Traditional farmers' pig trait preferences and awareness levels toward reproductive biotechnology application in Zambia.

Objective: This study assessed traditional farmers' preferences for indigenous pigs and their awareness levels toward reproductive biotechnology.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive study employed a mixed-methods concurrent triangulation design with a pragmatic approach. For quantitative data collection, a randomly selected sample size of 622 respondents was interviewed using a structured questionnaire.

Attitudes and preferences of traditional farmers toward reproductive biotechnology application for improved indigenous pig production in Zambia.

Background And Aim: Pig production remains crucial to the livelihood of farmers in Zambia. However, low production continues to undermine efforts to reduce animal protein deficit; hence, the need emerges to improve production through biotechnology. To contribute to the prediction of their acceptance, this study assessed the attitudes and preferences of traditional farmers toward reproductive biotechnologies by exploring the socio-demographic characteristics of farmers.

Characteristics of corpus luteum formed from the first wave dominant follicle following hCG in cattle.

Two experiments were conducted to characterize the development and function of corpus luteum (CL) induced by hCG. In Experiment 1, cows (n = 18) were randomly assigned either to serve as controls (CONT, n = 6) or to receive hCG on Day 7 with (hCG-LUT, n = 6), or without (hCG-CONT, n = 6) surgical removal of the spontaneous CL on Day 12. The diameters of the hCG-induced and spontaneous CL of similar age did not differ (P > 0.

Effect of hCG administration on day 7 of the estrous cycle on follicular dynamics and cycle length in cows.

The use of hCG in cattle at breeding or at different times after breeding has been associated with extension in estrous cycle length among cows that do not become pregnant. The objective of this study was to determine whether the increase in estrous cycle length observed in hCG-treated cows that fail to become pregnant is due to changes in ovarian follicular dynamics. Twelve nonbred lactating cows were randomly assigned either to receive hCG on Day 7 of the cycle (Day 0 = day of estrus, n = 6) or to serve as controls (n = 6).

Effect of human chorionic gonadotropin administered at specific times following breeding on milk progesterone and pregnancy in cows.

Two trials were conducted to investigate the efficiency of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) following breeding to increase progesterone (P(4)) secretion and pregnancy rates in cows. In Trial 1, 79 lactating Holstein cows were randomly allocated to four groups to receive hCG either at breeding (Day 0, n=20), Day 7 (n=20) or Day 14 (n=20), or to receive no hCG treatment (control n=19). Whole milk samples were collected every other day from breeding until Day 21 and, thereafter, at weekly intervals until Day 42 or until the return to estrus for determination of P(4) concentrations.