Quantifying morphometric and adaptive characteristics of indigenous cattle genetic resources in northwest Ethiopia

Ethiopia is the gateway of livestock genetic resources to Africa and has a wide range of altitude. It is endowed with huge diverse cattle genetic resources. The aim of this research was to determine the morphometric and potentioally adaptive characteristics of cattle populations. Multi-stage purposive and random sampling methods were employed to select the study areas, households and animals. A total of 1200 adult cattle were sampled and characterized for 14 qualitative and eight morphometric variables. The comparison of marginal means, chi-square tests, canonical discriminant analysis, and clustering analysis were employed using SAS and SPSS statistical software. The sex of the animal, location and agro-ecology were fitted as fixed effects in the model and had highly significant (p 0.45) values. White with red, light red, black and dark red were the most predominant coat colour types of cattle. The maximum hit rates were recorded in Enebsie and Sinan cattle. From five extracted canonical variate, (can1 and can2) accounted 75.4% and 78.8% in the female and male cattle populations, respectively. The canonical class has separated cattle populations of Sinan from Banja at can1 and Mecha from Sinan populations at can2. The square Mahalanobis distances between sites were significant (p<0.001) and the largest distance was found between Banja and Sinan locations. Cluster analysis result classified the study populations into four major cattle groups. The cumulative analysis results showed that the cattle populations of the study area can be categorized into four breed types as Jawi Sanga, Gojjam Zenga, Banja cattle, and Sinan cattle. However, this morphology based grouping need to be confirmed by molecular data

Management practices, reproductive performances, and production constraints of indigenous cattle in north-western parts of Ethiopia

Description of the production condition and level of performance is the first step in improving production performance. The study described the indigenous cattle reproductive performances, management practices and production limitations in north-western Ethiopia. Multistage purposive and random sampling methods were used to select the study sites/districts and households. A semi-structured questionnaire (320 interviewees), focus group discussions (12) and personal observations were used for data collection. Chi-square (χ2) test, the least squares mean and the ranking indexes were the statistical methods employed for data analysis. Livestock composition, reproductive performance and production constraints of cattle showed significant differences (p &lt; 0.001) between agro-ecological zones. Cattle were the dominant livestock species, with mean numbers of 18.3 ± 9.9, 8.1 ± 3.2 and 5.4 ± 2.5 heads in the lowland, midland and highland agro-ecological zones, respectively. The mean ages at first mating of bulls, first service of heifers, first calving and calving interval of cows were best in the highlands, while the midland agro-ecology had the worst performance. Feed shortage (Index = 0.4) and disease prevalence (Index = 0.25) were the main cattle production problems. Natural pasture was the main feed source for cattle in the study areas. The study revealed a significant effect agro-ecology on landholding, cattle management practices, species composition; cattle herd structure, reproductive performances and cattle production constraints. This implies that the socioeconomic characteristics, management-level constraints for production and performance level of the livestock stock are important for developing improvement strategies for smallholder livestock production in different agro-ecological zones.</p

Breeding objectives and selection criteria of farmers keeping indigenous cattle populations in north-west Ethiopia

This study was conducted to identify farmers’ breeding objectives and trait preferences for indigenous cattle in north-west Ethiopia. Multistage purposive and random sampling techniques were used to select study districts, and smallholder farmers. The required data were collected through structured questionnaires from 320 households, personal observations, and focus group discussions. The chi-square (χ2) test, least squares mean, and ranking index were statistical methods used for data analysis. The least squares mean analysis showed a difference (p &lt; 0.001) and the mean herd size was 10.9 heads. Based on ranking index results, milk production (0.35) and draught power (0.25) were the main cattle production purpose/objectives of farmers. The chi-square (χ2) test results of mating practices showed a significant difference (p &lt; 0.001) and 63.8% of farmers used controlled mating. According to the ranking index result, large body size (0.35), colour (0.26), and good traction (0.18) were considered the most important traits in selecting a breeding bull. High milk yield (0.4), colour (0.19), large body size (0.16), and calf growth (0.13) were the preferred traits/criterias for cow selection. Prioritizing farmer trait preference and breeding objectives in this study was critical for the design and implementation of breeding programmes.</p

Evaluation of Hungarian Simmental Cattle Breed for Growth Traits and Its Genetic parameters

