The correlation between chest girth and weight of sheep and goats have been studied as a predictive guide in homestead farms where equipment to definitively quantify the weight of animals are unavailable and inaccessible. The livestock markets in the South Western part of Nigeria are still very underdeveloped and consist of peasant farmers taking their few animals to more developed areas to offer them for better prices to the consumer or middle men who are in the trade to attain the best profit. Twenty each of sheep and goats were randomly selected in herds from three different commercial locations and evaluated using weight and chest girth measurements as indices. Mean weight for the 3 groups of sheep was between 19.8 and 31.15kg, while for the 3 groups of goats was between 19.6 and 16.35kg. There was correlation (0.39-0.80) between sheep chest girth and weight which does not differ from those already established in literature and a predictive index of W= (18.9± 0.36) CG where in more than 80% of the population are accounted for and in goats, correlation of 0.40-0.76 and a predictive index of W= (18.51± 0.31) CG where more than 76% of the population falls in. It was therefore concluded that chest girth is a useful tool in predicting weight of commercial sheep and goat.

Photographic and radiograpic study of osteological abnormalities of the head of adult african catfish (Clarias gariepinus).

No abstract

effects of ischemia-reperfusion on intestinal anastomotic wound healing in dogs. Int. J. Morphol., 25(4):805-810, 2007. SUMMARY:The histopathological effects of three levels of ischemia-reperfusion (IR) on healing of intestinal anastomotic wound were investigated in dogs. Three groups of dogs in which superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and collaterals were isolated but not occluded (A -control), isolated and occluded immediately distal to the aorta with collateral interruption using an atraumatic arterial clip for fifteen minutes (B) and for forty-five minutes (C) prior to ileal resection and anastomosis after return of normal perfusion in occluded groups was done. Within each group, animals were anaesthesized on third and seventh post-operative day. Grossly, impaired abdominal wound healing, intra-abdominal adhesions and partial and complete anastomotic dehiscence occurred in groups B and C commensurate with intensity of ischemic injury. Histologically, light cellular infiltration with loose granulation tissue was observed in the control group with moderate neovascularization and epithelialization by the seventh day. With mild IR, moderate cellular infiltration was observed four days post operation, but heamorrhage and oedema persisted with minimal mucosal regeneration at seven days post operation. With profound IR, sloughing of the mucosa with cellular infiltration at four days with absence of mucosal regeneration and persistence of inflammatory cellular infiltrates minimal neovascularization and dense granulation tissue. Neutrophilia in the immediate post operative period appears significant to impaired healing due to ischemia-reperfusion.

A 4 year old African dwarf crocodile that had been domiciled at the Zoological Gardens, University of Ibadan for 2 years was presented with a history of anorexia of two weeks' duration and reluctance to move for about a week prior to presentation. Physical examination revealed body curvatures and radiography was requested. Dorsoventral, ventrodorsal and left lateral views were done and these revealed multiple curvatures of the cervical, thoracic and caudal vertebrae. There appeared to be a generalized reduction in bone density although there were no visible fractures. There was a lateral compression of the right lung and a downward displacement of the cardiac silhouette. There were also several mineral opacities within the stomach which are suspected to be stones. Metabolic Bone Disease is a non-infectious disease common to reptiles in captivity. It is a consequence of improper diet and husbandry. A diet of flesh without bone or calcium supplements can cause an imbalance leading to the signs and symptoms seen. This can also be worsened by lack of, or insufficient, Vitamin D. It has severe effects in young animals as they require a higher nutritional plane to meet growth requirements. It is essential that reptiles in captivity receive calcium supplementation to maintain calcium: phosphorus balance and adequate exposure to sunlight or artificial ultraviolet light to encourage the synthesis of Vitamin D in the skin. These will prevent the production of parathyroid hormone which causes bone resorption and leads to swollen misshapen bones, fractures, twisting of the spine and kidney damage.