Characterization of cattle milk and meat production, processing and marketing system in Metema District, Ethiopia

A study on characterization of cattle milk and meat production, processing and marketing system was conducted in Metema district based on data collected between September and October, 2006. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to select representative kebles and households from CBFS, SBFS and Gendawuha town. A total of 270 households were randomly selected using systematic random sampling method. Questionaire based formal survey as well as PRA techniques were employed to collect both quantitative and qualitative data on cattle milk and meat production and processing systems in the district, while RMA techniques were used to characterize the marketing system of dairy products, meat and live cattle. In addition, 30 households were voluntarily selected from the two rural farming systems and were continually monitored to collect quantitative data on milk and other dairy products produced per household. Accordingly, the latter data were used to corroborate the survey based information on related parameters. Two types of livestock production systems were identified in the district, namely crop-livestock mixed farming, which is exercised by resident farmers, and transhumance production system practiced by seasonally in fluxing farmers from neighboring highlands. The current study was concerned entirely on the former production system type. The average cattle herd size of households was 15.53 heads, but it varied significantly (P<0.05) among the three areas. Cows (30.45%) and calves (32.29%) mainly dominate the herd composition, while heifers (13.90%), oxen (12.02%) and bullocks (10.30%) represented minor proportions. Cattle type (Zebu) locally called Agew, Simada and Fogera were dominantly found in the district, although some cattle types introduced from neighboring countries known as “Ruthana” and “Felata” cattle were observed in minor proportions. Where as introduced temperate breeds were entirely lacking in the district. The breeding system was entirely natural mating. 65.8% of the interviewed farmers practiced selective mating, while the rest one-third left their cows for open mating with no concern for selecting the best bull, although some variation exist from area to area. Major feed resources used by the households were natural grazing (31.0%), crop residues (29.5%), crop aftermath (21.8%) and hay (17.8%). The available vast communal range lands provide high potential for conserving excess fodder during the wet season in the form of hay. Despite this, households make insignificant quantity of hay and face critical feed shortage during the dry season. Critical shortage of water was also noted during the dry season, particularly in highly arid lowlands. Three types of diseases were identified as the major health problem of cattle and these included tick infestation (37.2%), babesiosis (31.6%) and FMD (15.6%). Average milk off-take of indigenous cows was 1.90.045 liter/cow/day and on average cows gave a lactation yield of 324.010.274 liters/cow during an average lactation period of about 5.90.14 months. Cows in Gendawuha town gave significantly higher daily milk yield as well as were milked for longer lactation period than in the two rural areas. As a result, the lactation yield xix was significantly higher in the former than in the latter areas and these differences were mainly attributed to better feeding (supplementation) and management provided for the cows in the town. Overall, mean CI was 17.970.313 months, but it was significantly higher in the town than in the rural areas because of extended lactation. Mean AFC of cows in Metema was quite late (4.540.05 years) even by local standard. Out of the total milk produced, most of it was processed (63%), while some quantity was consumed with in the household (18%) and used for calf rearing (13%). On the other hand, most of the butter was consumed with in the household (58 %), while small proportion was sold out (25%). In general, the market share of whole milk and other milk derivatives (cottage cheese, butter milk and fermented milk) was almost negligible, while butter was comparatively the most marketable commodity in all the three areas. The dairy marketing system identified in the study area was entirely informal marketing system. Churning methods includes churning by placing the churner on the floor, hanging the churner on tripods and churner is shacked with both hands. Cattle fattening experience was not developed well, because of lack of experience (34.9%), shortage of labor (30.8%), feed shortage during dry season (17.5%) and shortage of capital (15.9%). Out of the total fresh meat produced, 49.8 % was consumed by the household in the form of fresh, while 50.2% was retained for processing. Milk and meat production and marketing system were constrained by theft of cattle, infectious and parasitic disease, lack of milk processing services, poor market information on the price and supply condition, lack of services (extension, inputs, and veterinary) and lack of feed processing and utilization management. Extension intervention should focus on dairy and meat production and processing as well as on improving the marketing system of these products

