Management Practices and Productive Performances of Sasso Chickens Breed under Village Production System in SNNPR, Ethiopia

A cross sectional study was conducted with the objectives of assessing management practices and to evaluate productive performance of Sasso under village production system in two woredas of Wolaitta zone (Sodo zuria and Boloso sore) and two woredas of Kambata tambaro zone (Angecha and Hadaro tunto), SNNPR, Ethiopia. Totally, 160 randomly selected respondents were included in the study from eight purposively selected Peasant Associations (PAs) from four districts. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and one way ANOVA. In all study woredas, 64% of the chicken owners provided supplementary feed to the village chicken, especially during feed scarcity seasons . Maize, wheat and ''Frushka'' were the most common additional supplementary feeds used in feeding poultry in the study woredas, mostly three times a day. About 96.8% of respondents in study areas provided water with free access. The average eggs laid/year/bird was 229.14±52.49 and 54.96±15.65 eggs for Sasso and local chickens, respectively. Average age at first laying was 4.76±0.85 and 6.22±1.26 months for Sasso  and local chicken respectively. Presence of diseases, in adequate veterinary services, feed shortage and predators were listed as major constraints in all study woredas. Getting improved chicks at affordable price, provision of vaccination at village level, getting training on poultry rearing, supply of electricity and clean water were mentioned as option to improve chicken productivity in the study woredas. The study showed good performance of Sasso chicken under village production system; suggesting productivity could be increased through improved housing, feeding and health management. Keywords: Sasso, village poultry production system, productive performances, body weigh

Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Dual-Purpose “Potchefstroom Koekoek”Chickens Fed Varying Levels of Raw (Sun-Dried) Boloso-1 Taro (Colocasia esculenta) Corm Meal

A 91 day feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of different inclusion levels of processed Boloso-1 taro corm (Colocasiaesculenta) meal on growth performance and carcass characteristics of dual-purpose Koekoeck chickens. Three hundred koekoek of one day old were randomly assigned to five treatment diets. Diets 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 contain 0%, 3%, 6%, 9% and 12% levels of processed taro corm meal. Each treatment was replicated three times with 20 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. The result of the experiment shows significant differences (p<0.05) in final body weight, average daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio and average daily weight gain. However, T2 had the highest (925.27 g) final body weight while T5 had the lowest (775.21 g). The higher and better (P<0.05) final body weight of T2 could be attributed to the difference in feed composition or the acceptability of the diets or other factors. Mortality was the same across all dietary treatments. Inclusion of sun dried processed Boloso-I Taro corm meal up to 9% level was acceptable since inclusion at this level did not adversely affect the production performance of dual purpose Koekoek chicken in terms of growth rate, mortality rate, and feeding efficiency. The use of taro meal as nonconventional and alternative carbohydrate source in poultry diet presents positive economic implications, especially to small hold farmers from the developing countries. Keywords:Dual purpose,Taro corm, growth performance, feed intake, Koekoek,Corm Meal, Colocasiaesculenta. DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/13-17-02 Publication date:October 31st 202

Res Nullius vs. Res Communis in Matters of Communal Lands of Smallholder Farmers in Ethiopia

Communal land is among the key factors in the enhancement of rural livelihood because it enables mixed farming practices. Although communal lands are prime sources of livelihood in rural farming communities, empirical evidence shows gaps in their legal recognition and protection in Ethiopia. There are encroachments which include government intrusion, informal land sale, distribution, and handing out land (selling communal land in informal markets) as Kebele’s contribution for development projects. These factors entrench poverty by sidelining the rural poor at the grassroots whose life is anchored on these lands. These problems also entail violation of human rights of the rural population. This article interrogates the misconception which tends to consider communal lands (customary land tenure) as res nullius (ownerless property) while such lands are in fact res communis (community property). The article uses the Hadiya Zone as a case study. It is argued that there is the need for the effective implementation and amendment of land laws which require political will to ensure tenure security of communal lands thereby securing and diversifying the livelihoods of poor smallholder rural farmers and ensuring human rights.Key termsCommunal lands · Livestock · Poverty · Livelihoods · Rural Poor · Tenure securit

Assessment of Village Chicken Production Systems in Kambata Tambaro and Wolaita Zones, SNNPR, Ethiopia

