Structured questionnaires were administered on 228 respondents within Zaria and its environs to e... more Structured questionnaires were administered on 228 respondents within Zaria and its environs to evaluate the acceptability of chicken egg as food despite its cholesterol content. The study was conducted between May and June, 2009. The questionnaires were retrieved; collated and data analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The data were analyzed for frequencies and correlated relationships between the measured attributes. The results indicate equal distribution between male (49.6%) and female (50.4%) respondents. The highest percentage of the respondents was between the active age group of 20 to 50 years of age. Most of the individuals interviewed were either single (59.2%) or married (33.3%). About 70% of the respondents had tertiary education while the rest had secondary (27.2%) and primary (3.1) education. The respondents were mainly students, civil servants, academics and private business people and their corresponding respective frequencies were 98, 60, 19...
ABSTRACT The study was carried out at Da-Ogboe Farms Nigeria Limited, Heipang, Plateau State, bet... more ABSTRACT The study was carried out at Da-Ogboe Farms Nigeria Limited, Heipang, Plateau State, between January 2008 and October 2009 to assess the effect of induced or forced molting as a means of improving declined egg production, fertility and hatchability in domestic ...
This study was conducted on cattle milk production characteristics among agro-pastoralists in Nor... more This study was conducted on cattle milk production characteristics among agro-pastoralists in North West Nigeria. The study described the socio-economic distribution of cattle milk producers and evaluated the cattle milk production techniques in the study area. A three stage (multi-stage) sampling technique involving a combination of purposeful, random and snow ball sampling were used to select 157 respondents. Data were collected from sampled population using structured questionnaire. The data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics which include frequency counts and percentages. The study showed that most of the respondents (81.3%) were involved in rearing of cattle used for milk production as agro-pastoralists. The overall average number of cattle per herd in the study area was 17 heads of cattle. Labour for extraction of milk was majorly provided by men (80.6%) based on the overall analysis of the four States considered. Average milk per herd per day is 9 litres. Abo...
Metric traits were used to determine the relationship among Red (Auraki), Black (Duni), White (Fa... more Metric traits were used to determine the relationship among Red (Auraki), Black (Duni), White (Fari), Brown (Idabari) and Brown-white (Idabari-fari) donkeys. A total of 700 donkeys were used for the study. Metric measures taken were head length, head width, ear length, neck length, neck circumference, shoulder width, height at withers, heart girth, body length and tail length. Data obtained were subjected to General Linear Model Procedure of SAS to determine the relationship among donkey strains. Canonical discriminant analysis (CANDISC procedure), was used to perform uni-and multivariate analysis to derive canonical variables (CAN), which was used to match the donkey strain groups until reached the satisfactory number of clusters (genetic groups) and to show the clustering groups among these four donkey strains. The canonical coefficients and a scatter diagram for visual interpretation of the different groups were also generated during the canonical discriminant analysis. Among the...
There is need for characterization of performances of cattle breeds in relation to milk yield and... more There is need for characterization of performances of cattle breeds in relation to milk yield and composition particularly in Adamawa State where seasonal fluctuations in climatic elements can affect livestock resilience. This study was carried out to evaluate the breed variation in milk yield and composition of some selected breeds of Nigerian indigenous cattle in Adamawa State in the late wet season (August-October). The milk of 20 cows each from four breeds (Bunaji, Rahaji, Adamawa Gudali and Bokoloji) was sampled for milk yield and composition analysis three times within the season. Milk was analysed for its composition. Breed significantly (p<0.05) influenced the milk component evaluated. Bunaji was superior in milk yield (1.92), fat yield (5.73) and total solid non-fat (4.59). Rahaji was superior in phosphorus (410), sodium (61.01) and iron (3.16) while Bokoloji was superior in protein (4.98) and calcium (721). For the correlated relationships between the milk components ev...
Small ruminant farmers in National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) ... more Small ruminant farmers in National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) adopted and Non-adopted villages in North-Western zone of Nigeria were the focus of this study. One hundred and forty respondents (35 from each of the four villages) were randomly selected from two each of NAERLS-adopted villages (NAV, Sakadadi and Tundu Iya) and Non-adopted villages (NADV, Bomo and Salanke). Primary data were collected using interview scheduled. Secondary data were also utilized for the study. Data collected on socio-economic characteristics of the respondents were analyzed using frequencies counts and percentages. Chi-squares was used to test the hypothesis which states that there is no significant relationship between the production characteristics in the NAERLS-adopted and non-adopted villages in the study area. Result showed that most of the respondents were male in the village groups (84.3% in NAV and 71.4% in NDAV). The respondents in NAV (69.9%) and NADV (78.5%) ...
