Uda Sheep Research Articles

Potentiating the Epidural Analgesic Effect of Lidocaine in Uda Sheep with Xylazine and Medetomidine

Potentiating the Epidural Analgesic Effect of Lidocaine in Uda Sheep with Xylazine and Medetomidine

Haematological parameters of sheep in the semi-arid zone of North Eastern Nigeria

Haematological parameters of sheep in the semi-arid zone of North-Eastern Nigeria were studied between August 2022 and April, 2023. Blood was sampled from one hundred and sixty-eight sheep comprising of Yankasa, Balami and Uda (56 per breed) at the Federal University Gashua Teaching and Research Farm, Gashua abattoir and Garin Alkali goats and sheep markets. The study was carried out to determine the blood profile of prominent indigenous sheep breeds in the study area. Blood samples were carefully collected from the animals into labeled sterile bottles containing Ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid for haematological examination. Data analyzed for the effect of breed, sex and age were not significantly affected (p>0.05) for packed cell volume (PCV) and haemaglobin (Hb) concentration. Consequently, values of PCV and Hb differed significantly (p<0.05) with season in favour of wet season, (40.87%) and (13.63g/dl) for PCV and Hb respectively. Values for red blood cell (10.18 x103/µL), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (35.11g/dl), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (12.71 Pg), mean corpuscular volume (45.86 Fl) and white blood cell (10.72 x103/µL) were significantly higher (p<0.05) for Uda sheep. Adult sheep generally had significantly (p<0.05) higher values for haematologic parameters considered. It was concluded that there were breed, sex, age and seasonal differences in haematological parameters of the sheep breeds studied. The blood parameters needed to be monitored frequently and appropriately controlled to ensure stability and adequate health and nutritional status of sheep.

Characteristics of fresh and frozen-thawed Uda ram semen extended with Oviplus®, egg yolk and coconut milk

Semen characteristics of Uda sheep and the effects of the egg yolk and coconut milk-based extenders on the quality of semen preserved at 4 oC and -196 oC were evaluated. Semen was collected from six Uda rams using an electro-ejaculator twice a week for ten weeks. Fresh semen samples were pooled and analyzed macroscopically and microscopically. The pooled semen was divided into 2 aliquots. One aliquot was extended in OviPlus® and egg yolk. The second aliquot was extended with OviPlus® and coconut milk. Each of the aliquots was further subdivided into 2 parts and evaluated microscopically. One part was chilled at 4 oC and evaluated for the same parameters after extension at 24, 48 and 72 hours. Second part was loaded into 0.25 ml plastic straws for cryopreservation at -196 ℃ and analyzed after 24 hours. The post thaw spermatozoa motility, livability and morphological abnormalities were determined at 24, 48 and 72 hours. The motility and concentration of freshly collected Uda semen were 81.7 ± 1.7 % and 3.2 ± 0.3 ×109/ml respectively. After extension, the motility decreased significantly (P < 0.05) from 82 % at 3 hours to 17 % at 72. The percentage live spermatozoa of the chilled semen did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) between the two extenders. Post thaw spermatozoa motility and livability were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) between the post-thaw proportions of morphological abnormalities, between semen preserved at 4 oC and the frozen-thawed semen. In conclusion, semen motility, livability, and morphological abnormalities of Uda ram are equally preserved in coconut milk and egg yolk-based extenders at 4 oC up to 24 hours post extension. However, semen motility and livability were significantly reduced in the Uda semen earlier cryopreserved at -196 oC after thawing.

