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Digestibility of Guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) associated with sweet potato leaves and stems (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) (Panipo diet) or poison milk (Euphorbia heterophylla L.) (Paneuph diet) in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.) and in Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus L.). A comparative study of in vivo digestibility of Guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) associated with sweet potato leaves and stems (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) (Panipo diet) or with poison milk (Euphorbia heterophylla L.) (Paneuph diet) was conducted involving 16 rabbits and 16 weaned guinea pigs fed ad libitum. Paneuph was significantly better ingested (P0.05) for guinea pigs. Poison milk was better ingested than the leaves and stems of sweet potato (P0.05). The ADC of DM, OM and MAT of Paneuph exceeded 80% and were higher than those of Panipo in rabbits and guinea pigs (P

Effect of Panicum maximum Jacq. Associated with Euphorbia heterophylla (L.) Klotz. & Garcke on Productivity of Females (Cavia porcellus L) During the Reproductive Cycle. In Ivory Coast, Guinea pigs reared for meat (Cavia porcellus L.) are mainly fed with Panicum maximum Jacq. The association of this forage with Euphorbia heterophylla (L.) Klotz. & Garcke improves the organic matter digestibility of the mixed diet compared to P. maximum distributed alone in growing male guinea pigs. In order to determine the effect of this diet during gestation and lactation in female guinea pigs, three diets: P. maximum (PAN) basic diet; P. maximum associated to E. heterophylla (PANEUPH) and P. maximum associated to pellets for rabbit (PANGRAN), were distributed ad libitum to multiparous guinea pigs (604.9 ± 40.8 g). The daily ingestion during gestation and lactation were 59.8±11.2 and 53.2±8.5; 61.5±5.2 and 72.9±16.4; 83.1±12.9 and 111.3±13.9 g DM.d-1 respectively for PAN, PANEUPH and PANGRAN. Similarly, the rates of fecundity were 111.1±0.9; 188.9±0.6 and 244.4±0.5% respectively for PAN, PANEUPH and PANGRAN. The individual birth weight and weight gain during lactation of the piglets were 58.7±12.4, 75.6±16.2 and 102.5±12 g and 2.4±0.6; 4.1±0.9 and 6.5±1.2 g.d-1 respectively for PAN, PANEUPH, and PANGRAN. In conclusion, the association of P. maximum and E. heterophylla significantly improves ingestion, digestibility, fecundity, birth weight and weaning weight in guinea pigs in comparison to Panicum maximum used as a sole diet.

Effect of Panicum maximum on Productivity of Primiparous Females during Reproduction Cycle in Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus L.). In Ivory Coast, Guinea pigs reared for meat (Cavia porcellus L.) are mainly fed with Panicum maximum. To assess the effect of the latter during pregnancy and lactation (RC) of these animals, primiparous dams were fed ad libitum, Panicum maximum alone during the RC (MOD1) or associated with pellets for rabbits during lactation (MOD2), or associated with pellets for rabbits during the last part of the pregnancy period and the lactation (MOD3), or associated with pellets for rabbits during the entire RC (MOD4). The number of corpora lutea per female was 1.3 ± 0.5 and 2.0 ± 0.0 respectively for MOD1 and MOD4. No pre-embryonic mortality was recorded. The mean weight of the young guinea pigs of MOD1 (54.7 ± 10. g) was only 55% of that of MOD4 (98.6 ± 13.6 g). At weaning, the average weight gain of young guinea pigs of MOD1 (40.5 ± 22.2 g) represented a third of those obtained with other diets that did not significantly differ. At the end of RC, the weight gain of dams was 17 ± 13.3% for MOD1 compared to 50% for MOD2, MOD3 and MOD4. Feeding Panicum maximum alone induces chronic malnutrition which in turn is responsible of the low ovulation rate and reduced growth in guinea pig breeding.

