[en] Full text: The numbers of X-chromatin body ('drumstick' appendages) in the interphase nuclei of three major breeds of Nigerian goats were studied. Each goat breed was derived from three different locations in the country based on the areas of its preponderance. Smears from buccal cavity and PMNS of each goat were developed using standard staining techniques. The mean values obtained per breed irrespective of sex were 1.92%, 1.65% and 1.60% for Sahel Goats (SG), Red Sokoto Goats (RSG) and West African Dwarf Goats (WADG), respectively. The mean value obtained for the bucks and does irrespective of breed were 0.13% and 3.07%, respectively. Those for males per breed were 0.15% for SG, 0.15% for RSG, and 0.10% for WADG and for does per breed were: 3.44% for SG, 3.10% for RSG and 2.67% for WADG. The results generally revealed that the frequency of 'drumstick' was statistically different (P < 0.05) between Bucks and Does; Bucks were statistically the same (P < 0.05) in 'drumstick' incidence, irrespective of breed and location, while the 'drumstick' incidence was statistically higher (P < 0.05) in Sahelian Does, followed by RS Does and least in WAD Does. This may account for higher prolificacy frequently observed in SG, followed by RSG. However, location exhibited an infinitesimal effect on the frequency of 'drumstick' within breeds, indicating that incidence of 'drumstick' is purely a genetic factor. (author)

No abstract available

[en] Interest in the preservation of endangered breeds such as the Blanca Andaluza goat, has increased and some steps should be therefore taken to ensure it. The study was designed to determine the seasonal reproductive pattern of Blanca Andaluza bucks, and whether this affects the quality of their semen and its freezability over the year. Seven bucks were used and their body weight, testicular weight, plasma testosterone concentration and fresh sperm quality determined every week. The collected sperm was cryopreserved and stored; it was then thawed and the same sperm quality variables measured every fortnight. High plasma testosterone concentrations were recorded during the summer and autumn, and low concentrations were recorded during winter and spring (p<0.001). No differences were seen between seasons in terms of the percentage of bucks ejaculating, the percentage of active bucks, or ejaculate volume. However, the sperm concentration, the total number of sperm per ejaculate, and the values for most fresh sperm variables were lower during the winter period (at least p<0.05). After freezing-thawing, the quality of winter-collected sperm was better, in some respects, than that of summer-collected sperm (at least p<0.05). These results reveal that Blanca Andaluza bucks show seasonal reproductive activity in terms of their plasma testosterone concentration, but no clear change in their sexual behaviour between seasons was observed. The values of fresh sperm variables also vary over the year, reaching their lowest during winter. However, after freezing-thawing, winter-collected sperm is of overall better quality than sperm collected during the summer. (Author)

[en] Full-text: Haematological indices together with the sex, sex x breed interaction and breed source effects on three major breeds of Nigerian goats were studied using 81 goats (comprising 9 males and 18 females per breed), objective being to characterize and outline the differences and similarities between the breeds in blood parameters. The goats were derived from different geo-ecological zones in the country based on the areas of preponderance of each breed. The breeds studied were: the Sahel goat (SG), Red Sokoto goat (RSG), and West African Dwarf goat (WADG) and haematological values obtained per breed were: 22.52 ± 1.48, 23.04 ± 3.56, and 29.22 ± 4.76 (% PCV); 7.52 ± 0.50, 7.82 ± 1.25 and 9.48 ± 1.60 (g/dl Hb); 2.71 ± 0.23, 3.09 ± 0.64, and 4.10 ± 0.42 (x 1012/l RBC); 11.94 ± 1.10, 11.32 ± 2.03 and 9.23 ± 0.63 (x 10⁹cells/l WBC), and 83.22 ± 1.67, 76.72 ± 2.30 and 73.34 ± 3.40 (x 106/mm³ MCV), respectively. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed between the breeds, but the platelets, MCH and leucocytes differential counts were similar (P > 0.05) for all the breeds. The WADGs were superior to the RSG and SG in PCV, Hb, and RBC counts, but lower in WBC counts and MCV. The SG was similar in most of the haematological profiles examined, irrespective of geo-ecological distance, indicating homogeneity of the breeds. The Sahelian goat breed also outscored other breeds in MCV, showing that the breed has greater propensity to transport oxygen and in situation occasioning oxygen starvation, the breed survives better. This explains the reason for the survival of the breed in arid and semiarid zone. Gender has no effect on the MCV and the values of 83.22 ± 1.67 x 106/mm³, 76.72 ± 2.30 x 106/mm³and 73.34 ± 3.40 x 106/mm³ were observed for the SG, RSG, and WADG, respectively. (author)

