Evaluation of the Carcass Parameters of Growers Fed on Cassava (Manihot Esculenta Crantz) Leaf and Root Mixture

Rapid increase in human population and feed competition between human, poultry and other livestock resulted in shortage of poultry feed. Feed accounts the highest cost in poultry production. To make poultry production more profitable, it is a must to reduce production cost. Consequently, locally available non-conventional feed sources should be searched out and used in order to alleviate the problem. Thus, the present experiment studied the effect of inclusion rate of cassava leaf and root mixture (CLRM) on the performance of grower male white leghorn chicks at Wolaita Sodo ATVET College. The objective of the study was to investigate the carcass parameters of growers fed on CLRM. The collected cassava leaves and roots were separately chopped, dried, ground and then mixed in the ratio of 50:50 to get CLRM. Four diets were formulated, T1 contained no CLRM and served as the control, diets T2, T3 and T4 had CLRM at levels of 7.5, 11.25 and 15%, respectively. The grower chicks kept in a deep litter system and the feeding trial lasted for twelve weeks. A total of 180, eight weeks old grower chicks with average initial body weight of 495.68±26.74g (mean±SD) were randomly assigned to 4 experimental groups. Each group was replicated thrice with 15 chicks per replicate. A completely randomized design (CRD) experiment was used. The birds were given known amount of feed and water ad libitum throughout the experimental period. Data were collected on carcass characteristics. The chemical analysis showed that, the crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy (ME) contents of CLRM were 14.5% and 3061.63 kcal/kg DM, respectively. The result of the experiment showed, there was no significant (P>0.05) difference in mean slaughter weight, carcass characteristics between treatments. The mean slaughter weight of T3, T4, T2 and T1 was 1743.7, 1692.3, 1661.0 and 1604.0 gram, respectively. Economic analysis showed that feed cost per bird was lower in the CLRM based diets than the control group. Similarly, the highest net return and marginal rate of return was noted for T3. The results showed that ration formulation using CLRM, like as in T3 of the present study resulted in better biological and economic performance in grower rations. It was concluded that feeding grower chicks with CLRM at 15% of the ration can be used without any adverse effect on the carcass weight of the birds. Keywords Cassava leaf and root mixture, slaughter weight, carcass characteristics, white leghor

Assessment Potential and Constraints of Poultry Production in Marako Woreda, Gurage Zone, Southern Ethiopia

The study was conducted to assess the production and constraints of poultry production in Marako Woreda, Gurage Zone, Southern Ethiopia. The data were collected using questionnaire survey using 100 households. The information obtained from the questionnaire survey revealed that the production system is often characterized by low input-low output productivity characterized as free ranging system (70%). The mean flock size recorded in this study was 4.82 chickens, the value of which is higher than the national average, 4.1. About 80% of the respondents used to supplement poultry with cereal grain like wheat and corn during early in the morning and late in the afternoon. The flock composition consists of laying hens (27%) which reflect their retention for production purposes. The majority about 60% of the farmers keep poultry for sale which is to enhance the income of the farmers. Seventy percent of the respondents’ access support of extension services. Seventy percent of the respondents argued that the average number egg-laying period per hen per year is about 4 where as 50% of the respondents responded that average number of eggs laid per hen per egg- laying period is 12. The major constraints of poultry production in the study area arecapital, disease, market, predator and feed shortage in the order of rank. Moreover, the outbreak of Newcastle disease is the major problem affects poultry production and usually happens at the beginning of rainy season. Therefore, to improve production and attain increased productivity, there has to be a means to have credit access for the farmers which strengthens farmers’ economic situations. In addition to this it is better to create awareness of farmers to about the management of poultry to enhance productivity. Keywords: Free ranging system, flock size, egg-laying period, Newcastle diseas

Review on the Impact of Aflatoxine in Dairy Industry: Occurrence and Control the Case of Ethiopia

Livestock is vital to the livelihood of people and to the economics of many developing countries like Ethiopia. This review paper attempts to identify the impact of aflatoxine in dairy industry by determining its occurrence and control methods. Aflatoxin is one of the most common mycotoxins which can be found in milk and are generally produced in animal feed by toxigenic fungi such as Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus and the rare Aspergillus nomius. Aflatoxins have been found in a variety of agricultural commodities, but the most pronounced contamination has been encountered in maize, peanuts, cottonseed and tree nuts. Aflatoxins are also toxic fungal metabolites found in foods and feeds. When ruminants eat AFB (1)-feedstuffs, they metabolise the toxin and excrete AFM (1) in milk. Most importantly aflatoxine have a great social, economic, health impact and should be given greater attention. Moreover it is now becoming a concern issue for the country Ethiopia as well as for the individual nations. In addition to this the aflatoxin occurrence results a higher health problem in the developing countries like Ethiopia. Even though, the occurrence of aflatoxin in the world varies from one place to place the majority milk samples indicated that they are contaminated with aflatoxin beyond the recommended level. Through promotion of the effect of aflatoxine on dairy industry and its impact on the health of the consumer, it would trigger the global effort to reduce its impact on the economic, social and health. Keywords: aflatoxine, dairy industry, health impact, Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flavu

