Carcass and Muscle Distribution of Male Kacang Goat from Intensive Fattening with Different Initial Weight

Kacang Goat is one of Indonesian native livestock having high potency of production that have to be preserved, especially in South Sulawesi. The purpose of this study was to evaluate carcass percentage of commercial cuts as well as muscle distribution of male kacang goat under intensive fattening system with different initial body weight. Twenty one male of kacang goats were randomly divided into three groups according to their initial body weight. The experiment was carried out according to completely randomized design consisted of three treatments (age group) and seven replications for each treatment. The animals were reared under intensive fattening system for three months. At the initial period of the experiment, each goat was weighed to obtained the initial body weight. At the end of the experimental period, each animal was weighed to obtain the slaughtered weight of each animal. Following the slaughter, carcass processing was performed for each animal. The carcass and carcass cuts then were weighed. The results of study showed that animals having a heavier initial body weight grew faster, had higher carcass percentage, and had lower non carcass percentage.The growth of male kacang goat muscle was evenly distributed

Place de la securisation dans les dispositifs juridique et institutionnel fonciers Beninois

La performance des instruments juridiques de gouvernance foncière demeure toujours problématique particulièrement dans les pays ouest-africains. Dans ce contexte, le présent article a analysé la place de la sécurisation foncière dans l’arsenal juridique béninois. L’analyse part du postulat que la définition de la sécurisation foncière doit prendre en compte simultanément quatre piliers dont : la propriété/transfert, l’usage ou l’utilisation, l’accessibilité et la conservation des terres. Ainsi, une analyse de contenu des différents instruments juridiques, institutions et acteurs de la gestion foncière au Bénin à travers leurs objectifs et missions a été effectuée. Il ressort que les réformes entreprises dans la gestion foncière ont faiblement pris en compte des aspects de conservation de la terre et de biodiversité. Le cadre juridique et institutionnel mis en oeuvre dans la gestion foncière ne garantit pas la conservation des terres et la biodiversité au Bénin. Cette recherche suggère la prise en compte du pilier conservation dans l’arsenal juridique qui régit le foncier pour une gouvernance responsable des régimes fonciers au Bénin. English title: the place of security in Benin’s legal and institutional arsenal on land tenure systems Abstract The performance of legal instruments for land governance remains problematic, particularly in West African countries. In this context, this article analyzes the place of land tenure security in the Benin legal arsenal. The analysis is based on the assumption that the definition of land tenure security must simultaneously take into account four main elements: ownership/transfer, use or utilization, accessibility and conservation of land. Thus, a content analysis of the different legal instruments (Livre Blanc, laws), institutions and land management agents in Benin was carried out through its objectives and missions. It emerged that the reforms undertaken in land management have shown gaps in terms of taking into account aspects of land conservation and biodiversity in the different laws developed, the missions and objectives of institutions and development projects oriented towards land management in Benin. Thus, the legal and institutional framework implemented in land management does not guarantee the conservation of land and biodiversity in Benin. This research suggests that the conservation aspect should be taken into account in the legal arsenal governing land tenure for responsible governance of land in Benin. Keywords: Land security, land conservation, legal reform, Benin

Integrated nutrient and water management for sustainable food production in the Sahel

The symposium (2014) focused on the challenges of crop production faced by farmers in the Sahel region. The presentation covers a three-year fertilizer micro dosing (MD) project that was combined with rainwater harvesting (RWH). The techniques are assessed in terms of effects on crop production and family income. It also explores the “warrantage” or inventory credit system where harvested crops are stored and used as collateral to access loans and credit. With improving crop varieties, MD and RWH can increase yields up to 200%. There is no evidence that the process caused land degradation or yield decline, suggesting long term sustainability

Integrated microdose and rain water harvesting to improve crop productivity in low fertility and eroded soils in Sub-Saharan West Africa

The presentation details the fertilizer microdosing technique of planting and applying fertilizer. Using this technique, one farmer can sow and fertilize crops; whereas previously, three people would be needed to first open the planting mounds; second, place the seed; and third, apply microfertilizer and close the mounds. The performance of microdosing and rainwater harvesting are assessed in terms of field demonstrations, soil fertility and crop yields

Genetic Diversity of Bali Cattle in Barru Regency Based on Phenotype Characteristics and Microsatelite DNA Identifier

