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Jul 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2691-6622.ijar-19-2762
MIÉGOUÉ EmileCorresponding author
University of Dschang, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Production, Animal Nutrition and production Research Unit
This study was conducted within three months at the University of Dschang Research and Application Farm (5°44’-5°36’ et 5°44’-5°37’ LN ; 10°06’-9°94’ et 10°06’-9°85’ LE). The main objective was to evaluate the integration perspectives of caviaculture and fishery. Specifically, the study was aimed at evaluating the production of guinea pig dungs, its bromatological composition and appreciating the nitrogen/phosphorus ratio in other to determine the adequate quantities of manure for a proper fertilization of fish ponds. Hence, 96 guinea pigs weighing averagely 390 ± 110g each were randomly distributed into two comparable lots (floor covered with litter and floor without litter) and were subjected to 8 feeds (5 grasses and 3 legumes). Each lot had 6 repetitions of 8 individuals. The animals were fed three times daily within 30 days. The dungs of guinea pigs were collected after three days between 6 and 8am during the experimental period. They were then selected and weighed using and electric balance of 0.1g sensitivity. At the end of the study, the following results were obtained: a guinea pig of 390 ± 110 g in confinement produced between 51.7 ± 0.4 to 60.5 ± 0.7g (fresh weight) of dung per day. The bromatological analysis of these dungs showed that they are made of organic material (80.0%), dry matter (94.3%), crude protein (10.7%), ash (19.9%) and nitrogen (22.7%). These results attesting the richness of these dungs helped in estimating the quantities (103.4g to 206.8g) of dung/day/100m2 for the breeding of 2 to 4 guinea pigs per fish pond of 100 m2 for an integrated breeding (guinea pig-fish).
Jun 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2768-5209.ijen-19-2712
Bridget. O BobadoyeCorresponding author
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (), P.O. Box 30772-00100 Nairobi, Kenya.
A field study was undertaken along six diverse habitat gradients of Kenya to evaluate the occurrence and underlining drivers that shape meliponine bee species diversity. These gradients ranged from continuous forest habitats (Indigenous forests, mixed forests and exotic forest patch) representing unfragmented habitats to dispersed habitats (Mixed deciduous woodlands, Grasslands dominated by perennial grasses such as Cenchrus ciliaris, Chloris roxburghiana and Acacia dominated bush lands) representing fragmented habitats respectively. A total of four different species of meliponine bees were encountered with Hypotrigona gribodoi being the most abundant species, followed by Meliponula ferruginea (black), Plebeina hildebrandti and Hypotrigona ruspolii in descending order. Occurrence and diversity of Hypotrigona gribodoi, Melipona ferruginea (black), Plebeina hildebrandti and Hypotrigonaruspolii was significantly influenced by the degree of fragmentation (vegetation type) and floral diversity (P = 0.0056); the mean number of colonies recorded per study site ranged from 2.3 in dispersed habitats in the lowlands to 1.0 in continuous forest landscapes in the highlands, whereas the mean population density ranged from 2.0 to 172 colonies/25 ha-transects. The results provide substantial support to better understand interactions between habitat structure and the degree of fragmentation in linking species diversity to habitat loss.
Dec 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2694-2275.jzr-18-2474
Emile MiégouéCorresponding author
Guinea pig diet is essentially based on the use of grasses associated with protein sources. Then, in to improve the herbivores nutrition, the evaluation of intake and In vivo digestibility of Pennisetum purpureum or Panicum maximum in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) was carried out in January 2017 at the University of Dschang research and experimental farm and animal production and nutrition laboratory. 20 adult animals of local breed on average weight 450 ± 50g and aged about 5 months were used. They were organized into two batches of 10 animals each (5 males and 5 females). The first batch received 250g of fresh matter of Pennisetum purpureum + 60g concentrate/animal/day, while the second received the same treatment with Panicum maximum as grasses. Leftover and animals were weighed every morning before food distributions, and drinking water containing vitamin C was served ad libitum. According to the results, the highest ingestion was obtained with Panicum maximum. However, the digestibility different nutrients was comparable between treatments; nevertheless, males fed on P. maximum digested crude cellulose (63.78%) better than males fed on P. purpureum (51.17%). With regard to the variation of the bacterial rate of the caecal flora, enterobacteria of animals fed P. maximum was high (11.20 CFU/ml) compared to those of the animals receiving P. purpureum (7.27 CFU/ml), although regardless of the treatment, the level of lactobacilli was higher than that of enterobacteria. In view of the results obtained, these grasses can be alternatively used in feeding guinea pigs.