No abstract

The delayed domestication of may be associated with their poor temperament and to date there is no published information on the temperament of the farmed Understanding of the temperament and selection program for its evaluation in a breeding herd is important not only for farming but also to other types of animal production. We investigated the temperament of ( = 17) raised in the tropics and determined its relationship with stress. A distance of 13.2 m was fixed for the measurement of flight times. hinds with rapid speed are considered temperamental. Each hind was earmarked for a crush test score between 1 and 5; 1 represents calm and 5 represents highly agitated . Stress was determined by measuring plasma cortisol using a cortisol RIA kit and live weight gain was determined by weighing the animals weekly. The hinds were aged using their date of birth records. We found a strong negative correlation between flight time, crush score, and plasma cortisol concentration ( < 0.05). Animals with very poor temperament have elevated plasma cortisol level and lower weight gain ( < 0.05). It was concluded that flight time, crush score, and plasma cortisol concentration could be used for selecting hinds based on temperament for the breeding herd. This method is quick and easy to implement on a farm; therefore, it remains the test choice for selecting animals based on temperament for the breeding herd.

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the causative agent of caseous lymphadenitis, a debilitating chronic disease of sheep and goats. Little is known about the buck's reproductive pathophysiology with respect to inoculation with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculois and its immunogen mycolic acid extract. Therefore, this present study was designed to determine the concentration of testosterone hormone, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and semen quality of the experimental animals. A total of 12 bucks, divided into groups 1, 2, and 3 (Negative control group, Positive control group and Mycolic acid group respectively), were enrolled in this study. Following inoculation, all goats were observed for clinical responses and monitored for 60 days post-challenge and were then sacrificed. Blood samples were collected via the jugular once before inoculation and on a weekly basis post-challenge. Semen samples were collected 2 weeks post-challenge and prior to the sacrifice of the experimental animals. During the post inoculation period of 60 days, the concentration of testosterone hormone for group 2 was increased significantly (p < 0.05) in weeks 5, 6, and 9 but decreased in weeks 2 and 7 post inoculation. In group 3, the mean concentration of testosterone was increased significantly (p < 0.05) in weeks 5, 6, 7, and 9 post inoculation but decreased in week 2. The concentration of interleukin 6 (IL 6) in treated group 2 did not show any significant difference (p > 0.05) but increased significantly (p < 0.05) in week 2 post inoculation in group 3. For concentration of interleukin 1β (IL1β) in both treated groups 2 and 3 showed significant difference (p < 0.05) in weeks 2 and 3 post inoculation. The tumor necrosis factoralpha (TNF-α) concentration in both treated groups 2 and 3 did not show any significant difference (p > 0.05) as compared to group 1. The concentration of interferon-γ (IFNγ) significantly increased (p < 0.05) for group 2 for weeks 2, 3, 4, and 5 where else for group 3 was not in significant difference (p > 0.05) compared to group 1. Both group 2 and group 3 showed a reduction in semen qualities as compared to group 1, but the severity was more intense in group 2 if compared to group 3. In conclusion, therefore, the present study concluded that the mycolic acid group revealed significant responses of testosterone hormone concentration, semen quality, and its related pro-inflammatory cytokines in bucks following infection but the severity lesser compared to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis group.

The study aims to present baseline data on the reproductive anatomy of a poorly known tropical deer species, Rusa deer (Rusa timorensis). The anatomy of female reproductive system is described using seven uniparous hinds, aged between four and eight years. The various reproductive structures were studied via s t a n d a r d d e s c r i p t i v e methods. There was a significant difference in the length and width of both right and left ovaries. The left ovary was slightly larger than the right ovary which indicates that it is physiologically more active. The results of the study showed that the anatomy of female reproductive system of R. timorensis was similar to that observed in domestic ruminants except that the uterus did not have an interconual ligament and this implies that the uterine horns are anchored in such a way that sperm deposited into only one uterine horn of the Rusa deer will be transported to the other uterine horn (interconual transport). Unlike the red brocket deer and pampas deer, the cervix of R. timorensis was characterized by six cervical rings projecting into the cervical canal. This feature should be taken into account when designing effective instrumentation and techniques for transcervical passage of semen during artificial insemination in this species. The results from this study have provided baseline data on the reproductive anatomy of this vulnerable species, and the knowledge generated can be useful in the development of appropriate reproductive techniques in order to increase its population in captivity and also enable easy detection of its reproductive anomalies, thus strategies to propagate and conserve the species can be established.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis and phospholipase D (PLD) on buck's fertility, specifically, testosterone concentration, scrotal circumference and semen quality. Crossbred Boer goats (n=13) aged 12-14 months were divided into three groups. The first group (n=3) was inoculated with one ml sterile phosphate buffer saline subcutaneously into subaxillary area as the control. The second group (n=5) was inoculated with live C. pseudotuberculosis 1×10 9 cfu subcutaneously into subaxillary area. The third group (n=5) was inoculated with PLD 1 ml/20 kg BW intravenously into jugular vein. Blood collection was done twice a week over a period of three months for testosterone analyses. Semen was collected using electro-ejaculator once every two weeks whilst scrotal circumference was measured once every three weeks. Semen volume, semen pH and sperm progressive motility, concentration, live/dead percentage and morphology were evaluated. Bucks were euthanized three months' post inoculation and histopathological examination of the testicles and epididymis was performed. The results showed seven folds' significant decrease (P<0.05) in testosterone concentration in both C. pseudotuberculosis and PLD inoculated groups compared to the control. Semen volume, percentage of dead/live and abnormal sperm morphology showed significant increase (P<0.05) in both inoculated groups compared to the control. The following sperm defects were observed; tapered sperm, decapitated and knobbed head, thickened midpiece, distal and proximal droplet, sterilizing tail and folded tail. Scrotal circumference, semen pH, semen wave pattern, sperm motility and concentration showed significant decrease (P<0.05) in both inoculated groups compared to the control. The testicles showed varied degrees of degeneration and necrosis with shrunken seminferous tubules. In conclusion, testosterone concentration, scrotal circumference and semen quality were negatively affected in both inoculated groups. Moreover, percentages of live/dead and abnormal sperm morphology were also increased. The results suggest that both C. pseudotuberculosis and PLD had detrimental effects on buck's fertility.