No. 2

Effects of Segregated Early Weaning at 7 Days on Dams Body Condition, Parturition Interval and Offspring Birth Weight and Litter Size in the Agouti (Dasyprocta Leporina) for Intensive Production

Pages: 24-31

DOI: 10.18488/journal.ar.2019.62.24.31

Riyadh Mohammed , Kavita Kemeela Sant , Gary Wayne Garcia

PDF Download Access Available XML PubMed

[1] E. O. A. Asibey, "Evaluation and development of wildlife resources in Trinidad and Tobago. The economic role of wildlife in Trinidad and Tobago," United Nations Development Programme Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Trinidad & Tobago Office, Trinidad & Tobago, WI (Unpublished), 1984.

[2] C. E. Brown, "Rearing wild animals in captivity, and gestation periods," Journal of Mammalogy, vol. 17, pp. 10-13, 1936. Available at: https://doi.org/10.2307/1374541.

[3] H. Roth-Kolar, "Contribution to an action system of the Aguti (Dasyprocta aguti L.). Z," Animal Psychol, vol. 14, pp. 362-375, 1957.

[4] B. J. Weir, Reproductive characteristics of hystricomorph rodents. The Biology of hystricomorph rodents. I. W. and Weir, B vol. 34. Rowlands: Academia Press, 1974.

[5] D. J. Clark and E. D. Olfert, Zoo and wild animal medicine. London: Saunders Company W.B, 1986.

[6] NRC, Nutrient requirements of laboratory animals. The national research council. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1995.

[7] B. J. Weir, "Some observations on reproduction in the female agouti, dasyprocta aguti," Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, vol. 24, pp. 205-211, 1971. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1530/jrf.0.0240203.

[8] D. A. Guimarães, R. L. Ramos, O. M. Ohashi, G. W. Garcia, and V. W. Gomes, "Plasma concentration of progesterone and 17ß-estradiol of black-rumped agouti (Dasyprocta prymnolopha) during the estrous cycle," Tropical Biology Magazine, vol. 59, pp. 29-35, 2011. Available at: https://doi.org/10.15517/rbt.v59i1.3176.

[9] M. Singh, G. W. Garcia, A. O. Adogwa, and G. Bourne, "Vaginal cytology as a method of estrous determination in the female agouti (Dasyprocta leporina)," Advances in Animal Biosciences, vol. 1, pp. 417-418, 2010. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/s2040470010000440.

[10] D. A. Guimarães, O. M. Ohashi, M. Singh, and W. Vale, "Profile of plasmatic progesterone on pregnancy, and the postpartum estrus of Dasyprocta prymnolopha (Rodentia: Dasyproctidae)," Tropical Biology Magazine, vol. 64, pp. 1519-1526, 2016. Available at: https://doi.org/10.15517/rbt.v64i4.21798.

[11] V. Korz, "Social relations and individual coping reactions in a captive group of Central American Agoutis (Dasyprocta punctata). Z," Saugetierkunde, vol. 56, pp. 207-218, 1991.

[12] R. C. L. Brown-Uddenberg, "The conceptualization of an intensive production model for the agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) A neotropical rodent in Trinidad, West Indies," M.Phil. Thesis in Livestock Science, The University of the West Indies, Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I, 2001.

[13] R. Brown-Uddenberg, W. G. Garcia, Q. S. Baptiste, T. Counand, A. Adogwa, and T. Sampson, The agouti (Dasyprocta leporina, D. agouti) booklet and production manual. St. Augustine, Trinidad: GWG Publications, 24 Sagan Drive, Champs Fleur. Website: The Open School of Tropical Animal Science and Production, 2004.

[14] N. Smythe, The natural history of the central American agouti (Dsayprocta punctata). Washington, DC: Smithsonian Contribution to Zoology. Smithsonian Insinuation, 1970.

[15] R. Mohammed, "Pre and post-weaned growth of the agouti (Dasyprocta leporina), A neo-tropical rodent with rhe potential for domestication: A case study at the UWI field station," University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago Master’s Thesis, 2016.

[16] R. Mohammed, G. Legall, and G. Garcia, "Towards the determination of a “Weaning Age” for the intensive production of the agouti (Dasyprocta leporina)." Livestock Research for Rural Development. Available: http://www.lrrd.org/public-lrrd/proofs/lrrd3010/riyad30173.html, 2018a.

[17] R. Mohammed and G. Garcia, "Growth and development of the offspring of the neo-tropical rodent, agouti (Dasyprocta leporina)," 2018b.

