Pineapple crop elimination silage can be an alternative in feeding ruminants in partial or total replacement of traditionally used silages. The objective was to characterize and compare the fermentation kinetics of pineapple crop residue silage and sorghum silage. The silages were evaluated using the in vitro cumulative gas production fermentation technique. According to the confidence interval, the volume of gases produced from rapidly digested carbohydrates in food (V̂f1) and the volume of gases produced from slowly digested carbohydrates (V̂f2) from sorghum silage (16.02 and 8.03 mL) was greater than pineapple silage (14.81 and 5.91 mL), respectively. The accumulated gas production values were 20.72 and 24.05 for pineapple silage and sorghum silage, respectively. The digestion rate of the rapidly digestible carbohydrate fraction (k̂1) was higher for sorghum silage and the digestion rate of the slowly degradable fiber fraction (k̂) was higher for pineapple silage. Although sorghum silage is k̂1 superior to pineapple silage, in foods where fibrous fractions predominate, the speed (k̂1) and the extent of digestion (V̂f1) of the non-fibrous fraction are secondary to the total energy input. In other words, the energetic contribution depends on the rates (k̂) and extent (V̂f2) of digestion of the slowly degradable fraction. In this sense, pineapple silage is suitable for inclusion in the ruminant diet.
El objetivo de este trabajo fue distinguir el dimorfismo sexual de caballos de raza colombiana, mediante medidas morfométricas, y clasificarlos según sexo, utilizando funciones discriminatorias. Se midió una muestra de 383 animales adultos (121 sementales, 129 yeguas y 133 castrados) y se evaluaron 15 medidas morfométricas (incluyendo peso corporal y dos ángulos articulares). Se realizó un Análisis de Componentes Principales y un PERMANOVA de una vía. La anchura del tórax y la anchura de la cabeza aparecieron como las variables discriminativas más bajas. Las mujeres presentaron la mayor variación. Los castrados aparecieron morfológicamente más similares a las hembras.
Antibiotics have been used in the poultry industry for years either as prophylactic or therapeutic measures against different micro-organism that affect the livestock. However, misuse or continuous use of antibiotics has led to the emergence of the antibiotics residue and resistivity in livestock. Thus this study evaluates the effect of spotted pumpkin pulp extract on gut microbiota, feacal and Antimicrobial efficacy on the health of broiler chickens. A total of 240 day old broiler chicks were used for the experiment and were allotted into four (4) treatments of (4) replicates each. Aqueous extract of Lagenaria breviflora pulp was administered to the birds at a dosage of 0g/l (Control), 250g/l, 500g/l and 750g/l respectively for 5 days. All data obtained on gut microbial, feacal oocyst, haematological and serum biochemical parameters were subjected to one-way analysis of variance in a completely randomized design. Result obtained revealed that Lagenaria breviflora pulp extract had significant (P<0.05) effect on Heterophils, basophils, monocyctes, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, total protein, Albumin, Aspartate amino transaminase and Alanine amino transferase at the starter phase. Results on intestinal microbial shows that there were no (p>0.05) significant effect obtained on all the parameters measured but there was positive effect of Lagenaria breviflora pulp extract on birds administered 250g/l and 500g/l for the faecal oocyst. The levels of Lagenaria breviflora pulp extract had significant (P<0.05) effect on Packed cell volume, haemoglobin, Red blood cell, White Blood Cell, Lymphocytes and Mean Corpuscular Volume. All serum parameters measured were significantly (P˂0.05) influenced at finisher phase except Total cholesterol. It can be concluded that administering Lageneria breviflora pulp extract at 250g/l or 500g/l eradicate/ reduced the presence of oocyst in the gut of broiler chicken. Lageneria breviflora pulp extract could be administered up to 750g/l of water as an antimicrobial without causing any deleterious effect on the health status of poultry birds.
Los camélidos suramericanos poseen una relevancia económica, biológica y cultural para estas regiones. A pesar de ello, la conservación y la utilización de tecnologías de reproducción asistida no se ha promovido lo suficiente. La caracterización y conservación de los eyaculados seminales de estas especies, pueden favorecerse con estos procesos. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar los patrones la morfométricos del semen criopreservado de alpaca recuperado mediante dos métodos de colecta sobre la dinámica subpoblacional espermática. El estudio se realizó en el distrito de Marangani de la provincia de Canchis, Cusco, Perú por el Laboratorio de Biotecnologías Reproductivas de la Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco y el Laboratorio de Reproducción Animal (AndroTEC) del Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Escuela de Agronomía, Costa Rica. Se utilizaron un total de 18 eyaculados de seis alpacas adultas (6-8 años). Se utilizó un sistema computarizado de análisis seminal (módulo CASA-morph) para la determinación de la forma y tamaño de la cabeza del espermatozoide de alpaca. Se utilizaron modelos generales lineales y mixtos para evaluar las variables morfométricas de la cabeza del espermatozoide de alpaca. Hubo un efecto sobre las variables de morfometría de acuerdo con el método de colecta y el proceso de conservación del semen. Se determinaron cuatro subpoblaciones espermáticas en los eyaculados de alpaca. Los procesos de conservación seminal influyen sobre el tamaño y forma de los espermatozoides de alpaca. También, tienen efecto sobre la distribución de los espermatozoides en subpoblaciones dentro de un eyaculado. La valoración de la morfología espermática puede favorecer a seleccionar los animales para los procesos de conservación de estas especies.
This study evaluates the chemical composition of sorghum haylage and its supplementation with concentrates and the impact on the growth performance and meat quality of West African Dwarf bucks. Sorghum haylage, known for its high fiber content, was compared with protein and energy-dense concen trate supplements. Chemical analysis revealed that the crude protein content in concentrates (21%) was significantly higher than in sorghum haylage (7.8%), supporting enhanced growth and muscle develop ment. The fiber content was substantially greater in haylage (35.2%), which could limit digestibility and nutrient absorption. Concentrates had a higher ether extract content (5.0%) compared to haylage (2.3%), providing a more concentrated energy source essential for optimal growth and reproductive performance. The study found that bucks fed with a diet supplemented with 30% concentrate (T2) exhibited superior growth rates, weight gain, and feed conversion efficiency, with an average weight gain of 0.35 kg/week and a feed gain ratio (FGR) of 7.83. Meat quality also improved, with bucks on the T2 diet showing the lowest final meat pH (5.67), lower cooking losses, and higher tenderness. Sensory evaluation revealed higher scores for juiciness, flavor intensity, and overall acceptability in the T2 group. These findings suggest that moderate supplementation of sorghum haylage with concentrates significantly enhances growth performance and meat quality in West African Dwarf bucks, optimizing both nutrient intake and feed efficiency. The study recommends that a balanced diet with 30-50% concentrate supplementation provides the best results for improving growth and meat quality in small ruminants.