Effects of Inclusion Rate of Cassava (Manihot Esculenta Crantz) Leaf and Root Mixture on Feed Intake and Growth Rate of Grower Chicks

The experiment studied the effect of inclusion rate of cassava leaf and root mixture (CLRM) on the performance of grower male white leghorn chicks at Wolaita Sodo ATVET College. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of inclusion rate of CLRM on performance of grower chicks and to determine the best level of the CLRM. The collected cassava leaves and roots were separately chopped, dried, ground and then mixed in the ratio of 50:50 to get CLRM. Four diets were formulated, T1 contained no CLRM and served as the control, diets T2, T3 and T4 had CLRM at levels of 7.5, 11.25 and 15%, respectively. The grower chicks kept in a deep litter system and the feeding trial lasted for twelve weeks. A total of 180, eight weeks old grower chicks with average initial body weight of 495.68±26.74g (mean±SD) were randomly assigned to 4 experimental groups. Each group was replicated thrice with 15 chicks per replicate. A completely randomized design (CRD) experiment was used. The birds were given known amount of feed and water ad libitum throughout the experimental period. Data were collected on daily dry matter intake (DDMI), total DMI (TDMI), daily body weight gain (DBWG), final BWG (FBWG), DM conversion ratio (DMCR) (g/g), cost-benefit analysis. Data were subjected to analysis of variance for all parameters considered. The chemical analysis showed that, the crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy (ME) contents of CLRM were 14.5% and 3061.63 kcal/kg DM, respectively. The result of the experiment showed significant difference (P<0.05) among treatments in DDMI, TDMI, and CPI. T3 (66.9gm) had higher DDMI than T1 (65.14gm), T2 (65.18gm) and T4 (65.14gm). Similarly, T3 had higher TDMI, than the other dietary experimental feeds. However, there was no significant (P>0.05) difference in DBWG, FBWG between treatments. The control diet has lower (5.05±0.29 (±SEM)) DMCR compared to T4 ration (4.70±0.15 (±SEM)). Economic analysis showed that feed cost per bird was lower in the CLRM based diets than the control group. Similarly, the highest net return and marginal rate of return was noted for T3. The results showed that ration formulation using CLRM, like as in T3 of the present study resulted in better biological and economic performance in grower rations. It was concluded that feeding grower chicks with CLRM at 15% of the ration can be used without any adverse effect on the growth and carcass weight of the birds, while 11.25% CLRM in the ration gave the highest economic return and can be considered as best level for growers. Keywords: Cassava leaf and root mixture, dry matter intake, daily body weight gai

The effect of inclusion of fish waste meal on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicken

This research was carried out with the aim of assessing the effect of incorporating fish waste meal as a substitute for soybean on the growth and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. A total of 180 day-old broiler chicks of the Cobb-500 strain were used in this study. They had an average initial body weight of 41.36 ± 0.5 g. The chicks were assigned randomly to four dietary treatments, with three replications per treatment. Each replicate consisted of 15 chicks, and a completely randomized design (CRD) was used. The four broiler starter and finisher diets that were tested contained different levels of fish waste meal (FWM), specifically: 0% (T1), 7% (T2), 13.5% (T3), and 20% (T4). The daily DM, crude protein (CP), and metabolizable energy (ME) intakes of broilers were highly significant (P < 0.001) during the starter, finisher, and entire experimental periods. During the starter, finisher, and entire period, broilers in the T4, T3, and T2 groups had significantly better daily DM intake (P < 0.05). The daily CP intake of broilers in T4 and T3 had significantly better CP intake (P < 0.005) than the control group (T1) during the finisher and entire phase. Similarly, improved ME intake and BW gain (P < 0.05) were observed in T4, T3 and T2 during the finisher phase and the entire experimental period. The FCR of broilers fed FWM in the diets was considerably lower (P < 0.05) than the control group during the finisher and entire phase. The eviscerated carcass yield, breast, and drum-thigh weight were significantly better (P < 0.05) in FWM treatment diet groups compared to the control group. There is a significant decline (P < 0.05) in the weight of abdominal fat in T4 and T3 compared to the control group. Including 20% FWM in broilers' diets has resulted in a lower feed cost per kg of BW gain and the highest net return (NR) and marginal rate of return (MRR) than T3, T2, and control T1. Therefore, incorporating fish waste meal at 20% has improved DM intake, body weight gain performance, carcass yield, and is economically viable for broiler production

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century