Genetic variability of Nigerian sheep breeds at the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) gene locus

The genetic variability of some Nigerian breeds of sheep at the IGF 1 locus was investigate blood samples from 150 sheep (50 each of Yankasa, Balami and Uda sheep) were collected from the Maiduguri abbatoir and analysed at the Biotechnology centre of the University of Maiduguri. A relatively high level of genetic variability was detected in Nigerian sheep; the mean observed heterozygosity (Ho) and expected heterozygosity (He) values were 0.433 and 0.476, respectively. Comparison of expected heterozygosity of alleles between the populations showed that yankasa was the most heterozygous of the sheep populations though the unbiased expected heterozygosity (0.503) for the Yankasa was the same as that of the Balami. All populations were 100% polymorphic at the IGF 1 locus with fixation index ranging from -0.169 to 0.378 and a mean of 0.093, which suggests a general pattern of random mating. Similarly, low mean values for Fis (0.093), F (0.089), Fis (0.089), Fit (0.130) and Fst (0.045) supports the assertion that inbreeding was limited due to outcrossing with relatively high level of gene-flow (Nm = 5.292). The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that only 1% of the total variations observed in the sampled populations is accounted for by the population differences while individual differences accounted for 85%. The UPGMA phylogenetic tree revealed that the Uda and Yankasa populations are closer to each than each is to Balami. Thus, it can be concluded that sufficient genetic variation exist in the studied Nigerian sheep breeds and these populations are unlikely to decline due to inbreeding.

In vitro activity of selected ruminant sera on <i>Trypanosoma congolense</i> Broden, 1894

Trypanosomiasis is one of the most important problems to man and his livestock. The in vitro Trypanosoma congolense activity of sera from some ruminants viz: West African dwarf goat, Red Sokoto goat, Sahel goat, Yankassa sheep, Uda sheep, Balami sheep, N’Dama cattle, Sokoto Gudali cattle, Friesian cross/Bunaji cattle, White Fulani cattle was investigated. Blood samples from the donor ruminants were screened for trypanosomes using the thick film and haematocrit centrifugation technique (HCT). Trypanosoma congolense was suspended in RPMI supplemented with FCS. After the addition of each test serum, the motility of the parasite was used as index of viability. None of the sera from the selected small ruminants exhibited any anti-trypanosomal activity against T. congolense in vitro. Their survival times were all significantly higher (p<0.05) than the control (74.67Ç0.58 hrs), with negative Anti-trypanosomal Activity Index (ATI). The highest survival time which reflects the highest supportive activity was recorded with Yankassa sheep serum (171.33Ç2.31 hrs), a supportive activity significantly greater (P<0.05) than that of sera from other small ruminants. The survival time of the parasites in the West African Dwarf goat serum was the least (100.00Ç8.72 hrs), although significantly (p<0.05) higher than the control (74.67Ç0.58 hrs). All the sera from selected large ruminants recorded negative ATI, showing the lack of antiTrypanosoma congolense activity. Sokoto Gudali serum had the highest supportive activity, significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of other large ruminants (ATI of -1.38), with a mean survival time of 178.00Ç2.00 hrs. N’Dama cattle serum had the least supportive activity (ATI of -0.42 and survival time of 106.00Ç3.46 hrs). This study shows that all the sera from selected ruminants lack anti-Trypanosoma congolense activity, and are rather very supportive of the survival of T. congolense in vitro.Keywords: Anti-Trypanosoma congolense activity; in vitro; survival time; ruminants; inhibition index; anti-trypanosomal activity index; supportive activity.

Association of IGF 1 gene polymorphisms with some morphometric traits of Nigerian indigenous sheep breeds

The relationship between IGF 1 gene polymorphisms and some morphometric traits of the Balami, Uda and Yankasa sheep breeds of Nigeria was investigated. Blood samples and morphometric measurements were obtained from 150 sheep (50 for each of the three breeds) at the Maiduguri Livestock market and abattoir while DNA was extracted at the Biotechnology laboratory of the University of Maiduguri. Evaluation of results revealed 2 alleles (A and B) and 3 genotypes (AA, AB and BB) for all the breeds. The Uda and Yankasa breeds had higher frequency of allele B (0.64 and 0.56, respectively) while Balami had higher allele frequency for A (0.61). Balami and Yankasa had high heterozygosity for IGF-1 gene while Uda had high homozygosity for B. For Balami sheep, the genotype BB had higher (P < 0.05) body weight and heart girth (56 kg and 79 cm, respectively) than AB for body weight (45.80 kg) and BB for heart girth (69.67 cm). Conversely, genotype AA had higher body length (94.33 cm) than AB (73.80 cm). IGF 1 gene polymorphisms did not significantly (P < 0.05) affect most morphometric traits of the Yankasa and Uda sheep except height at withers where the genotype AB had higher (P < 0.05) height at withers (71.77 cm) than AA (53.50 cm) for Yankasa sheep. Thus, the three breeds were found to be 100% polymorphic at the regulatory region of IGF-1 locus and this gene may be used as a marker for some morphometric traits in Nigerian indigenous sheep. Keywords : body weight, heart girth, height at withers, breeds, sheep

