Browsing by Author "Adu, E.K."
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Item Effects of extended postpartum anoestrus period on reproductive performance of indigenous beef cattle raised on smallholder farms in Ghana: An overview(Ghanaian Journal of Animal Science, 2009) Obese, F.Y.; Darfour-Oduro, K.A.; Adu, E.K.Reproduction is a major component of the productive efficiency for a cow-calf system. One of the main factors affecting reproductive performance is the calving interval, which is directly influenced by postpartum anoestrus. Prolonged postpartum anoestrus is a major constraint to maintaining a 12 month calving interval in indigenous beef cows raised in smallholder farms in Ghana, contributing to economic loss to herd owners. The extended duration of postpartum anoestrus is caused mainly by poor nutritional status of cows and long periods of suckling by calves. These factors interfere with hypothalamic release of gonadothrophin releasing hormone (GnRH), provoking a marked suppression in pulsatile luteinising hormone (LH) release, and thus inhibit follicular development and function. Inadequate nutrition may also delay the resumption of ovulation in postpartum cows through reduction in circulating concentrations of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Developing strategies to hasten the re-establishment of ovarian cyclicity postpartum through improved nutrition of cows, early weaning of calves and hormonal treatments should improve productive performance of tropical beef cows raised on smallholder farms.Item The effects of incorporation of Moringa oliefera leaves and sweet potato vines in the ration of growing grasscutters (thryonomys swinderianus temminck)(Livestock Research for Rural Development, 2010-06) Adu, E.K.; Bagulo, H.; Amaning-Kwarteng, K.The effects of incorporation of sweet potato vines and moringa leaves into the freshly cut Panicum maximum diet of growing grasscutters were studied from February to April 2008 using 21 male grasscutters with an average weight of 1.20±0.09 kg at the CSIR Animal Research Institute, Achimota, Ghana. Mean feed intakes of fresh Panicum maximum alone diet (257±3.06 g/d) and Panicum maximum plus Sweet potato vine diet (262±3.06 g/d) were higher compared to the Panicum maximum plus Moringa leaves diet (173±3.06 g/d) respectively. However nitrogen intake was similar on all diets. Apparent digestibility of both DM and OM were observed to be higher for Panicum maximum plus Sweet potato vines diet than Panicum maximum alone and Panicum maximum plus Moringa leaves diets. There was a tendency for higher growth for grasscutters fed the Panicum maximum plus Sweet potato vine diet compared to animals fed Panicum maximum alone diet (5.88±0.66 g/d v. 4.29±0.66 g/d; p = 0.091) and significantly higher growth when the animals were fed Panicum maximum plus Sweet potato vine compared to Panicum maximum plus Moringa leaves diets (5.88±0.66 g/d v. 3.06±0.66 g/d; p = 0.003). The average daily growth rates were (4.29±0.66 g/d, 5.88±0.66 g/d and 3.06±0.66 g/d) for animals consuming Panicum maximum alone diet, Panicum maximum plus Sweet potato vine diet and Panicum maximum plus Moringa diet respectively.Item Effects of protein content on feed intake and performance of grasscutters fed diets containing forage meal(Animal Production Science, 2018-02) Nyameasem, J.K.; Akoloh, M.; Adu, E.K.The potential of grasscutters (Thryonomys swinderianus) as a source of animal protein can be exploited with better understanding of its nutrient requirement. This experiment was conducted to determine the protein requirement of growing grasscutters fed formulated diets containing forage meal. Twenty-four growing grasscutters, in groups of four, were randomly allotted to four treatment diets formulated to respectively supply 14, 16, 18 and 20% crude protein (CP). Parameters measured included daily feed intake, daily weight gain (growth rate), final bodyweight, feed conversion ratio and cost-To-gain ratio. Dietary protein significantly (P < 0.05) influenced daily weight gain, as well as the final liveweights of the animals. The mean daily weight gain of the animals fed the 18% CP diet was not significantly (P > 0.05) different from those fed the 20% CP diet (12.8 vs 11.7 g/day), but was significantly higher than animals fed the 16% (6.4 g/day) and 14% (7.0 g/day) CP diets. The mean feed conversion ratios of the animals fed the diets with 18% CP (4.1) was, however, only significantly (P < 0.05) different from animals fed diets with 16% (7.2) and 14% (6.3) CP. Given the overall economic importance of low cost-To-gain ratio, and the profitability of the diets thereof, these results suggest that 18% is the optimum CP level for economically feeding growing grasscutters on formulated diets containing forage meal. © 2019 CSIRO.Item Gastrointestinal parasites of the grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus, Temminck 1827) on the Accra Plains of Ghana(African Journal of Ecology, 2009-02) Kankam, T.; Adu, E.K.; Awumbila, B.The gastrointestinal parasites of the grasscutter were investigated between 1996 and 2006 using 180 grasscutters from the Accra Plains. The aim of the study was to develop strategies for the control of the parasites under captive management. The gastrointestinal tracts of the animals were examined for the presence of both helminth and protozoan parasites with the aid of a hand lens, the direct smear and Willis Flotation techniques. In all, fourteen species of helminths were found including twelve nematodes and two cestodes. Trichuris muris was the most common nematode encountered, whilst Hepatocola hepatica was the least commonly encountered nematode. Three genera of protozoans, viz, Trichomonas spp, Giardia spp and Eimeria spp were also encountered, with Giardia spp and Trichomonas spp being reported for the first time in the grasscutter. Eimeria spp were the most prevalent protozoa. The widespread occurrence of protozoal and helminthic parasites in the grasscutter suggests that routine treatment of grasscutters with coccidiostats, anti-flagellates