Anthelminthic effects of extracts of indigenous browses from mid rift valley of Ethiopia

This study was conducted to evaluate the potential anthelminthic properties of extracts of leaves of indigenous browses (Acacia seyal, Acacia senegal, Acacia tortilis, Millettia ferruginea, and Vernonia amygadalina) based on three in vitro assays. Acetone extracts of browses at different concentrations (75 to 1200 μg/ml, for egg and larvae and 100mg/ml for an adult) were tested on three developmental stages of Haemonchus contortus (eggs, infective larvae, and adult worms) using egg hatch assay (EHA), larval migration inhibition assay (LMIA) and adult worm motility inhibition assay (AMIA). Significant effects were obtained with all five browses but differences were observed depending on the parasitic stages. The effects of five browse extracts on egg hatching were concentration-dependent, the highest (P<0.05) egg hatch inhibition rate was observed at 1200 μg/ml concentration for all browses. All extracts had a higher effect (P<0.01) than that of the negative control, phosphate buffer saline (PBS). In contrast, no concentration-response relationship was found for infective larvae and adult worms, although more potent effects were observed with the highest concentrations. The LMI rate (70%) induced by Vernonia  amygadalina extract, at a concentration of 300 μg/ml, was the highest (P<0.05) of all other browses, even at higher concentrations. The highest LMI rate (62%) induced by Acacia senegal extract at higher concentration, was lower than that of LMI rate (70%) induced by Vernonia amygadalina, at 300 μg/ml concentration. Vernonia amygadalina was found to be highly and rapidly effective against adult worms inducing the highest mortality rate (90%) as soon as 4 hrs after incubation. Overall, the in vitro results suggest that these five  browses do possess anti-parasitic properties and Vernonia amygadalina showed the most effective anti-parasitic property. These effects remain to be confirmed through in vivo study

Effects of supplementation of different indigenous species of browses to Arsi-Bale yearling goats on feed intake, growth performance, and helminthes loads

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of browse tree leaves meals on growth performance and parasite load of naturally parasitized yearling goats. Thirty-six Arsi-Bale yearling bucks which were naturally parasitized with helminths were randomly allocated to one of the following feeding treatments; T1 = Chloris gayana grass hay ad lib + 100g concentrate, T2 = T1 + dried 100g of Acacia tortilis leaves, T3 = T1 + dried 100g of Acacia seyal leaves, T4 = T1 + dried 100g of Acacia senegal leaves, T5 = T1 + dried 100g of Millettia ferruginea leaves and T6 = T1 + dried 100g of Vernonia amygadalina leaves. Goats were fed on corresponding diets for 70 days. Fecal egg count and body weight changes were recorded every 14 days. Higher feed conversion efficiency was observed in goats supplemented with dried browse tree leaves of Acacia seyal (T3), Millettia ferruginea (T5), and Vernonia amygadalina (T6). All supplemented goats had significantly (p<0.05) lower fecal egg count (FEC) at day 70 and grew significantly (p<0.05) faster than the control group. Goats supplemented with dried browse tree leaves of Acacia seyal, Millettia ferruginea, and Vernonia amygadalina grew faster than goats supplemented with other dried browse tree leaves. A rapid and significant reduction of FEC was observed in goats supplemented with Millettia ferruginea starting from day 14 and the lowest (p<0.05) value was attained at day 70 after treatment. Similarly, goats supplemented with Vernonia amygadalina showed an accelerated reduction of FEC starting from day 28 and attained the lowest (p<0.05) value at day 70 after treatment. Goats supplemented with Millettia ferruginea (T5) and Vernonia amygadalina (T6) had the lowest (p<0.05) FEC at all times after supplementation and grew faster than the other groups. The rapid and accelerated reduction of FECs and fastest growth rate observed in goats supplemented with Millettia ferruginea and Vernonia amygadalina indicated that these browse tree leaves could be effective to control helminths parasite and improve the growth performance of parasitized goats

Carcass and meat quality characteristics of Arsi-Bale goats supplemented with different levels of air-dried Moringa stenopetala leaf

