Kanwa cattle salt as a potential micronutrient fertilizer in Nigeria's middle belt

Until recently kanwa has primarily been known as a mineral supplement fed to traditionally managed cattle in central and northern Nigeria. Preliminary studies carried out by ILCA's Subhumid Zone Programme in 1984 indicated its potential as an economically attractive source of plant micronutrients. A 200 kg/ha increase in the crude protein yield of stylo (Stylosanthes hamata cv. Verano) was obtained by applying 50kg of kanwa per ha, at a total cost of only US$ 5.00

Effect of ruminal plastic bags on haematological and biochemical parameters of sheep and goats

A study was carried out with the objective of determining the haematological and blood biochemical parameters in sheep and goats with plastic bags in the rumen for a period of 42 days. This was to indicate the possible influence of plastic bags in the rumen on blood parameters. 16, one-year old castrate Dorper sheep with a mean body weight of 26.8 kg (± 0.3 kg) and 16 one-year old castrate small East African goats with a mean weight of 24.5 kg (± 0.3 kg) were used for the study. The 16 sheep and 16 goats were divided into 4 groups of 4 animals each (n = 4). Three groups of each species were implanted with 129 g, 258 g and 387 g of plastic bags, respectively, in the rumen through rumenotomy and the fourth group of each species was control on which rumenotomy was done but with no implanting of plastic bags. Blood samples were obtained by jugular venipuncture from all sheep and goats every 2 weeks for analysis. The only haematological parameter that had significant change was platelets, which significantly (p < 0.05) increased in both sheep and goats with plastic bags in the rumen. However, mean values of erythrocytes, packed cell volume, haemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume decreased but not significantly in the sheep and goats with plastic bags in the rumen. The sheep and goats with plastic bags in the rumen had hyponatraemmia, hypochloridaemia and decreased aspartate aminotransferase enzyme activity. The changes observed in haematological and biochemical parameters could be an indication of adverse effects on the production and well-being of sheep and goats that ingest these plastic bags. These finding may be of diagnostic importance in cases of rumen impaction with indigestible foreign bodies, particularly, plastic bags

Clinical manifestations in sheep with plastic bags in the rumen

Sixteen 1-year-old castrate Dorper sheep were used for the study. The animals were divided into four groups of four animals (n = 4). Three groups were implanted with 129 g, 258 g and 387 g of thin plastic bags into the rumen through rumenotomy, while the fourth group was subjected to rumenotomy without implanting plastic bags, and served as control. All the animals were monitored daily for 6 weeks following implantation. Presence of plastic bags in the rumen was characterized by anorexia, severe depression, discomfort, dehydration, firmness and asymmetrical distension of the abdomen, ruminal hypomotility and diarrhoea with intermittent constipation, weight loss, terminal recumbency and death. The severity of these clinical manifestations increased with increased quantities of plastic bags and their duration in the rumen. Sheep implanted with 258 g and 387 g lost 7.8 percent and 14.2 percent of their initial mean body weight, respectively, by the end of 6 weeks. Presence of plastic bags in the rumen could interfere with digestion, with a gradual loss in body weight, productivity and occasional mortality. Plastic bags in the rumen should be considered as a differential diagnosis in sheep presenting the observed clinical signs, especially in urban and periurban areas

Leucaena in East Africa

The East African highlands face servere erosion problems, declining soil fertility and acute shortages of fodder and fuelwood. These problems are worsened by the region's rapid population growth, but may be reduced if leguminous trees are integrated into the farming systems. Adapted leucaena species and provenances have the potential to control erosion and conserve soil on sloping lands, to improve soil fertility and to supply quality fodder and wood products. Wide use of leucaena in the highlands of eastern Africa has been limited by poor adaptation of Leucaena leucocephala to the highly acidic, aluminium rich soils and the high altitutdes. L. diversifolia provenances have shown tolerance to acidity, and recorded biomass yields comparable to the adapted tree, Calliandra calothyrsus. Use of L. diversifolia as green mulch and fodder has also shown very promising results. This paper outlines the potential for leucaena Development in the East African highlands (rainfall > 1000 mm, altitutde 1500-2900 m.a.s.l), and discusses priorities for Leucaena research in the zone

Use of Range Shrubs to Meet Nutrient Requirements of Sheep Grazing on Crested Wheatgrass during Fall and Early Winter

This study considered the feasibility of supplementing crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum Fisch.) forage with some common rangeland shrubs. The necessary proportions of shrub and grass in the diet to meet protein and energy requirements were calculated for gestating sheep during the late fall and early winter grazing season. Shrubs studied included fourwing saltbush Atriplex canescens Pursh. Nutt.), winterfat (Ceratoides lanata (Pursh Howell), rubber rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. albicaulis, (Nutt) Rydb.), and big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana Nutt.). The shrubs were consistently higher in both total and digestible protein than crested wheatgrass over the period of study. Fourwing saltbush and winterfat with 8.24 and 6.31% digestible protein, respectively, were found to be the most promising shrubs to be used to supplement the low protein content of crested wheatgrass for late fall grazing. To meet dietary requirements for gestating sheep would require a minimum of 56 to 69% of fourwing saltbush and winterfat respectively, in the diet. Sagebrush and rabbitbrush were lower in digestible protein content, 4.04 and 4.43%, respectively, and therefore could not be used alone with crested wheatgrass.This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries.The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform August 202

Some methods for improving fodder by incorporating forage legumes in cereal cropping systems in the Nigerian sub-humid zone

Describes the design and potential application of some techniques to improve fodder in selected cropping patterns in the subhumid zone of Nigeria. Lists major crops cultivated in the SHZ. Presents the cropping patterns in Abet