Breed and seasonal variation in thermoregulatory paramters of some selected Nigerian indigenous c... more Breed and seasonal variation in thermoregulatory paramters of some selected Nigerian indigenous cattle 1 2 2 3 Abbaya, H. Y., Adedibu, I. I., Kabir, M. and Iyiola-Tunji, A. O 1 Department of Animal production, Adamawa state University, PMB 025 Mubi, Adamawa State. 2 Department of Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, PMB 1044, Zaria. 3 National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Corresponding author: abbaya177@gmail.com The study was conducted to evaluate breed differences in thermoregulatory parameters of four Nigerian indigenous breeds of cattle over two seasons (late rainy and late dry). Data on thermoregulatory parameters (rectal temperature, respiratory rate, pulse rate and Heat Tolerance Coefficient) of eighty (80) cattle, comprising 20 each of Bunaji, Rahaji, Bokoloji and Adamawa Gudali were obtained and subjected to analysis of variance of SAS software. In the pooled breed variation, breed influenced (p<0.05) al...
The effect of scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum) as feed additive in rabbit diet on growth and hemat... more The effect of scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum) as feed additive in rabbit diet on growth and hematological parameters of rabbits was investigated using a number of 24 non-descript rabbits in an eight (8) weeks feeding trial. Four experimental diets were formulated to contain (0.0, 2.0.4.0 and 6.Og scent leaf (SL) per kg of feed. The diets were randomly assigned to four treatment groups of 6 rabbits per treatment in a completely randomized design (CRD) experiment. Feed and water were offered ad libitum. Food intake and weight gain was taken and used to calculate other growth performance parameters while blood sample (2 ml) was collected aseptically between 6:30 and 7:30 am from three rabbits per treatment and transferred into heparinised tubes which was used to determine the haematological parameters (PCV, Hb, red blood cells and white blood cells). The results showed that there was significant (P<0.05) differences in body weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) across the four...
Two hundred and fifty-five day-old Ross White strain broiler chicks were used to evaluate the Res... more Two hundred and fifty-five day-old Ross White strain broiler chicks were used to evaluate the Response and economic efficiency of broiler chickens fed graded levels of baker's yeast (saccharomyces cerevisiae) supplement during the harmattan season in the northern guinea savannah zone of Nigeria. There were five treatment groups for both starter and finisher phases. The experiment lasted for eight weeks. Each treatment group had three replicates with 17 birds per replicate and fifty-five birds per group in a completely randomized design (CRD). Treatments 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 contained 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% SC respectively. Results of the starter phase showed significant (P<0.05) differences in terms of final weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Treatment groups fed the control diet (0.0%), 0.5% and 1% SC had the best final body weight and body weight gain during the starter phase. The FCR was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the treatment group fed 0.5% SC during ...
Physiological and biochemical data of the four breeds of sheep were collected from Bauchi, Kastin... more Physiological and biochemical data of the four breeds of sheep were collected from Bauchi, Kastina, Nasarawa and Anambra States for Balami, Uda, Yankasa and West Africa Dwarf sheep, respectively using a multi-stage sampling method. A total of 46 Balami (18 males and 28 females), 30 Uda (5males and 25 females), 36 Yankasa (9 males and 27 females) and 37 WAD (7 males and 30 females) were sampled. Sampling was done from the selected States based on distance from one another and an abundance of sheep. Data were collected during the hottest season of November to March. Blood samples were collected from 60 adult sheep out of the entire population for the study. Blood samples were collected from jugular vein puncture using a 5ml syringe, and the samples were then transferred into well-labelled ethylene diamine tetra acetate (EDTA) bottles. Data collected for the study were analyzed using the General Linear Model Procedure of SAS using the fixed-effect model that incorporated breed, sex and...
