ABSTRACT
A study on the effects of stage of lactation and parity on blood volume and milk yield in West African Dwarf sheep was carried out using (12) lactating West African Dwarf sheep for twelve (12) weeks of lactation. In the second week of the experiment, the dams were weighed using pocket balance scale. Evans blue dye solution was injected into the animal through the jugular vein and waited for 10-15 minutes before bleeding the animal through the same media. The milk yield were measured in volume(ml) and weight(g), Packed cells volume, blood volume analyzed and blood volume calculated were determined for second week of lactation. The same method was carried out on the eleventh week of lactation. The results obtained showed that Packed cells volume (PCV), Blood volume analyzed (BVA) and Blood volume calculated (BVC) were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by stage of lactation and parity of the lactating ewes, but stage of lactation and parity had a significant (P<0.05) effect on total daily milk volume (TDMV) and total daily milk weight (TDMW). There were significant (P<0.05), r = 0.85-0.98) positive correlation among blood parameters (PCV, BVA, BVC) but not with milk yield parameters (TDMV, TDMW). Therefore, it can be concluded that parity and stage of lactation had significant effects on total daily milk yield but not on blood parameters in hand milked WAD sheep.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table
Title page
Certification
Abstract
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Table of Contents
List of Tables
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Justification
1.2 Objectives
1.2.1 Broad Objective
1.2.2 Specific Objectives
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Sheep Distribution In Sub-Sahara Africa
2.2 Breeds of Sheep
2.3 Yankassa Sheep
2.4 Balami Sheep
2.5 West African Dwarf Sheep
2.6 Ouda Sheep
2.7 Dairy Sheep and Their lactation Performance
2.8 Lactation
2.9 Milking Techniques
2.10 Steps in Milking
2.11 Relationship among blood, milk synthesis and milk yield
2.12 Milk Synthesis
2.13 Blood Volume and Plasma Volume
2.14 Uses of Evans Blue Dye (T-182) in blood volume determination
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 MATERIALS AND METHOD
3.1 Description of the study environment
3.2 Animals and their management
3.3 Experimental procedure
3.4 Collection of blood sample
3.5 Statistical analysis
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 RESULT
4.1 Effects of stage of lactation and parity on packed cells volume,blood volume analyzed, blood volume calculated
4.2 Effects of stage of lactation and parity on total daily milk volume and total daily milk weight
4.3 Correlation among packed cells volume (PCV), blood volume analyzed (BVA), blood volume calculated (BVC), total daily milk volume (TDMV) and total daily milk weight (TDMW)
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 DISCUSSION
5.1 Effects of stage of lactation and parity on packed cells volume, blood volume analyzed, blood volume calculated
5.2 Effects of stage of lactation and parity on total daily milk volume and total daily milk weight
5.3 Conclusion and Recommendation
5.3.1 Conclusion
5.3.2 Recommendation
REFERENCES