The aims of this study were evaluating of Hungarian Simmental cattle growth traits and calculating genetic parameters of growth traits. Calving ease, birth weight, weaning weight, weaning age, 205-day weight and average daily gain of Hungarian Simmental calves (n=2552, bulls=576 , heifers=1976)-and 258 cows were evaluated. The important data on growth traits of Hungarian Simmental breed were provided by Association of Hungarian Simmental Breeders and the body measurements and scores were measured on Derecske farm. Data on growth traits of Hungarian Simmental data were collected from 1999 to 2011 and measurements and scores were collected in 2012. Pedigree information traits were also included for heritablities and correlations calculation. The effects included in the model for the analysis of growth traits were sex (2 classes), birth year (13 classes), birth month (12 classes) and farm (8 classes). The overall results of Hungarian Simmental beef growth traits and body measurements and scores were calculated. R software program was used for variance analysis, least square means (+s.e) and calculating the correlatins between body measurements and scores of Hungarian Simmental cows. PEST software was used for data file and pedigree file coding. VCE6 software was used for calculating heritablities and correlations. The parameters were estimated with animal model. In the course of evaluation by an animal model the fixed effects were sex, farm, year and month. In case of weaning weight weaning age was fixed effect. Dam and animal were random effects. The mean weaning weight (WW) of the calves was 211.29 kg, the mean average daily gain (ADG) was 1101.22 g/day, the mean 205-day weight (205W) was 234 kg, the mean weaning age (WA) was 224 days, the mean birth weight (BW) was 32.86 kg and the mean calving ease was 1.41 score. Results of variance analysis of various factors influencing on growth traits were; sex significantly (P<0.001) influenced CE, BW, WW, WA, 205W and ADG. Birth year of the calf significantly (P<0.001) affected CE, BW, WW, WA, 205W and ADG. Birth month of the calf significantlay (p<0.001) influenced CE, BW, WW, 205W, ADG and (P<0.05) WA. Farm significantly (P<0.001) affected CE, BW, WA, 205W, ADG and WW.The estimated heritablities values of growth traits WW, BW, ADG and 205W were 0.261, 0.163, 0.314 and 0.252 respectively. The genetic correlation among weaning weight, birth weight, average daily gain and 205-day weight were positive but with calving ease was negative. Weaning weight had strong genetic correlation with average daily gain and 205-day weight. Calving ease also had negative genetic correlation with 205-day weight. Birth weight was geneticaly correlated with all other traits weakly. Average daily gain had strong genetic correlation with weaning weight and 205-day weight. The phenotypic correlation of weaning weight and calving ease were negative but with average daily gain and 205-day weight were strong positive correlation. Calving ease also had negative genetic correlation with 205-day weight. Weaning weight had strong genetic correlation with average daily gain and 205-day weight. Birth weight was phenotypically correlated with all other traits weakly. Average daily gain had strong phenotypic correlation with weaning weight and 205-day weight. The correlations between the measurements and scores of Hungarian Simmental cows were positive and negative. The thigh muscle with hip height, hip length, and body depth were positively correlated and the tigh muscle with hip width and body depth were moderately positively correlated.The relationship of shoulder muscle with hip height, hip length, body length and body depth were positive and with hip width were moderately positive. Rump angle and hip height, hip length, hip width, body length and body depth were positively correlated. The relationship of rear leg with hip height, hip length, hip width, body length and body depth were weakly positive.MscCandidate of Animal Science M.S

Growth, survival and egg production of exotic chicken breeds under small scale production system in Bahir Dar City Administration, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Growth, survival and egg production performance and profitability of exotic chicken breeds were evaluated under small-scale chicken producers in urban and peri-urban areas of Bahir Dar City from 2018 to 2019. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires, monitoring and field observation. Thirty-three small-scale chicken enterprises (30 from urban and three from peri-urban areas) were included in this study. All questionnaire data were analyzed using SPSS Version 20. The monitoring data was analyzed with ANOVA using the general linear model (GLM) procedure of SAS version 9.0. The monitoring result revealed that the growth performance of chicken significantly varied with respect to breeds and production systems of producers. Sasso T44 had higher daily body weight gain (10.66 ± 0.03 g) and total body weight gain (1642 ± 5.02 g) within 22 weeks of age in the urban areas. The mean egg production for Bovans Brown at the age of six months was 124.8 ± 4.10 eggs. The annual mean egg production performance of Bovans Brown was 239.63 ± 4.32. The overall mortality rate of all exotic chicken was 6.5%. Despite many constraints, small-scale chicken production was profitable. Seasonal disease outbreaks, shortages of feed and housing problems were the major constraints of small-scale chicken producers. The growth performance and survival rate of exotic chicken was promising, but the egg production was low. Therefore, the management practices of small-scale chicken enterprises in the study area should be improved

