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Six generations of population selection from 2 lines of improved indigenous pigs *NIGER HUBS" comprising pigs born from the year 1984 - 1990 were evaluated. Continued selection for higher body size resulted in observed increases in 150 day body weight of 26% in the white line A and 41% in the black and white line B from the average weight of the foundation stock and 76 to 84 per cent at 12 month of age for these lines of pius respectively. Moderately high heritability estimates of 0.36 to 0.69 were reported for both lines for the 150 day weight and 0.58 to 0.76 for the yearling weight. Response to selection was highest in the first generation of the Bline and the third generation of the A line. Overall response value of 5.79±1.28kg during the first generation declined to 5.01kg±1.08 during the second generation although this subsequently increased from the third to fifth generations. With the plateau not reached within this 6 generation of selection, further response may still be expected in these lines of pigs

The study was designed to investigate the association of Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) gene polymorphism with the reproductive performance of FUNAAB-Alpha, Sasso, and Kuroiler dual-purpose chicken breeds. To achieve this, a total of 250 healthy hens were selected at 12 wk of age and were intensively managed in cages for 52 wk. Blood sample was taken from each chicken at the 34th week and genomic DNA was extracted using Qiagentm DNA extraction kit, PCR was used to amplify the DNA fragments, and the PCR products were electrophoresed. Amplicons obtained were digested with restriction enzyme hinf1, and were further electrophoresed on 1.5% agarose gel. Data obtained were analyzed using the General linear model of SAS (2002) version 9.0 to determine the effect of IGF1 gene polymorphism and the distribution of alleles within the breeds. Results show polymorphism of the IGF1 gene and the restriction analysis indicated two alleles; A 58% and C 42% with the identification of genotypes AA, AC, and CC, and genotypic frequency of 22%, 43%, and 35%, respectively. Significant associations were observed between the polymorphism of the IGF1 gene, age of the bird at first lay, and weight of the hen at first lay. Chickens with haplotype CC came earlier into lay compared to those with the other two haplotypes (AA and AC). Therefore, the study suggests that haplotype CC could be used as a genetic marker to select for an improved laying performance in chickens.

Goats play a variety of roles all around the globe due to their capability to acclimatize different environmental conditions quite quickly since they have been regarded as one of the first sets of animals domesticated by the human. Even though domestic goats harbor precious genetic materials, research funding among developing countries is a major drawback for thorough study on them. Therefore, microsatellite markers seem to be affordable and informative. Genotypic data from different goat breeds across five countries (Nigeria, South Africa, Pakistan, France and Spain) was generated using eleven microsatellite markers for a comparative study in order to evaluate the usefulness of the available data for genetic characterization and identify the shortcomings of meta-analyses for combined data. The mean number of alleles (MNA) per population range from 6.44±2.83 alleles for Spanish to 10.25±0.96 for Pakistani goats, with an overall mean of 13.55±7.28. Observed heterozygosity (Ho) ranges from 0.61±0.02 to 0.83±0.01 for Spanish goats and Pakistani goats, respectively with an overall mean of 0.65. Ho of the markers used ranged from 0.569 (INRA5) to 0.793 (MM12). Highest and least polymorphic information content (PIC) was observed in loci MM12 (0.925) and MAF209 (0.489), respectively. All the populations showed significant change from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P>0.05) indicating a low level of inbreeding. The genetic distance of each country’s goat populations ranged from 0.151 to 4.245. The highest genetic distance (4.245) was observed between Spanish and Pakistani goats while the lowest were observed between Spanish and French goats. Spanish and French goats are from a common ancestor while South African, Nigerian and Pakistani goats came from another ancestor or cluster. A lot of genetic admixture in the Nigerian ecotypes has been observed whereas France and Saudi Arabian breeds have been subjected to high amount of selection pressure.

