Animal Research International

4581 – 4588

Authors: OKOYE, Kingsley Chukwuebuka, NGENE, Chinedu Innocent, HINMIKAIYE, Funmilayo Faith and EZINWA, Hope Chinwe

Tramadol is among the most famous analgesic drugs used for the management, treatment, and relief of moderate to a severe pain conditions. The present study investigated the effect of acute toxicity (LC50) of tramadol on juvenile Clarias gariepinus. A total number of one hundred and eighty healthy juveniles of freshwater catfish C. gariepinus with a total mean weight and length of (455.3 ± 50 g and 163.9 ± 18.2 cm) were used for the study. The 24, 48, 72, and 96-hour LC50 of C. gariepinus exposed to tramadol were 213.01(151.94 – 613.23), 109.86 (66.36 – 936.04), 74.02(4.51 – 205.10) and 63.34(29.50 – 95.83) mg/L respectively. The safe levels of tramadol in C. gariepinus varied from 6.33x10-1 to 6.33x10-4mg/L. The toxic unit of tramadol is 0.63 indicating that the drug is toxic to C. gariepinus. Fish exposed to tramadol showed some significant abnormal behavioural responses such as reduced agility, abnormal mucus secretion, skin coloration, opercula movement and air gulping, very poor swimming rate, and mortality increased with an increase in the exposure duration and concentrations except for the control. The results of the present study demonstrated that tramadol is toxic to fish and its use should be monitored in the aquatic biota to safeguard non-target organisms.

4595 – 4603

Authors: ALAFIA, Azeezat Oyindamola, AJELARA, Kafayat Oluwakemi, GODONU, Kolawole Gbemavo, ADETUNJI, Bamidele Halimah, JIMOH, Marufa Idowu, REIS, Anthony Gbolahan and DENLOYE, Abiodun Akinpelu

Ectoparasites cause great loss in livestock but little attention has been paid to identifying their prevalence in livestock in Lagos State, Nigeria. The assessment was therefore conducted using cattle, sheep, goats, and dogs in selected farms at Ojo, Agege and Badagry Local Government Areas LGA), Lagos State, Nigeria to determine the prevalence of ectoparasites from March to May 2021. Validated questionnaires were distributed to farmers to assess the prevalence of these ectoparasites on domestic animals in each LGA studied. Ticks and mites were also collected by handpicking from the animals to determine their prevalence and the assemblage of ectoparasites found in each study LGA. A total of 918 animals (consisting of 387 cattle, 207 sheep, 249 goats, and 75 dogs) were examined for ectoparasites. The highest prevalence, 197 (21.46 %) was recorded for ticks being the most common ectoparasites found infesting domestic cattle. Species of ticks recorded were Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus (27.50 %), Amblyomma variegatum (8.20 %), Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (9.70 %), Ixodes scapularis (1.90 %), Otobius megnini (4.80 %), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (0.80 %), Dermacentor albipictus (0.90 %) and Amblyomma cajennense (1.70 %). Other ectoparasites were mites with a prevalence of 111(12.09 %) in cattle. The infestations were mostly at the ear and mammary gland causing scab-like lesions on the ear, scrotum, mammary gland, and tail, while annoyance and nuisance due to ectoparasite activities were also observed in infested animals. Treatment of affected animals with suitable methods and proper management practices are recommended for keeping away the ectoparasites from the livestock.

4617 – 4624

Authors: SAM, Idorenyin Meme and OKON Loveday Samuel

A study was conducted to determine the influence of strain on growth performance, morphometric and carcass characteristics of Arbor Acre, Ross 308 and Cobb 500 strains of broiler chicken. A total of 144 birds were used for this study, the birds were divided into three treatment groups according to strain and each group was randomly replicated four times with 12 birds per replicate and was raised for eight weeks. The data obtain were subjected to analysis of variance. The result showed that Cobb 500 had the most superior body weight, feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio (3520.00 ± 187.48 g, 4757.08 ± 38.56 g,3217.50 ± 161.10 g and 1.48 ± 0.06) respectively followed by Arbor Acre and Ross 308 in that order. However, in the finisher phase there was significant difference (p<0.05) observed in body height, Cobb 500 strain of broiler chicken was significantly (p<0.05) superior in body height than Arbor Acre and Ross 308. The result also indicated that strain had significant (p<0.05) influence on dressed weight, breast weight and liver weight with Cobb 500 being superior to the other two strains. Based on the results of this study, it was concluded that Cobb 500 was the most superior in body weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, dressed weight, breast weight and liver weight at 8 weeks compared to Arbor Acre and Ross 308. Therefore, Cobb 500 strain of broiler chicken could be recommended to broiler farmers for increase productivity in the study area.

