The reproductive performance and mortalities in a colony of captive greater cane rats, Thryonomys swinderianus, were monitored from 1992 to 1998 at the Grasscutter Domestication Centre, Achimota, Ghana. The animals were kept in cages and exposed to constant lighting from a 100 W electric light bulb during the night. The diet consisted mainly of freshly cut Panicum maximum (guinea grass) fed ad libitum, with occasional supplements of cassava and cane sugar. The results indicate that the mean litter size and litter weight were 2.9 +/- 0.51 and 439.4 +/- 81.23 g, respectively. These figures are low compared to those reported elsewhere. However, the mean birth weight was 151.2 +/- 11.08 g, higher by 12% than previously reported values. It is considered that poor nutrition, excessive exposure to light and stress were responsible for the relatively poor reproductive performance reported in these animals. The main causes of death were traumatic injuries (32%) and pulmonary congestion (16%).

No abstract

In view of the unpredictability of results of antibiotic therapy of bovine dermatophilasis and following the report of successful use of 10% formalin administered intravenously at the dosage of 20ml per lOOkg body weight, a trial was undertaken to evaluate the latter treatment in naturally-occurring dermatophilosis in a group of Friesian crossbred cattle. Group 1 animals were given only 10% formalin. Group 2 received 10% formalin and long-acting oxytetracycline (L/AO) at a dosage of 20mg per kg body weight and Group 3 animals were given only L/AO. Treatments were repeated at intervals of four days. All animals recovered fully, the formalin only-treated ones after three treatments the L/AO-treated ones after a mean of 2"7 treatments and the combination-treated animals after a mean of 1"5 treatments. One LA/O-treated animal showed relapse after four months. This study is continuing.

No abstract

Isolation and characterisation of Ghanaian field IBD virus were undertaken as part of a comprehensive study to establish an efficacious vaccination programme against the disease in the country. Bursal homogenates were