Animal Biology Research Papers/Topics

The Effects of Herbivory on interactions of pollinators and flowers in Acacia SPP. (Fabaceae,mimosoideae) in Laikipia

Abstract Acacia trees are among the most dominant tree species found in semi arid ecosystems with a vast geographical distribution throughout the savanna habitats. The trees are leguminous and have remarkable ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, thereby, improving fertility. About all parts of an Acacia tree are edible to different types of animals and their leaves provide the only greenery in the dry season, so are bound to be eaten. As such, they support enormous pyramids of biomass in com...

The functional significance of grooming behaviour in higher primates : the case of free-living chimpanzees

Abstract: As a contribution to the existing knowledge of grooming in primates five and a half years of grooming data were examined from a group of free-living chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in the Budongo Forest, Uganda, to investigate various functional significances of grooming behaviour within the context of social reinforcement. The fission–fusion social structure of chimpanzees results in group members not moving around as a single unit, but forming temporary units as the need arises. ...

EVALUATION OF HEAT PRE-TREATMENT ON BIOGAS PRODUCTION FROM CORN STOVER AND GOAT MANURE UNDER ANAEROBIC CONDITION

Abstract: Biogas technology, which is meant to produce methane rich gas through anaerobic digestion of biological materials, is an environmentally friendly technology that decreases environmental pollution through decomposing organic wastes and positively impacts the socio-economy of the society. Therefore, the research was conducted to investigate the production of biogas from corn Stover co-digested with goat manure through anaerobic digestion. In this study, five different proportions of ...

GENETIC AND NON-GENETIC PARAMETER ESTIMATION FOR PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCES OF CROSSBRED DAIRY CATTLE AT HOLETTA RESEARCH CENTER

Abstract: This study was initiated to evaluate the productive and reproductive performances of crossbred dairy cattle at Holetta research center dairy farm. Overall, 19,454 crossbred dairy cattle performance records were used for the study. Non-genetic and genetic analysis on the performance of crossbred dairy cattle were applied for estimation. The GLM and regression analysis procedure of SAS 2004 software was employed to determine the fixed and crossbreeding effects of year, season, parity...

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF SCAVENGING LOCAL CHICKEN UNDER INTENSIVE AND EXTENSIVE PRODUCTION SYSTEM: THE CASE OF ENBSIE SAR MIDDIR DISTRICT EAST GOJJAM, ETHIOPIA

Abstract: This study was conducted in Enebse Sar Middir district with the objective of performance evaluation of scavenging local chicken under intensive and extensive production system. To evaluate the performance of local chicken at intensive system Mertule Mariam ATVET College was used and 30 pullets were housed in three panes. And to evaluate the performance of local chicken at extensive system three agro ecologies were selected and in each agro ecology three kebeles were selected and pe...

EFFECT OF AGE, BODY CONDITION AND POSTSLAUGHTER HANDLING ON SLAUGHTER CHARACTERISTICS AND MEAT QUALITY OF CAMEL (Camelus dromedarius) IN EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract: Ethiopia having 4.5 million heads of dromedary camels is the third in camel population worldwide. However, studies pertaining to the role of camel as meat animal and its meat quality are not well addressed so far. This dissertation was aimed to investigate the effects of age, body condition, and postslaughter handling on slaughter characteristics and quality of camel meat in eastern Ethiopia. The survey assessed camel meat production potentials and constraints in Shinile district a...

EFFECTS OF FEEDING DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF FABA BEAN (Vicia faba L.) STRAWS WITH CONCENTRATE ON FEED INTAKE, DIGESTIBILITY, BODY WEIGHT GAIN AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF ARSI-BALE SHEEP

Abstract: A study was conducted using 40 yearling Arsi-Bale sheep with initial body weight of 19.85+0.29 kg (mean + SD). The objectives were to evaluate the varietal differences among faba bean straws and to evaluate effects of feeding different varieties of faba bean straws with concentrate (2 parts wheat bran: 1 part noug seed cake) fed at the rate 70% straws and 30% concentrate mixture on feed intake, digestibility, body weight gain and carcass characteristics of the animals. The varietie...

Determination Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Odour Compounds Detected By Cricetomys Gambianus Rats For Diagnosis Of Pulmonary Tuberculosis In Low-Income Settings

ABSTRACT Novel methods for rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) are urgently needed to complement the widely used smear microscopy in low income settings. Trained TB detection rats offer a promising tool for rapid diagnosis of TB in resource limited settings. The Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) specific volatile compounds detected by trained Cricetomys gambianus rats in sputum of TB patients are unknown. It is also not known whether rats detect odour signals from other mycobacteria and micr...

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms In Insulin-Like Growth Factor (Igf) Genes And Their Associations With Growth In Local Guinea Fowls (Numida Meleagris) Of Ghana

ABSTRACT Due to the pivotal role of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF1) and Insulin-like Growth Factor 2 (IGF2) in growth regulation of poultry, the IGF1 gene (gIGF1) and IGF2 gene (gIGF2) in guinea fowl were examined as candidate genes for early growth in helmeted guinea fowls (Numida meleagris) from three populations of Northern Ghana (TPNG). Keets hatched from eggs collected from 32 sample locations comprising 11 subpopulations across three main populations located in Upper East Region, U...

Three Species Of The Genus Rhabdosargus Fowler, With Special Reference To The Ffwhite Stumpnose", R.Globiceps (Cuvier)

The Zoology Department of the u.c.T. has been making an ecological survey of South Afr1,can estuaries. The plant and animal lif'e of many estuaries has been studied in relation to physico-chemical conditions, and bottom fauna has been dealt with in great detail. Not much is known about the fish populations that occupy these estuaries. It was theref'·ore decided that some information about typical estuarine fish might be of use. For the first four months nettings were made at two estuaries ne...

Life history of Chrysichthys catfish in Volta Lake, Ghana

ABSTRACT This study, undertaken during 1974 to 1977 in Volta Lake, investigated the identification, abundance and distribution, reproductive biology and weight-length relationships of four Chrysichthys species (C . a u ratus, C. walkeri, C. velifer and C. furcatus). The species were separated on basis of position of the dorsal fin, color of the barbels and the body and shape of the caudal fin and its lobes. Gill rakers also proved of some value. The Volta Lake, on the Volta River in Ghana, is...

Effects Of Larval Diet On The Fitness And Insecticide Resistance Profile Of Anopheles Gambiae S.L. (Diptera: Culicidae) From Opeibea Area In The Greater Accra Region, Ghana.

Malaria is a life-threatening disease and is hyper-endemic in Ghana. The Anopheles gambiae complex is established to contain the main vectors that transmit malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum in Sub-Saharan Africa and it has been implicated as the main vector of malaria in Ghana. Vector control remains the most effective measure to prevent malaria transmission. This can largely be achieved by the use of insecticides. However, the effectiveness of insecticide-based vector control is t...