Search

The study was carried out to characterize two indigenous chickens of Nigeria using protein markers; haemolglobin (HB) and carbonic anhydrase (CA). Separation of the two proteins was achieved by cellulose acetate electrophoresis and direct gene counting method was employed to interpret the result. Palentological statistics was used to generate dendrogram that measured genetic similarity within and between each of the population studied. HB was interpreted into three phenotypes: AA, AB and BB which were genetically controlled two codominant alleles HBA and HBB. Allele frequencies of HBA and HBB in Yoruba ecotype chicken were 0.34 and 0.66, respectively, while those of Fulani ecotype were 0.28 and 0.72, respectively. CA was also interpreted into three phenotypes (FF, FS and SS) which are genetically controlled by two codominant alleles CAF and CAS; their respective allele frequencies were 0.33 and 0.67 in Yoruba ecotype chicken and 0.24 and 0.76 in Fulani ecotype chicken. Genetic similarity within ecotype indicated 60% in Fulani, 80% in Yoruba and 40% between Yoruba and Fulani at HB locus while at CA locus, genetic similarity was 69% in Fulani ecotype, 50% in Yoruba ecotype and 42% between Yoruba and Fulani ecotype. Cavalli-Sforza genetic distance between the two Ecotypes was 2.1x10-2. Conclusively, the two populations were genetically related and further studies should focus on other protein markers and at molecular level.Keywords: Ecotype, protein marker, genetic distance and selectionAfr. J. Biotechnol. Vol. 12 No. 50

Information on genetic relationship of phenotypically divergent sub-groups would be useful for better identification, utilization and management of species. Recent study revealed phenotypic divergence in a reservoir population of Clarias gariepinus. Genetic variability of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of the phenotypic divergent sub-groups was investigated in this study. Polymorphism and genetic variability were investigated in electrophoresed random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR products of blood samples of twenty (20) C. gariepinus individuals. The population comprised of five (5) individuals of the non-peses phenotypic sub-group- individuals that did not possess anteriorly serrated pectoral spines denoted by S and fifteen (15) individuals of peses sub-groups that possessed anteriorly serrated pectoral spines denoted as C. Standard protocols were followed in analyzing six screened RAPD primers per individuals DNA fragment. Produced bands of pheno-grams were scored and analyzed to establish polymorphism as well as within and between sub-populations allelic variability using unweighted paired group method of algorithms (UPGMA) and dendrograms cluster analysis. Genotype data of individuals in the groups were tested for canonically significant discriminant grouping using discriminant function analysis (DFA). Results reveal that the primers were polymorphic: 746 bands were obtained from 63 detected loci which gave 80.95% polymorphism. Polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged between 0.18 and 0.49. Percentage polymorphic band were 78.00 and 69.84% for peses and non peses sub-groups, respectively. Dendrogram separated the population to two groups. All peses individuals were in one cluster while all the non-peses individuals were on the second cluster. Within group variations were also observed: DFA revealed that 100% of original phenotypically grouped cases were correctly classified. It was concluded that RAPD primers are suitable genetic markers for establishing variability in C. gariepinus sub-populations; the pectoral spine phenotypic groups are genetic variants and are potential varieties for the species. The results would have wide application in identification, utilization and management of genetic resources of C. gariepinus.Keywords: Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker, morphologic and genetic variability, Clarias gariepinus.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(37), pp. 5567-5576

Twelve (12) month production records of two commercial egg-type chickens, Nera Black (NB) and Isa Brown (IB) reared on a commercial farm in Ilora, Oyo State, Nigeria were analysed to assess effects of season and genotype on their performance. The production record was sorted according to the two recognized major seasons: wet (April-September) and dry (October-March) in the study area. Besides, the each major season was further partitioned into two sub-seasons namely: early rainy season (ERS: April-June), late rainy season (LRS: July-September), early dry season (EDS: October-December) and late dry season (LDS: January-March). Results of data analysis showed that genotype had no significant effect (P>0.05) on all the performance indices. Conversely, season significantly (P0.05) for other productive parameters. IB strain performed better in wet season most especially in LRS while NB hens had better performance in dry season. Results from this study indicated that regardless of the season, the two egg strains should be employed for commercial egg production but adequate measure should be taken to combat the adverse effect of thermal stress on the welfare and performance of layers in the study area most especially in LDS months. Discrepancies in genotype by season interaction suggest genetic basis to differences in performances and physiological abilities of the investigated egg-strains to cope with stresses emanating from change in season.Keywords: Egg-strains, genotype, productive performance, seasons.

This study was to evaluate the possible genetic resistance of exotic and indigenous chicks to Salmonella gallinarum. A total of 72 nine weeks-old chicks were used for the study. The Fulani ecotype (Fulani smooth feathers - FSF), Yoruba ecotype (Yoruba smooth feathers - YSF), and the Exotic breed (Nera Black) chicks were infected with a dose of S. gallinarum (8.3 x 106 CFU) and were observed for 16 days. Evaluation of resistance was based on clinical signs, mortality, pathology, leukocyte count, bacterial count from liver and spleen of infected chicks. The highest peak for clinical signs in S. gallinarum infected chicks coincides with highest mortalities recorded on day 11-12 dpi and bacterial count of both liver and spleen on day 8. The lymphocytes count declined on day 8 for all the experimental chicks except for the exotic breed. There was no significant difference between the bacterial counts of the different groups on day 8. In S. gallinarum infected chicks, 94.4% of all the chicks showed clinical signs after infection, the exotic breed showed a prolonged clinical signs while the Yoruba ecotype showed the least. 87.5%, 80.0% and 37.5% mortality were recorded in the exotic breed, Fulani and Yoruba ecotypes respectively. The study showed that the exotic chicken (Nera Black) was more susceptible to Salmonella gallinarum infection. It also indicated that within the ecotypes in Nigeria, Fulani ecotype was more susceptible to Salmonella gallinarum infection than the Yoruba ecotype. The lower clinical signs and mortality observed in Yoruba ecotype indicated a resistance of the ecotype to S. gallinarum infection.Keywords: Ecotypes, Nigerian Indigenous chicken, Salmonella gallinarum infection.

