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Efficacy of Direct SPT-Based Pile Design Methods in Residual Soils of Southern Africa
No full textDirect SPT-based pile design methods are very popular these days despite the fact that many of such methods are based on small databases of pile load tests. Due to the dependence of soil behaviour on geological setting and site specific conditions, it is possible that some of the methods do not produce good prediction of pile capacity. Accordingly this paper presents the evaluation of two SPT-based pile design methods in residual soils against a pile load test database from the Southern African region. The methods include the (i) Franki-SA method reported in Byrne et al. (1995) and (ii) Decourt Method (1995). The pile load tests consist of 26 cases of bored piles in residual soil with each case accompanied by SPT measurements. The SPT measurements were used to calculate the predicted capacity in accordance with the procedure for each of the two methods while the pile load tests were used to determine the measured capacity. The findings of the evaluation indicate that the Decourt method is more reliable and accurate than the SA method. The poor performance of the SA methods suggests further studies to develop specific calculation factors for base and shaft capacities in residual soils
Effects of Ethanolic Extracts of Tithonia diversifolia and Azadirachta indica on Haemonchus contortus in Goats
No full textInfestation of gastrointestinal worms (helminths) contributes significantly to neonatal mortality and reduced growth performance in livestock animals. The present study was conducted to determine the phytochemical composition and the in vitro potency of ethanolic extracts of Tithonia diversifolia and Azadirachta indica on motility inhibition on Haemonchus contortus. Tithonia diversifolia and Azadirachta indica were obtained from farmers in Bulambuli district of Uganda and were treated with 70% ethanol as an extraction solvent. A standard phytochemical procedure was used for qualitative analysis. The in-vitro experiment was conducted using 2.5 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml, 10 mg/ml, and 20 mg/ml for each plant ethanolic extract. Moreover, phosphate buffer saline (PBS) was utilized as the control. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of tannins, alkaloid salts, saponins, flavonoids, steroid glycosides, anthracenosides, coumarins, and anthocyanosides in ethanolic extracts. A dosage of 20 mg/l of Tithonia diversifolia and Azadirachta indica indicated motility inhibition of adult Haemonchus contortus after 2.55 hours and 2.1 hours, respectively, compared to the PBS control group. In conclusion, both plant extracts showed anthelmintic activity leading to the mortality of the worms. The ethanolic extracts of Azadirachta indica were faster in causing mortality of Haemonchus contortus than those of Tithonia diversifolia at the same dose rate of 20 mg/ml
Sebaceous Adenitis in an Akita: Symptoms and Therapeutic Approaches
No full textSebaceous adenitis is observed in different animal species, with dogs being the most commonly diagnosed. This study aimed to report a case of sebaceous adenitis in a 5-year-old male Akita dog weighing 35.8 kg, initially presented with pruritus and alopecia on the inner ear surfaces, face, and head. Over time, signs of changes in sebaceous glands appeared in other body parts. The dog was sent to a veterinary clinic in Kamyanets-Podilsky, Ukraine. During the clinical examination, the body temperature was 38.4°C, heart rate 78 bpm, and a respiratory rate 27 breaths per minute, with no change in appetite. Clinical and dermatological methods and histopathological examination were used to detect the disease. The hair on the head was curling, and the lesions appeared on the dorsal tail, the distal front and hind legs, the groin, and the abdomen. Initially, redness and itching occurred in the affected areas, and the skin lost elasticity and became dry. The hair was stuck together with gray crusts. The diagnosis was confirmed based on pathohistological studies. An inflammatory infiltrate with migration of lymphocytes, histiocytes, neutrophils, and atrophy of sebaceous glands was diagnosed, focusing on the pathology of the dermis. Treatment included topical therapy with shampoo applied