Evaluation of n-alkanes, long-chain alcohols, and carbon stable isotope enricnments of n-alkanes as diet composition markers in free-grazing animals

Please read abstract in the article.International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)http://www.publish.csiro.au/anhj2022Animal and Wildlife Science

Evaluation of Chickpea Varieties and Fungicides for the Management of Chickpea Fusarium Wilt Disease (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris) at Adet Sick Plot in Northwest Ethiopia

A 2-year experiment was conducted at wilt sick plot infested with natural occurring Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris at Adet Agricultural Research Center in northwestern Ethiopia with an aim to evaluate effective chickpea varieties and fungicides for the management of chickpea fusarium wilt in order to integrate chickpea varieties and fungicides. Four varieties, namely, Shasho, Arerti, Marye, and local, two fungicides, namely, Apron Star and mancozeb, and untreated local chickpea were used as treatments. Treatments were arranged in a factorial combination in randomized complete block design in three replications. There were significant differences at p<0.05 in the overall mean of fusarium wilt disease incidence, area under disease progress curve %-day, yield and yield components among varieties and fungicides treatments. Data were analyzed using SAS system version 9.2. The results indicated that the maximum disease incidence and area under disease progress curve values 65.62% and 578.5%-day, respectively, were recorded from untreated local chickpea, while the minimum disease incidence and area under disease progress curve values 23.41% and 147%-day, respectively, were recorded from Shasho variety treated with Apron Star. The maximum biomass and grain yield of 6.71 t/ha and 4.6 t/ha, respectively, were recorded from Shasho variety treated with Apron Star while the minimum biomass and grain yield of 0.62 t/ha and 0.21 t/ha, respectively, were recorded from untreated local chickpea. Thus, the experiment results suggested that the variety of Shasho treated with fungicide Apron Star caused significant reduction in chickpea fusarium wilt incidence leading to a corresponding increase in grain yield of chickpea

Production, reproduction and some adaptation characteristics of Boran cattle breed under changing climate: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

IntroductionClimate change affects livestock production and productivity, which could threaten livestock-based food security in pastoral and agro-pastoral production systems of the tropics and sub-tropics. Boran cattle breed is one of the hardiest Zebu cattle reared by Borana Oromo pastoralists for milk and meat production. However, there is limited comprensive information on production, reproduction and adaption traits of the Boran cattle in Ethiopia. Thus, this paper aims to compile the main production, reproduction and some adaptation traits of Boran cattle based on systematic review and meta-analysis of peer reviewed published and unpublished literature.MethodologyA combination of systematic review and meta-analysis based on PRISMA guideline was employed. Accordingly, out of 646 recorded articles identified through database searching, 64 were found to be eligible for production, reproduction and adaptation characteristics of the Boran cattle, 28 articles were included in qualitative systematic review while 36 articles were used for quantitative meta-analysis.ResultThe Boran cattle breed has the ability to survive, produce and reproduce under high ambient temperature, utilize low quality forage resources, and resist water shortage or long watering intervals and tick infestations. The review revealed that the breed employs various adaptation responses (morphological, physiological, biochemical, metabolic, cellular and molecular responses) to cope with harsh environmental conditions including climate change, rangeland degradation, seasonal feed and water shortages and high incidences of tick infestations. The meta-analysis using a random-effects model allowed provision of pooled estimates of heritability and genetic correlations for reproduction and production traits, which could be used to solve genetic prediction equations under a population level in purebred Boran cattle. In addition, heritability and genetic-correlation estimates found in the present study suggest that there is high genetic variability for most traits in Boran cattle, and that genetic progress is possible for all studied traits in this breed.ConclusionThe Boran cattle breed has the ability to survive, produce and reproduce under high ambient temperature, utilize low quality forage resources, and resist water shortage or long watering intervals and tick infestations. However, currently there are several challenges such as recurrent droughts, pasture deterioration and lack of systematic selection and breeding programs that play to undermine the realization of the potential of the breed. Thus, we recommend systematic selection for enhancing the reproductive and production performances without compromising the adaptation traits of the breed coupled with improved management of rangelands

Estimation of feed intake and digestibility in Zebu type Arsi steers fed natural pasture using the n-alkane technique

Please read abstract in the article.International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the University of Pretoria.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/anifeedscihj2022Animal and Wildlife Science

Assessment of botanical composition, biomass yield, nutritional quality and methane production of forages in selected grasslands, southern highlands of Ethiopia

