The prevalence of intra-mammary infections in dairy herds was studied in Hamdallaye, Niger. A total of 956 milk samples were collected in 2007 from 239 lactating cows of four local breeds in eight traditional herds; the first sampling was undertaken in the dry season at morning milking, and the second in the rainy season at evening milking. Staphylococcus aureus, Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci (CNS) and environmental microorganisms were detected in significantly (p < 0.05) more samples in the rainy season, 55.2%, than in the dry season, 27.1%. Statistically significant (P < 0.05) differences in prevalence were observed among herds and according to lactation number. Infections were assigned to four classes, according to the major pathogen, and the respective mean somatic cell counts during the dry season were: S. aureus, 775 x 10(3) cells/ml; CNS, 447 x 10(3) cells/ml; environmental microorganisms, 407 x 10(3) cells/ml; and non-infected, 262 x 10(3) cells/ml. Most of the tested strains were sensitive to antibiotics, and selected strains of S. aureus (n = 15) were negative to the multiplex PCR tests for production of enterotoxins.

Une enquête portant sur 164 éleveurs de bovins laitiers de la communauté urbaine de Niamey (Niger) a été menée pour identifier les paramètres à considérer localement lors de jugement zootechnique. Les interviewés, principalement des hommes (57,0 p. 100), illettrés (81,1 p. 100), appartenaient majoritairement aux ethnies Peul (56,1 p. 100) et Zarma (34,8 p. 100). L’étude a concerné 1 635 zébus dont 26,5 p. 100 étaient des vaches en lactation et 28,8 p. 100 des veaux. A l’achat des animaux, les éleveurs préféraient les vaches en lactation (41,0 p. 100), les génisses (33,5 p. 100), puis les mâles (23,9 p. 100). Le premier critère par les éleveurs pour choisir les bovins était la race : Djelli (66,4 p. 100), Azawak (12,2 p. 100) et Bororo (5,3 p. 100). Par ailleurs, les éleveurs identifiaient d’autres critères secondaires, tels que la robe (50,6 p. 100), la forme des mamelles (34,8 p. 100), l’état corporel de l’animal (8,5 p. 100), les testicules (2,4 p. 100) et les cornes (2,4 p. 100).

This study was conducted as part of a series of experiments on the use of dried leaves for the production of complete rabbit feed. For this European Scientific Journal May 2017 edition Vol.13, No.15 ISSN: 1857 -7881 (Print) e -ISSN 1857 83 purpose, 120 female rabbits, distributed in 4 batches (N0, N5, N10 and N15) with the same number (30) and homogeneous average weights (2595 g to 2708.7 g) were followed before and during pregnancy. Each of the 4 lot were composed, in the same proportion, of nulliparous and multiparous females. Those animals were subjected to four Azadirachta indica leaves based foods in different proportions: N0: 0%; N5: 5%; N10: 10% and N15: 15%. Our data shows that the gestation rates were as follows for the four lots: N0 (90%), N5 (80%) and N10 (90%) and N15 (76.67%). Except a single female from lot N10, all females were pregnant and gave birth. No significant difference (P> 0.05) was found between the mean of total daily consumptions among the pregnant rabbits of the four batches that ranged from 169.40 to 198.31 g / d. The average litters of the batches N0 (5.33 rabbits / mother), N5 (6.5 rabbits / mother) and N10 (5.61 rabbits / mother) were similar (P> 0.05) but higher (P <0.05) than those of lot N15 (4.46 rabbits / mother). At birth, the lot N15 (68.00g) young rabbits' mean weight of was significantly higher (P <0.05) than those of N5 (48.63g) and N10 (53.62g) (P> 0.05). On the other hand, no difference (P> 0.05) was observed between the average weights of the rabbits of the control batch N0 (59.06 g) and those of N5 and N15.Keywords: Rabbit, Azadirachta indica, feeding, gestation, gestation rate RésuméLa présente étude a été réalisée dans le cadre d'une série d'expérimentations visant l'utilisation des feuilles séchées pour la production des aliments complets destinés au lapin. A cet effet, 120 lapines mères, réparties en 4 lots (N0, N5, N10 et N15) de même effectif (30)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of using neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves in the feeding of lactating rabbits. For 35 days, food consumption, weight performance and mortality were recorded in 96 mother cages of four batches of lactating rabbits subjected to four diets, including a control diet without neem leaves (lot 0) and three diets (lot 5: 5% leaves; lot 10: 10% leaves, and lot 15: 15% leaves) containing dried leaves of neem at different concentrations. The mean dietary intake of the animals of lot 15 (167.20 g/day/cage) was significantly lower than that of lot 0 (206.29 g/day/cage). Ingestions recorded in C3 litter class (7 to 9 rabbits) were higher (P<0.05) than those in C1 (1 to 3 rabbits) and C2 (4 to 6 rabbits). The initial mean weights of the young rabbits from lot 15 were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of lot 5. No difference was observed between the birth-weaning of the four lots. The growth rate of young rabbits from females belonging to the C1 litter class (17.30 g/day) was higher (P˂0.01) than that of young rabbits whose litters were higher than 7 rabbits (8.82 g/day). The birth-weaning mortality rates of lot 0 (12.50%) and 5 (18.30%) were similar (P˃0.05). It was the same (P˃0.05) for batches 10 (37.60%) and 15 (34.30%). The incorporation of the neem leaves can be considered to increase the cost-efficacy during breeding rabbits.