for 3-5 minutes, then rinsed and followed by Conditioner for 2 minutes, over 30 days. Omega-3 was administered orally at 1000 mg twice daily. Isotretinoin (Roaccutane®, 20 mg) was administered orally twice daily for 30 days. Moreover, Cyclosporine was dosed at 5 mg/kg once daily orally, on an empty stomach, for 30 days. During the treatment, signs of inflammation gradually disappeared, with itching and hyperemia disappearing from day 3. From day 7, desquamation and hair loss decreased, and on day 12, signs of new hair growth appeared. The areas were completely restored on day 28 of treatment. Sebaceous adenitis was found to lead to the destruction of sebaceous glands, causing scaling, hair loss, and skin inflammation, which could be a hereditary condition in Akitas. Immunomodulation and normalization of trophic processes in the skin are crucial in the treatment
Effect of Artificial Insemination Timing on Conception Rate in Lactating Holstein-Friesian Cows
No full textSuccessful pregnancy in dairy cows requires accurate timing of artificial insemination (AI). Artificial insemination conducted in the morning, midday, and afternoon exposes cows to different environmental temperatures with high ambient temperatures can potentially reduce the viability of spermatozoa, thus disrupting the fertilization process and increasing the possibility risk of pregnancy failure. The purpose of the present study was to ascertain and determine how the effect of various AI timings (during the morning, midday, and afternoon) affected the pregnancy success of the pregnancies in Holstein-Friesian cows. The purposive sampling was used to select a total of 191 Holstein-Friesian cows based on the following specific criteria; cows showing symptoms of estrus, having healthy reproductive organs, having one parturition at least once, aged 2-6 years old, having body condition score of 2.5-3.5 (on a 1-5 scale). The cows were divided into 3 three treatment groups including T1 cows inseminated from 06.00 am to 10.59 am (n=38 cows), T2 cows inseminated from 11.00 am to 03.59 pm (n=82), and T3 cows inseminated from 04.00 pm to 08.59 pm (n=71). The non-return rate was monitored at 19-22 days post-insemination (NRR-1) and 39-42 days post-insemination (NRR-2) was monitored, while the conception rate (CR) was assessed on day 60 post-insemination. Artificial insemination was performed 8 hours after estrus. NRR-1 values for T1, T2, and T3 were 82%, 80%, and 89%, respectively, The NRR-2 values were 71% in T1, 66% in T2, and 79% in T3. The CR for T1, T2, and T3 were 50%, 48%, and 54%, respectively. Although AI timing did not yield conception rates based on AI timing did not show a significant difference in conception rates, artificial insemination performed in the morning insemination is recommended due to its higher likelihood of successful pregnancy compared to other times
DRINKING MAGNETIZED WATER ALTERS BLOOD CONSTITUENTS, AND STRUCTURE OF SPLEEN AND KIDNEY IN RABBITS
No full textThis study aimed to investigate the effect of magnetic field on physicochemical properties of water and evaluating the effects of the magnetized water (MW) on the productive performance, liver enzymes, and histological structure of spleen and kidney of rabbits. Water samples were collected to determine pH and electrical conductivity (EC), and water structure was investigated by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Twenty-four weaned Rex rabbits, 21 d old, were allotted into two experimental groups: the first group was assigned as control, received regular tap water (TW), and the treated group, received MW, for 5 weeks. Productive traits were recorded weekly and at the end of the experiment, blood, spleen and kidney samples were collected for examinations. Results showed that pH and EC of MW were higher than those of TW. In addition, the arrangement MW cluster showed a unique alteration on the nano-scale. Growth performance indicators were similar in both experimental treatments, except FCR of the MW rabbits was better than that of the TW rabbits. The MW had no significant effect on plasma concentration of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and creatinine in growing Rex rabbits received MW in comparison with those received regular TW. Spleen histological structure of rabbits of both groups was normal. However, the epithelial cells lining renal tubules of kidneys of rabbits in MW group appeared large with basophilic nuclei in comparison with TW group. Conclusively, magnetic field altered the physicochemical properties of water. The MW may consequently increase blood glucose level and spleen weight , enhance kidney structure and improve FCR in growing rabbits. Moreover, more studies are still needed to know the benefits of providing the magnetized water to animals. © The Author(s) 202
