Browsing by Author "Gomda, Y."
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Reproductive status following artificial insemination in Sanga cows in the Accra Plains of Ghana(Livestock Research for Rural Development (12):20, 2008) Obese, F.Y.; Darfour-Oduro, K.A.; Bekoe, E.; Hagan, B.A.; Gomda, Y.The reproductive performance records of 126 Sanga cows bred through artificial insemination (Al) at the Amrahia Dairy Farm from January 1998 to December 2007 were assessed. The intervals from calving to first Al service, calving to conception and calving interval were prolonged. They averaged 158.8 ±8.9 days, 177.5 ± 9.5 days and 517.9 ± 13.5 days respectively. These parameters were not affected (P>0.05) by season of calving preceding Al, season of insemination or sex of calf. The conception rate at first Al service and for all inseminations were low 42.6 % and 46.0% respectively. They were not affected (P<0.05) by the season of insemination. Gestation length averaged 281.6 ±1.4 days. The mean birth weight of calves was 25.7 ± 0.3 kg. Male calves had higher birth weights than female calves (26.9 ±0.4 versus 24.5 ± 0.5 kg; P<0.05). Improving the nutritional status of the cows through strategic supplementation coupled with effective heat detection mechanisms and appropriate timing of Al, as well as efficient methods of storage, transport and handling of semen should improve the reproductive performance of cows.Item A review of the medicinal properties and applications of pycnanthus angolensis (WELW) warb(Pharmacologyonline, 2012) Achel, D.G.; Alcaraz, M.; Adabo, K.R.; Nyarko, A.K.; Gomda, Y.Pycnanthus angolensis (also known as African/false nutmeg) is native to the forest zones of West Central Africa. Its use in folklore for the cure of diseases is well documented. Data collected from several references from various research groups in the literature confirm its wide spread use in folk medicine. Among the ailments purported to be cured or controlled by extracts of the plant include diabetes, cognitive disorders, cancer, osteoarthritis, to assuage inflammation, fight microbial infection and for wound healing. Extensive investigative work conducted on the plant exposing its rich phytochemical profile probably provides clue to its value as an important medicinal plant. Over 50 phytochemicals have been isolated from the plant some of which are potential new drug leads. The current review presents the ethnobotanical uses of Pycnanthus angolensis through some evaluated biological activities of various extracts on different models to the numerous chemical compounds isolated from the plant. It concludes by succinctly touching on the current and future perspectives of the plant.Item Upgrading local cattle in tropical west Africa: Metabolic hormone concentrations during the post-partum period in Sanga and Friesian-Sanga crossbred cows(Livestock Science, 2015-01) Obese, F.Y.; Martin, G.B.; Blackberry, M.A.; Ayim-Akonor, M.; Gomda, Y.Cattle farmers in Ghana want larger animals with better milk yield and have therefore focused on improving the indigenous tropical Sanga breed by crossing with the temperate Friesian breed. However, in the Friesian-Sanga crossbred, a major limitation to reproductive performance is extended postpartum anoestrus, perhaps exacerbated by under-nutrition under field conditions. We therefore tested whether the breeds vary in the circulating concentrations of metabolic hormones that mediate the effects of nutrition on the reproductive axis during the postpartum period. Two herds comprising 16 Sanga, and 16 Friesian-Sanga cows, were grazed separately on natural pastures of similar nutritive value with no feed supplements. Every week during weeks 1 to 10 postpartum, the cows were weighed, body condition score (BCS) was assessed, and blood was sampled. Resumption of ovarian activity, detected from progesterone profiles, was used to classify cows as 'early-cycling' (≤45 days), 'late-cycling' (46-70 days) or 'non-cycling' (after 70 days). Resumption of ovarian cyclicity, body weight and body condition score did not differ between breeds, but daily milk yield was lower for Sanga (1.01±0.02. kg/day) than for Friesian-Sanga crossbreds (1.57±0.02. kg/day; P<0.001). Compared with Friesian-Sanga crossbreds, Sanga cows had greater plasma concentrations of IGF-I (18.7±0.7 versus 14.8±0.7. ng/mL; P<0.001) and leptin (1.12±0.01 versus 0.96±0.01. ng/mL; P<0.001), but the two breeds had similar concentrations of GH and insulin. After calving, the IGF-I/GH ratio recovered more rapidly in the Sanga than in the crossbred (. P=0.01). In both breeds, early-cycling cows had greater concentrations of IGF-I and leptin than late- or non-cycling cows. It was concluded that, during the postpartum period, the Sanga breed is better able to avoid the effects of negative energy balance, maintain metabolic homeostasis and prevent uncoupling of the GH-IGF axis, compared with the Friesian-Sanga crossbreed. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.