Reproductive performances of Ethiopian indigenous goat populations under different management conditions for assisting selective breeding schemes

ABSTRACTProfitable goat production is explained by an increased ratio of outputs (meat, milk, flees and skin) per production inputs (labour, feed and management costs). The productive potential of goats depends on their productive efficiency, which is associated with their reproductive rates. Moreover, the reproductive efficiency of individual breeding females determines the production potential of the flock. This paper reviewed the major reproductive performances of Ethiopian indigenous goat populations reported by several scholars under different management conditions. The evidence from the literature indicated that the reproductive performances of the Ethiopian goats ranged from 6.61 to 14.83 months, 11.82 to 28.46 months, 5.47 to 12.07 months, 1.00 to 2.15 kids and 4.72 to 10.2 years for pubertal age of females, age at first kidding, kidding interval, litter size at birth, and does’ average productive life, respectively. This indicates that there is considerable variation within and among the Ethiopian indigenous goat populations regarding the aforementioned reproductive parameters. Similarly, some reproductive traits including age at first kidding, kidding interval and litter size at birth have shown potential differences between management conditions. Hence, reproductive performances of the Ethiopian indigenous goat populations can be optimized using improved management, and within and between breed selective breeding schemes

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Thinness among Adolescent Students in Finote Selam Town, Northwest Ethiopia

Even if adolescence is a window of opportunity to break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition, adolescents are the neglected age groups. Hence, information regarding the nutritional status of adolescents is lacking, making creating and implementing intervention programs difficult. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of thinness among school adolescents in Finote Selam Town, Northwest Ethiopia. A school-based cross-sectional study among adolescent students aged 10–19 in public primary and secondary schools was carried out in Finote Selam Town from February 05 to March 27, 2018. Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were employed to select study subjects. A total of 397 adolescent students were included in the study. Pretested structured questionnaires were used to collect the data. Data were entered using Epi Info version 7 and analyzed using SPSS version 20 and WHO AnthroPlus software. A multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors associated with thinness. Crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% level significance were used to measure the strength of association, and statistical significance was declared at p value less than 0.05. The prevalence of thinness among adolescents was 14.9%. Early adolescent stage (AOR = 4.81; 95% CI : 1.23, 18.51), being male adolescent students (AOR = 2.33; 95% CI : 1.60, 3.40), having less than 1000 birr family monthly income (AOR = 6.54; 95% CI : 3 : 82, 14.89), having 1000–2000 birr family monthly income (AOR = 3.47; 95% CI : 1.15, 7.45), and using well water (AOR = 3.82; 95% CI : 1.46, 10.04) were significantly associated with thinness at 95% confidence interval. The study revealed that prevalence of thinness was high in the study area. Sex, place of residence, and family monthly income were found to be important factors associated with thinness among the respondents

Morpho-biometric characterization of indigenous chicken ecotypes in north-western Ethiopia.

Morphological characterization of Animal Genetic Resources is the first step to documenting diversity and designing breed specific breeding programs. The current study characterized the morpho-biometric variation of indigenous chicken ecotypes prevailing in northwestern Ethiopia. A multi-stage purposive, stratified, and random sampling method was employed to select the study areas and chickens. A total of 1200 adult chickens were sampled and characterized for 12 qualitative and 11 quantitative traits. Univariate and multivariate data analysis methods were employed to analyze the data using SAS and R statistical software. Red plumage colour (33.2%), white and red earlobe colour (73.8%) and yellow shank colour (57.0%) were the most predominant colour trait categories. Sex, agro-ecology, location, and the interaction of sex and location had a highly significant (p<0.001) effect on all body measurements. Shank traits were found to have the highest discriminating power in both sexes. The overall classification rates for the female and male sample populations were 57.47% and 69.97%, respectively. The squared Mahalanobis distances between sites were significant (p<0.001) for both sexes. The longest distance was obtained between North Achefer and Banja (19.25) and between North Achefer and Dembecha (16.80) in female and male chickens, respectively. In female chickens, canonical variates 1 (CAN 1) and 2 (CAN 2) explained 82% of total variation and distinctly separated the sample populations of North Achefer and Jawi from others. In male chickens, 90% of the total variance is explained by CAN1, CAN2, and CAN3, which distinctly separate the sample populations of the North Achefer, Sinan, and Jawi, among others. Using cluster analysis, the indigenous chickens found in the study area could be classified into four ecotypes: ecotype 1 (Banja, Dembecha, and Aneded), ecotype 2 (North Achefer), ecotype 3 (Sinan), and ecotype 4 (Jawi)