Milk production by agropastoral Red Sokoto goats in Nigeria.

The mild yield characteristics of smallholder agropastoral Fulani Red Sokoto goats were evaluated using records obtained from a total of 92 does in 6 herds, collected over a 2-year period. The results indicated that the total yield was 79.8 +/- 3.2 kg, the daily yield 0.66 +/- 0.03 kg, the peak yield 1.21 +/- 0.07 kg and the day of peak production 28.7 +/- 2.1 day of lactation. The milk yield characteristics were highly variable with a coefficient of variability of 38.6% to 69.8%. The characteristics were significantly (p < 0.01-0.05) influenced by herd, season, parity and litter size of the dam. Highly positive and significant (p < 0.01) correlations (r = 0.66-0.99) existed between the total yield and the average daily yield, peak yield, initial yield and day 120 yield. A negative and significant (p < 0.05) correlation (r = -0.33) was observed between the peak day and the initial yield. The non-homogeneity of the milk yield characteristics in Red Sokoto does suggests the possibility of improving their daily productivity by selection of high yielding does. Selection for higher initial milk yield may also improve other milk yield characteristics.

Factors affecting age at first lambing in Yankasa ewes.

Data on 133 primiparous Yankasa ewes covering a period of 8 years (1983-1991) were analysed by least squares method for the effects of season, year, litter size, birth weight, weaning age and weaning weight on age at first lambing (AFL). Results showed the AFL (+/-SE) to be 533.1 +/- 10.3 days. Only the effect of season on AFL was significant (P < 0.01) while year of lambing, birth weight, litter size, weaning age and weaning weight did not affect AFL significantly (P > 0.01). AFL was 476.9 +/- 23.3, 523.9 +/- 19.2, 549.8 +/- 19.7 and 581.9 +/- 19.5 days for late wet, early dry, late dry and early wet season born ewes respectively. AFL was significantly (P < 0.01) lowest for ewes born in the late wet season and highest for ewes born in the early wet season. There was no significant (P > 0.01) difference in AFL between ewes born in the early dry season and ewes born in the late dry season, and between late dry and early wet season born ewes.

Stab wounds in The Gambia.

Over a 24-month period (January 1990 to December 1991) 337 cases of stab wounds were managed at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Banjul, The Gambia. All stabbing occurred in and around Banjul and victims were predominantly male (99.1%). Stabbed subjects were mostly involved in fights (98.2%). The mean age of the subjects was 27.6 +/- 10.5 years. 155 subjects (46%) required emergency room treatment only while 182 (54%) needed hospitalisation. Superficial lacerations predominated (94.3%) while other major complications included haemothorax/pneumothorax (2.4%), haemopericardium/pneumopericadium (0.3%), cardiac lacerations (0.6%), and haemoperitoneum (2.4%). Visceral injuries managed were: Heart lacerations (2%), Liver lacerations (1.2%), lung lacerations (2.4%), peritoneal lacerations (0.6%), gut perforation (0.6%) and pericardial complications of inadequate initial management. Anaesthetic techniques used for major procedures including Thoracotomies and Laparotomies were simple to ensure safety and assure quick post anaesthetic recovery. All patients had an uneventful recovery. In a situation of restricted medical facilities, we have recorded successful management outcomes without resorting to mandatory exploratory celiotomy and expensive diagnostic procedures.

Semen quality and sperm output of Yankasa rams at different ages.

Three groups of three Yankasa rams aged 1.4, 2.4, and 3.4 yr, weighing 32.8 +/- 0.8, 47.9 +/- 1.4, and 48.8 +/- 1.3 kg, and with scrotal circumferences measuring 26.8 +/- 0.9, 28.9 +/- 0.3, and 30.3 +/- 1.3 cm (mean +/- SEM), respectively, were used for this study. The rams were ejaculated once per day for 14 d using an artificial vagina and their semen quality and sperm output determined. For the three groups, ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility, percentage of morphologically normal sperm, and total sperm output per ejaculate averaged 0.72 +/- 0.03, 0.90 +/- 0.04, and 0.88 +/- 0.03 ml; 3.421 +/- 0.133, 4.025 +/- 0.179, and 4.673 +/- 0.184 x 10(9)/ml; 83.2 +/- 2.3, 84.6 +/- 1.5, and 74.0 +/- 2.4%; 96.2 +/- 0.3, 96.0 +/- 0.4, and 95.4 +/- 0.4%; and 2.469 +/- 0.141, 3.663 +/- 0.237, and 4.163 +/- 0.247 x 10(9) sperm, respectively. Differences between groups were significant for all semen traits except for percentage of morphologically normal sperm. Total sperm output per ejaculate (Y; x 10(9)) was significantly correlated with scrotal circumference (X; cm) by the geometric regression equation Y = 0.000128 X(3.03) (r = 0.71; P < 0.05). Ejaculate characteristics were not influenced by day of collection except for percentage of morphologically normal sperm, which was significantly (P < 0.01) lower on the first day of collection.

Motility and eosin uptake of formaldehyde-treated ram spermatozoa.

A concentration of 0.005% formaldehyde in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) achieved complete immobilization of ram spermatozoa while also yielding good recovery of sperm motility after removal by washing. At a higher formaldehyde concentration (0.01%) recovery rate declined with increasing dilution rate. Incubation of spermatozoa in PBS containing 0.005% formaldehyde beyond 6 h at 5, 15 or 25 degrees C resulted in poor recovery rates. Of the incubation temperatures, eosin uptake was lowest at 25 degrees C. During 4 h post-wash incubation at 30 degrees C sperm motility was significantly (P less than 0.001) affected by pre-wash formaldehyde concentration which had no effect on the proportion of eosinophilic spermatozoa.

Studies on leakage of enzymes from washed bull and ram spermatozoa.

Washing of bull and ram spermatozoa resulted in significant losses of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI) from the cell suspensions. Re-suspension of washed bull spermatozoa caused an immediate release of enzymes from the cells. Preincubation of washed ram spermatozoa with 0.025% formaldehyde increased GPI levels but decreased LDH concentration in the extracellular fluid while hexokinase release was unaffected. Varying the incubation temperature between 20 and 37 degrees C affected extracellular LDH and GPI levels. It is suggested that enzyme release from spermatozoa may occur in the absence of any apparent cellular damage.