Qualitative and zoometrical traits were used to determine the relationship among Red (Auraki), Bl... more Qualitative and zoometrical traits were used to determine the relationship among Red (Auraki), Black (Duni), White (Fari), Brown (Idabari) and Brown-white (Idabari-fari) donkeys at different ages. A total of 700 donkeys were used for the study. Zoometric measures taken were body weight, head length, head width, ear length, neck length, neck circumference, shoulder width, height at withers, heart girth, body length and tail length. The qualitative data were collected on hair type, skin colour, skin type, coat colour pattern, tail shape, eye colour and head profile. Data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis system (SAS) to determine the distribution of phenotypic traits. Analysis of variance were used to determine the effect of various qualitative factors on zoometric indices. Significant variations were observed between qualitative (P<0.01) and zoometric (P<0.01) traits of donkeys. The results of the study showed that the short-smooth hair type, brown coat colour, th...
This study was conducted to determine the genetic variation between Sahel and Red Sokoto goat bre... more This study was conducted to determine the genetic variation between Sahel and Red Sokoto goat breeds of Nigeria .One hundred and twenty goats, 60 each of both Sahel and Red Sokoto breeds obtained from Maigatari market in Jigawa State and Animal Science Departmental Farm in Zaria, Kaduna State, respectively. Tissue samples were collected randomly from each breed using an Allflex ear punch tissue sample collector and aliquoted into plastic tubes containing the Allflex preservative. DNA extraction, amplification and sequencing were carried out at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya. The DNA was extracted from the tissue cells using the Pure Link™ Genomic DNA minikit according to the manufacturer’s specifications and protocol and were genotyped using 25 microsatellite markers as recommended by FAO/ISAG. Twenty three of the twenty five microsatellite markers used in this analysis had four or more alleles. The mean Shannon index, observed and expected het...
The dynamics of factors that cumulate to determine the prices of sheep during festive periods (Ei... more The dynamics of factors that cumulate to determine the prices of sheep during festive periods (Eid al-Adha) are known. However, such factors that dictate prices during off-season (non-festivity periods) are not fully known. Structural equation modeling as a multivariate analytical tool is capable of bringing out the latent (hidden) factors responsible for price determination for sheep. Prices, body weight and linear body measurements of 621 sheep of both sexes consisting of Balami, Sudanese, Uda and Yankasa breeds were used to examine relationships among the variables. The sheep were obtained from Unguwa Uku, Dorayi, Kara, Bachirawa, Yankaba, Mariri and Kabara livestock markets in Municipal, Taruauni, Gmale, Nassarawa, Fagge and Dala Local Government Areas of Kano State. Body weights, neck length, back length, leg length, height at wither, loin girth and chest girth were parameters monitored. The data obtained were subjected to generalized least squares (GLS) estimator of a triangul...
The dynamics of factors that cumulate to determine the prices of sheep during festive periods (Ei... more The dynamics of factors that cumulate to determine the prices of sheep during festive periods (Eid al-Adha) are known. However, such factors that dictate prices during off-season (non-festivity periods) are not fully known. Structural equation modeling as a multivariate analytical tool is capable of bringing out the latent (hidden) factors responsible for price determination for sheep. Prices, body weight and linear body measurements of 621 sheep of both sexes consisting of Balami, Sudanese, Uda and Yankasa breeds were used to examine relationships among the variables. The sheep were obtained from Unguwa Uku, Dorayi, Kara, Bachirawa, Yankaba, Mariri and Kabara livestock markets in Municipal, Taruauni, Gmale, Nassarawa, Fagge and Dala Local Government Areas of Kano State. Body weights, neck length, back length, leg length, height at wither, loin girth and chest girth were parameters monitored. The data obtained were subjected to generalized least squares (GLS) estimator of a triangul...
A total of 65 Yankasa, 23 Uda and 16 Balami ewes were mated to 4 Yankasa, 3 Uda and 3 Balami rams... more A total of 65 Yankasa, 23 Uda and 16 Balami ewes were mated to 4 Yankasa, 3 Uda and 3 Balami rams in a diallel breeding pattern to produce 192 lambs within 9 genotypes, which were used to study survivability of lambs in relation to their dam?s haemoglobin variants. Blood samples (5ml) were collected from 104 ewes and 10 rams through jugular venepuncture. Electrophoresis was carried out in a Shandon electrophoresis tank on cellulose acetate strips. Each of the 9 lamb genotypes had very high proportion of HbAB. The dam?s haemoglobin type BB (HbBB) were only found in YK X YK, UD X UD, YK X UD, BL X YK and BL X UD lambs at birth and 90-Day. Survivability of lamb that were given birth to by dams with haemoglobin type (HbAB) is highest in the studied populations from birth to 360-Day. Lambs with Hbshould be selected for improved survivability of sheep in Northern Nigeria.
