@article{eprints962, year = {2023}, month = {September}, volume = {13}, journal = {World's Veterinary Journal}, note = {Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia; Department of Biomolecular Resources and Biolab Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda}, title = {A Comparative Evaluation of the Alternative Anatomical Sites for Body Temperature Measurement Using Digital Thermometers in Dairy Cows}, author = {R. Abigaba and P.C. Sianangama}, pages = {401--408}, number = {3}, publisher = {SCIENCELINE}, url = {http://eprints.science-line.com/id/eprint/962/}, abstract = {The measurement of body temperature is a critical aspect of assessing the health and reproductive status of dairy cows. The standard method used to estimate this temperature is rectal thermometry. However, this technique has limitations, including disease spread, distress, and or risks of rectal injuries. The current study was undertaken to validate the potential of alternative anatomical sites for temperature measurement using a digital thermometer (DT). The study employed a one-factor experimental design considering the anatomical site as the main factor, with four treatments or factor levels, namely rectal (DTtrectal), inguinal (DTtinguinal), axillary (DTtaxillary), and undertail (DTtundertail) sites. A simple random sampling technique was employed to determine the order of site selection for temperature measurement. In total, 26 adult Holstein Friesian-Boran cows with an average weight of 482 kg were used to conduct this study. Each cow was assessed for all the treatments considered in this study. The temperature measured at different anatomical sites was evaluated. The highest mean temperature was observed for rectal temperature (38.27 {\^A}{$\pm$} 0.42{\^A}?C), while that of mean axillary temperature was the lowest (37.75 {\^A}{$\pm$} 0.53{\^A}?C). The mean temperature readings were significantly affected by the anatomical site. There was no significant difference between mean rectal and inguinal or undertail temperature. There was a significant correlation between the rectal and undertail temperature, while no significant correlation was observed between rectal and inguinal temperature. The equivalence analysis between the rectal and undertail pair revealed a significant bias. This bias suggests that the two anatomical sites cannot be used interchangeably, particularly with digital thermometer application in Holstein Friesian-Boran cows. However, the observed mean undertail temperature and its correlation with rectal temperature indicated that the undertail site still holds promise as an alternative site for temperature-taking under conditions different from this study. {\^A}{\copyright} (2023). All Rights Reserved.}, keywords = {anatomical variation; Article; axilla temperature; body temperature measurement; body weight; comparative study; correlational study; experimental design; fever; Holstein-Friesian cattle; nonhuman; rectal temperature} } @article{eprints812, year = {2023}, month = {June}, volume = {13}, journal = {World's Veterinary Journal}, note = {Animal Production and Range Research Division, Department of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Private Bag, Gaborone, 0033, Botswana; Animal Production and Range Research Division, Department of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture, P.O. Box 10275, Francistown, Botswana; Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Private Bag, Gaborone, 0033, Botswana}, title = {A Retrospective Study on Dairy Cattle Mortality Patterns in Two Farms of South-eastern Botswana}, author = {D. Mosalagae and K. Mogotsi and I.M. Ithuteng and O. Basinyi and D.M. Pfukenyi}, pages = {175--182}, number = {1}, publisher = {Scienceline Publication, Ltd}, url = {http://eprints.science-line.com/id/eprint/812/}, abstract = {Generally, high mortalities of dairy cattle due to infectious and non-infectious diseases cause huge economic losses, unprofitability, and low productivity in the dairy industry. The present study aimed at determining the mortality rates, their causes, and risk factors among 1779 cattle at two dairy farms belonging to the Department of Agricultural Research, Botswana. An 8-year retrospective study was conducted using farm records during 2005-2012. Monthly and annual records of the farms were examined regarding the total dairy cattle population, sex, breed, age, cattle deaths, and causes of death. Mortality was calculated from the total cattle population and expressed as a percentage, and it was analyzed with respect to farm, breed, age, sex, year, season, and mortality causes. The overall mortality rate was 8.5. The semi-intensively managed Farm II, as well as young stock ({\ensuremath{<}}12 months old), and males recorded significantly higher mortalities than their counterparts. Dairy crosses of pure exotic and indigenous Tswana cattle had higher mortalities than the Friesians and Jerseys, and the wet season accounted for over 70 of the total deaths. Only two years (2010 and 2012) out of the 8-year study period had a mortality rate {\ensuremath{<}} 5. Notably, 28.1 of mortalities with a known cause were due to heartwater disease (n = 57), but most deaths (62.3) were due to unknown causes. In conclusion, to improve farm herd health and husbandry practices, more efforts should be devoted to preventing heartwater and mortalities in young stock and male animals, particularly during the hot-wet season. {\^A}{\copyright} 2023, World''s Veterinary Journal. All Rights Reserved.}, keywords = {adult; agricultural land; animal experiment; Article; Botswana; breed; calf (bovine); cause of death; controlled study; dairy cattle; feeding; female; heartwater disease; male; milk yield; mortality; mortality rate; nonhuman; retrospective study; risk factor; savanna} } @article{eprints19, year = {2021}, month = {July}, volume = {11}, journal = {Online Journal of Animal and Feed Research}, title = {COST COMPARISON OF ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION AND NATURAL SERVICE IN SHEEP BREEDING SYSTEM}, author = {M. Asaduzzaman and A. Saha and M. G. S. Alam and F. Y. Bari}, pages = {126--130}, number = {3}, publisher = {Scienceline Publication}, url = {http://eprints.science-line.com/id/eprint/19/}, abstract = {The cost information of animal breeding is a major concern in the farming system when making management and production system improvement decisions. Moreover, it is important to identify the most important cost positions and perspectives of the production process. This study is, therefore aimed to estimate, identify, and compare the cost contribution and breeding cost of artificial insemination (AI) vs. natural service in sheep production systems using frozen ram semen. Natural service by hand mating was performed to breed the ewes (n = 24) in estrus detected by a teaser ram maintained in a flock of 40 ewes. Artificial insemination was performed in synchronized ewes (n=10) after cervical ripening treatment using intramuscular injection of oxytocin. Breeding and performance costs were estimated by analyzing the cost associated factors. Per head insemination cost and cost per pregnancy in an artificial breeding program (2.80 and 5.59) were higher than natural breeding program (1.40 and 1.77) in sheep production. Ram depreciation cost, feed cost, and maintenance cost-shared the maximum cost in natural breeding, while the frozen semen cost, a special type of eccentric AI pipette cost, and hormone cost provoke the increased cost as the major constraints of the artificial breeding program. Minimizing the constraints and improving efforts in the conception rate of artificial insemination, farmers or producers will be benefited from natural breeding through rapid exploitation of the desired genetics cost-effectively. {\copyright} 2021. All Rights Reserved.}, keywords = {Artificial insemination Cost comparison Natural service Semen Sheep production} }