Nutrients intake and digestibility of growing and fattening Uda sheep fed graded levels of ginger in semi-arid Nigeria

Two separate experiments were conducted at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Livestock Teaching and Research Farm to assess intake and digestibility of nutrients for growing and fattening Uda sheep fed graded level of ginger ( Zingiber officinale ) in semi-arid region of Nigeria. In each experiment, fifteen intact male animals with an average weight of 17 and 21.4 kg respectively, were allocated to three treatment diets in a completely randomized Experimental Design (CRD) replicated five times. Experimental diets containing 0 (control), 2.5 g/kg (treatment 2) and 5.0 g/kg (treatment 3) were formulated separately for each experiment. Each experiment lasted for 90 days feeding trial and three weeks digestibility trial. Results indicated that, for growing animals (experiment 1), ginger inclusion has an overall negative effect on nutrients intake and digestibility (P<0.05). However, for fattening animals (experiment 2), intake and digestibility were affected (P<0.05) when ginger inclusion exceeds 2.5%. It was concluded that ginger inclusion had a negative effect on intake and digestibility of growing animals and on fattening animals above 2.5%.

Performance, Nutrient Intake and Digestibility of Uda Sheep with Graded Levels of Xylopia aethiopica (Ethiopian pepper)

Performance, Nutrient Intake and Digestibility of Uda Sheep with Graded Levels of Xylopia aethiopica (Ethiopian pepper)

Morphometric characterization of Nigerian indigenous sheep using multifactorial discriminant analysis

Adequate knowledge of diversities within and between animal populations will not only help in reducing misidentification in animal husbandry but also aid conservation of many important endangered alleles. A total number of 1195 animals comprising 380 Yankasa sheep, 414 Uda sheep, 224 Balami sheep and 177 West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep were sampled from Osun and Oyo states, South Western Nigeria. Yankasa and WAD were sampled from traditionally managed flock while Balami and Uda sheep were obtained from markets in these states. Seventeen (17) morphometric characters were measured to study their phenotypic variations. The characters measured include rump width (RW), rump length (RL), tail length (TL), wither height (WH), heart girth (HG), paunch girth (PG), rump height (RH), ear length (EL), foreleg length (FLL), rear-leg length (RLL), body length (BL), shoulder width (SW), neck circumference (NC), head length (HeL), head width (HW), horn length (HL) and hock length (HoL). Stepwise multifactorial discriminant analysis was explored to check traits that best differentiate the Nigerian sheep. Length of tail was the most discriminating character among the eight distinguishing traits found. Longest genetic distance was found between WAD and Uda sheep while the closest breeds were Balami and Uda, as indicated by the Euclidian distance. The large Euclidian distance obtained for genetic gap between Uda and WAD sheep gives prospect for improvement if they are crossbred. Since Uda and WAD have been reared successfully in the arid Northern region and trypano-endemic region of Southern humid Nigeria, respectively, crossing WAD with Uda will produce a relatively large, heat tolerant and trypanotolerant hybrid. Key word: Phenotypic variation, Nigerian sheep, discriminant analysis.

