The influence of increasing the dosage of ketamine on anaesthesia induced by a combination of ketamine, xylazine and midazolam in pigs was determined by assessing the onset of action (OAN), duration of analgesia (DAN), anaesthesia time (ANT), and recovery time (RCT) in 10 growing pigs (Mean weight: 18.2 ± 1.65 kg) receiving either 10 mg / kg intramuscular (i.m) injection of 10 % ketamine, 2 mg / kg i.m injection of 2 % xylazine and 0.25 mg / kg i.m injection of 0.1%midazolam (K10XM) or 20 mg / kg i.m injection of ketamine and 2 mg / kg i.m injection of xylazine and 0.25 mg / kg i.m injection of 0.1 % midazolam (K20XM). In addition, the heart rates (HR), respiratory rates (RR) and rectal temperatures (RT) were determined immediately after drug administration and at 10 minute intervals over a period of 60 minutes. Analgesia was assessed by the response of the pigs to artery forceps applied at the interdigital space. Recovery was determined as pigs' ability to stand without ataxia. Data were expressed as mean ± SEM while anaesthetic indices were compared using Student's t-tests. AP value of 0.05 was accepted as significant in all cases. In this study, both the OAN and RCT were significantly (P < 0.05) shorter in K10XM (1.4 ± 0.2 min; 7.8 ± 2.2 min) than in K20XM (2.2 ± 0.2; 18.6 ± 1.4 min) respectively. Similarly, the duration of anaesthesia was significantly (P < 0.05) shorter in K10XM (55.4 ± 8.4 min) than in K20XM (92.0 ± 13.6 min). The pigs that received K20XM combination had analgesia of duration of 41.4±12.6 min while those that received K10XM combination had no analgesia. However, the HR, RR, and RT were not significantly (P > 0.05) different between K10XM and K20XM. It was therefore concluded that the lower dose ketamine combination is better for the induction of anaesthesia, while the higher dose ketamine combination is preferable for surgery of short duration in pigs

To determine the effect of midazolam on ketamine-xylazine anesthesia, 20 guinea fowl (Numida meleagris galeata) were randomly divided into 2 groups. Birds in group KX were anesthetized with ketamine (15 mg/kg i.m.) and xylazine (2.5 mg/kg i.m.), whereas the birds anesthetized in group KXM received midazolam (0.3 mg/kg i.m.) in addition to the ketamine and xylazine protocol. The onset of anesthesia, duration of analgesia, duration of recumbency, and recovery time were determined. Heart and respiratory rates as well as cloacal temperatures were recorded immediately after drug administration and at 10-minute intervals until the birds were sternally recumbent. Analgesia was assessed as a response to artery forceps applied to the digit and skin proximal to the tarsal joint. The mean (SD) duration of analgesia in the group KXM birds was 37.4 +/- 23.5 minutes, whereas no analgesia was apparent with the group KX birds. The duration of recumbency was significantly longer and respiratory rates were significantly lower in group KXM birds compared with those in group KX. Adverse effects were minimal and included diarrhea (n = 1) and hypersalivation (n = 2) in group KX birds, and regurgitation (n = 2) in group KXM birds. Midazolam administered intramuscularly appeared to improve the anesthetic quality of ketamine and xylazine in guinea fowls without adversely affecting safety.

The use of float method of discharge measurement information in rivers is vital for hydrological analysis, though there is no specific information on the choice of float material to be used for the measurement. A comparison of four float materials having different weight for estimation of stream discharge was carried out on Apakula stream in Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria. Depth and width measurements were carried out by means of a canoe, ropes and graduated metal rod. Velocity measurement was carried out by means of Table tennis egg, Orange, 0.5 and 1 liter plastic bottle partially filled with water and a stop clock. Ten different measurements were carried out at various locations along the river. Data were subjected to one – way ANOVA using the Genstat statistical package discovery edition 3 to determine the weekly mean and standard deviation of estimated discharge records for the stream. Results show significant difference (p < 0.05) in discharge measured with varying weight of floats. It was observed that though the pattern of discharge measured values were similar in all the selected float weight, the discharge increases with decreasing weight of float.