Se analizaron 29 microsatélites para evaluar la diversidad genética de tres razas caprinas Nigerianas y establecer las relaciones genéticas entre ellas utilizando las razas Saanen y Kalahari como poblaciones outgroup. Se analizaron 244 distribuidas de la siguiente manera: en Sahel (47), Maradi (47) y WestAfrican Dwarf (67), Kalahari (47) y Saanen (36). El ADN se extrajo a partir de sangre conservada en tarjetas FTA Classic siguiendo las instrucciones del fabricante y se amplificaron los microsatélites mediante PCR. Se calcularon el número medio de alelos (MNA), las heterocigocidades observada (Ho) y esperada (He) y las distancias genéticas entre pares de poblaciones. Se hizo una prueba de equilibrio Hardy-Weinberg (HWE) y un análisis de la estructura genética de las poblaciones mediante el programa STRUCTURE. La diversidad genética encontrada fue alta con valores de MNA entre 6,69 y 8,79 para Kalahari y West African Dwarf, respectivamente. Los valores de Ho oscilaron entre un 59 % para West African Dwarf y un 64,9 % para Saanen. La He más alta se encontró en la raza West African Dwarf (70 %), mientras que el valor más bajo se observó en la raza Saanen (He= 66,5 %). Los valores medios de Fis para las poblaciones estudiadas variaron entre 0,055 en Kalahari y 0,148 en West African Dwarf. La distancia genética más elevada fué la encontrada entre Saanen y Maradi (0,386) y la menor entre Maradi y Sahel (0,025). La prueba de equilibrio de HWE reveló que dieciocho, diecisiete, trece, veintitrés y veintiún loci estaban en equilibrio HWE (p>0,05) en las razas Maradi, West African Dwarf, Sahel, Saanen y Kalahari, respectivamente. Una representación gráfica del análisis de estructura genética reveló que las cabras de Nigeria descienden de un ancestro común diferente de las razas sudafricanas y europeas que fueron utilizadas como grupos externos.

This study was conducted to evaluate the variation in antibody from Newcastle disease (ND) vaccinated breeder birds and their progenies. The chicks were evaluated for maternally derived antibody (MDA) against ND virus and also the MDA transfer rate for each genotype. The local parent stocks were Frizzle-feathered, Normal-feathered, and Naked neck while an exotic parent stock (Anak Titan) was used for the purpose of comparison. Sera samples were collected from chicks generated at day 3 post-hatch, and sera were also collected from the parent stocks. The sera samples were stored at -20 °C until analysed. Enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) test was used for the detection and quantification of antibodies to ND in the parent stocks and the chicks using IDEXX Newcastle Disease ELISA test kit. The least squares means of antibody titers for parent stocks were 413.333 ± 68.853, 426.333 ± 121.949, 481.667 ± 145.454, and 1148.333 ± 532.843 for Frizzle-feathered, Normal-feathered, Naked Neck, and Anak Titan, and the calculated MDA transfer rate was 96.4, 93.8, 88.7, and 34.7 % for Frizzle-feathered, Normal-feathered, Naked neck, and Anak Titan, respectively. The mean antibody titers for chicks were 398.6 ± 43.871, 400.0 ± 53.952, 427.0 ± 89.353, and 398.8 ± 57.593 for Frizzle-feathered, Normal-feathered, Naked neck, and Anak Titan, respectively. The antibody titers from parent stocks were higher than those observed in chicks for all the genotypes. The values obtained in this study indicated that parent stocks with their progenies were below protective level. The local parent stocks had higher transfer rate when compared to their exotic counterpart. Hence, there is an indication from this finding that the local chickens had a better transfer rate in relation to Anak Titan which is an exotic breed. Therefore, there is the presence of genetic variability for antibody transfer in the Nigerian local chickens and can be incorporated in designing a breeding program for better adaptive potential.

