 and ILO-17 produced comparatively large number of bands in agarose gel. The intrabreed relatedness in terms of band sharing ranged from 0.66 to 1.00, the highest being in Marwari, whereas, lowest in Muzaffarnagari breed. The interbreed relatedness in terms of mean average percentage difference (MAPD) was highest (9.44±1.66) between Marwari and Muzaffarnagari breed while lowest value (4.90±1.54) was found between Mandya and Mujaffarnagari. It may be concluded that the Mandya breed is closest to Marwari while Marwari breed is too distant from Muzaffarnagari breed.

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Two experiments were conducted concurrently to study the influence of three forage legume hays (Stylosanthes guianensis, Centrosema pubescens and Cajanus cajan) obtained from maize - based intercropping system, as supplements to mature guinea grass (Panicum maximum). The legume hays were fed to lactating Bunaji cows (Experiment 1) and N'dama calves (experiment 2) for a period of 30 and 60 days, respectively using a completely randomized design with 4 animals per treatment in both trials. The dry matter degradation characteristics of the forage legumes were also assessed in three rumen - fistulated Bunaji castrates. Cows supplemented with C. pubescens and C. cajan produced higher milk (P<0.05) than those offered S. guianensis. Calves supplemented with C. pubescens and S. guianensis gained more weight (P<0.05) than those fed on C. cajan - supplement. Degradable fraction (b) were 338, 334 and 470g/kg for S. guianensis, C. pubesces and C. cajan, respectively. Additional benefits in terms of higher milk and body weight increase could be derived from the use of cereal-based inter-cropped forage legumes as supplements especially by poor resource African smallholder mixed farmers in the dry season.

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The growth performance of 138 poults obtained in 2 hatches belonging to White variety of turkey, undergoing selection for response to Sheep RBC was studied. Least squares means of body weights reached 1000 g by 10 weeks and 2000 g by 16 weeks of age. The body weights were affected significantly by hatch. The h² estimates of body weights except at hatch and 16 weeks of age were high (0.612±0.497 to 0.792±0.587) exhibiting the presence of additive genetic variation. The phenotypic correlations (r_p) among body weights at different ages were generally positive and high (P<0.05 or 0.01). Genetic correlations r_G among body weights were positive but most of the estimates were more than unity. The r_p had smaller magnitudes as compared to their corres-ponding r_G. The findings suggested that 4 or 8 weeks body weights might be used as selection criterion for improvement of body weights at later ages.

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Characteristics of queen bees (Apis mellifera L.) reared by using various aged larvae and grafting methods were examined using four feeding colonies and 90 mating colonies. The average acceptance rate of larvae for the colonies in groups A1 and A2 were 77% and 70%, respectively and difference was not significant. The emergence rate based on grafted larvae was found significant (P<0.05) in A1 and A2 grafting groups. On the other hand, better results were obtained for all heights of the queen bees reared by one-day-old larvae than that of those reared from older larvae (P<0.05). The heights of sealed queen cells were significantly (p<0.05) higher in-group A1 than group A2. Grafting method X larvae age interaction was found significant (P<0.05). The average heights of sealed queen cells were 25.20±0.04 and 26.77±0.06 mm for the queen bees of A1 and A2 groups, respectively.

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The bactericidal effect of microwave irradiation on different species of bacteria like Bacillus subtilis, Clostridium perfringens, E. coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes type 4a, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis has been studied. Two different volumes of bacterial suspension (50 and 100 ml) were used for colony count at successive time intervals. The decimal reduction time (D values in seconds) were 9 for B. subtilis, 9.5 for C. perfringens, 13 for E. coli, 10 for S. typhimurium, 6 for P. aeruginosa, 8.5 for L. monocytogenes, 8 for Staph. aureus and 7 for Ent. faecalis, for 50 ml suspensions of various bacteria, respectively. D values for 100 ml of bacterial suspensions were 25.5, 10, 14, 13, 7, 16, 15 and 10 seconds, respectively. Under different conditions with respect to duration and volume of bacterial suspensions, a useful effect of bacterial killing by microwave irradiation was noted. B. subtilis could be considered as an optimal indicator for the sterilizing effect of microwave.

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To examine the choice feeding of cereals, ninety six birds aged 16-d were divided into 4 experimental groups with 4 replication each. Experimental groups were control (C), wheat selecting (WS), sorghum selecting (SS) and maize selecting (MS) group. Control chickens were fed on commercial feed. Choice-fed broiler chickens were offered a choice of a concentrate feed and one of the whole cereals. Choice fed-broiler chickens consumed less protein (from 27.8 g to 23.6 g per bird) in comparison to that of control chickens (P<0.01). Performance and body components, efficiencies for protein, energy and feed were not different among experimental groups (P>0.05). In conclusion, usage of cereals in choice feeding of finishing broiler has a potential for minimising protein cost without any detrimental effect, especially selection of wheat and sorghum.

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