A study was conducted to assess botanical composition, biomass yield, nutritive value and methane production of forages in the grasslands of Kofele district in West Arsi Zone of Oromia National Regional State, southern Ethiopia. Three patches of the grassland including protected grassland, private grazing land used by smallholder farmers and ranch were selected for the study to represent three different grazing land management practices. Quadrats of 0.5 m × 0.5 m were used to determine biomass yield and collect samples of herbaceous forages from each site (12 quadrats from each site). For woody species four 10 m × 10 m plots were established along transect of 200 m with 20 m distance between plots to identify available species (in the ranch only). A total of 20 herbaceous species were identified, out of which 45% were grasses, 15% legumes, 10% sedges and 30% forbs. Out of 17 browse species identified in the ranch, 47.1% were trees while 52.9% were shrubs. The total biomass production from protected grassland (4.34 t/ha) was higher (P<0.05) than that of private grazing land (3.66 t/ha) and ranch (3.76 t/ha). Biomass production of sedge and forbs were the highest (P<0.05) in ranch. The ranges of chemical constituents for grasses were 8.44–10.74%, 52.8–72%, 27.7–37.4%, 3.1–5.6%, 58.2–76% for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), respectively. The CP and IVDMD for legumes varied from 15.64–20.33% and 80.1–85–1%, respectively. For browses the ranges of CP and IVDMD were 15.41–27.19% and 57.4–81.9%, respectively.. Among grass species, Eragrostis botryodes generated less methane. In general, legumes (5.5–6.5 mL/200 mg) and sedge (6 mL/200 mg) produced less amount of methane compared with grasses (7–10.5 mL/200 mg). Browses (9.5–13.5 mL/200 mg) produced more methane compared with herbaceous species (5.5–10.5 mL/200 mg). In conclusion protecting grassland and using cut and carry feeding system promoted more herbage production. The CP content of grass is generally good but supplementation with legumes and browses are required in practical feeding. The use of legumes with grasses and other browse species is recommended as a feeding strategy to reduce methane production However; further investigations on animal response trials are suggested to see the potential of these feed resources

Assessment of botanical composition, biomass yield, nutritional quality and methane production of forages in selected grasslands, southern highlands of Ethiopia

A study was conducted to assess botanical composition, biomass yield, nutritive value and methane production of forages in the grasslands of Kofele district in West Arsi Zone of Oromia National Regional State, southern Ethiopia. Three patches of the grassland including protected grassland, private grazing land used by smallholder farmers and ranch were selected for the study to represent three different grazing land management practices. Quadrats of 0.5 m × 0.5 m were used to determine biomass yield and collect samples of herbaceous forages from each site (12 quadrats from each site). For woody species four 10 m × 10 m plots were established along transect of 200 m with 20 m distance between plots to identify available species (in the ranch only). A total of 20 herbaceous species were identified, out of which 45% were grasses, 15% legumes, 10% sedges and 30% forbs. Out of 17 browse species identified in the ranch, 47.1% were trees while 52.9% were shrubs. The total biomass production from protected grassland (4.34 t/ha) was higher (P<0.05) than that of private grazing land (3.66 t/ha) and ranch (3.76 t/ha). Biomass production of sedge and forbs were the highest (P<0.05) in ranch. The ranges of chemical constituents for grasses were 8.44–10.74%, 52.8–72%, 27.7–37.4%, 3.1–5.6%, 58.2–76% for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), respectively. The CP and IVDMD for legumes varied from 15.64–20.33% and 80.1–85–1%, respectively. For browses the ranges of CP and IVDMD were 15.41–27.19% and 57.4–81.9%, respectively.. Among grass species, Eragrostis botryodes generated less methane. In general, legumes (5.5–6.5 mL/200 mg) and sedge (6 mL/200 mg) produced less amount of methane compared with grasses (7–10.5 mL/200 mg). Browses (9.5–13.5 mL/200 mg) produced more methane compared with herbaceous species (5.5–10.5 mL/200 mg). In conclusion protecting grassland and using cut and carry feeding system promoted more herbage production. The CP content of grass is generally good but supplementation with legumes and browses are required in practical feeding. The use of legumes with grasses and other browse species is recommended as a feeding strategy to reduce methane production However; further investigations on animal response trials are suggested to see the potential of these feed resources.The International Atomic Energy Agencyhttp://www.elsevier.com/locate/sciafhj2022Animal and Wildlife Science