The exposure of sheep to elevated ambient temperatures induces an increase in the dissipation of excess body heat, in order to overcome this excessive environmental heat load. Dissipation of excess body heat is emitted by evaporation of water from the respiratory tract and skin surface via panting and sweating.The following heat stress traits were measured; body temperature, rectal temperature, pulse rate and respiratory rate after the sunrise and before the sunset. While blood and serum biochemical indices measured were blood glucose, total serum protein, globulin, cholesterol and triglycerides. No significant relationship(P>0.05) was recorded between heat stress traits and blood biochemical indices studied. However, we observed a positively significant (P

Trypanosomosis remains a major challenge to livestock production in much of tropical Sub-Saharan Africa, while diagnosis and treatment still depend on inefficient parasitological techniques. Endemic infections depend on animal reservoirs with subclinical parasitemia. We report molecular diagnosis of subclinical Trypanosoma vivax (T. vivax) infection using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the first time in Nigerian goats and associate parasite presence with gross physiological traits and serum metabolites in extensively managed Nigerian goats. PCR was used to amplify a 400 bp DNA fragment of the parasite genome in 205 goats across three geographical zones of the country. Results showed a high subclinical infection rate (SCIR) of 71.7% in the total goats examined. Overall SCIRs of 71%, 75.9% and 55.6% were recorded in West African Dwarf, Red Sokoto and Sahel goats respectively, while geographical SCIRs were 71.2% (Southwest), 75% (Northwest) and 70% (Northeast). T. vivax presence had significant (P 0.05) effect on respiratory rate and is associated with higher creatinine levels in sera. Logistic regression analyses with Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit showed that respiratory rate is the most important predictive trait for the presence of T. vivax infection (P 0.05). Goats appear to be a viable reservoir for T. vivax infection of other livestock. Molecular diagnosis of subclinical trypanosomosis using PCR could be useful for large scale epidemiological studies, early diagnosis of subclinical infection and treatment of the disease in extensively managed tropical goats.

Este estudio examina la capacidad para distinguir los rasgos morfologicos y de tolerancia al calor en pavos autoctonos, exoticos y cruzados en Nigeria mediante el analisis discriminante multivariado. Un total de 228 pavos de 20 semanas de edad fueron utilizados en el estudio. Los parametros corporales medidos fueron el peso corporal (BW), diametro longitudinal (BL), longitud del tarso (SL), longitud del muslo (TL), longitud de quilla (KL), perimetro toracico (BG), temperatura rectal (RT), frecuencia del pulso (PR), frecuencia respiratoria (FR) y el indice de estres termico (HI). El analisis de la varianza revelo que los pavos exoticos mostraban valores significativamente ( p < 0,05) mayores que los pavos autoctonos de Nigeria y que los cruzados para todos los rasgos morfologicos, con la excepcion de la TL. Sin embargo, los pavos autoctonos y los cruzados parecian tener mas capacidad de adaptacion que los exoticos en base a valores de HI mas bajos. El dimorfismo sexual se observo solo en los caracteres morfologicos, donde los machos presentaron de forma significativa ( p < 0,05) un mayor BW, BL, SL, TL y KL que en las hembras. Sin embargo, el analisis discriminante por pasos revelo que BW, TL y HI, fueron las variables mas discriminantes a la hora de separar los tres grupos geneticos. La mayor distancia de Mahalanobis se observo entre los pavos autoctonos y exoticos (36,68), mientras que la distancia mas corta se registro entre los pavos autoctonos y los cruzados (7,97). El diagrama canonico puso de manifiesto la heterogeneidad de las poblaciones de pavo, agrupando las aves por separado. En el nivel de asignacion mas cercano del analisis discriminante, el 100,00%, el 98,73%y el 96,43%de pavos exoticos, cruzados y autoctonos fueron asignados correctamente en sus grupos de origen genetico. Los presentes hallazgos podrian ayudar a la implementacion de una estrategia de conservacion y mejora de los pavos autoctonos hacia el desarrollo sostenible de los recursos zoogeneticos.

