Non-conventional indigenous mineral supplements used for cattle feeding in the pastoral rangelands of Ethiopia

A study conducted to assess and sample the composition and quality of native supplements such as salt licks, soil licks and well waters from various parts of Ethiopia used by pastoral nomads for cattle feeding

Performance of crossbred dairy calves fed a basal diet of meadow hay supplemented with noug (Guizotia abyssinica) cake or urea-molasses mixture with or without phosphate

A study conduted to examine the response to supplementary phosphours by dairy calves fed a basal diet of native grass hay supplemented with urea-molasses mixture or a local oilseed cake, noug (nigerseed). Includes data on chemical composition, bodyweight gains, intake & digestibility, and bone quality of calves

Potential of agricultural by-products as sources of mineral nutrients in ruminant diets

Examines crop residues and agro-industrial by-products available in Ethiopia as potential ruminant feeds in relation to their potential to supply essential dietary minerals. Studies composition, digestibility, mineral content, mineral availability of diets and mineral disappearance from ox rumen

The effect of age of regrowth on content and release of manganese, iron, zinc and copper from four tropical forages incubated in sacco in rumen of sheep

Investigates the changes due to age of regrowth on mineral content of four tropical forages and release of these minerals in sacco in the rumen of sheep

Trace element kinetics in the digestive tract of sheep fed diets with graded levels of dietary fibre

Investigates the effect of increasing dietary fibre in roughage diet on movement of trace elements in the digestive tract of sheeSummarises the composition of experimental diets. Includes data on nutrient concentration, digestibility, absorbtion and secretion

Mineral status of Boran Zebu cattle in semi-arid rangelands of southern Ethiopia and the effects of supplementary phosphorus and copper

Reports a study conducted in the southern rangelands of Ethiopia, to evaluate the mineral status of Boran zebu cattle and their responses to supplementary P and Cu. Forages were marginal-to-deficient in Na, P and Cu probably due to the very low levels of these elements in the soil. Results indicate that supplementary P as bonemeal and injectable Cu showed no effect on the serum mineral concentrations and conditions of 2-3 year-old male cattle, and animals which received supplementary Cu but not P gained 10 kg bodyweight more than those not supplemented. No statistical differences were observed in blood mineral content due to physiological status. Consumption of saline waters suppressed mineral supplement intake shows that cattle supplementation with limiting mineral nutrients in pasture such as Na, P and Cu, under poor nutritional status, may be of no benefit unless limiting nutrients such as protein and low forage supply are rectified

An overview of the sheep research activities in the highlands

Gives an overview of the sheep research activities in the highlands of Ethiopia with particular reference to monitoring work performance and mineral supplementation