Structured questionnaires were administered on 228 respondents within Zaria and its environs to e... more Structured questionnaires were administered on 228 respondents within Zaria and its environs to evaluate the acceptability of chicken egg as food despite its cholesterol content. The study was conducted between May and June, 2009. The questionnaires were retrieved; collated and data analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The data were analyzed for frequencies and correlated relationships between the measured attributes. The results indicate equal distribution between male (49.6%) and female (50.4%) respondents. The highest percentage of the respondents was between the active age group of 20 to 50 years of age. Most of the individuals interviewed were either single (59.2%) or married (33.3%). About 70% of the respondents had tertiary education while the rest had secondary (27.2%) and primary (3.1) education. The respondents were mainly students, civil servants, academics and private business people and their corresponding respective frequencies were 98, 60, 19...
ABSTRACT The study was carried out at Da-Ogboe Farms Nigeria Limited, Heipang, Plateau State, bet... more ABSTRACT The study was carried out at Da-Ogboe Farms Nigeria Limited, Heipang, Plateau State, between January 2008 and October 2009 to assess the effect of induced or forced molting as a means of improving declined egg production, fertility and hatchability in domestic ...
This study was conducted on cattle milk production characteristics among agro-pastoralists in Nor... more This study was conducted on cattle milk production characteristics among agro-pastoralists in North West Nigeria. The study described the socio-economic distribution of cattle milk producers and evaluated the cattle milk production techniques in the study area. A three stage (multi-stage) sampling technique involving a combination of purposeful, random and snow ball sampling were used to select 157 respondents. Data were collected from sampled population using structured questionnaire. The data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics which include frequency counts and percentages. The study showed that most of the respondents (81.3%) were involved in rearing of cattle used for milk production as agro-pastoralists. The overall average number of cattle per herd in the study area was 17 heads of cattle. Labour for extraction of milk was majorly provided by men (80.6%) based on the overall analysis of the four States considered. Average milk per herd per day is 9 litres. Abo...
Metric traits were used to determine the relationship among Red (Auraki), Black (Duni), White (Fa... more Metric traits were used to determine the relationship among Red (Auraki), Black (Duni), White (Fari), Brown (Idabari) and Brown-white (Idabari-fari) donkeys. A total of 700 donkeys were used for the study. Metric measures taken were head length, head width, ear length, neck length, neck circumference, shoulder width, height at withers, heart girth, body length and tail length. Data obtained were subjected to General Linear Model Procedure of SAS to determine the relationship among donkey strains. Canonical discriminant analysis (CANDISC procedure), was used to perform uni-and multivariate analysis to derive canonical variables (CAN), which was used to match the donkey strain groups until reached the satisfactory number of clusters (genetic groups) and to show the clustering groups among these four donkey strains. The canonical coefficients and a scatter diagram for visual interpretation of the different groups were also generated during the canonical discriminant analysis. Among the...
There is need for characterization of performances of cattle breeds in relation to milk yield and... more There is need for characterization of performances of cattle breeds in relation to milk yield and composition particularly in Adamawa State where seasonal fluctuations in climatic elements can affect livestock resilience. This study was carried out to evaluate the breed variation in milk yield and composition of some selected breeds of Nigerian indigenous cattle in Adamawa State in the late wet season (August-October). The milk of 20 cows each from four breeds (Bunaji, Rahaji, Adamawa Gudali and Bokoloji) was sampled for milk yield and composition analysis three times within the season. Milk was analysed for its composition. Breed significantly (p<0.05) influenced the milk component evaluated. Bunaji was superior in milk yield (1.92), fat yield (5.73) and total solid non-fat (4.59). Rahaji was superior in phosphorus (410), sodium (61.01) and iron (3.16) while Bokoloji was superior in protein (4.98) and calcium (721). For the correlated relationships between the milk components ev...
Small ruminant farmers in National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) ... more Small ruminant farmers in National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) adopted and Non-adopted villages in North-Western zone of Nigeria were the focus of this study. One hundred and forty respondents (35 from each of the four villages) were randomly selected from two each of NAERLS-adopted villages (NAV, Sakadadi and Tundu Iya) and Non-adopted villages (NADV, Bomo and Salanke). Primary data were collected using interview scheduled. Secondary data were also utilized for the study. Data collected on socio-economic characteristics of the respondents were analyzed using frequencies counts and percentages. Chi-squares was used to test the hypothesis which states that there is no significant relationship between the production characteristics in the NAERLS-adopted and non-adopted villages in the study area. Result showed that most of the respondents were male in the village groups (84.3% in NAV and 71.4% in NDAV). The respondents in NAV (69.9%) and NADV (78.5%) ...