No abstract available

[en] Toll-like receptors (TLR) play crucial roles in activating the innate immune system. To date, 10 human and 13 mice TLR have been identified to belong to the mammalian TLR family. In this study, we have cloned partial CDs of goat TLR, TLR1, TLR2, TLR5 for about 2kb, and the rest for more than 1kb. The cloned sequences were aligned to the corresponding regions of the relevant human, bovine and equip cabalas nucleotide sequences. As shown in Table I there is at least 79% identity between the relevant human and goat TLR nucleotide sequences. The identity of each cloned goat TLR to equus caballus and bovine reference sequence ranges between 81% and 98%. Translation of goat TLR nucleotide sequences and alignment to the human, bovine and Equus caballus TLR protein showed 69-97% of the amino acid sequence is conserved among the species. A broad pattern of tissue expression was obtained for goat TLR mRNA in heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, lymph node, muscle and small intestine. TLR1 was found to be expressed in spleen and lung. Goat TLR2 were expressed in most tissues except muscle and small intestine. We detected TLR3 in the goat spleen and lung. TLR6 and TLR2 had similar expression patterns except in heart, while TLR2 was expressed but not TLR6. TLR7 was expressed in the liver, spleen and kidney. Expression of goat TLR8 was similar to TLR3, which is found in the spleen and lung. Analysis of TLR10 expression pattern in goat revealed that this gene only expressed in the spleen. All of goat TLR mRNA were expressed at reasonably high levels in the spleen that is a tissue with an organized immune compartment. This also agrees with human in where TLR are mostly expressed in the spleen. To determine the overall role of goat TLR in mammal TLR evolution, a phylogenetic analysis was performed among mammal TLR (human, mouse, dog, cat, Pan-troglodytes, Macaca mulatta, Gallus gallus, equus caballus, bovine, pig, Mus musculus and Rattus norvegicus and goat). Phylogenetic and molecular evolutionary analyses of protein sequences of mammals TLR were conducted using MEGA version 4.0.The results demonstrates that goat TLR are the orthologues of mammalian TLR and are more closely related to bovine TLR than other mammalian TLR. In conclusion, the characterizations of goat TLR, including sequence, expression pattern and phylogenetic tree were analyzed. The results indicated that goat TLR are the orthologue of mammalian TLR and more closely related to bovine TLR. This study should facilitate us do further work on the function of goat TLR

