Crossbreeding in tropical sheep: Incidence of dystocia and parturition losses

Abstract

Studies were carried out on the incidence of dystocia and parturition losses during a crossbreeding experiment involving 96 West African Dwarf (WAD) ewes mated with rams of 4 breeds--WAD, Ouda, Permer and Yankassa. Results obtained indicated 8 (5.7%) cases of dystocia and 20 (10.64%) cases of stillbirths or death of lambs at birth. The WAD sires were not associated with dystocia or stillbirths but other sire groups were involved in both. All the difficult parturitions occurred during the rainy season while all stillbirths not associated with dystocia occurred during the dry season. The sires used and the level of feeding the ewes during pregnancy may be associated with the dystocia cases and parturition losses recorded. Eighty per cent of the dystocias involved ram lambs. The mean gestation period of the ewes that lambed during the dry season was significantly (P < 0.01) longer than that of the rainy season group. Application of traction and Caesarean operation were used in the treatment of dystocia cases.

Intrauterine Growth Rates of the West African Dwarf Goat and Some Foetal Organs in Relation to Strategic Feed Supplementation During Pregnancy

“…It seems that this inflectionary period in the growth rate of WAD foetuses is crucial in any feed supplementation programmes during pregnancy. It also indicates that unnecessarily high feed supplementation during this period should be avoided to minimize obstetrical problems as a high level of nutrition in small ruminants has been associated with dystocia (MONLE, 1964;OSUAGWUH et al, 1980).…”

“…Records for small ruminants in the theriogenology clinic of the University of Ibadan indicate a high rate of obstetrical problems due to absolute foetal oversize (OSUAGWUH et al, 1980), neonatal mortality due to maternal malnutrition during pregnancy (OSUAGWUH and AKPOKODJE, 1981) and recently, nutritional abortion (OSUAGWUH and AKPOKODJE, 1986). Nutrition, sire and sex are some of the factors that influence foetal dystocia, abortion and neonatal mortality in farm animals (MONLE, 1964;BELLOWS et al, 1971;OSUAGWUH et al, 1980;AKPOKODJE, 1981, 1986). Since nutrition is essential for foetal survival and growth, and for full phenotypic expression of the sire and sex genetic potentials, it is considered that nutrition of pregnant West African dwarf (Fouta djallon) (WAD) goats may be easier to manipulate to aovid reproductive wastage, than sire and sex factors.…”

Effects of strategic feed supplementation during pregnancy on birthweight and perinatal survival of West African Dwarf kids

“…le J f f ta ' f o Z " Jr I H growthisduemoretohypertrophythantohyperplasia W k A D S o a t (Osuagwuh & A™ 1 9 9 0 )-Unpublished as fetal age increases, it has been suggested that observations by Osuagwuh show that there retardation of fetal growth late in gestation should P 0 S 1 ' I v e i n e a r relationship between he crude protein have a less severe effect on subsequent neonatal intake of pregnant WAD does and fetal weight gain, development than retardation at an early stage (Prior T h i s Phenomenon may have obstetric imp .cations & Laster 1979). The literature is scanty on the effects * m c e .^w e i g h t has also been associated wth of supplementary feeding of these animals during ^t o a a ' " J^P (Osuagwuh et a I 1980). The goat gestation based on their known intrauterine growth i n d u s t I 7 i n N l S e n a would benefit ,f does received the pattern.…”

“…An unscientific approach to animal feeding, optimal nutritional level, leading neither to abortion especially during pregnancy, may lead to reproductive n o r f e t a l o v e r s i z e -T K he P ™ a r y objective of his study wastage resulting from either dystocia due to absolute w a s t 0 m o n l l°r . t h e e f f e c t s o f * lm^lc f eed SU P" fetal oversize as a result of a high level of feeding plementation during pregnancy based on the known throughout gestation (Osuagwuh et at. 1980) or from 'ntrautenne growth characters ics of the WAD goat, abortion and neonatal death due to low birthweight o n f e t a l birthweight perinatal survival and udder resulting from malnutrition during pregnancy (Osuag-circumference of the does, wuh & Akpokodje 1981, 1986).…”

Paraoxonase activity an indicator of complications at early stage of complicated pregnant cows

“…This is why early diagnose is important at maternity complications which can lead to serious economic losses. It is considered that many factors such as pelvic size, birth weight of calf, mothers' age, twin pregnancy, presentation defect, hormonal level, nourishment, stress and many other unknown factors affect severe births (Abeni et al, 2004;Oakes et al, 2001;Osuagwuh et al, 1980;Roberts 1986). Abortion is defined as removing the fetus, which does not have the chance to live outside, either dead or alive before the pregnancy period is completed.…”