Breed and seasonal variation in thermoregulatory paramters of some selected Nigerian indigenous c... more Breed and seasonal variation in thermoregulatory paramters of some selected Nigerian indigenous cattle 1 2 2 3 Abbaya, H. Y., Adedibu, I. I., Kabir, M. and Iyiola-Tunji, A. O 1 Department of Animal production, Adamawa state University, PMB 025 Mubi, Adamawa State. 2 Department of Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, PMB 1044, Zaria. 3 National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Corresponding author: abbaya177@gmail.com The study was conducted to evaluate breed differences in thermoregulatory parameters of four Nigerian indigenous breeds of cattle over two seasons (late rainy and late dry). Data on thermoregulatory parameters (rectal temperature, respiratory rate, pulse rate and Heat Tolerance Coefficient) of eighty (80) cattle, comprising 20 each of Bunaji, Rahaji, Bokoloji and Adamawa Gudali were obtained and subjected to analysis of variance of SAS software. In the pooled breed variation, breed influenced (p<0.05) al...
The effect of scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum) as feed additive in rabbit diet on growth and hemat... more The effect of scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum) as feed additive in rabbit diet on growth and hematological parameters of rabbits was investigated using a number of 24 non-descript rabbits in an eight (8) weeks feeding trial. Four experimental diets were formulated to contain (0.0, 2.0.4.0 and 6.Og scent leaf (SL) per kg of feed. The diets were randomly assigned to four treatment groups of 6 rabbits per treatment in a completely randomized design (CRD) experiment. Feed and water were offered ad libitum. Food intake and weight gain was taken and used to calculate other growth performance parameters while blood sample (2 ml) was collected aseptically between 6:30 and 7:30 am from three rabbits per treatment and transferred into heparinised tubes which was used to determine the haematological parameters (PCV, Hb, red blood cells and white blood cells). The results showed that there was significant (P<0.05) differences in body weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) across the four...
Two hundred and fifty-five day-old Ross White strain broiler chicks were used to evaluate the Res... more Two hundred and fifty-five day-old Ross White strain broiler chicks were used to evaluate the Response and economic efficiency of broiler chickens fed graded levels of baker's yeast (saccharomyces cerevisiae) supplement during the harmattan season in the northern guinea savannah zone of Nigeria. There were five treatment groups for both starter and finisher phases. The experiment lasted for eight weeks. Each treatment group had three replicates with 17 birds per replicate and fifty-five birds per group in a completely randomized design (CRD). Treatments 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 contained 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% SC respectively. Results of the starter phase showed significant (P<0.05) differences in terms of final weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Treatment groups fed the control diet (0.0%), 0.5% and 1% SC had the best final body weight and body weight gain during the starter phase. The FCR was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the treatment group fed 0.5% SC during ...
Physiological and biochemical data of the four breeds of sheep were collected from Bauchi, Kastin... more Physiological and biochemical data of the four breeds of sheep were collected from Bauchi, Kastina, Nasarawa and Anambra States for Balami, Uda, Yankasa and West Africa Dwarf sheep, respectively using a multi-stage sampling method. A total of 46 Balami (18 males and 28 females), 30 Uda (5males and 25 females), 36 Yankasa (9 males and 27 females) and 37 WAD (7 males and 30 females) were sampled. Sampling was done from the selected States based on distance from one another and an abundance of sheep. Data were collected during the hottest season of November to March. Blood samples were collected from 60 adult sheep out of the entire population for the study. Blood samples were collected from jugular vein puncture using a 5ml syringe, and the samples were then transferred into well-labelled ethylene diamine tetra acetate (EDTA) bottles. Data collected for the study were analyzed using the General Linear Model Procedure of SAS using the fixed-effect model that incorporated breed, sex and...