[18] R. Mohammed and G. Garcia, "Effect of dams’ age and live weight on agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) offspring birth weight, litter size, sex and early postpartum growth," 2018c.

There has been limited information reported on the impacts of segregated early weaning on agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) dams. The study lasted 485 days where 4 parturitions were recorded from 12 (2 year old) multiparous dams, hence there were 48 (12 x 4) parturitions in total with 100 offspring being born. Data was collected on 1) the live weight gain of dams (+/- g), 2) re-conception time and parturition interval (through theoretical calculations assuming that the gestation period was 104 days), 3) litter size at each parturition 4) weight of each individual offspring born per litter as a % of dams’ live weight and 5) the ratio of offspring sex at each parturition. Results showed that dams can reconceive and have a successive parturition as early as 119 days after the day of her previous parturition. Average live weight gain after 4 consecutive parturitions for dams were 276g. Average offspring weights increased by approximately 23 g (193 g to 216g) after 4 parturitions when weaned at 7 days. Average litter size per dam increased by 33% (1.75 to 2.33) after 4 parturitions when weaned at 7 days. Litter size as a percentage of dam’s body weight increased by 0.11% (5.47 to 5.58) after 4 parturitions when weaned at 7 days. This study concludes that weaning at 7 days post-partum is very beneficial for dams’ body condition and re conception, offspring growth and development and for continuous reproduction in an intensive production unit.

Contribution/ Originality
This study is one of very few studies which have investigated the impacts of segregated early weaning on agouti (Dasyprocta leporina). Weaning at 7 days post-partum is very beneficial for dams’ body condition and re conception, offspring growth and development and for continuous reproduction in an intensive production unit.

Supernumerary Teats in Kalahari Red Goats in the Humid Tropics

Pages: 17-23

Find References Cite

DOI: 10.18488/journal.ar.2019.62.17.23

Famakinde, S.A. , Okwelum N. , Leigh, O.O.

Export to BibTeX | EndNote | RIS

PDF Download Access Available XML PubMed

[1] Animal Welfare Approved, "Animal welfare approved program." Available: http://www.animalwelfareapproved.org, 2013.

[2] M. Brka, N. Reinsch, and E. Kalm, "Determination of the inheritance pattern of hyperthelia in cattle by maximum likelihood analysis," Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics, vol. 117, pp. 425-431, 2000. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1439-0388.2000.00273.x.

[3] M. Brka, N. Reinsch, and E. Kalm, "Is there linkage between supernumerary teats in cattle and BTA3 markers?," Archives Animal Breeding, vol. 45, pp. 429-432, 2002. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-45-429-2002.

[4] A. I. A. Osuagwuh, "Incidence and control of pre-weaning mortality and abortion in small ruminants," in Proceedings of National Conf. on Small Ruminant Production in Nigeria. October 6-10, Zaria, Nigeria, 1985, pp. 239-252.

[5] M. N. Brka, E. K. Reinsch, C. Tolu, and T. Savas, "Heritability of supernumerary teats in Turkish Saanen goats," presented at the 58th Annual Meeting of EAAP. Dublin, Ireland, 2007. Poster 50, 2007.

[6] A. Chakrabarti, P. Chandran, P. Kumar, and A. Dey, "Teat and udder disorders in goats (Capra hircus) in Bihar, India," Asian Journal of Life Sciences, vol. 2, pp. 20-22, 2014. Available at: https://doi.org/10.14737/journal.sajls/2014/2.2.20.22.

[7] O. Amao, O. Osinowo, C. Lakpini, M. Dipeolu, S. Abiola, and C. Onwuka, "Types and frequency of udder shapes and abnormalities in West African Dwarf and Red Sokoto goats," Nigerian Journal of Animal Production, vol. 30, pp. 253-258, 2003. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4314/njap.v30i2.3303.

[8] M. Ozoje, "Incidence and relative effects of qualitative traits in West African dwarf goat," Small Ruminant Research, vol. 43, pp. 97-100, 2002. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0921-4488(01)00264-4.

[9] M. Bemji and S. Popoola, "A note on the incidence of udder abnormalities in West African Dwarf goat in South Western Nigeria," Livestock Research for Rural Development, vol. 23, p. 49, 2011.

[10] S. B. Oseni, G. Sonaiya, A. Omitogun, and I. M. Ajayi, "West African Dwarf goat production under village condition: Characterization and the establishment of breed standards," in Conference on International Agricultural Research for Development. October, 11-13, University of Bonn, Tropentag. Germany, 2006, pp. 5-10.

[11] J. Adebayo and C. Chineke, "Evaluation of West African dwarf goat for some qualitative traits in Southwestern Nigeria," African Journal of Agricultural Research, vol. 6, pp. 6204-6207, 2011.