Breed effect and non-genetic factors affecting growth performance of sheep in a semi-arid region of Nigeria

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of breed and some non-genetic factors on growth performance of Balami and Uda sheep in a semi-arid region of Nigeria. Methodology and results : Data on birth weight (BWT), 90-day weaning weight (90-DWWT), 6-month weight (6-MWT), 9-month weight (9-MWT) and yearling weight (Y-WT) of 595 lambs (306 Balami and 209 Uda) born in the Sheep Meat Project of the Federal Livestock Department (FLD), Katsina, between 1996 and 1998 inclusive were collected and used for this study. Pre and post weaning weight gains were also estimated on each lamb. Data was subjected to analysis of variance using the generalized linear model (GLM) procedure of SAS to determine the effects of breed, parity, sex, type of birth, season of birth and year of birth on the growth of lambs. Breed and sex significantly (P<0.05) affected body weights at all ages. Pre and post-weaning growth rates were significantly (P<0.05) affected by all the factors examined except parity of dam and year of birth. Significantly low to moderate phenotypic correlations were observed between the growth traits studied. Conclusion and application of findings: Most of the non-genetic factors have been shown to be important sources of variation in the growth performance of sheep. Therefore, effects of environmental factors need to be corrected for if mixed model approaches such as the Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) values are to be used for breeding value evaluation in Balami and Uda lambs. Key words: Sheep, Balami, Uda, Pre and Post weaning growth, Sex, Parity.

Assessment of Growth Rate of UDA Sheep Fed Diets Containting Varying Energy Levels Using Live Morphometry

A study was conducted to evaluate varying energy levels on growth rate of sheep using live morphometric measurements. Twenty growing Uda lambs were randomly allocated into four dietary treatments (five animals per treatment) with varying energy levels in a completely randomized experimental design (CRD). The animals were fed diets containing 1800, 2000, 2200 and 2400 kcals ME/kg. Data were collected on feed intake, live weight gain and body morphometric indices. The findings of the study revealed that dry matter intake, live weight gain and growth rate increased with increasing energy level (P 0.05). Relationship between the body measurements and initial live weight of the animals was not significant (P> 0.05). Except for knee to floor and hock to floor heights, live weight and body measurements of the animals were highly significant with the final live weight (P<0.01). It was concluded that the optimum energy level for body gain and growth rate of sheep is 2200kcals ME/ kg.

Varimax rotated principal component factor analysis of the zoometrical traits of Uda sheep

A study was conducted to determine the interdependence among the conformation traits of 359 Uda rams using principal component factor analysis. The body measurements were withers height, body length, heart girth, rump height, rump width, rump length, face length, foreleg length and shoulder width. Age group of animals was a significant (p<0.05) source of variation for the studied traits. The various constituent parts of the body developed at varying rates. From the factor analysis, with varimax rotation of the transfor- mation matrix, two principal components were extracted, which accounted for 86.3% of the total variance. The first principal component alone explained 80.8% of the variation, and tended to describe general size, while the second principal component had its loadings for meat traits (rump width, shoulder width and rump length). The two extracted principal components could be considered in selection programmes to obtain animals with better conformation using fewer measurements.

Economic Evaluation of Small ruminant Production among Small holder Farmers in Zamfara State

A survey was conducted in three Local Government Areas of Zamfara State to study the economic advantages of keeping small ruminants among smallholder farmers.. A total of 120 smallholder farmers were randomly selected for the study and each of them was verbally interviewed usingstructured questionnaires. Result from the statistical analysis shows that the highest average farm size of 1.97 ±0.180ha was observed in Maradun. The highest average crop income was N 85548±11735.The highest average livestock income was N100733±11858. Increasing livestocknumber by one animal was predicted to increase livestock income by N 1126. Increasing the crop yield by one bag was predicted to increase the livestock income by N1657. The gross margin of livestock was higher (N51260) than that of crops (N 44,110) in all locations. Length of hind legs of Uda sheep was found to significantly correlate with the height at withers (r = 0.954; p

Multivariate analysis of morphostructural characteristics in Nigerian indigenous sheep

