EFFECT OF DIETARY ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION ON THE REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCES OF RABBITS

Sabbir Hossen Sabuz, Abdul Gaffar Miah, Ummay Salma, Md. Abdul Hamid, Md. Nurul Amin, Md. Asaduzzaman and Md. Roknuzzaman

Page No: 1-11

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of dietary zinc (Zn) supplementation on reproductive performances of rabbit. An experiment was conducted using New Zealand white rabbits at the Rabbit Research Farm, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh. 28 rabbit does (age 14 months) were randomly assigned into four dietary treatment groups (T0, T1, T2 and T3) that were supplemented with 0 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg and 150 mg of Zn/kg feed to investigate the effect of Zn on the reproductive performances. The results revealed that the dietary supplementation of Zn increased (P<0.05) live weight gain of pregnant does, conception rate, litter size and individual kit weight at birth and weaning but litter weight only at weaning. Dietary supplementation of Zn reduced (P<0.05) kit mortality, though Zn supplementation did not affect the gestation period and litter weight of kits at birth. It is not unlikely that adaptive immunity from mammary gland of does fortified with zinc impacted the kittens and improved their survival rate. Thus, the results suggested that the dietary Zn can be added effectively to the concentrate feed to improve the reproductive performances of rabbits. In conclusion, supplementation of Zn to the diets of rabbit acts as an ameliorative tool of reproductive traits in rabbits.

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SURGICAL REPAIR OF ATRASIA ANI (IMPPERFORATE ANUS) IN NEWBORN LAMB

Umair Iqbal, Muhammad Mubeen, Tariq Nadeem, Usman Munir and Tariq Ali Nawaz

Page No: 12-14

A Surgical case of congenital defect (Atrasia Ani) was reported in two day old male lamb in civil veterinary hospital karampur, tehsil mailsi, district vehari, Punjab, Pakistan. Surgical intervention and follow up treatment resulted in recovery of the lamb.

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CLINICAL MANAGEMENT OF HYDRALLANTOIS IN A JERSEY CROSSBRED COW USING PROSTAGLANDINS

V. Prabaharan, M. Palanisamy, S. Raja, R. Rajkumar and P. Jayaganthan

Page No: 15-17

A case of hydroallantois in a Jersey cross bed cow was successfully treated and its therapeutic management has been reported.

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ALPHA LIPOIC ACID ALLEVIATES LEAD ACETATE-INDUCED HIPPOCAMPAL NEURONAL PERTURBATIONS AND BEHAVIORAL DEFICITS IN RATS

Mona H. Hafez and Sara E. El-kazaz

Page No: 18-31

The present study was conducted to elucidate the possible protective effect of alpha lipoic acid (α-LA) against the physiological and behavioral abnormalities induced in rat hippocampus exposed to lead acetate. 24 Wistar male rats were divided into four groups (n=6): (1) normal control group (C); (2) α-LA treated group (100 mg/kg.b.wt); (3) lead treated group (as lead acetate 50 mg/kg.b.wt); (4) α-LA + lead treated group as groups 2 and 3. All treatments were administered orally for 45 days. The weight gain, levels of lead, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), nitrite and acetylcholine esterase (Ache) activities were estimated in the serum and hippocampus. To assess memory and cognition Morris water maze (MWM) was performed while open field test (OFT) was performed to monitor ambulatory activity after 45 days. Exposure to lead enhanced MDA and nitrite levels also decrease weight gain, level of SOD and Ache activities (P<0.05). Lead impaired memory and cognitive function performance on Morris Water Maze and locomotor activity on open field test. However, treatment with α-LA significantly attenuated the neuronal parameters and behavioral impairment in rats treated with lead. As a conclusion, treatment with α-LA can have preventive role against the lead-induced damage via its antioxidant activity.

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COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE PROFITABILITY OF GOAT FARMERS USING CONVENTIONAL AND ETHNOVETERINARY MEDICINE AMONG SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

Baruwa Olayinka Isiaka and Ajayi Olutomilayo Bolaji

Page No: 32-40

This study described the socio-economic characteristics of farmers and farms using ethno-veterinary medicine and veterinary practices, and the costs and returns to ethnoveterinary practices vis-à-vis conventional veterinary services among the respondents were determined in Osun State, Nigeria. Using multi-stage sampling technique, one hundred and sixty goat farming households were selected in Osun State for the study. Primary data were obtained with the aid of structured questionnaire on their socio-economic characteristics, price of inputs and output. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and budgeting analysis. The results revealed that the mean age of respondents was 45.68± 28.41 years with an average number of household members of 3±1.98 members. Majority of the respondents were females and married with an average of 10.92±6.58 years of experience in goat production. Most of the respondents had secondary education and more. The budgetary analysis showed that the total net returns (gross margin) ranged from N553, 900.00 for veterinary medicine users to N538, 900.00 for ethno-veterinary medicine users in the study area. The study concluded that goat farming was profitable for goat farmers using veterinary medicine than ethno-veterinary medicine. Hence, veterinary methods in goat production may enhance profitability of goat farmers in the study area and possibly in Nigeria at large. Government should therefore increase sensitization on the use of veterinary methods by goat farmers through village extension workers. The government could also help subsidize the prices of drugs as this will help in reducing mortality rate occurring in goat rearing in the study area.

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