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Despite several studies carried out to investigate the effects of access to pasture on poultry performance, there is a dearth of information on the comparative benefit of grass and legumes. This study investigated the effects of rearing systems [deep litter system (DL), deep litter with access to legumes (LP) or grass (GP) pastures] on the performance of ISA Brown layers. Two hundred and forty 12-week-old pullets were housed for this study. They were reared until 60 weeks of age. Eighty birds were assigned to each treatment; each treatment had four replicates of 20 birds each. Two birds per replicate were slaughtered at weeks 20, 35 and 58 for determination of the weights of liver, ovary, oviduct and the number of follicles. Daily egg production records were kept from the day of first egg to 42 weeks in lay. Body weights were recorded weekly. Results indicated that at 20 weeks of age, the hens kept in the LP had higher (p < 0.05) ovary weight (g) (34.98 ± 1.4), oviduct weight (52.55 ± 2.28) and oviduct length (cm) (49.73 ± 11.34), and higher number of large yellow follicles (3.75 ± 1.31) and small yellow follicles (12.75 ± 5.17) than those in the GP (0.83 ± 0.02, 1.68 ± 0.19, 16.38 ± 1.14, 0.00 and 0.00), and DL (1.03 ± 0.11, 1.48 ± 0.48, 14.43 ± 0.58, 0.00 and 0.00) respectively. The age (days) at first oviposition was earlier (p < 0.05) in the LP (139.25 ± 0.85) than that in the GP (146.75 ± 0.48) and DL (146.75 ± 0.48). The hen-day egg production was lower (p < 0.05) in GP (74.19 ± 1.25) than that in the DL (78.82 ± 0.78) and LP (79.93 ± 1.13) at mid-laying phase. Concentrate feed intake was lower (p < 0.05) in LP and GP than DL suggesting economic benefit. It was concluded that access to LP enhanced the performance of layers than DL and GP as indicated by the parameters measured.

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of adding fruit-juices to semen extenders on viability of buck spermatozoa during cryopreservation in two studies. Pooled semen samples obtained from West African Dwarf (WAD) goat bucks were diluted with Tris-egg yolk based extenders. In study I, the diluted semen samples were supplemented with orange (Citrus sinensis), cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and pineapple (Ananas comosus) juices (2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 ml/100 ml). In study II, the diluted semen samples were supplemented with 5 ml/100 ml of different combinations of fruitjuices consisting of pineapple and orange juices (TEYPO) at a 1:1 ratio, pineapple and cucumber juices (TEYPC) at a 1:1 ratio, orange and cucumber juices (TEYOC) at a 1:1 ratio, and pineapple, orange and cucumber juices (TEYPOC) at a 1:1:1 ratio, respectively. The diluted semen samples were cryopreserved and thereafter evaluated for sperm viability parameters. The extenders supplemented with 7.5 and 10% orange, and 10% pineapple had higher (P < 0.05) motility compared to the control. There was higher (P < 0.05) acrosome integrity in extenders supplemented with orange and pineapple at all levels compared to the control while cucumber at 10% had higher (P < 0.05) acrosome integrity compared to other levels and the control. The extenders supplemented with cucumber, orange and pineapple had higher (P < 0.05) membrane integrity compared to the control except at 7.5% of extender supplemented with cucumber. Similarly, the extenders supplemented with cucumber, orange and pineapple had lower (P < 0.05) sperm abnormality compared to the control. The extenders supplemented with cucumber, orange and pineapple at 2.5, 10 and 7.5% respectively had lower (P < 0.05) concentrations of MDA compared to other levels and the control. There was higher motility and acrosome integrity in extenders supplemented with different combinations of fruit-juices (P < 0.05) compared to the control. TEYPC had higher (P < 0.05) membrane integrity and lower (P < 0.05) concentrations of MDA compared to the control. The findings revealed that extenders supplemented with orange and pineapple at 10% consistently improved motility, acrosome integrity and membrane integrity, and reduced sperm abnormality compared to the control while no particular combination of these fruit-juices was consistently superior in all the parameters.