This study was carried out to assess the prevalence of mange in sheep and goats in five local government areas (LGAs) of Ogun State in South Western Nigeria. A total of 4,973 sheep and 7,902 goats of West African Dwarf breeds were sampled of which only 4 (0.08%) of sheep and 42 (0.53%) of goats were confirmed positive for mange infestation. In all the LGAs sampled, Odeda LGA had the highest concentration of sheep (39%) and goats (51%) while Abeokuta South had the least percentage of sheep (1%) and goats (1%). All the mange-infested cases in sheep were recorded in just one LGA (Ewekoro) which constituted 0.24% of the population within the location. For goats, three out of five LGAs namely: Obafemi Owode, Ewekoro and Abeokuta North had prevalence of 1.46%, 0.53% and 0.72% respectively. There was no significant (P > 0.05) difference between non-infested and infested animals in terms of packed cell volume (31.79 ± 0.87% vs. 31.41 ± 1.13%), haemoglobin (10.51 ± 0.21 g/100 ml vs. 10.28 ± 0.37 g/100 ml) and red blood cells (8.71 ± 0.29 × 1012/l vs. 9.40 ± 0.37 × 1012/l). The infested group however showed significantly (P

The objectives of this study were to investigate the relationships between body weight and morpho-structural indices to predict body weight from their orthogonal body shape characters using principal component analysis and to morphologically classify the chicken genotypes using multivariate discriminant analysis. Data used were from 273 randomly selected 12-weeks-old indigenous chickens of normal-feathered (NF), frizzle-feathered (FF), naked-neck (NN) and Anak Titan (AT) genotypes. Phenotypic correlation among body weight and most biometric traits ranged from 0.227-0.876, -0.7-0.901, 0.034-0.968 and -0.207-0.849 for NF, NN and AT chickens, respectively. Factor analysis with varimax rotation of interrelated traits revealed three principal components which accounted for 83.1%, 74.4%, 78.8% and 76.5% of the total variance in NF, FF, NN and AT chickens in the order listed. Breast girth, keel length, thigh length, shank length and wing length were found to be the most discriminating variables to separate the chicken genotypes. The longest distance (72.54) occurred between AT and NF genotypes while the shortest distance (4.27) was recorded for FF and NN genotypes. Classification results showed that 85.2% of AT genotype was correctly classified into their source population. However, 22.7% of NF was misclassified as NN, while 33.3% of NN was misclassified as NF chickens. These results suggest that there is high rate of gene flow between these two indigenous chicken genotypes. Information obtained from this study may be considered useful in breed improvement programmes for selection, characterization, conservation and better management of Nigerian indigenous chickens.

To better understand natural genetic variation in indigenous livestock resources, as well as formulate conservation policies, better genetic characterization is required to balance the competing needs of genetic improvement and conservation of native germplasm, primarily in rural agricultural systems in developing countries. Genetic diversity of goats in southern Nigeria was assessed using 295 indigenous goats with ten microsatellite DNA markers. The breeds are West African Dwarf (WAD), Red Sokoto (RS) and Sahel (SA) sampled from farms, market places and rural homesteads. The mean expected heterozygosity (HE) ranged from 0.608 to 0.784 in two sub-populations of WAD goats. Deviations from Hardy�Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) were statistically significant ( p < 0.05) indicating that these populations are under various forces stemming from the management choices of rural dwellers. Polymorphic information content of these markers averaged 0.803 and mean GST index was 0.176. The measure of genetic distance between pairs of breeds indicated that the lowest distance was between WAD and RS (0.268) and the highest distance was between WAD and SA (0.662) goats, respectively. The estimated dendogram clustered these Nigerian goats into nine sub-populations and two major genetic groups. The study suggests that indigenous goat populations in southern Nigeria may be collapsed from three breeds into two distinct genetic groups, possibly due to extensive cross-breeding and gene flow between them, which are symptomatic of uncontrolled crossing across much of the country.