Tropicultura is a multidisciplinary journal which aims mainly at releasing research results relevant to rural development in developing countries and at improving the investigation capacities of the researchers who submit manuscripts to its editorial board. The operating process of the journal and its consequences on its output during the period 2002- 2009 were analysed by considering mainly the factors influencing the duration of the editorial work and the final acceptance of the manuscripts. The factors taken in consideration were: the field of research, the geographic origin of the data analysed, the language of writing and the country of origin of the authors. The available data were analysed using descriptive statistic methods. They were also subjected to parametric and non parametric comparisons. A total of 1,034 papers have been submitted during the investigated period to Tropicultura in different fields of rural development research, with a large proportion of papers in agronomy sensu lato (60%), and livestock production (19%). Most of the papers submitted (85.1%) came from Sub-Saharan Africa, followed by North Africa (11.2%), Asia (1.6%), Latin America (0.6%) and Europe (0.3%). The rate of acceptance (27.4%) was very low compared to other journals, mainly because of a poor design of the works or inappropriate research topics. The average time for final decision was 355 days. The non parametric classification analysis retained as major determinants for the acceptance of papers for publication in decreasing order of influence: (i) time before final decision, (ii) language, (iii) continent, (iv) Belgian cooperation priority countries, (v) Belgian cooperation partner countries, and (vi) the field of research. The data obtained are discussed in the light of the literature related to the editorial process of other scientific journals, taking into account the peculiarities of Tropicultura related to its history and to the history of the rural development actions of the Belgian cooperation. This analysis highlighted a series of possible improvements at the level of the operating process of the journal which should enable it to better achieve its goals.

The Intake and the in vivo Digestibility of Panicum maximum Associated with Three Supplements: Jatophra curcas Cake, Gossypium hirsutum Cake and Euphorbia heterophylla (Euph) in Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus L.). The intake and the in vivo digestibility of Panicum maximum associated with three supplements: Jatropha curcas cake, Gossypium hirsutum cake and Euphorbia heterophylla (Euph) in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus L.) pigs, its association with Panicum maximum could be popularized wherever its abundance has been reported. In order used weed Euphorbia heterophylla in guinea pigs diet, comparative study of the intake and the in vivo digestibility of four treatments, Panicum maximum (Pan), Panicum maximum and Gossypium hirsutum cake (Pancoton), Panicum maximum and Euphorbia heterophylla (Paneuph) and Panicum maximum and Jatropha curcas cake (Panjatro), in male guinea pigs were conducted in Yamoussoukro (Ivory Coast). The means of the intake (g DM/d) were 64.8 ± 12.5; 74.3 ± 12.9; 73.7 ± 17.8 and 69.1 ± 12.3 respectively for Pan, Pancoton, Paneuph and Panjatro. Pancoton and Paneuph were significantly better ingested than Pan and Panjatro. Euphorbia heterophylla was significantly better ingested than the other two supplements (P< 0.05) and the mean daily weight gain with its association with Panicum maximum of 3.1 ± 0.6 g/d. The rate of substitution of Panicum maximum by Euphorbia heterophylla was nearly to one (1). The apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) for dry (68.0 ± 10.5%) and organic matter (84.1 ± 5.2%) of Paneuph were significantly higher (P< 0.05) than the ADC's for the other three treatments. Given the nutritional value of Euphorbia heterophylla in guinea pigs, its association with Panicum maximum could be popularized wherever its abundance has been reported.

A study was carried out in Arsi-Negele District of Southern Ethiopia to estimate the prevalence of brucellosis and bovine tuberculosis in livestock and to identify risk behaviours that would facilitate the transmission of zoonoses to humans. The study involved testing some 400 cattle, 200 sheep and 170 goats for tuberculosis and brucellosis and interviewing 98 livestock keepers. Single comparative intradermal tuberculin test and Rose Bengal plate test were used for the diagnosis of tuberculosis and brucellosis, respectively. Tuberculosis was recorded in 27 cattle, 1 goat and 1 sheep. In cattle, the estimated individuallevel and herd-level tuberculosis prevalence was 5.9% and 35%, respectively. The individual-level and herdlevel brucellosis prevalence in cattle was 2.6% and 12%, respectively. The questionnaire survey showed that most respondents had no accurate knowledge about the transmission of zoonoses. It was also found that some of their behaviours would potentially facilitate the transmission of zoonotic pathogens to human, such as raw animal product consumption and backyard slaughtering. Even though the prevalence of the two diseases was relatively low, surveillance and prevention may be warranted taking into account possible animal genetic improvement programs, unrestricted animal movement in the area and low awareness of the community about zoonoses, which might result in an increased transmission to humans.

Decisional Factors in the Water Resources Management by the Livestock Keepers and the Agropastoralist in a Semi-arid Zone of Burkina Faso. A survey was carried out in a semi-arid zone of Burkina Faso in order to determine the factors influencing water management by allochthonous livestock keepers and native agro-pastoralists. The results of the study showed that the availability of water and grazing land as well as some other factors influence the livestock keepers on the place where to settle in a zone. The village and the geographical origin of the producers can influence the utilisation of the different types of watering points. The study shows also that easy access, easy drawing of water and proximity influence their choices. These factors explain why livestock keepers and agropastoralists used on a rather high level (56 to 94%) surface water to water cattle and sheep, and boreholes (41.1 to 76.9%) to water sheep and goats. Surface water attracts farmers if the distance to cover does not exceed 4 km. The factors determining the behaviours of livestock keepers and agro-pastoralists in water management were similar. The type of watering point, the distance and the animal species influence their choices. They however present differences in the levels of using watering points.

