Influence of exogenous corticosterone on testicular function and mating behavior of Nigerian indigenous cocks.

In bridging the knowledge gap on stress physiology of Nigerian indigenous chickens, this study investigated the effect of exogenous corticosterone (eCORT) as stress inducing agent on the testicular function and mating behavior of Nigerian indigenous cocks. Twenty-four (24) cocks and one hundred and forty four (144) hens (mating ratio of 1 cock: 6 hens) were grouped into four and assigned to each of the four eCORT treatments (0, 2, 4 and 6 mgeCORT/KgBW) daily for 14 days. Semen samples were collected on days 0, 7 and 14 and analyzed for semen volume (SV), progressive sperm motility (PSM), membrane integrity (MI) and sperm abnormality (SA).

Erratum to "Serum chemistry and gut morphology of two strains of broiler chickens to varying interval of post hatch feeding" [5C (June 2018) 20-25].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.vas.

Performance, blood profile and gut morphometry of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with Yohimbe and Larvacide.

The need for making livestock products free from antibiotics residue and other synthetic chemicals has resulted to the use of herbal products in livestock production. A 42-day study was conducted to compare the influence of Yohimbe ( and Larvacide on the growth performance, blood profile and gut morphometry of broiler chickens. Two hundred and twenty five 14-day old broiler chickens were randomly allotted into five treatment groups comprising of forty five chicks each.

Blastodermal development, hatchability and chick quality of Marshall broiler breeders of different flock ages during egg storage.

The blastoderm, which represents the fertilized germinal disc, undergoes cellular events of division, differentiation and organization to achieve embryonic development in chickens. In this study, blastodermal cell counts and hatching performance of Marshall broiler breeders as influenced by flock age and egg storage were investigated. A total of 1,520 eggs from the flock ages, 43 weeks (younger) and 65 weeks (older), under similar management and nutritional regime were incubated after storage at 16°C with 75% relative humidity for duration of 0 (fresh eggs), 4, 7 and 10 days.

Comparative study of adaptation in three chicken genotypes under humid tropical conditions of Nigeria.

Adaptation of Nigerian indigenous chickens (NIC), FUNAAB-α (F-α) and Transylvanian naked neck chickens (TNN) raised during hot-dry season under humid tropical environment was compared during a 4-week period. A well-adapted NIC (n = 12; 6 males and 6 females), a newly developed F-α (n = 12; 6 male and 6 females) and a newly introduced TNN (n = 12; 6 male and 6 females) chickens aged 36 weeks were used for this experiment. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT) and skin temperature on comb (COM), wattle (WAT), breast (BRE) and under wings (WIN) were monitored between 13.