The population variability of three breeds of Nigerian sheep was investigated using multivariate discriminant analysis. The sampled populations comprised mature 331 Yankasa, 296 Uda and 166 Balami sheep kept by traditional farmers in northern Nigerian. A total of ten morphological traits (withers height, rump height, body length, face length, rump length, tail length, chest circumference, head width, shoulder width and rump width) were collected on each animal. The univariate analysis revealed that the body measures of Balami sheep were significantly larger (P<0.05) than others with the exception of tail length. Uda sheep also had higher mean values (P<0.05) than their Yankasa counterparts in all the morphological traits analysed. However, the stepwise discriminant analysis revealed that head width chronologically followed by tail length, chest circumference and body length were more discriminating in separating the three sheep populations. The Mahalanobis distance of the morphological traits between Yankasa and Balami sheep was longest (4.83) while the least differentiation was observed between Uda and Yankasa sheep (1.79). Nearest neighbour discriminant analysis showed that most Balami sheep (61.45%) were classified into their source genetic group. While 41.22% of Uda sheep were misclassified as Yankasa sheep, 35.35% of Yankasa were wrongly assigned as Uda sheep, showing the level of genetic exchange that has taken place between the two breeds overtime. The present phenotypic information could be complemented with genetic analyses; and serve as a basis for designing appropriate conservation, breeding and selection strategies for Nigerian sheep.

An evaluation of sexual size dimorphism in Uda sheep using multifactorial discriminant analysis

This investigation aimed at evaluating sexual size dimorphism in Uda sheep using multivariate discriminant analysis. Eleven morphological traits were measured on a total of 296 adult sheep of both sexes randomly selected in Nasarawa State, north-central Nigeria. The univariate analysis showed that Uda rams had significantly (P<0.05) higher values in nine of the morphological traits examined. Measurements that were best able to separate the rams and the ewes as revealed by the canonical discriminant analysis were head width and face length. These two variables were included in the single discriminant function used to classify the two sexes. The discriminant model was able to allocate correctly 70.8% of Uda ewes and 58% of rams to their a priori sexes. Ward's option of the cluster analysis further revealed the morphological distinctness of the population. The discriminant function obtained in the present study could be useful in management, ecological and conservation studies.

The effect of intraruminal infusion of iodinated casein on the potential degradability of &lt;i&gt;Panicum maximum&lt;/i&gt; in west African dwarf x uda sheep

The quantitative (percentage) rumen degradability of Panicum maximum at 48hrs post rumen incubation was studied in West African (Northern) long-legged sheep using the nylon bag technique, in a 4x4 Latin square experimental design of; four sheep, four time intervals, four experimental rounding of same sample and f our levels of iodinated casein. The animals had an average body weight of 9.6 +/- 1.46kg. The animals were fitted with rumen fistula through which Panicum maximum were incubated. Various dose ranges of 1.5g, 2.5g, 3.5g, and 4.5g of iodinated casein were infused into the rumen 8hrs prior to the incubation. Potential rumen degradability of Panicum maximum was determined at time intervals of 4,8,12 and 48hrs post incubation. The results of the experiment showed that infusing a maximum dose of 3.5g of iodinated casein produced marked improvement in the rumen degradability of dry matter, organic matter and crude protein fractions of Panicum maximum and beyond this limit the effect decreased. The increase in rumen potential degradability of all the fractions of Panicum maximum was significantly different (p