Intervention of the Belgian Co-operation to the Development of the Animal Production Sector in Developing Countries. The projects of the Belgian Co-operation as regards animal production and carried out from 1981 to 1997 were analysed as a whole, using statistical tools like negative binomial regression and prediction tree analysis. The distribution by continent and by intervention type, the amount spent and the evolution in time are analysed. Africa is the principal pole of concentration of this co-operation. The intervenor is the most significant factor, which determines on which continent the project will take place and which field of intervention will be carried out. The bilateral projects and the projects of the type "Research" and "Training" have generally a longer duration and are the most expensive. The number of projects increased for the various fields of intervention till 1991-1992, but a significant reduction occurred from that moment onwards. The proportion of projects of animal production compared to those of agriculture also fell as from that moment, which coincides with a similar global decreasing tendency for this sector. The distribution by project type is very similar to that of FAO, principal agency of the United Nations implied in animal production. The choice of the interventions in this sector would thus have been influenced by a geographical logic and a global strategic vision.

Reactualization of the training curriculum for veterinary auxiliary staff in Africa : the Cameronian example and a tentative definition of a global method. Based on the FAO-UNESCO soil map of Africa, the extent of the various soil types occuring in Cameroon, as well as the importance of major soil fertility constraints in this country, are evaluated with regards to the 4 agroecological regions which are first identified.

Study on small ruminants butchers working in Maroua town (Far North Cameroon). Some aspects of the butchery of small ruminants in town environment are observed in a medium-sized town of the Far-North of Cameroon. The observation of the two selected butchers shows that the profit is relatively small, principally when the meat is commercialised as fresh. To maintain the profit, the butchers buy the cheapest animals on the market (in this case ewes) and adapt the number of commercialised heaps to the purchase price. The lower value allowed by one butcher on the leg compared with the European mutton market conditions urges on to more circumspection in extrapolating criteria of selection in matter of meat improvement.

Defining the objectives of the training of veterinary agents : an essential act to create an efficient pedagogical tool. This article aims to show the interest we have in a vocation al veterinary teaching to define accurately the objectives of the training. We must take care not to plan the training in a too overbearing manner and we must save a certain balance between the requirement to be exact and the freedom we have to allow to teachers and students in the training process. We also give a short chronogical account of the emergence of the so called objectives oriented education.

High level of cottonoil cake and shells in feeding rams in the Far North-Cameroon. Preliminary observations. The author presents the results of a preliminary trial including entire rams exclusively fed with cottonshells and a food containing 95 % cottonoil cake. A daily weight gain of 122, 4 ± 14, 5g spread on two and a half month, could be observed on animals 7, 5 month old and meanly 22, 3 kg heavy by the beginning of the trial. Large quantifies of cake were intaken (approximately 765 g pure cake by day and by animal) without some repercussion on health. Advantages and disadvantages of the ration are discussed, but the very low cost is, at first sight, very interesting, especially in urban conditions.

Contribution to the study of bovine cysticercosis at the Maroua's slaughterhouse. The conditions of bovine cysticercosis at the slaughterhouse of Maroua bas been analysed in 1981. The author observes that the incidence had gradually decreased since 1960. This would be due to an opposite gradually increase of slaughtering nomadic cattle. The incidence in 1981 is 4, 78 % and no seasonal variation could be observed. The investigation on the localisation of the larvae had shown that slicing the masseter muscles would be interesting to introduce in the post-mortem inspection procedure. Finally the author proposes the application of in vivo serological diagnostic methods to compare the results with that of the routine inspection technique.

This article reports the first case of Verbena latent virus (VeLV) infecting giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) in Belgium. Giant goldenrod is an invasive plant species that was introduced to Europe in the 18th century. A survey conducted in Belgium found VeLV infection in one site out of ten surveyed in 2023. VeLV has a wide host range and can be transmitted through various means, making it important to understand its biology and potential impact. This is the first documented case of VeLV infecting S. gigantea worldwide, and the plant may serve as an asymptomatic reservoir for the virus. [Extracted from the article]