4634 – 4642

Authors: EGBON, Ikponmwosa Nathaniel and OSABUOHIEN, Iyegbekosa Progress

Encircling Benin City, in Nigeria, lies an enormous excavation commonly known as a moat or ‘Iya’ by the people of Benin or the Great Benin Kingdom, which dates back several centuries and holds diverse, but poorly known faunal and floral species. To catalogue its leaf-litter ant species, 24 10-m2 quadrats randomly sited within the moat were sampled with a leaf-litter sampler (sifter) and the collected ants were euthanised in properly labelled enclosed jars containing a ball of cotton charged with ethyl acetate. Results revealed eight species of ants distributed among eight genera and four subfamilies (Dolichoderinae, Formicinae, Myrmicinae and Ponerinae). Pheidole megacephala was the most abundant species followed by Odontomachus troglodytes. Diversity indices revealed a heterogeneous community of ants at microhabitat levels notably dominated by P. megacephala, while five species were rare. The study predicts an additional ant collection of 27 to 45 % to realise the complete inventory of litter ants in the moat, which typifies an isolated green space capable of retaining several species despite pressure from urbanisation.

4648 – 4660

Authors: OGOENYI, Echezonachukwu Ernest and IHEDIOHA, John Ikechukwu

This study was a cross-sectional survey that evaluated the occurrence of azotaemia in pigs slaughtered at Ikpa Abattoir, Nsukka, Nigeria. A total of 304 pigs were evaluated. The pigs were physically examined, and categorized based on sex, age and health status. Blood samples were collected from each of the pigs and assayed for biomarkers of azotaemia. Cut-off value (CoV) based on established reference limits in pigs for serum creatinine (sCr) [1.0 – 2.7 mg/dL] and serum urea (sUr) [21.4 – 64.0 mg/dL] was used to classify the pigs as azotaemic or non-azotaemic. Results showed that 18(5.9 %) out of the 304 pigs were azotaemic based on sCr CoV, 14(4.6 %) had azotaemia based on sUr CoV, and only 8(2.6 %) had both sCr and sUr above the CoV. There was no significant association (p>0.05) between sex and the occurrence of azotaemia based on sCr CoV, but significantly more (p<0.05) females had sUr levels above the CoV. Significantly more (p<0.05) adults had azotaemia based on the sCr CoV, but significantly more (p<0.05) growers and fatteners had sUr levels above the CoV. Also, significantly higher (p<0.01) number of unhealthy pigs was azotaemic when compared to the healthy ones. Significantly more (p<0.05) females and young pigs had sCr levels below the lower reference limit (LRL) of 1.0 mg/dL, but none of the pigs had sUr levels below the sUr LRL. The occurrence of azotaemia in the pigs sampled ranged from 2.6 to 5.9 %, and was strongly associated with the health status of the pigs.

4673 – 4683

Authors: OJIANWUNA, Chioma Cynthia, ENWEMIWE, Victor Ngozi, OSUYA, Innocent Onyemaechi and EYEBOKA, Destiny Nyerhovwo

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of finisher diets fortified with African palm weevil larvae meal (APWLM), housefly maggot meal (HMM) and cockroach protein meal (CPM) on the performance and nutrient retention of caged broilers (Cobbs). One thousand four hundred (1400) broiler chicks were assigned in four groups to livestock feed (LF) fortified with APWLM, HMM and CPM for single form diets, and to LF fortified with APWLM and HMM, APWLM and CPM, and HMM and CPM for the combined forms. Insect inclusion rate was 19.5 and 9.75 % respectively as LF alone served as control. Growth performance parameters and nutrient retention were measured. Body weight (0.56 – 3.57 kg), body length (23.75 – 43.00 cm) and breast width (7.50 – 18.50 cm) ranges increased with increasing weeks. Growth performance was highest at week 10 in chicks fed LF fortified with APWLM and maggot (3.57 ± 0.03 kg), APWLM (43.0 ± 0.02 cm), and APWLM and CPM (18.50 ± 0.02 cm) respectively. Feed efficiency and body weight versus body length were highest in chicks fed LF fortified with APWLM and maggot. Dry matter, crude protein and ether extract were highest in broilers fed fortified diet in combined forms, while crude ash, calcium and phosphorus were highest in broilers fed fortified diet in single forms. Finisher diets fortified with insects in this study especially in the combined form advantageously increased growth rate of broilers and its adoption to brace commercial broilers diets is advised.