A total of 970 eggs were collected from matings involving three genotypes of Nigerian local chickens (Normal-feathered, Frizzle-feathered and Naked neck) and one exotic broiler breeder strain (Anak Titan) to evaluate the effect of crossbreeding on fertility, hatchability and embryonic mortality. Mating was achieved through artificial insemination. Sire genotype significantly (P

Fueron tomadas muestras de sangre para el analisis proteico en tres variedades de gallinas autoctonas nigerianas (de plumaje normal, de plumaje rizado y de cuello desnudo) y una variedad exotica (Anak Titan). Cada una de estas poblaciones representa un genotipo. Se usaron muestras de sangre de 50 animales por genotipo para valorar la diversidad genetica de las gallinas autoctonas nigerianas. Fueron observados un total de 18 grupos a partir de las cuatro variedades durante la resolucion de la proteina utilizando electroforesis en gel de poliacrilamida con dodecilsulfato sodico (pagina de SDS). El dendograma desarrollado desde los diferentes grupos observados revelo que las variedades se encontraban claramente separadas unas de otras y con una semejanza genetica media entre las cuatro variedades del 55 percent, siendo la variedad de cuello desnudo las mas separada.

Six-hundred-and-seven-day-old chicks were generated from Nigerian local chickens consisting of three genotypes (Normal-feathered; Frizzled-feathered; Naked neck) and an exotic broiler breeder (Anak Titan) to evaluate growth performance for possible meat-type chicken development. Growth parameters measured were body weight, breast girth and keel length on weekly basis for 20 weeks. Effects of sire, dam and chick genotypes were significant (P0.001) on growth traits. At week 20, chickens sired by the Anak Titan weighed 1,614.82 g followed by Normal-feathered local chickens with body weight of 1,211.32 g. Progenies of Anak Titan and Naked neck dams weighed 1,761.96 and 1,292.80 g at week 20, respectively. Among purebreds, Anak Titan weighed 35.05 g at day-old and had heaviest body weight of 2,360.29 g at 20 weeks compared to the three local strains. The average body weights for the crossbred, Normal-feathered × Anak Titan at day-old and week 20 were 36.39 and 1,577.63 g, respectively. This was followed by Anak Titan × Naked neck with 33.32 g at day-old and 1,514.14 g at week 20. Sex had significant effect (P0.05) at weeks 16 and 20 with the males having higher mean values than their female counterparts. This study revealed that crosses involving Anak Titan sire × Naked neck dam had highest growth performance, and there was no strain differences among the growth performance of purebred Nigerian local chickens.

This research was conducted to investigate variation in semen quality traits of seven chicken strains. A to tal of 42 cocks belonging to 7 sire strains comprising of 3 Nigerian indigenous (Naked-neck, Frizzle and Normal feathered) cocks, 3 Exotic cocks (Nera Black, White Leghorn and Giriraja) and an improved indigenous crossbred (Alpha) cock developed at the Poultry Breeding Unit of the Teaching and Research Farm, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production, University of Agriculture, Alabata Road, Abeokuta, Ogun State between March, 2002 and April, 2003. Strain effect significantly affected semen volume (P 0.05). The White Leghorn had the highest semen volume, while the Naked neck had the least. The observed semen volume ranged from 0.37±0.02 to 0.73±0.01 ml. Naked neck birds had the highest value for sperm concentration followed by the Normal feathered strain, Nera black, White Leghorn, Alpha, Frizzle feather and Giriraja with corresponding values of 4.21±1.45 x 10 /ml, 4.05±0.65 x 10 /ml, 3.89±0.83 x 10 /ml, 3.53±1.00 x 10 /ml, 3.45±0.46 x 10 /ml, 3.40±0.31 9 9 9 9 9 x 10 /ml respectively. Naked neck had the highest value for motile spermatozoa while the Giriraja had the 9 least value. The Pearson correlation coefficients between semen volume and other quality traits were generally low with positive values ranging from 0.01-0.35 between semen volume and percentage sluggish spermatozoa and semen pH and sperm motility respectively. It is concluded that large genetic variation existed in semen quantity and quality traits in cocks used for the study and that indigenous cocks had comparable results with the exotics and can therefore be included in A.I for genetic improvement as contributors of rare genes.