The study was conducted in four woredas (Damot Gale,Of a, Angacha and Hadero Tunto) the first two of them found in Wolaita zone and two of them in Kambata Tambaro Zone of SNNPR, Ethiopia respectively. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the study areas to assess village chicken production systems, productive and reproductive performance of village chicken and identifying constraints to village chicken production. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 240 farming households and administer a pre-tested and structured questionnaire. The results showed that the mean age of interviewed farmers was 37.8±9.3 years; average family size & chicken owned per household were 6.8±2.4 persons and 8.6±1.7 heads, respectively. There was no significant differences (p≥0.05) found among the four woredas in all the above traits. The average number of clutch and eggs per hen per year of local chicken in the study areas were 4±0.87 and 12.9±3.47 respectively

Demonstration and Evaluation of Dual Purpose Chicken “Potchefstroom Koekoek” Packages at Areka areas, SNNPR, Ethiopia

The demonstration was conducted in Wolaita zone, Boloso Sore district at Areka and around Areka areas. Participants (farmers) were selected purposively on the basis of willingness to construct poultry house; to cover all the associated package costs and record the required was selected. Survival of chicks during the first 8 weeks of brooding using hay-box at the farmers management condition was 79.8% (359 were survived out 450). On average about 93.1% of the chicken were survived to the laying age while mortality reduced from 20.2% to 6.9%. The average age at first egg-laying recorded at each farmers was 142 days and average weight of eggs at first laying was 40.2g. The average weight of male and female chicken at 20 weeks of age was 1.5kg and 1.1kg respectively. Field day was arranged when they were at the age of 20 weeks and 135 (120 male and 15 female) farmers and 65 (60 male and 5 female) researchers, experts and government officials from regional to woredas levels were participated on field day and awareness creation was created as a result all participants got a conviction to consider the technology as a viable agricultural venture

Assessment of Village Chicken Production Systems in Kambata Tambaro and Wolaita Zones, SNNPR, Ethiopia

The study was conducted in four woredas (Damot Gale,Of a, Angacha and Hadero Tunto) the first two of them found in Wolaita zone and two of them in Kambata Tambaro Zone of SNNPR, Ethiopia respectively. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the study areas to assess village chicken production systems, productive and reproductive performance of village chicken and identifying constraints to village chicken production. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 240 farming households and administer a pre-tested and structured questionnaire. The results showed that the mean age of interviewed farmers was 37.8±9.3 years; average family size & chicken owned per household were 6.8±2.4 persons and 8.6±1.7 heads, respectively. There was no significant differences (p≥0.05) found among the four woredas in all the above traits. The average number of clutch and eggs per hen per year of local chicken in the study areas were 4±0.87 and 12.9±3.47 respectively

Demonstration and Evaluation of Dual Purpose Chicken “Potchefstroom Koekoek” Packages at Areka areas, SNNPR, Ethiopia

The demonstration was conducted in Wolaita zone, Boloso Sore district at Areka and around Areka areas. Participants (farmers) were selected purposively on the basis of willingness to construct poultry house; to cover all the associated package costs and record the required was selected. Survival of chicks during the first 8 weeks of brooding using hay-box at the farmers management condition was 79.8% (359 were survived out 450). On average about 93.1% of the chicken were survived to the laying age while mortality reduced from 20.2% to 6.9%. The average age at first egg-laying recorded at each farmers was 142 days and average weight of eggs at first laying was 40.2g. The average weight of male and female chicken at 20 weeks of age was 1.5kg and 1.1kg respectively. Field day was arranged when they were at the age of 20 weeks and 135 (120 male and 15 female) farmers and 65 (60 male and 5 female) researchers, experts and government officials from regional to woredas levels were participated on field day and awareness creation was created as a result all participants got a conviction to consider the technology as a viable agricultural venture

Evaluation of the Effect of Perennial Forage Legume (Desmodium uncinatum) Intercropping with Sugarcane on Forage and Major Crop Yield, and Economic Effectiveness at Wondo Genet, Sidama, Ethiopia