Sapi Bali is one of Indonesia germplasm, which has great potential to be developed as a national meat suppliers. Barru regency, South Sulawesi province is one of the purification center of Bali cattle in Indonesia. This study aimed to determine the genetic characteristics of Bali cattle in Barru regency based on identification of phenotype qualitative (horn shape and color of feathers) and quantitative traits (body size), as well as the identifier of microsatellite DNA diversity, in particular HEL9 and INRA035loci. Bali cattle phenotype characterization was done by identifying the typical qualitative properties owned by Bali cattle, as well as a quantitative trait such as body weight, body length, chest circumference and height. Blood samples were collected from about 80 heads of Bali cattle (35 males and 45 females). Extraction of genomic DNA using a DNA extraction kit (GeneJet Genomic DNA Extraction). PCR technique was then used to amplify DNA in microsatellite HEL9 and INRA035loci. Genetic diversity was calculated based on the frequency of alleles and genotypes, observed heterozygosity (Ho), expectated heterozygosity (He) and the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The results showed that the predominant form of horns in males were silak bajeg while the females were silak manggulgangsa, while the percentage of normal color pattern (typical of Bali cattle) was 92.5% and the color pattern deviates ie. 7.5%. In HEL9 locus, alleles found were A and B with only AB genotype(100%). While at the INRA035 locus,were found three alleles ie. A (0.4813), B (0.50) and C (0.0187), with the most common genotype were AB (0.96). Based on shape horn and feather color, the phenotype characteristic  of Bali cattle in the Barru regency were quite diverse, but the genetic diversity of DNA microsatellite observed quite low with only found two alleles (A and B) at HEL9 and 3 alleles (A, B and C ) at the INRA035 locus

Protocol, rationale and design of PEOPLE (Post ExpOsure Prophylaxis for LEprosy in the Comoros and Madagascar): A cluster randomized trial on effectiveness of different modalities of implementation of post-exposure prophylaxis of leprosy contacts

Background: Leprosy is an ancient infectious disease with a global annual incidence that has plateaued above 200,000 new cases since over a decade. New strategies are required to overcome this stalemate. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with a single dose of Rifampicin (SDR) has conditionally been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), based on a randomized-controlled-Trial in Bangladesh. More evidence is required. The Post ExpOsure Prophylaxis for Leprosy (PEOPLE) trial will assess effectiveness of different modalities of PEP on the Comoros and Madagascar. Methods: PEOPLE is a cluster-randomized trial with villages selected on previous leprosy-incidence and randomly allocated to four arms. Four annual door-To-door surveys will be performed in all arms. All consenting permanent residents will be screened for leprosy. Leprosy patients will be treated according to international guidelines and eligible contacts will be provided with SDR-PEP. Arm-1 is the comparator in which no PEP will be provided. In arms 2, 3 and 4, SDR-PEP will be provided at double the regular dose (20 mg/kg) to eligible contacts aged two years and above. In arm 2 all household-members of incident leprosy patients are eligible. In arm 3 not only household-members but also neighbourhood contacts living within 100-m of an incident case are eligible. In arm 4 such neighbourhood contacts are only eligible if they test positive to anti-PGL-I, a serological marker. Incidence rate ratios calculated between the comparator arm 1 and each of the intervention arms will constitute the primary outcome. Discussion: Different trials on PEP have yielded varying results. The pivotal COLEP trial in Bangladesh showed a 57% reduction in incidence over a two-year period post-intervention without any rebound in the following years. A study in a high-incidence setting in Indonesia showed no effect of PEP provided to close contacts but a major effect of PEP provided as a blanket measure to an entire island population. High background incidence could be the reason of the lack of effect of PEP provided to individual contacts. The PEOPLE trial will assess effectiveness of PEP in a high incidence setting and will compare three different approaches, to identify who benefits most from PEP. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.Gov. NCT03662022. Initial Protocol Version 1.2, 27-Aug-2018

Comparative Composition, Diversity and Trophic Ecology of Sediment Macrofauna at Vents, Seeps and Organic Falls