This study was conducted to compare fertility and hatchability among pure and crossbred chicken genotypes. A total of three sires and thirty dams per genetic group were used in a study which was conducted over three months involving both direct and reciprocal crosses. A total number of 5804 eggs were set out of the total laid. Number of eggs fertile at first and second candling were significantly (P < 0.01) affected by both sire and dam strains. Similarly, number of eggs hatched, percentage fertility and hatchability were significantly (P < 0.01) affected by both sire and dam strains. There was also significant (P < 0.05) interaction effects between dam and sire strains on fertility and hatchability percentages. Matings involving pure strains of Naked Neck indigenous chicken resulted in lowest hatchability when compared to matings involving other pure and crossbred genotypes. Variations observed in percentage fertility and hatchability of eggs were attributed to segregation effects of genes in both pure and crossbred chicken genotypes used for the study.

Twelve non-pregnant female goats (West African Dwarf, WAD and Red Sokoto, RS) were used to investigate the effect of volumetric (0%, 33% and 67%) water restriction on feed intake and weight gain over a period of eight weeks. The goats are of 2 age groups: younger and older than 1 year. The experiment was arranged in a modified cross-over design with three treatment periods of 1 week each. In-between each treatment period was a 2-week wash-out period, when the effect of the previous was expected to have worn off. The average water intake (WI) was determined for the first 7 days of the experiment when all the animals were given water ad libitum. The 3 treatments were: (i) ad libitum supply of water every day; (ii) 33% reduction from average WI; and (iii) 67% reduction. Water drunk had positive and significant (p1 year old; r= 0.615). All the four classes of goats showed positive highly significant (p1 year old) and RS (1 year old goats). Doce cabras no preñadas (West African Dwarf, WAD y Red Sokoto, RS) fueron empleadas para investigar el efecto de la restricción volumétrica (0%, 33% and 67%) del suministro de agua sobre la ingestión de alimento y ganancia de peso durante ocho semanas. Los animales se agruparon por edad en menores y mayores de un año. El experimento se dispuso según un diseño cruzado, modificado con tres periodos de tratamiento de una semana cada uno. Entre cada periodo se intercaló uno de lavado de dos semanas durante el que se eliminaba el efecto del experimento precedente. La ingestión media de agua (WI) fue determinada para los siete primeros dias del experimento durante los cuales a todos los animales se suministraba agua ad libitum. Los tratamientos fueron: (i) suministro de agua ad libitum, (ii) reducción del 33% sobre la ingestión media y (iii) 67% de reducción. El agua bebida mostró correlación positiva (p1, 0,484 y RS: 1, 0,422).

SummaryThe Muturu, a trypanotolerant cattle breed is probably one of the least known breed of cattle in West Africa. Little has been published on its distribution, management, morphological characteristics or biological performance.Early reports showed that the Muturu cattle were once widely distributed across the continent from Liberia, across the West African subregion, to Ethiopia. However, due to expansion of the Zebu population and rapid urbanization, the small bodied animal came under pressure and was found surviving in pockets of the savannahs and in the humid forest zones where it had the comparative advantage of trypanotolerance. The survival of the cattle in the humid and forest zones of Nigeria stems from the fact that the animal is still sacred in so many communities and its milk is widely used for medicinal purposes. In some states of Nigeria, the semi-feral Muturu are not tended but hunted when required for sacrifice.From a population size of 0.4 million heads in 1960, Akinwunmi and Ikpi, (1985) reported a decline in the population of the breed to 50–80 thousand in the late 1980s in Nigeria although RIMS (1992), reported a population growth to 115 172 heads. With limited data bank information on their adaptation and productivity, possible identification of genes that confer resistance to or tolerance of environmental stress in these animals will be of global significance.