Enhancing animal health security and food safety in organic livestock production

Sustaining Animal Health and Food Safety in Organic Farming (SAFO) is a European Commission funded project, with the objective to contribute to improved animal health and food safety in organic livestock production systems in existing and candidate member countries of the European Union. Workshops form a central part of the SAFO ctivities. This volume, with the contributions from the 3rd SAFO Workshop at the Institute of Grassland and Wetlands in Falenty, Poland in September 2004, is one in a series of five proceedings published during the lifetime of the project (2003-2006). Electronic versions of the proceedings are available at the SAFO web-site at ttp://www.safonetwork.org/ Animal health security, the role of zoonotic diseases and the risk of environmental contaminants in organic livestock produce were the key issues discussed in Falenty. Allowing livestock access to outdoors is a fundamental principle in organic farming. Such access is seen as part of the animal’s freedom to natural behaviour and can be argued to offer substantial health benefits to animals. Outdoor access, however, also allows access to potential invironmental contaminants, contact with other livestock or wildlife with different disease status and with vectors and fomites that may be carriers of zoonotic diseases. Interesting research papers were presented on the level of toxoplasmosis in organic pigs, paratuberculosis in organic cattle and campylobacterial carriage in organic layers. Mycotoxin and dioxin contamination of organic livestock produce and the control of heavy metal contamination in organic systems were also discussed. The papers and the discussions at the workshop suggest that the link between higher risk for zoonoses and environmental contamination and outdoor access and other organic management practices is not a straightforward one and that the risks are not necessarily greater in organic systems. However, it is clear that monitoring of zoonoses and contaminants is just as important in the organic as in the conventional animal production context. In this workshop, generous time was reserved for presentations about the development of organic livestock production in the new and emerging EU countries. A wealth of information about the strides forward and the problems and difficulties encountered was produced by the delegates. The presentations highlighted barriers to such development including the lack of a domestic market for organic produce and, at the farm level, the need for improvements in veterinary and hygiene management and for major investments to bring farm buildings up to the standards required in EU 2092/91. On the other hand, most of the new countries, while still developing organic livestock systems, see great potential in them, particularly in preserving rare breeds and vitalising rural communities in areas that appear particularly suitable for organic animal production

Sintesi delle Pubblicazioni : Anni 1988 - 1995

Repertorio delle pubblicazioni scientifiche negli anni dal 1988 al 1995 dei docenti e ricercatori della Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria. Digitalizzazione effettuata nel 2018 a cura della Biblioteca di Veterinaria "Ercolani". La digitalizzazione è stata autorizzata da Clueb, editrice della pubblicazione cartacea

XVI Agricultural Science Congress 2023: Transformation of Agri-Food Systems for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

The XVI Agricultural Science Congress being jointly organized by the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) during 10-13 October 2023, at hotel Le Meridien, Kochi, is a mega event echoing the theme “Transformation of Agri-Food Systems for achieving Sustainable Development Goals”. ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute takes great pride in hosting the XVI ASC, which will be the perfect point of convergence of academicians, researchers, students, farmers, fishers, traders, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders involved in agri-production systems that ensure food and nutritional security for a burgeoning population. With impeding challenges like growing urbanization, increasing unemployment, growing population, increasing food demands, degradation of natural resources through human interference, climate change impacts and natural calamities, the challenges ahead for India to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out by the United Nations are many. The XVI ASC will provide an interface for dissemination of useful information across all sectors of stakeholders invested in developing India’s agri-food systems, not only to meet the SDGs, but also to ensure a stable structure on par with agri-food systems around the world. It is an honour to present this Book of Abstracts which is a compilation of a total of 668 abstracts that convey the results of R&D programs being done in India. The abstracts have been categorized under 10 major Themes – 1. Ensuring Food & Nutritional Security: Production, Consumption and Value addition; 2. Climate Action for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems; 3. Frontier Science and emerging Genetic Technologies: Genome, Breeding, Gene Editing; 4. Livestock-based Transformation of Food Systems; 5. Horticulture-based Transformation of Food Systems; 6. Aquaculture & Fisheries-based Transformation of Food Systems; 7. Nature-based Solutions for Sustainable AgriFood Systems; 8. Next Generation Technologies: Digital Agriculture, Precision Farming and AI-based Systems; 9. Policies and Institutions for Transforming Agri-Food Systems; 10. International Partnership for Research, Education and Development. This Book of Abstracts sets the stage for the mega event itself, which will see a flow of knowledge emanating from a zeal to transform and push India’s Agri-Food Systems to perform par excellence and achieve not only the SDGs of the UN but also to rise as a world leader in the sector. I thank and congratulate all the participants who have submitted abstracts for this mega event, and I also applaud the team that has strived hard to publish this Book of Abstracts ahead of the event. I wish all the delegates and participants a very vibrant and memorable time at the XVI ASC

By-Products: Characterisation and Use as Food

There is an increased need to design circular economy models to make our food system more sustainable. This book brings together a review, a short communication, and several research articles showcasing a range of circular economy initiatives: some that valorise and characterise by-products using different technologies, others that apply by-products to new upcycled food products, and finishing with one article investigating consumer attitudes towards a food that comes from a circular economy initiative. This book highlights the diversity of expertise needed to valorise by-products from farm to fork and presents different by-products, technologies, and potential applications