Study on Prevalence of GI Nematodes in Indigenous Bonga Sheep Breed at Three Selected Agro Ecologies of Kaffa and Bench Maji Zones, Ethiopia

The current study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Gastro Intestinal Tract (GIT) nematodes of Bonga indigenous sheep breed in three selected districts of Kaffa and Bench Maji zones of Southern Region from September 2010 - April 2011. Cross sectional study for prevalence determination using post mortem and fecal examination and longitudinal prospective study for characterization of the partial seasonal dynamics of nematodes was carried out in the study. A total of 60 animals were subjected to post mortem examinations and 2304 fecal samples were analyzed using standard coprological techniques (flotation and modified McMaster fecal worm egg counts). Questionnaire survey was conducted in randomly selected 6 PA’s and 60 households from three districts. Results from coprological examination revealed the overall prevalence of nematodes in Bonga sheep were 96.7%. During post mortem examination, four nematode species (Haemonchus contortus, 76.8%), (Oesophagostomum venulasum, 43.3%), (Bunostomum trigonocephalum, 30%) and (Trichostrongylus axei 25%), were identified. Fecal examination results in all study sites from population of Bonga sheep  during two sampling periods (early rainy and late dry) indicated significant differences in mean Egg count per Gram (EPG)  in the two season of the years (p<0.05). About 90 % of Bonga sheep had EPG value 5- 800 the remaining had 801-1200. Poly parasitism predominated in all study areas varying from 100% in Adio kaka, and 95% in N.Bench, 95% in Gimbo. . Absence of veterinary services and lack of helminthes control strategies were believed to be responsible for such higher worm prevalence in the areas. These findings indicate that nematode parasites are a serious threat to the existing small ruminant population and livestock productivity at large in these study districts and require an immediate professional intervention. Key words: Gastro intestinal nematode species; Small ruminants; Prevalence; Egg per Gra

Excellence in Agronomy 2030 - Use Case term sheets - May 2021

The Excellence in Agronomy 2030 (EiA 2030) Initiative aims at developing and delivering agronomy at scale solutions based on demand from scaling partners. Such demand is then formulated and operationalized around Use Cases

Targeting SLM technologies across landscapes: a framework to facilitate matching SLM technologies with landscape conditions and generate evidences

The aim of this report is to develop a detailed framework that can guide the placement of land restoration options where they can be more effective so that the right ‘places’ are targeted and the appropriate technologies are used. The framework will also form the basis towards developing a decision support tool that can be used to accomplish processes and steps of landscape restoration (Fig. 1). The framework details the steps from diagnosis to identify hotspot areas of intervention, characterize those hotspots to assess potentials, constraints and current status. Once the detailed characterization is done, the next level will be to identify suitable SLM options that can be applied to restore the conditions of the hotspots. In order to make sure that the practices/technologies can serve their purpose there will be a need to characterize them in terms of their potential and requirements. Once the above two are assessed, ex-ante and scenario analysis can be undertaken to evaluate the impacts of the interventions across the landscape catena. This is an essential step to gain an idea of what we will get from implementing the technologies targeting the hotspots. Once this preliminary information is available, we can match the options (LSM technologies/practices) to context (diagnosed hotspots). This is the actual development work on the ground and should be led by the results of the scenario analysis – implement linked/complementary technologies following the landscape continuum. The next step will then be to generate evidences of the interventions using before/after and/or with and without approaches. This is equally important because this is the step where we determine whether the interventions are providing the intended services and functions. Based on lessons, adjustments can be made where necessary. This can be done in near real-time so that incentives can be provided or penalties can be enforced. Tradeoff analysis will also be a key component of this step. Finally, it will be necessary to determine the optimum combinations of land uses and management options to gain optimum benefits in terms of ecosystem services