Principal Component Factor Analysis of the Morphostructure of Immature Uda Sheep

En 30 ovejas Uda de 0-14 meses de vida de los humedales del Suroeste nigeriano, se realizaron 10 mediciones de su cuerpo. Las medidas fueron las siguientes altura de los miembros (AM), longitud del cuerpo (LC), longitud e caderas (LCd), altura de las caderas (AlCd), ancho de caderas (AnCd), longitud de los miembros anteriores (LMA), ancho de los hombros (AH), longitud de la cara (LDCa), longitud de la cola (LDCo) circunferencia a nivel del corazon (CC). El objetivo fue investigar las variaciones de estructura y proveer una descripcion objetiva de la forma del cuerpo de la oveja dentro del primer ano de vida utilizando un analisis de grupo. Esto fue posible gracias a la aplicacion del coeficiente de correlacion de Pearson. Aplicando el usotradicional de altura de los miembros para estimacion del tamano, el animal midio 65.83±5.81cm. Otras medidas del cuerpo para el grupo etario fueron: LC=59.37±4.50, LCd=22.1±1.12, AlCd=65.18±6.06, AnCd=12.90±1.24, LMA=41.62±2.29, AH=14.40±1.45, LDCa=21.47±1.82, LDCo=40.72±2.71 y CC=71.98±4.30cm. La variabilidad fue generalmente alta dentro de las medidas del cuerpo. Las correlaciones entre las dimensiones del cuerpo fueron positivas y significativas (P<0.05, 0.01; r=0.40-0.99). La solucion del principal componente analizado produjo dos grupos. Los componentes primero y segundo explicaron el 67.6 y11.03% de la varianza generalizada en las medidas del cuerpo y dio igual enfasis a cada variable. El primer componente contenia medidas que estaban estrechamente asociadas al crecimiento de los huesos (LMA, LDCo, LDCa, AlCd, AM y LC) mientras que el segundo parece producir dimensiones que son relativamente menos asociadas a ellos (AnCD, AH y LCd)

The course of experimental Trypanosoma vivax infection in Uda sheep

The course of experimental Trypanosoma vivax infection in eight Uda rams was studied. All the infected animals became parasitaemic 2 days post-inoculation and remained so throughout the study period. A three-phase disease pattern was recognized, i.e. acute, subacute and chronic stages lasting 17–85 days. The disease was characterized by fever and a terminal decrease in rectal temperature despite an increase in parasitaemia with time for rams with acute and subacute infections. Mean weight loss was most marked in subacute followed by chronic cases. Gross pathological changes observed in some infected rams with subacute and chronic trypanosomosis were oedema of the face and lower jaw, hydropericardium and atrophy of the pericardial fat. Petechial haemorrhages were observed on the surfaces of the heart and kidney of rams with acute infection. Anaemia was most severe in infected rams with acute disease, followed by those with subacute infections. Also, hypoproteinaemia was observed in all infected rams. Severe clinical findings associated with the death of all the infected rams during this study might indicate that the Uda breed of sheep in very susceptible to trypanosomosis. It is, therefore, recommended that this breed of sheep, which is strictly bred and reared in tsetse-free Sahel savannah, should not be introduced into endemic areas devoid of therapeutic cover and strict tsetse fly control.

The haemoglobin types of northern Nigerian sheep

The haemoglobin type of 515 sheep from various areas in northern Nigeria was determined. The gene-frequency of the Hb-B type was 1.00 in Uda and Balamy sheep and 0.998 in Yankassas.

Birthweight, good mothering and survival in the Nigerian small ruminants

In this study,birthweight, good mothering and survival in the Nigerian small ruminants were examined using a questionnaire administered by enumerators. Sheep and goat farmers in Nigeria were the respondents. In the year 1988, Nigeria had only 21 states plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with each states having different number of local government areas. A total of four hundred and forty nine Local Government Areas were used in this study. Five villages were randomly sampled from each Local Government Area and five questionnaires were administered to five randomly selected farmers in each village. In sheep Yankasa (5.43%) had the highest birth weight and it was lowest in Balami (2.51%). Sahel goat (5.24%) had the highest birth weight than West African Dwarf (3.87%) and Red Sokoto (3.33%). Good mothering attribute was more in Uda (7.90%), Balami (7.56%), Yankasa (7.08%) sheep and WAD goat (5.17%). Survival rate was highest in Yankasa sheep (7.95%) and WAD goat (5.86%). From this study therefore, selection could be made for Yankasa, Uda sheep and sahel, WAD goat in a meat enterprise for this attribute – birth weight, good mothering, survival were found to be excellent in this breed of sheep and goat.Keywords: Yankasa, birthweight, good mothering, survival rate.