This experiment was conducted to assess and compare the susceptibility of the varieties of Yoruba indigenous chicken ecotype: Yoruba Smooth Feathered (YSF), Yoruba Frizzled Feathered (YFF) and Yoruba Naked Neck (YNN) to Newcastle disease. A total of sixty (60) 16 weeks old chickens were used comprising of twenty (20) chickens per variety. The assessmentof their susceptibility to Newcastle disease was by evaluation of clinical signs, humoral response, mortality, pathology following contact with Newcastle disease infected chickens. The experimental chickens developed clinical signs of Newcastle disease from day 9 after infection. Haemagglutination inhibition (HI) titre was determined on days 0, 21and28 post-infection. On day 0, the HI titre of the 3 genotypes were below 3log2, on day 21, there were significant differences within the group (P

A study was conducted to determine the genetic resistance of two Nigerian ecotypes chicken and exotic breed cockerel (black Nera) to Newcastle disease by evaluating their clinical, haematological and humoralresponses to experimental Newcastle disease virus infection.. The chicks from the three genotypes were infected with 1ml of 105 ELD50 of Hertz 33 Newcastle disease virus inoculums orally. Their responses to infection weremonitored through clinical signs and mortality, haematological parameters and antibody titres values on days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 21 post infection. There was no adverse clinical manifestation and mortality in all the chicks throughout the experimental period. There was also no significant difference (p>0.05) between the mean packed cell volume of all the three genotypes from day 0 up to day 21 post infection though Fulani ecotypes had the highest value at day 21. Lymphocyte counts did not show any significant difference (p>0.05) on day 0 and 3 but there was significant difference (p

Genetic diseases have always been present in the animal population but their significance has increased in recent decades. The wealth of knowledge on genomic information, systems biology and mechanisms of diseases provide great opportunities to elucidate the genetic bases of diseases. The use of recombinant DNA techniques in conjunction with conventional genetic methods have led to a rapid increase in knowledge of the genetic map. Many animal genes have been mapped to chromosomes. A detailed genetic map has become of great value in the diagnosis of genetic diseases and in the development of potential cures through gene transfer therapy. In view of the emerging animal diseases like avian influenza, swine influenza among others with serious health implications for humans, this review aims at highlighting the association between diseases and genes in animals. The information derived could assist in the prevention and management of emerging animal diseases and in future drug discovery processes.

Two hundred and forty four (244) West African Dwarf (WAD) Goats comprising one hundred and sixty (160) females and eighty-four (84) males in five (5) age groups in years (0 - 1, 1 - 2, 2 - 3, 3 - 4 and 4 - 5)for female and two (2) age groups also in years (0 - 1 and 1 - 2) for males were investigated. The aim was to document the body characteristics of the WAD goats in the deciduous forest of SouthwestNigeria. Results showed that the body weights (BDW) for female and male goats averaged 5.97, 10.59, 14.59, 19.23, 20.06 males; 4.33 and 7.55 kg females respectively. The body linear measurements formale and female goats varied between 33.70 and 39.58 cm, 28.98 and 31.50 cm, 25.68 and 30.49 cm, 28.94 and 34.73 cm and 6.47 and 7.72 cm for male goats and 41.53 and 59.51 cm, 37.07 and 53.55 cm,31.30 and 45.22 cm, 37.08 and 50.23 cm, 9.06 and 13.08 cm for female goats for heart girth (HTG), body length (BDL), height at wither (HTW), rump height (RPH) and sacral pelvic width (SPW), respectively.Age significantly (P < 0.05) influenced body weights and all the other linear body measurements in all age groups considered. In both age groups available for screening in male and female goats, that is 0 -1 and 1 - 2 years, sex significantly (P < 0.05) influenced body weights and body linear measurements with the female consistently showing superiority. Regression analysis showed that body weights couldbe predicted accurately from heart girth, sacral pelvic width, body length, wither height and rump height.

No Abstract.

No Abstract.

Sixteen unbred female WAD goats between ages of 12-18 months with an average weight of 9.9560.28kg were randomly alloted to four dietary treatments which comprised 50:50 Guinea grass: Aquatic fern (control) and 25:75, 50:50 and 75:25% aquatic fern: cassava for treatments 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The study lasted for 105 days during which feed intake, weight gain and nutrient digestibility were monitored using complete randomized design. Live weight gain was highest in the control while diets with 25 and 50% aquatic fern gave similar (p>0.05) values. The least gain was however recorded from the diet with 75% aquatic fern inclusion. The dry matter intake (g/kgw0.75) followed a similar trend as reported for the live weight change while the feed intake as percent body weight ranged from 2.14 + 0.06 to 3.61 + 0.05. The feed conversion ratio was poorest in treatment that contained 75% aquatic fern while the best was from the control diet. The performance of the goats in terms of live weight change, DMI (g/kgw0.75) and feed intake as percent of body weight reduced as the level of the aquatic fern in the diet increased. The nutrient digestibility also decreased as the aquatic fern levels in the diet increased except for crude fibre digestibility that was not affected (p>0.05) while the ash digestibility increased with increase in the aquatic fern levels in the diet. Key words: Goats, performance, Aquatic fern, cassava waste and weight gain African Journal of Livestock Extension Vol.3 2004: 1-4