This study was initiated to evaluate the effect of intercropping perennial forage legume (Desmodium uncinatum) with sugarcane on main crop and forage yield at Wondo genet. Five treatments (Sole main crop (Sugarcane), Sole Desmodium uncinatum and three seeding rates (full recommended rate, 75 % and 50 % of full recommended rate) were used for forage legume when intercropped with Sugarcane in randomized complete block design with three replications. Millable cane height, internodes number and internodes length showed non-significant effect due to different intercropping systems while cane yield (ton/ha) and green tops yield (ton/ha) did show significant difference with different intercropping systems. Experimental results reveal that different intercropping systems had no significant impact (p=0.05) on plant height, fresh biomass yield and dry biomass yield of intercrops (Desmodium uncinatum). Partial LER of sugarcane (LERs) was maximum when sugarcane was intercropped with full seeding rate of desmodium. Maximum LER of inter crops (Desmodium) (LERd) and maximum total LER (LERt) was reported in sugarcane + full seeding rate of desmodium intercropping system (1.04 and 1.80 respectively). Lowest LERt (1.36) was recorded in Sugarcane + 75% seeding rate of desmodium intercropping system. Sugarcane yield (t/ha) in sugarcane + full seeding rate of desmodium intercropping system was higher than all other combined intercropping systems. All LERt were greater than one and it indicates that the intercrop is more productive than the respective sole cropping. Keywords: Sugarcane, Intercropping, Desmodium, Land equivalent ratio, Yield DOI: 10.7176/FSQM/114-02 Publication date: April 30th 202

Performance Evaluation of Napier Grass (Penisetum Purpuruem (L.) Schumach) accessions under rain fed and Irrigation System at Wondo Genet

Six Napier grass accessions (Penisetum purpuruem) that have been tested and identified for their better agronomic and yield performance at different national and regional research centers were collected and tested at Wondo genet Agricultural Research center under two sets (under irrigation and rain fed) conditions. The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design with three replications. Under supplementary irrigation there was no significant difference (P&gt;0.05) of mean yield and yield components observed among accessions both under fertilizer application and without fertilizer application with fresh biomass yield (t/ha) ranged from 43.73 to 70.24 and that of dry biomass yield (t/ha) ranged 11.54 to 20.32. Under rainfed condition the combined mean analysis for tiller number per plant, plant height, node number per plant and internodes length per plant did show significant (P&lt;0.05) while fresh biomass yield and dry matter yield didn’t show significant (P&gt;0.05) difference. Fresh biomass yield (59.11 t/ha) and dry matter yield (16.17 t/ha) for fertilizer application is significantly higher (p&lt;0.05) than fresh biomass and dry matter yield of 40.51 t/ha and 10.51 t/ha respectively for non-fertilizer applied Napier accessions under rain fed condition. Both under supplementary irrigation and rainfed conditions, Napier accessions 14983, 15743 and 16788 responds better mean fresh and dry biomass yield. Hence, among tested genotypes 14983, 15743 and 16788 Napier grass accessions will be encouraged in the study area and similar environment.</p

Evaluation and Registration of the Newly Introduced Supersonic Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Variety in Ethiopia

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most important perennial forage legume recommended for livestock feed due to its better yield and nutritional quality. So the introduced supersonic alfalfa variety was evaluated with the standard check variety (alfalfa-1086) at Holetta, DebreZeit, Kulumsa, Wondo-Genet, Werer, and Pawe locations aimed to assess forage biomass yield, chemical composition, and tolerance to major pests and diseases during the main cropping season of 2018 under supplementary irrigation. The result indicated that the introduced supersonic alfalfa variety gave a higher (P&lt;0.05) plant height and dry matter yield than the standard check variety at each location and combined across locations. Moreover, the plant height and dry matter yield of alfalfa varieties varied significantly (P&lt;0.05) across locations. The introduced supersonic alfalfa variety was consistently superior in dry matter yield than the standard check variety which implied better stability under diverse environmental conditions. However, the dry matter yield varied across locations due to the differential response of the varieties for the test locations. The introduced supersonic alfalfa variety had 12.9, 11.6, and 7.7% dry matter yield, digestible yield, and crude protein yield advantages over the standard check variety, respectively. The nutritive values of supersonic alfalfa were slightly lower in ash, crude protein, digestibility and relative feed value and higher in fiber contents than the standard check variety. Based on the overall performances, the introduced variety was verified with the same standard check variety during the main cropping season of 2020 under supplementary irrigation. Due to its better yield performance, and pest and disease reaction, the National Variety Releasing Committee approved supersonic alfalfa variety in 2021 to be cultivated in low to high altitude areas ranging from 750 to 2400 meters above sea level, which have an annual rainfall ranging from 800 to 1200 mm