Entomophagy has gained popularity as a novel approach to addressing food and nutrition insecurity, particularly in sub-tropical and tropical countries. Cockroaches, for example, have the potential to alleviate nutriti...Entomophagy has gained popularity as a novel approach to addressing food and nutrition insecurity, particularly in sub-tropical and tropical countries. Cockroaches, for example, have the potential to alleviate nutritional deficiencies, as well as the erratic supply of protein in feeds. They can also be reared on locally available organic substrates. This study investigated growth performance and survival of german cockroach (Blattella germanica) reared on locally available organic matter substrates as treatments;spent brewers’ grain (Treatment A), Treatment B consisting of (40%: wheat bran: 40% spent brewers’ grain: 20% Caridina nilotica), wheat bran (Treatment C), and C. nilotica (Treatment D) and in a completely randomised design (CRD). Each treatment was replicated four times, while in each replicate 20 - 30 nymphs were reared for forty-two days. Feed intake for all the treatments was not significantly different. There was a significant difference (P 0.05) in mature weight, average daily weight gain, live weight, and survival during rearing period. Cockroach performed well on treatment B and recorded highest mature weight, overall performance index, survival was 90.25 mg, 197.35, 96%. The least perfomance was reported in Treatment C;1.78, 83, 143.17 and 72.5 for average growth rate, survival, overall perfomance and mature weight respectively. B. Based on these findings, a single feed as used in this study was inferior to the composite (Treatment B) in all parameters of growth performance and survival. The composite diet (Treatment B) could be suitable substrate for mass production of B. germanica for feed and food.展开更多
Lactation curves are a graphical representation of the milk production profile of a doe from parturition to drying up. Their shape provides information about the productivity of the doe and offers a means of explainin...Lactation curves are a graphical representation of the milk production profile of a doe from parturition to drying up. Their shape provides information about the productivity of the doe and offers a means of explaining features of the milk production patterns of each animal. A total of 2732 daily morning milk records from 610 does of the Kenyan Alpine dairy goats’ genetic groups (50% Alpine, 75% Alpine, 87.5% Alpine and > 87.5% Alpine) and local goats (0% Alpine) kept in small-holder farms were used to evaluate factors affecting milk yield and to examine the characteristics of their lactation curve. A nonlinear mixed model was used to fit the lactation curves to all does simultaneously. The Wood’s (1967) equation was fitted within each genetic group and parity to generate genetic group and parity lactation curves. The mean lactation period was 218 ± 46 days and the model accounted for 88% of the total variation. Significant differences (P 87.5% Alpine genetic groups respectively. Genetic group did not significantly affect rate of increase to peak yield (P > 0.05) and rate of decline from peak (P > 0.05) or persistency (P > 0.05). Parity significantly affected rate of increase to peak, rate of decrease from peak and persistency (P < 0.01). The month of kidding significantly affected the rate of increase to peak (P < 0.05) and persistency, but not rate of decrease from peak. The synchronization of breeding with season has a practical implication for the maximization of lactation yield when considered in combination with other biological and economic constraints. The superior production of the pedigree animals supports the development of composite breed types in Kenya to take advantage of the fitness of indigenous breeds, the productivity of imported dairy breeds, heterosis, and the potential for selection within the composite to improve productivity in later generations.展开更多
文摘Entomophagy has gained popularity as a novel approach to addressing food and nutrition insecurity, particularly in sub-tropical and tropical countries. Cockroaches, for example, have the potential to alleviate nutritional deficiencies, as well as the erratic supply of protein in feeds. They can also be reared on locally available organic substrates. This study investigated growth performance and survival of german cockroach (Blattella germanica) reared on locally available organic matter substrates as treatments;spent brewers’ grain (Treatment A), Treatment B consisting of (40%: wheat bran: 40% spent brewers’ grain: 20% Caridina nilotica), wheat bran (Treatment C), and C. nilotica (Treatment D) and in a completely randomised design (CRD). Each treatment was replicated four times, while in each replicate 20 - 30 nymphs were reared for forty-two days. Feed intake for all the treatments was not significantly different. There was a significant difference (P 0.05) in mature weight, average daily weight gain, live weight, and survival during rearing period. Cockroach performed well on treatment B and recorded highest mature weight, overall performance index, survival was 90.25 mg, 197.35, 96%. The least perfomance was reported in Treatment C;1.78, 83, 143.17 and 72.5 for average growth rate, survival, overall perfomance and mature weight respectively. B. Based on these findings, a single feed as used in this study was inferior to the composite (Treatment B) in all parameters of growth performance and survival. The composite diet (Treatment B) could be suitable substrate for mass production of B. germanica for feed and food.
文摘Lactation curves are a graphical representation of the milk production profile of a doe from parturition to drying up. Their shape provides information about the productivity of the doe and offers a means of explaining features of the milk production patterns of each animal. A total of 2732 daily morning milk records from 610 does of the Kenyan Alpine dairy goats’ genetic groups (50% Alpine, 75% Alpine, 87.5% Alpine and > 87.5% Alpine) and local goats (0% Alpine) kept in small-holder farms were used to evaluate factors affecting milk yield and to examine the characteristics of their lactation curve. A nonlinear mixed model was used to fit the lactation curves to all does simultaneously. The Wood’s (1967) equation was fitted within each genetic group and parity to generate genetic group and parity lactation curves. The mean lactation period was 218 ± 46 days and the model accounted for 88% of the total variation. Significant differences (P 87.5% Alpine genetic groups respectively. Genetic group did not significantly affect rate of increase to peak yield (P > 0.05) and rate of decline from peak (P > 0.05) or persistency (P > 0.05). Parity significantly affected rate of increase to peak, rate of decrease from peak and persistency (P < 0.01). The month of kidding significantly affected the rate of increase to peak (P < 0.05) and persistency, but not rate of decrease from peak. The synchronization of breeding with season has a practical implication for the maximization of lactation yield when considered in combination with other biological and economic constraints. The superior production of the pedigree animals supports the development of composite breed types in Kenya to take advantage of the fitness of indigenous breeds, the productivity of imported dairy breeds, heterosis, and the potential for selection within the composite to improve productivity in later generations.
