peer reviewed | The objective of this study was to investigate the relationships among body condition score (BCS) and plasma metabolite concentrations, and subsequent reproductive performance of Montbéliarde cows in Algeria. The study was conducted in two commercial dairy farms in Tizi-Ouzou area. Blood samples were collected from 50 Montbéliarde dairy cows at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks postpartum to measure serum non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), glucose, total cholesterol, urea nitrogen, total protein, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), γ-glutamyltransferase (γGT), calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, and progesterone. Body condition score (BCS) was assessed at calving and at each time when blood samples were taken. Resumption of postpartum cyclicity was evaluated by progesterone concentrations (≥1 ng/mL) at 4, 6, and 8 weeks postpartum. Increased BHBA, NEFA and glucose concentrations were associated with a lower probability of ovarian activity resumption (ROA) and pregnancy at first insemination (P/1-AI). However, concentrations of plasma cholesterol, AST, ALT, TG and total protein were positively associated with ROA. In addition, increased BHBA and sodium were associated with increased of time to conception. Moreover, decreased Mg concentrations were associated with increasing of time from calving to first insemination. No significant effect was seen between BCS at calving and BCS loss on P/1-AI. So balanced nutrition and reproduction management can ameliorate reproductive performance.

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peer reviewed | Lack of appropriate animal waste management methods in many smallholder farms in the tropics often leads to environmental problems, especially in locations with high population density such as urban and peri-urban areas. On farms integrating pig production to fish farming, manure can be turned into a valuable feed source of high quality protein for fish through housefly larvae and contribute to intensify fish production and reduce cost of fish feed. Three experiments were carried to optimize operating conditions for maggot production on animal wastes and industrial byproducts found in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The comparisons were: (1) production on pure substrates (manure or brewer’s grains) or mixtures with lysine or blood; (2) exposure time to flies for the insemination of the substrates: and (3) dynamics of larvae production. Mixing brewers’ grains with Lysine or manure and/or blood more than doubled the amount of larvae that were harvested. Brewers’ grains are a good source of energy, but are probably deficient in essential amino acids to support the growth of maggots. It also appears that only the first days of laying eggs are important since no difference was observed between temporary and permanent exposure of the substrates to houseflies. The peak of larvae production was reached 6 days after exposure. The addition of cow blood in increasing doses to a mixture of brewers’ grains and manure linearly increased the production of maggots.

peer reviewed | La productivité des chevreaux hybrides F1 en élevage extensif à Lubumbashi a été estimée à partir des taux de mortalité et des performances de croissance, en comparaison avec celle des chevreaux Boers «purs» et des chevreaux locaux. Le taux de mortalité pré-sevrage (0-90 jours) observé pour les chevreaux locaux, Boers et hybrides était respectivement de 14,65 % (17/116) (voir partie 2: analyse de la croissance des chevreaux locaux), 16,1 % (10/62) et 8,98 % (15/167) dans l’ensemble pour les deux sexes. Les performances de croissance des Boers étaient de 2,40 ±0,31 kg à la naissance; 6,80±0,84 kg à 1 mois; 14,2±1,59 kg à 3 mois; 17,9±1,15 kg à 6 mois et, 24,7±1,39 kg à 9 mois. La variance de poids moyen était plus élevée à 3 mois, ensuite à 9 mois. Les gains moyens quotidiens étaient respectivement de 143 g/j (0-1 mois); 123 g/j (1-3 mois); 41,1 g/j (3-6 mois) et 75,5 g/j (6-9 mois). Les performances de croissance des chevreaux hybrides étaient de 2,18 ± 0,46 kg à la naissance; 5,10±1,22 kg à 1 mois; 9,17±1,94 kg à 3 mois; 14,2±2,64 kg à 6 mois et, 21,6±2,59 kg à 9 mois. La variance de poids moyen était plus élevée à 3 mois, ensuite à 9 mois. Les gains moyens quotidiens étaient respectivement de 94,1 g/j (0-1 mois); 65,7 g/j (1-3 mois); 56,5 g/j (3-6 mois); 83,9 g/j (6-9 mois). Le gain moyen quotidien était plus élevé en saison sèche avant sevrage; après le sevrage les chevreaux nés en saison de pluies ont eu un gain moyen quotidien plus élevé que ceux nés en saison sèche. Ainsi, l’introduction de sang Boer doit s’accompagner préalablement d’une amélioration des conditions d’élevage.

peer reviewed | In Northern Vietnam, the livestock production sector has been strongly encouraged to develop by the government for many years as an important livelihood strategy to alleviate household poverty. Over the last few decades, it has been developed quickly, but remained unsustainable. This study aims to identify the dynamics of livestock production systems during the economic transformation period and their current constraints as the basic for setting up sustainable development policies. A survey, which is based on participatory and retrospective approaches, was conducted at 38 households in two communes of Hai Duong province in 2010. The results indicated a significant evolution of livestock production systems from a traditional small-scale production system into a specialized intensive one due to the land law and the rice land conversion program in 1990s and the industrialization and urbanization process in 2000s. The intensification of livestock production system, which is accompanied by the increasing dependence on imported inputs and the limited knowledge and skills in adequate techniques and disease management, poses a huge difficulty to producers in developing their livestock production systems. Therefore, the priority of development policies should be given to the promotion of the local resource utilisation as feed for animals and to the improvement of farmers’ ability to manage their production through not only government supports but also participation of social organisations and farmers.

peer reviewed | The sexual activity of 237 ewes of the most representative of Algerian sheep breeds (about 70%): the "Ouled Djellal", was studied during the anestrous season i.e. in spring (April 2016), in Constantine, a north-eastern Algerian province. A number of 50 ewes, chosen randomly from the flock, were subjected to a double injection of PGF2α at an 11 days’ interval and the 187 females remaining have served as a control group. 80% of the ewes treated started mating about 60 hours after the release, with the whole flock, of 14 rams that have been previously separated from the flock but not sensory isolated. A lambing percentage of 90 spread over 23 days and 98.9 spread over 47 days occurred respectively in the treated and control group. Both treated and untreated ewes with PGF2α exhibited estrus (April and May), got pregnant and lambed within a period of less than 2 months. The use of PGF2α, through the luteolysis it induces during spring: first confirms the results of previous studies reporting the ability of “Ouled Djellal” ewe to exhibit sexual activity throughout the year, second shortens considerably the laming period and last and more importantly can be substituted to the use of the progestogens impregnated sponges, far more invasive, time consuming and more costly, as a means to manipulate the female sexual activity.

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