[12] S. A. Famakinde, O. O. Leigh, A. J. Odeyemi, and B. O. Oluwatosin, "Reproductive parameters of prostaglandin-treated female kalahari red goats in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria," Alexandria Journal for Veterinary Sciences, vol. 53, pp. 180-186, 2017.

[13] K. Ramsay, L. Harris, and A. Kotze, Landrace breeds: South Africa’s indigenous and locally developed farm animals. South Africa: Farm Animal Conservation Trust, 2001.

[14] Google Earth, Available: https://www.google.com › earth, 2006.

[15] M. N. Bemji, H. A. Tukur, and S. I. Umejesi, "Incidence of udder abnormalities in West African Dwarf and Kalahari red goats: Influence of teat number on milk production," Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa, vol. 64, pp. 21-31, 2016.

[16] C. S. Mary and M. S. David, Goat medicine. Iowa USA: Wiley Blackwell Publishers, 2011.

[17] A. E. Salako, International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, vol. 5, pp. 47-53, 2013.

[18] K. A. Raheem and O. O. Leigh, "Supernumenary teat in West Africa dwarf goat in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria," IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, vol. 7, pp. 60-63, 2014. Available at: https://doi.org/10.9790/2380-07816063.

[19] E. Oppong and J. Gumedze, "Supernumerary teats in Ghanaian livestock. I. sheep and goats," Contributions to tropical agriculture and veterinary medicine, vol. 20, pp. 63-67, 1982.

[20] B. Lorrie, "More on teats." National Pigmy Goat Association. Available: http;//www.npga.com/resources, 2017.

[21] S. L. Choubisa and S. Zulfiya, "Hyperthelia in goats of sirohi breed, Rajasthan, India CIB tech Journal of Zoology," An Online International Journal, vol. 2, pp. 47-48, 2013.

[22] S. R. Nouh, A. S. Korittum, M. H. Elkammar, and W. M. Barakat, "Retrospective study of teat surgical affections in dairy farms of armed forces and their treatment," Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences, vol. 40, pp. 65-76, 2014. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5455/ajvs.45201.

[23] S. Saifzadeh, F. F. Ardebili, R. Hobbenaghi, and J. Farid, "Teat tip reconstruction by supernumerary teat autotransplantation in cattle," Veterinary Surgery, vol. 34, pp. 366-371, 2005. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-950x.2005.00056.x.

Supernumerary teats (SNT) are additional to the usual number of teats found on a cow (four), goat or sheep (two). Information has been provided on the occurrence of teat abnormalities in the indigenous goat breeds in Nigeria but there remains a dearth of information on the incidence of teat abnormalities in the Kalahari red goats (KRG). Fifty two female lactating KRG aged between 2-5 years were classified on the basis of the number of SNT by visual appraisal. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent sample T-test. 76.1% of the population possesses SNT, 10.9% had one, 43.5% had two, 10.9% had three while 10.9% had four SNT. 60% of the population of KRG with SNT had none of such teats functional/patent. 11.4% had one patent SNT, 25.7% had two patent SNT, 2.9% had four patent SNT. The location of the SNT in relation to the primary teat reveals that 86.3% of the SNT are cranial, 1.3% of the SNT are caudal, 10.0% of the SNT are medial while 2.5% of the SNT are lateral. 74.36% of KRG studied had symmetrical udders while 25.45% had asymmetrical udder. The study concluded that possible reproductive implications of high percentage of SNT in KRG may include neonatal death of kids especially in multiple births and higher risk of mastitis in does. Reproductive Veterinarians and breeders should watch out for goats with SNT when carrying out breeding soundness examination.

Contribution/ Originality
This study is one of the few studies which have investigated the occurrence of Supernumerary teats in the Kalahari red goats with its reproductive implications. The study also provides one of the earliest reports of Supernumerary teats that are positioned lateral and medial to the primary teat in the goat.

Animal Review

Archives

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

No. 2

Effects of Segregated Early Weaning at 7 Days on Dams Body Condition, Parturition Interval and Offspring Birth Weight and Litter Size in the Agouti (Dasyprocta Leporina) for Intensive Production

Finding References

Effects of Segregated Early Weaning at 7 Days on Dams Body Condition, Parturition Interval and Offspring Birth Weight and Litter Size in the Agouti (Dasyprocta Leporina) for Intensive Production

Supernumerary Teats in Kalahari Red Goats in the Humid Tropics

Finding References

Supernumerary Teats in Kalahari Red Goats in the Humid Tropics