[en] In Malaysia, mutton (as chevon is called locally) is one of the main red meat consumed. The total mutton demand in 2007 was 20,000 mT. However, its output for the year was only 1750 mT, a mere 8.75% self-sufficiency. The demand is met by import of mutton and live animals, especially from Australia. However, with stimulus provided under the National Agricultural Policy and the recent introduction of the Boer goats with excellent body conformation, growth rate and carcass quality, the goat industry is rapidly developing. Many medium to large Boer goat farms are being established with purebred Boer goats and crosses imported from Australia and South African as breeding animals. Many of the farmers are new to the farming industry and have acquired knowledge and skills through short courses, publications, government extension workers, local and foreign stock suppliers, or hired consultants. To ensure the economic viability of the industry, good management systems, quality and cost-effective feed resources, and highly productive animals are essential. However, there is little information on the growth and reproductive performance of Boer goats in Malaysia. In addition, the effects of genetic and non-genetic factors influencing the traits of interest have yet to be evaluated. A project was undertaken to evaluate the growth performance of the Boer goats under intensive management system. This reports the preliminary results, focusing on the effects of year of birth, sex of kid and litter type on birth and weaning weights in one of the newly established Boer goat farms. The data is from 397 purebred Boer kids, offspring of 174 does and 16 bucks imported from Australia, in a medium sized (300-1000 heads), commercial farm. The kids were raised with their dams in group pens in raised, wooden sheds. They were fed fresh Napier grass, provided twice daily, supplemented with concentrated feed. The kids were weaned at about 90 d of age. The GLM procedure of SAS 9.1 was used to analyse the data. Except for litter x parity effect, which was significant (P < 0.05) for birth weight, the interaction effects were not significant for both the traits. Year and litter effects were significant (P < 0.01) for both traits, but effect of sex was significant (P < 0.05) only for birth weight. The least square means for birth and weaning weights of the Boer kids are displayed in Table I. Kids born in 2008 had significantly (P < 0.01) higher birth and weaning weights than those born in 2007, probably due to more experienced management. Males were 7.5% heavier than the females at birth but showed no significant difference for weaning weight. Similarly, single born kids were heavier than twin born kids only at birth (by 15%). Surprisingly, first parity, multiple birth kids recorded higher birth weight than the twins of the same parity. This may be due to supplemented foster feeding of kids born as triplets and quadruplets. The effects of the non genetic factors considered in this study were generally as expected and reported by many researchers. However, the weight achieved by the Boer kids at weaning was below what was expected. One possible reason could be that the optimal nutrition requirement of the Boer kids to display their growth potential was not met. This requires further investigation

[en] An adult goat was examined because of behavioral changes and circling. Results of neurologic examination, CSF analysis, hematologic evaluation, and computed tomography of the brain were suggestive of an intra-axial mass. The goat was euthanatized because of worsening neurologic condition and poor prognosis. Necropsy revealed a large mass in the right cerebral hemisphere and caudal brain herniation through the foramen magnum. The mass was diagnosed as a glioma, with oligodendrocyte differentiation. Results of immunohistochemical evaluation were compatible with a malignant, poorly differentiated tumor

[en] This study was performed to assess the growth plate closure time with aging in the Korean native goat. Radiographs of proximal and distal epiphysis of humerus, radius, ulna, femur and tibia were obtained at 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 20, 21, 30, 43 and 52 weeks after birth in 30 Korean native goats. The secondary ossification centers were scrutinized and assessed the maturity process on the basis of the criteria (stage 0 to 10). The secondary ossification centers of proximal and distal epiphysis of humerus, radius, femur and tibia and proximal ulna epiphysis appeared immediately after birth

[en] The aim of this work was to investigate the genetic structure of the αs₁-Cas gene in 3 Moroccan goat breeds. A total of 150 goats from Draa, Atlas and North breeds were genotyped at αs₁-Cas locus using molecular techniques (PCR/RFLP and capillary electrophoresis). Six variants were found: A, B, C, E, F and O. The distribution of allele frequencies is shown. The O allele (zero content of αs₁-Cas in milk) was rare in the three breeds (0.03). It was the same for F allele (weak content of αs₁-Cas in milk; 0.04-0.06). The E allele (intermediate content of αs₁-Cas in milk), which is more frequent in European goat breeds, is rare in Atlas breed (0.02) and occurs in North breed and Draa breed at 0.26 and 0.09 respectively. A, B and C, considered as 'strong' alleles since they are associated with high expression level of αs₁-Cas in milk (A+B+C), were predominant in Atlas breed (0.90) followed by Draa breed (0.81) and North breed (0.66). These results are close to those found by Tadlaoui Ouafi et al., who reported allelic frequencies of 0.94 and 0.75 respectively in Atlas breed and Draa breed. This confirms studies reporting that Mediterranean and African goat populations present high frequencies of 'strong' alleles, notably A and B. The high frequency of 'strong' alleles (A, B and C) at αs₁-Cas locus in Moroccan goats populations notably Atlas breed may be used to increase the incomes of farmers in mountainous areas by encouraging them to select their flock to produce goat's milk and make cheese. Similarly, it is strongly advised to establish a breeding program based on the selection of goats with A, B and C alleles