Qualitative and zoometrical traits were used to determine the relationship among Red (Auraki), Bl... more Qualitative and zoometrical traits were used to determine the relationship among Red (Auraki), Black (Duni), White (Fari), Brown (Idabari) and Brown-white (Idabari-fari) donkeys at different ages. A total of 700 donkeys were used for the study. Zoometric measures taken were body weight, head length, head width, ear length, neck length, neck circumference, shoulder width, height at withers, heart girth, body length and tail length. The qualitative data were collected on hair type, skin colour, skin type, coat colour pattern, tail shape, eye colour and head profile. Data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis system (SAS) to determine the distribution of phenotypic traits. Analysis of variance were used to determine the effect of various qualitative factors on zoometric indices. Significant variations were observed between qualitative (P<0.01) and zoometric (P<0.01) traits of donkeys. The results of the study showed that the short-smooth hair type, brown coat colour, th...
This study was conducted to determine the genetic variation between Sahel and Red Sokoto goat bre... more This study was conducted to determine the genetic variation between Sahel and Red Sokoto goat breeds of Nigeria .One hundred and twenty goats, 60 each of both Sahel and Red Sokoto breeds obtained from Maigatari market in Jigawa State and Animal Science Departmental Farm in Zaria, Kaduna State, respectively. Tissue samples were collected randomly from each breed using an Allflex ear punch tissue sample collector and aliquoted into plastic tubes containing the Allflex preservative. DNA extraction, amplification and sequencing were carried out at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya. The DNA was extracted from the tissue cells using the Pure Link™ Genomic DNA minikit according to the manufacturer’s specifications and protocol and were genotyped using 25 microsatellite markers as recommended by FAO/ISAG. Twenty three of the twenty five microsatellite markers used in this analysis had four or more alleles. The mean Shannon index, observed and expected het...
The dynamics of factors that cumulate to determine the prices of sheep during festive periods (Ei... more The dynamics of factors that cumulate to determine the prices of sheep during festive periods (Eid al-Adha) are known. However, such factors that dictate prices during off-season (non-festivity periods) are not fully known. Structural equation modeling as a multivariate analytical tool is capable of bringing out the latent (hidden) factors responsible for price determination for sheep. Prices, body weight and linear body measurements of 621 sheep of both sexes consisting of Balami, Sudanese, Uda and Yankasa breeds were used to examine relationships among the variables. The sheep were obtained from Unguwa Uku, Dorayi, Kara, Bachirawa, Yankaba, Mariri and Kabara livestock markets in Municipal, Taruauni, Gmale, Nassarawa, Fagge and Dala Local Government Areas of Kano State. Body weights, neck length, back length, leg length, height at wither, loin girth and chest girth were parameters monitored. The data obtained were subjected to generalized least squares (GLS) estimator of a triangul...
The dynamics of factors that cumulate to determine the prices of sheep during festive periods (Ei... more The dynamics of factors that cumulate to determine the prices of sheep during festive periods (Eid al-Adha) are known. However, such factors that dictate prices during off-season (non-festivity periods) are not fully known. Structural equation modeling as a multivariate analytical tool is capable of bringing out the latent (hidden) factors responsible for price determination for sheep. Prices, body weight and linear body measurements of 621 sheep of both sexes consisting of Balami, Sudanese, Uda and Yankasa breeds were used to examine relationships among the variables. The sheep were obtained from Unguwa Uku, Dorayi, Kara, Bachirawa, Yankaba, Mariri and Kabara livestock markets in Municipal, Taruauni, Gmale, Nassarawa, Fagge and Dala Local Government Areas of Kano State. Body weights, neck length, back length, leg length, height at wither, loin girth and chest girth were parameters monitored. The data obtained were subjected to generalized least squares (GLS) estimator of a triangul...
A total of 65 Yankasa, 23 Uda and 16 Balami ewes were mated to 4 Yankasa, 3 Uda and 3 Balami rams... more A total of 65 Yankasa, 23 Uda and 16 Balami ewes were mated to 4 Yankasa, 3 Uda and 3 Balami rams in a diallel breeding pattern to produce 192 lambs within 9 genotypes, which were used to study survivability of lambs in relation to their dam?s haemoglobin variants. Blood samples (5ml) were collected from 104 ewes and 10 rams through jugular venepuncture. Electrophoresis was carried out in a Shandon electrophoresis tank on cellulose acetate strips. Each of the 9 lamb genotypes had very high proportion of HbAB. The dam?s haemoglobin type BB (HbBB) were only found in YK X YK, UD X UD, YK X UD, BL X YK and BL X UD lambs at birth and 90-Day. Survivability of lamb that were given birth to by dams with haemoglobin type (HbAB) is highest in the studied populations from birth to 360-Day. Lambs with Hbshould be selected for improved survivability of sheep in Northern Nigeria.
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