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Background: A number of factors are known to reduce fertility rate in animals and one of the important categories of such factors is chromosome anomalies. They can occur with or without causing phenotypic abnormalities on animals; in some cases, they may directly affect meiosis, gametogenesis and the viability of conceptus. In many instances, balanced structural rearrangements can be transmitted to offspring, affecting fertility in subsequent generations., Aim: This work investigated the occurrence of chromosome aberrations in Rusa timorensis , Rusa unicolor and Axis axis raised in a nucleus deer farm in Malaysia with a history of declining fertility of unknown origin., Materials & Methods: Blood samples were collected from 60 animals through venipuncture, cultured for 72 h and arrested at metaphase. SmartType ® and Ideokar ® software were used to karyotype the chromosomes., Results: We found 15 out of the 60 animals screened from both sexes harbor some form of chromosome aberration. Chromosomal aberrations exist at the rate of 25% and may not be unconnected with the observed reduced fertility on the farm. Further investigations should be carried out, especially on the offspring of the studied animals to transmission of these aberrations. The animals that are confirmed to transmit the chromosomal aberrations should be culled to arrest the propagation of their abnormalities., Competing Interests: Financial & competing interests disclosure This work is part of a PhD performed at Universiti Putra Malaysia and received a UPM grant (9617200). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. We want acknowledge Universiti Putra Malaysia for supporting the project “Improving deer fecundity through genome analysis: A study of three breeds of deer and their crosses raised at Pusat Ternakan Rusa, Lenggong, Perak (GP/2018/9617200)”, from which this publication is derived. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript., (© 2020 Universiti Putra Malaysia.)

Conventionally, plasma or milk progesterone evaluations are used to determine the reproductive status of female animals. Collection of such samples is often associated with difficulties of animal handling and restraint. Measurable quantities of progesterone metabolites are found in feces of animals. Their concentrations are known to be well correlated to plasma progesterone levels and are, therefore, used as non-invasive samples for assessing reproductive function in a wide range of animal species. Although the analysis of fecal progesterone metabolites has been widely accepted in many laboratories, several factors are known to affect the results from this valuable analytical technique. Some of these factors include storage/transportation media for fecal samples, type of solvent that is used for extraction of progesterone metabolites from feces, and the type and sensitivity of an assaying technique employed. Although fecal progesterone metabolites analysis is associated with some difficulties, it can effectively be used to monitor reproductive function in a wide range of animal species. This review aims to highlight the usefulness of fecal progesterone metabolite analysis as a non-invasive technique in monitoring reproductive function in animals. The article mainly focuses on the many opportunities and challenges associated with this analytical technique.

We investigated the local variability of bacterial species within the lumen of the cecum and proximal colon of guinea pigs by using PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The DGGE banding profiles revealed radial and axial variation of the bacteria. This variation of bacteria within the large intestinal lumen might be of physiological importance for the degradation of dietary fiber and interaction between bacteria and the mucosal immune system.

Four 18-26 months old castrated Borno whitexSokoto Red goats were used in a 4x4 Latin square design to measure the dry matter intake (DMI), daily body weight change and dry matter digestibility (DMD) of four native Nigerian browse species, (Ziziphus spinochrist, Wild., Acacia albida, Del., Sterculia satigera, Guill. and Anogeissus licocarpus, Guill.) native to the semi-arid regions. The mean DMI of Z. spinochrist, Wild. and A. albida, Del. were similar but higher than for S. satigera, Guill. and A. licocarpus, Guill. The DMD of A. licocarpus,Guill. was lower (p<0.05) than for Z. spinochrist, Wild., Acacia licocarpus, Del. or S. satigera, Guill. The lowest body weight gain recorded was for A. licocarpus, Guill.; this was attributed to the larger amount of fibre in the forage resulting in a slow rate of cell wall degradation and rumen digestibility. Goats showed no visual signs of toxicosis. This study suggests that A. albida, Del. has the highest forage value for goats followed by Z. spinochrist, Wild., S. satigera, Guill. and A. licocarpus, Guill. Potentially the species examined can provide feed for goats as well as for other small ruminants during long dry periods when other feed is unavailable.