PERFORMANCE, CARCASS WEIGHT, TOTAL INTESTINAL BACTERIA, AND FEED DIGESTIBILITY OF BROILERS FED CHICKEN FOOT-DERIVED BIOACTIVE PEPTIDES
No full textThe aim of this study was to evaluate the supplementation of chicken claw-derived bioactive peptides on performance, carcass weight, total intestinal bacteria, and feed dry matter (DMD) and organic matter (OMD) digestibility of broilers. A completely randomized design and five repetitions were applied in this experiment. The research material consisted of 200 DOC strain CP-707 grown up to 35 days of age, and the biopeptide was produced by hydrolyzing chicken claws protein with a commercial papain enzyme. Bioactive peptides were added to feed treatments in amounts of 0, 2, 4, and 6. The differences between treatments were tested using the honestly significant difference test. The addition of chicken claws biopeptides had a significant influence (P<0.01) on OMD and carcass weight, as well as a significant effect (P<0.05) on body weight gain, feed efficiency, DMD and total bacteria. Addition of chicken claws-derived peptides in rations up to 6 enhanced body weight gain, feed efficiency, carcass weight, DMD, OMD, and total intestinal bacteria in broiler chickens. © (2023), (Scienceline Publication). All Rights Reserved
Association of Different Body Sizes and Egg Quality Characteristics in White Leghorn Chicken Breed of South Africa
No full textEgg quality could influence the price of the table and hatching eggs. However, the effects of hen’s live body weight on egg characteristics are poorly understood. The present study evaluated the influence of body weight (BW) on egg characteristics, such as egg width (EWD), shell weight (SW), egg length (EL), albumen weight (AW), yolk weight (YW), shell surface index (SI), albumen ratio (AR), shell ratio (SR), and yolk ratio (YR) of White Leghorn chicken. A total of 100 White Leghorn chickens at 30 weeks of age were used in the current study of which 300 eggs were collected. Live body weight was classified into three groups namely, small (≤ 195g), medium (196-220g), and large (≥ 221g). The results revealed that the White Leghorn layer’s live body weight was positively influenced by the eggshell index and egg length. Additionally, the results indicated that body weight did not affect EW, SW, EWD, SR, YW, AW, AR, and YR. In conclusion, the live body weight influences egg length and shell index in the White Leghorn chicken breed. © The Author(s) 202
Effect of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) and Cinnamon (Cinnamon zeylanicum) on Production, Fatty Acid Profile, and Meat Quality of Broiler Chickens
No full textPhytogenic feed additives play an important role in broilers' nutrition, contributing to the improvement of the performance and quality of meat. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) and Cinnamon (Cinnamon zeylanicum) on broiler chicken production, fatty acid profile, and meat quality. In the present study, 140-day-old Vencob-400 broiler chicks were divided into 7 groups, including the control group (with no additives, T0), and T1 to T6 groups receiving varying concentrations of cinnamon and ginger. Accordingly, the chickens’ diet in T1 was supplemented with 1.0 cinnamon, T2 with 2.0 cinnamon, T3 with 3.0 cinnamon, T4 with 1.0 ginger, T5 with 2.0 ginger, and T6 with 3.0 ginger, all calculated based on dry matter. The carcass traits, weight of immune organs, organoleptic tests, and fatty acid profile of meat (breast and thigh) were recorded after the age of 42 days. The findings indicated that the breast and thigh had the highest organ weights in group T4 compared to other groups, however, the neck, back, drumstick, wing, and heart were not affected. The inclusion of 2 cinnamon (T2) and 1 ginger (T4) in the diet, significantly enhanced the color, texture, flavor, juiciness, and overall acceptability of the meat, compared to the diet of the control group. Adding a supplement of 2 cinnamon or 1 ginger powder to the diet of broiler chickens significantly decreased the percentage of total saturated fatty acid and increased the total unsaturated fatty acid (breast and thigh). The improvement in fatty acid composition is beneficial for the quality of the broiler meat. Based on these findings, it is recommended to supplement the diet of the broiler with either 2 cinnamon or 1 ginger powder to improve the carcass parameters and quality of the meat. © The Author(s) 202
