Research Article
Practice and Understanding of Urban Dairy Farmers Towards Brucellosis at Kombolcha (Amhara Region, Ethiopia): Preliminary Study
Mekonnen Yirga*
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 3, June 2024
Pages:
78-82
Received:
9 April 2024
Accepted:
25 April 2024
Published:
24 May 2024
Abstract: Urban dairy farmers of Kombolcha purchase pure and high-grade Holstein Friesian cows from different corners of the country regardless of being free from or certified from bovine brucellosis. In the study area (Kombolcha), documented report on practice and knowledge of urban dairy farmers towards Brucellosis is absent or not found. Therefore, it is high time to know the practice and understanding of dairy farmers about the zoonotic disease, brucellosis, and avail information to Kombolcha Regio-polytan livestock resource development office for proper support to dairy farmers. The objective of this study is, therefore, to assess the current practice and knowledge of smallholder urban dairy farmers about Brucellosis. The design of the study is cross sectional and data were collected through single-visit-multiple-subjects formal survey technique and analyzed using SPSS software. A total of 96 urban small holder dairy farms (study units) were assessed during the study period. A substantial number of respondents consume raw milk without any sort of heat treatment and do not have information on bovine brucellosis mode of transmissions. All respondents have never heard about transmission of brucellosis from animals to human beings and perform risky practices unknowingly. It is therefore, high time to aware urban dairy farmers about bovine brucellosis.
Abstract: Urban dairy farmers of Kombolcha purchase pure and high-grade Holstein Friesian cows from different corners of the country regardless of being free from or certified from bovine brucellosis. In the study area (Kombolcha), documented report on practice and knowledge of urban dairy farmers towards Brucellosis is absent or not found. Therefore, it is ...
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Research Article
Herbage Yield, Nutritional Quality of Desho Grass (Pennisetum glaucifolium) Mixed with Stylo and Silverleaf Desmodium at Assosa, Western Ethiopia
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 3, June 2024
Pages:
83-94
Received:
4 March 2024
Accepted:
15 April 2024
Published:
13 June 2024
Abstract: The study was conducted during the main cropping season of 2019/2020 at Assosa in Benishangul-Gumuz regional state. The aim of the study was to evaluate herbage dry matter yield, nutritional quality and biological compatibility of desho grass mixed with Stylo and Desmodium. The treatments included two legume species (Stylosanthes guyanensis and Desmodium unicinatum) and desho grass with four levels of seed proportions (100%, 75%, 50% and 25%) of the recommended seeding rates of the two legume forages. Randomized complete block design with four replications was used. The results revealed that number of tillers per plant (NTPP), plant height (PH) and leaf to stem ratio (LSR), plot cover and vigor score percentage, dry matter yield (DMY) tha-1, and the quality parameters such as, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent Lignin (ADL), In-vitro Dry matter Digestibility (IVDMD) and crude protein yield (CPY) tha-1 were significantly (P<0.05) differed among the different seed proportions of desho grass with legume mixtures. The highest total dry matter yield (11.05 t ha-1) was obtained from the sole desho grass planted with Nitrogen fertilizer followed by sole desho grass planted without fertilizer (10.17 t ha-1 ) from the mixed cropping groups mixed crop containing 75% desho grass and 25% Stylo gives a higher total dry mater yield (7.44 tha-1). On the other hand desmodium sown in pure stands had lower DMY compared to legume-grass mixtures (3.37tha-1). In terms of quality, increasing the seed proportions of both legume species in the mixture resulted in higher CP%, CPY (tha-1) and IVDMD% and lower NDF%, ADF% and ADL% contents. Relative yield total of desho grass-legume mixtures at Desho75 Stylo25 (1.43), Desho50 Desmodium 50 (1.39) and Desho25 Stylo75 (1.33) were better compared to the other mixtures and pure stands. Generally, mixing of desho grass with legume species at different seed proportions of 75% desho grass: 25% stylo and 50% desho grass: 50% Stylo produced better dry matter yield, nutritional quality and compatibility in the study area when compared to the mixed cropped plants. However, the experiment should be conducted for more years at different locations to recommend the best desho grass legume mixtures for Assosa area of Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State. It is also suggested to do on animal performance trial of this result based on animal feeding practice and economic feasibility in order to come up with sound recommendations.
Abstract: The study was conducted during the main cropping season of 2019/2020 at Assosa in Benishangul-Gumuz regional state. The aim of the study was to evaluate herbage dry matter yield, nutritional quality and biological compatibility of desho grass mixed with Stylo and Desmodium. The treatments included two legume species (Stylosanthes guyanensis and Des...
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Research Article
Response to Selection of Indigenous Chicken in Rwanda Using Within-Breed Selection Strategy
Richard Habimana*,
Kiplangat Ngeno,
Tobias Otieno Okeno
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 3, June 2024
Pages:
95-106
Received:
15 December 2023
Accepted:
18 January 2024
Published:
25 June 2024
Abstract: The study evaluated response to selection from within-breed selection strategy for conventional (CBS) and genomic (GBS) breeding schemes. These breeding schemes were evaluated in both high-health environments (nucleus) and smallholder farms (commercial). Breeding goal was to develop a dual-purpose IC for both eggs and meat through selective breeding. Breeding objectives were body weight (BW), egg weight (EW), egg number (EN) and resistance to Newcastle disease (AbR). A deterministic simulation was performed to evaluate rates of genetic gain and inbreeding. Base population in the nucleus was made up of 40 cockerels and 200 pullets. Selection pressure was 4% and 20% in the males and the females, respectively. The impact of nucleus size and selection pressure on rates of genetic gain and inbreeding of the breeding program was investigated through sensitivity analysis. SelAction software was used to predict rates of genetic gain and inbreeding. Results showed that using CBS in the nucleus, the breeding goal was 340.41$ and 1.13 times higher than that in the commercial flock. Inbreeding rate per generation of selected chicken in the nucleus was 1.45% and lower by 1.32 times compared to their offspring under smallholder farms. Genetic gains per generation in the nucleus for BW and EN traits were 141.10 g and 1.07 eggs and 1.12 and 1.10 times greater than those in smallholder farms, respectively. With GBS, the breeding goal was increased by 3.00 times whereas inbreeding rate was reduced by 3.15 times. Besides, using GBS, the selected birds in the nucleus were relatively similar to those in a commercial environment. Finally, the study revealed that the nucleus size and mating ratio influence the rates of genetic gain and inbreeding in both GBS and CBS. This study shows that IC in Rwanda have the potential to be improved through within-breed selection strategy using either CBS or GBS.
Abstract: The study evaluated response to selection from within-breed selection strategy for conventional (CBS) and genomic (GBS) breeding schemes. These breeding schemes were evaluated in both high-health environments (nucleus) and smallholder farms (commercial). Breeding goal was to develop a dual-purpose IC for both eggs and meat through selective breedin...
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