Sediments associated with hydrothermal venting, methane seepage and large organic falls such as whale, wood and plant detritus create deep-sea networks of soft-sediment habitats fueled, at least in part, by the oxidation of reduced chemicals. Biological studies at deep-sea vents, seeps and organic falls have looked at macrofaunal taxa, but there has yet to be a systematic comparison of the community-level attributes of sediment macrobenthos in various reducing ecosystems. Here we review key similarities and differences in the sediment-dwelling assemblages of each system with the goals of (1) generating a predictive framework for the exploration and study of newly identified reducing habitats, and (2) identifying taxa and communities that overlap across ecosystems. We show that deep-sea seep, vent and organic-fall sediments are highly heterogeneous. They sustain different geochemical and microbial processes that are reflected in a complex mosaic of habitats inhabited by a mixture of specialist (heterotrophic and symbiont-associated) and background fauna. Community-level comparisons reveal that vent, seep and organic-fall macrofauna are very distinct in terms of composition at the family level, although they share many dominant taxa among these highly sulphidic habitats. Stress gradients are good predictors of macrofaunal diversity at some sites, but habitat heterogeneity and facilitation often modify community structure. The biogeochemical differences across ecosystems and within habitats result in wide differences in organic utilization (i.e., food sources) and in the prevalence of chemosynthesis-derived nutrition. In the Pacific, vents, seeps and organic-falls exhibit distinct macrofaunal assemblages at broad-scales contributing to ß diversity. This has important implications for the conservation of reducing ecosystems, which face growing threats from human activities

Science Priorities for Seamounts: Research Links to Conservation and Management

Seamounts shape the topography of all ocean basins and can be hotspots of biological activity in the deep sea. The Census of Marine Life on Seamounts (CenSeam) was a field program that examined seamounts as part of the global Census of Marine Life (CoML) initiative from 2005 to 2010. CenSeam progressed seamount science by collating historical data, collecting new data, undertaking regional and global analyses of seamount biodiversity, mapping species and habitat distributions, challenging established paradigms of seamount ecology, developing new hypotheses, and documenting the impacts of human activities on seamounts. However, because of the large number of seamounts globally, much about the structure, function and connectivity of seamount ecosystems remains unexplored and unknown. Continual, and potentially increasing, threats to seamount resources from fishing and seabed mining are creating a pressing demand for research to inform conservation and management strategies. To meet this need, intensive science effort in the following areas will be needed: 1) Improved physical and biological data; of particular importance is information on seamount location, physical characteristics (e.g. habitat heterogeneity and complexity), more complete and intensive biodiversity inventories, and increased understanding of seamount connectivity and faunal dispersal; 2) New human impact data; these shall encompass better studies on the effects of human activities on seamount ecosystems, as well as monitoring long-term changes in seamount assemblages following impacts (e.g. recovery); 3) Global data repositories; there is a pressing need for more comprehensive fisheries catch and effort data, especially on the high seas, and compilation or maintenance of geological and biodiversity databases that underpin regional and global analyses; 4) Application of support tools in a data-poor environment; conservation and management will have to increasingly rely on predictive modelling techniques, critical evaluation of environmental surrogates as faunal “proxies”, and ecological risk assessment

Man and the Last Great Wilderness: Human Impact on the Deep Sea

The deep sea, the largest ecosystem on Earth and one of the least studied, harbours high biodiversity and provides a wealth of resources. Although humans have used the oceans for millennia, technological developments now allow exploitation of fisheries resources, hydrocarbons and minerals below 2000 m depth. The remoteness of the deep seafloor has promoted the disposal of residues and litter. Ocean acidification and climate change now bring a new dimension of global effects. Thus the challenges facing the deep sea are large and accelerating, providing a new imperative for the science community, industry and national and international organizations to work together to develop successful exploitation management and conservation of the deep-sea ecosystem. This paper provides scientific expert judgement and a semi-quantitative analysis of past, present and future impacts of human-related activities on global deep-sea habitats within three categories: disposal, exploitation and climate change. The analysis is the result of a Census of Marine Life – SYNDEEP workshop (September 2008). A detailed review of known impacts and their effects is provided. The analysis shows how, in recent decades, the most significant anthropogenic activities that affect the deep sea have evolved from mainly disposal (past) to exploitation (present). We predict that from now and into the future, increases in atmospheric CO2 and facets and consequences of climate change will have the most impact on deep-sea habitats and their fauna. Synergies between different anthropogenic pressures and associated effects are discussed, indicating that most synergies are related to increased atmospheric CO2 and climate change effects. We identify deep-sea ecosystems we believe are at higher risk from human impacts in the near future: benthic communities on sedimentary upper slopes, cold-water corals, canyon benthic communities and seamount pelagic and benthic communities. We finalise this review with a short discussion on protection and management methods