Production Performance and Profitability of Small-scale Commercial Poultry Farms in Arsi and East-Showa Zones, Central Ethiopia
No full textPoultry farming and the demand for chicken meat and eggs are growing due to their quality protein, essential nutrients, affordable price, and low investment cost. The current study was designed to investigate the productivity and profitability of small-scale commercial poultry enterprises. Data were collected from 221 poultry farms using a semi-structured questionnaire. The results were presented using descriptive statistics. Farm performances were measured by total-factor-productivity (TFP), benefit-cost-ratio (BCR), and net-profit-margin (NPM). The majority of the poultry farm owners were male (69.68) and married (77.4). Around 55.2 of poultry farmers aged 31-45 years. Group-owned farms had 4.59 ± 1.77 individual members. On average, a batch of layer chickens was kept for 17.0 ± 3.87 and 18.12 ± 4.25 months on individual and group-owned farms, respectively. Moreover, the mean selling ages of pullet and broiler chickens were 2.55 ± 0.71 and 2.18 ± 0.51 months, respectively. The flock size of layer chickens in sole-proprietor farms (562 ± 724) was significantly lower than in partnership farms (1165 ± 877). The average numbers of produced pullets by sole-proprietorship and partnership farms were 3177 ± 2360 and 3137 ± 1826, while the mean numbers of broilers produced were 2257 ± 1875 and 3269 ± 1669, respectively. The average egg and broiler weights in sole-proprietorship farms were significantly higher compared to group-owned farms. Annual egg production rates in individual and group-owned farms were 76.5 and 70.4, respectively. The cost of feed, chicken, housing, labor, and medication were the top five production expenditures, while feed cost shares 60.4. Egg producers had NPM, BCR, and TFP indices of 38.99, 1.03, and 2.03, respectively, with notable differences by ownership types. The NPM, BCR, and TFP indices for broiler and pullet farms, respectively, were 42.78, 0.93, and 1.93 for broilers and 35.21, 0.92, and 1.67 for pullets. The results indicated that poultry firms performed optimally, regardless of ownership type. To further improve the efficiency and profitability of poultry enterprises, farmers need technical, finance, and management skills and input supply chains. © The Author(s) 202
EFFECTIVENESS OF COCONUT MEAT WASTE IN FEED INTAKE, DIGESTION AND PROTEIN RETENTION IN GOATS
No full textThe objective of the experiment was to determine the proportion of coconut meat waste on feed consumption, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen retention of goats. The experiment was conducted using a Latin square design on 4 male Bach Thao goat (16.2±2.93 kg). Treatments were 4 levels of coconut meat waste (CMW) at 0, 5, 10 and 15 in basal diet of rice distillers’ by-product, cabbage waste, Operculina turpethum vines, urea and premix. Results indicated that dry matter intake per body weight tended to increase from CMW0 to CMW5 treatment but it was gradually reduced from CMW5 to CMW10 and CMW5 treatments (3.34; 3.50; 3.46 and 3.28, respectively). The ME consumption was higher at supplemented treatments coconut meat waste compared to CMW0 treatment. The nutrient digestibility () was gradually increased from CMW0 to CMW15 treatment. Similarly, digestive nutrients tended to increase with increasing coconut meat waste in the diet. The nitrogen retention was numerically lower for the CMW5, CMW10 and CMW15 treatments compared to CMW0, while daily weight gain was not different among treatments. In conclusion, 10 coconut meat waste could be used as an additional source of dietary regimen in goats, without negative effects on animal fattening performance. © The Author(s) 202