The agouti-signaling protein (ASIP) plays a major role in mammalian pigmentation as an antagonist to melanocortin-1 receptor gene to stimulate pheomelanin synthesis, a major pigment conferring mammalian coat color. We sequenced a 352 bp fragment of ASIP gene spanning part of exon 2 and part of intron 2 in 215 animals representing six goat breeds from Nigeria and the United States: West African Dwarf, predominantly black; Red Sokoto, mostly red; and Sahel, mostly white from Nigeria; black and white Alpine, brown and white Spanish and white Saanen from the US. Twenty haplotypes from nine mutations representing three intronic, one silent and five missense (p.S19R, p.N35K, p.L36V, p.M42L and p.L45W) mutations were identified in Nigerian goats. Approximately 89 % of Nigerian goats carry haplotype 1 (TGCCATCCG) which seems to be the wild type configuration of mutations in this region of the gene. Although we found no association between these polymorphisms in the ASIP gene and coat color in Nigerian goats, in-silico functional analysis predicts putative deleterious functional impact of the p.L45W mutation on the basic amino-terminal domain of ASIP. In the American goats, two intronic mutations, g.293G>A and g.327C>A, were identified in the Alpine breed, although the g.293G>A mutation is common to American and Nigerian goat populations. All Sannen and Sahel goats in this study belong to haplotypes 1 of both populations which seem to be the wild-type composite ASIP haplotype. Overall, there was no clear association of this portion of the ASIP gene interrogated in this study with coat color variation. Therefore, additional genomic analyses of promoter sequence, the entire coding and non-coding regions of the ASIP gene will be required to obtain a definite conclusion.

Genetic interrelationship within and between strains was assessed using pure Nigerian normal feathered local, pure exotic and their crossbred hens for age and body weight at first lay, egg weight and egg internal quality traits. 100 layers comprising 20 Black Nera, 20 White Leghorn, 20 Normal feathered local chicken, 20 White Leghorn x Local cross and 20 Black Nera x Local crosses were randomly selected from a breeding stock of about 500 chickens. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between age and body weight at first egg in all the pure exotic strains. A low but negative relationship between age at first egg and egg weight was observed in White Leghorn, local and their crosses. The r values were generally low and not significant except in Black Nera (r = 0.515). however, a strong, significant and positive relationship was observed between body weight at first egg and egg weight in the local hen (r = 0.765). These results suggest that selection for increased body weight in the local chicken will result in increase in egg size and egg internal quality traits. These values were relatively higher in the crossbred and pure local chicken compared to their pure exotic counterparts. Keywords : Body weight, egg weight, egg quality, traits.

Twelve non-pregnant female goats (West African Dwarf, WAD and Red Sokoto, RS) were used to investigate the effect of volumetric (0%, 33% and 67%) water restriction on feed intake and weight gain over a period of eight weeks. The goats are of 2 age groups: younger and older than 1 year. The experiment was arranged in a modified cross-over design with three treatment periods of 1 week each. In-between each treatment period was a 2-week wash-out period, when the effect of the previous was expected to have worn off. The average water intake (WI) was determined for the first 7 days of the experiment when all the animals were given water ad libitum. The 3 treatments were: (i) ad libitum supply of water every day; (ii) 33% reduction from average WI; and (iii) 67% reduction. Water drunk had positive and significant (p1 year old; r= 0.615). All the four classes of goats showed positive highly significant (p1 year old) and RS (1 year old goats).

Background Sheep is important in the socio-economic lives of people around the world. It is estimated that more than half of our once common livestock breeds are now endangered. Since genetic characterization of Nigerian sheep is still lacking, we analyzed ten morphological traits on 402 animals and 15 microsatellite DNA markers in 384 animals of the 4 Nigerian sheep breeds to better understand genetic diversity for breeding management and germplasm conservation. Results Morphological traits of Uda and Balami were significantly (P F ST , F IT and F IS statistics across all loci were 0.088, 0.394 and 0.336 respectively. Yankasa and Balami are the most closely related breeds (DA = 0.184) while WAD and Balami are the farthest apart breeds (DA = 0.665), which is coincident with distance based on morphological analysis and population structure assessed by STRUCTURE. Conclusions These results suggest that within-breed genetic variation in Nigerian sheep is higher than between-breeds and may be a valuable tool for genetic improvement and conservation. The higher genetic variability in Yankasa suggests the presence of unique ancestral alleles reflecting the presence of certain functional genes which may result in better adaptability in more agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. These genetic characteristics are potentially useful in planning improvement and conservation strategies in Nigerian indigenous sheep.