and anthelminthics such as dimetridazole and albendazole may contribute significantly to improve productivity of animals and reduce the pressure on wild populations. © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.Item The Influence of Maternal Education on Antenatal Care Attendance at the Old Tafo Government Hospital(University Of Ghana, 2018-07) Adu, E.K.Introduction: Worldwide, it was approximated that 303,000 maternal deaths will occur in 2015, yielding a general MMR of 216 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births for the 183 nations. Sub-Saharan Africa has an elevated MMR with a point-gauge of 546 per 100,000. In Ghana the MMR was 319 per 100,000 in 2015. Antenatal care exists as one of the Safe Motherhood intercessions that when executed effectively has the possibility to remarkably minimize deaths before and few weeks after delivery. The number of ANC visits per client reduced from 6.3 to 5.6 in 2015 at the Old Tafo Government Hospital. The general objective of the study was to find the factors the influence ANC attendance at the Old Tafo Government Hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study design and quantitative approach was used to collect the data. Proportion of number of ANC attendance was derived. Association between maternal formal education and number of ANC visits was assessed using the bivariate analysis. Logistic regression was used to determine the strength of association between maternal education and ANC attendance. All tests were two-tailed and statistical significance was set at 0.05. Results: the proportion of 8 or more ANC visits was found to be 7.51%. Out of the women who attended the recommended number of ANC, 77.5% had secondary and tertiary education and 67.7% were married. Maternal formal education had no significant association with ANC attendance at the Old Tafo Government Hospital. Conclusion: Attending the recommended number of ANC visits before delivery among women was low at the Old Tafo Government Hospital. And maternal formal education has no significant association with ANC attendance. Recommendation: Increasing awareness of the public on the relevance of early initiation, and having completed the recommended ANC visits, should be a major priority.Item Metabolic fecal nitrogen and digestibility estimates in the grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus)(Tropical Animal Health and Production, 2012-04) Adu, E.K.; Awotwi, E.K.; Amaning-Kwarteng, K.; Awumbila, B.The metabolic fecal nitrogen and digestibility estimates in the grasscutter were determined using 12 captive-bred adult animals fed with four experimental diets differing primarily in crude protein content using nitrogen balance trial approach. Grasscutters required 343.5 mg N kg -0.75 d -1 of nitrogen to meet maintenance requirements, which were met on diets containing 7.4% crude protein. The true digestibility of nitrogen was moderate (52%) but within the range for eutherians. Dry matter intake increased with decreasing dietary nitrogen content, suggesting that animals on nitrogen-deficient diets displayed appreciable compensatory intake. Metabolic fecal nitrogen was 3.5 g N kg -1 dry matter intake, and endogenous urinary nitrogen was 257.5 mg N kg -0.75 d -1. The low value of metabolic fecal nitrogen found for grasscutters affected the dry matter intake required for nitrogen balance, and it may allow grasscutters to exploit nitrogen poor diets. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.Item Predicting the energy and protein requirements of the pregnant grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus, Temminck) using the changes in weight and composition of the foetus and associated tissues of pregnancy(Tropical Animal Health and Production, 2013-01) Adu, E.K.; Awotwi, E.K.; Awumbila, B.; Amaning-Kwarteng, K.Eighteen (18) gravid uteri collected from hunters' kills during February and March 2008 were used to investigate growth and accretion of energy and protein in the gravid uterus during pregnancy in the grasscutter. Each gravid uterus was separated into foetal, placental, empty uterus and foetal fluids (amniotic and allantoic fluids combined) components. Individual tissues were weighed and analyzed for dry matter (DM), ash, crude protein (CP) and crude fat. Regression equations were fitted to the weights of each component to describe the effects of gestational age. The DM, protein and energy contents of individual uterine tissues, with the exception of the DM of the foetal fluids, increased significantly with advancing gestation age so that the DM of the gravid uterus increased ~20-fold from days 45 to 152 (3.85 v. 76.24 g). However, the average elemental N in the foetus was 8.3 g N/100 g. Percentage DM did not change with advancing gestation age. Fat content of the foetal grasscutter was 2.79 %. Changes in foetal protein and energy fitted a multi-phasic regression that consisted of two linear equations. Similarly, changes in foetal fat and water contents fitted a multi-phasic regression that consisted of two linear equations, indicating that protein and energy growth accelerated after days 95 and 97 of gestation, respectively, with increases in fat and water accelerating after days 127 and 96 of gestation, respectively. Foetal protein and energy accretions were 0.04 g day-1 and 0.001 MJ day-1 before days 95 and 97 of gestation, respectively, and increased to 0.31 g day-1 and 0.009 MJ day-1 after days 95 and 97 of gestation, respectively. Fat and water accretions were also 0.012 g day-1 and 0.15 ml day-1 before days 127 and 96 of gestation, respectively, and increased to 0.104 g day-1 and 1.29 ml day-1 after the respective days of gestation. Protein needs for tissue protein gain increased ~8-fold after day 95 of gestation. Results of this study indicate that the growth of the foetus and foetal tissues occur at different rates during gestation and points to a two-phase feeding strategy before and after day 95 of gestation for pregnant grasscutters. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.