This study was conducted to assess the effect of air-dried Moringa stenopetala leaf (MSL) supplementation on carcass components and meat quality in Arsi-Bale goats. A total of 24 yearling goats with initial body weight of 13.6+/-0.25 kg were randomly divided into four treatments with six goats each. All goats received a basal diet of natural grass hay ad libitum and 340 g head^(−1) d^(−1) concentrate. The treatment diets contain a control diet without supplementation (T1) and diets supplemented with MSL at a rate of 120 g head^(−1) d^(−1) (T2), 170 g head^(−1) d^(−1) (T3) and 220 g head^(−1) d^(−1) (T4). The results indicated that the average slaughter weight of goats reared on T3 and T4 was 18.2 and 18.3 kg, respectively, being (P0.05) higher than those of T1 (15.8 kg) and T2 (16.5 kg). Goats fed on T3 and T4 diets had higher (P0.05) daily weight gain compared with those of T1 and T2. The hot carcass weight in goats reared on T3 and T4 diets was 6.40 and 7.30 kg, respectively, being (P0.05) higher than those of T1 (4.81 kg) and T2 (5.06 kg). Goats reared on T4 had higher (P0.05) dressing percentage than those reared in other treatment diets. The rib-eye area in goats reared on T2, T3 and T4 diets was higher (P0.05) than those of T1. The protein content of the meat in goats reared on T3 and T4 was 24.0 and 26.4%, respectively being significantly higher than those of T1 (19.1%) and T2 (20.1%). In conclusion, the supplementation of MSL to natural grass hay improved the weight gain and carcass parts of Arsi-Bale goats indicating Moringa leaves as alternative protein supplements to poor quality forages

Risk factors and case management of acute diarrhoea in North Gondar zone, Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, evidence is lacking about maternal care-taking and environmental risk factors that contribute to acute diarrhoea and the case management of diarrhoea. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors and to understand the management of acute diarrhoea. A pretested structured questionnaire was used for interviewing mothers of 440 children in a prospective, matched, case-control study at the University of Gondar Referral and Teaching Hospital in Gondar, Ethiopia. Results of multivariate analysis demonstrated that children who were breastfed and not completely weaned and mothers who were farmers were protective factors; risk factors for diarrhoea included sharing drinking-water and introducing supplemental foods. Children presented with acute diarrhoea for 3.9 days with 4.3 stools per day. Mothers usually did not increase breastmilk and other fluids during diarrhoea episodes and generally did not take children with diarrhoea to traditional healers. Incorporating messages about the prevention and treatment of acute diarrhoea into child-health interventions will help reduce morbidity and mortality associated with this disease

Grass composition and rangeland condition of the major grazing areas in the mid Rift Valley, Ethiopia

A range inventory and condition study was conducted in three altitude zones: lowland (1 500–1 700m), medium altitude (1 700–2 000m), and highland (2 000–2 500m). Each altitude zone was stratified into four or five important grazing areas. One area represented lightly grazed government ranches or parks which were used as benchmarks, another area represented the seasonal grazing areas with an intermediate grazing pressure and the remaining were the heavily grazed roadsides, lakeshores and other communal grazing lands. The range condition assessment was based on the composition of the herbaceous layer, basal cover, litter cover, relative number of seedlings, age distribution of grasses, soil erosion and soil compaction. Dry matter was sampled in the mid-wet season to assess the relationship between available dry matter and range condition. A total of 36 grass species, 3 legume species, 2 sedge species, 15 other herbs and 31 species of trees were identified. The palatable Cenchrus ciliaris was dominant in the benchmarks and seasonally grazed areas of the lowland while Hyparrhenia spp. dominated in the same areas of the medium altitude. Cynodon dactylon, and the non-palatable Eleusine floccifolia and Pennisetum schimperi were dominant on heavily grazed areas of the lowland, medium altitude and highland, respectively. The total score for range condition of the benchmarks (34 out of 50 points), was significantly higher than that of the seasonally grazed areas (26), the heavily grazed communal grazing areas (19), roadsides (16) and lakeshores (17) (

Supply Chain Management Practice and Its Impact on Performance of Humanitarian Relief Organization in Case of Gedeo Zone

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to see how supply chain management practices affected humanitarian relief organizations in the Gedeo zone. Research methodology: The study used a mixed research approach, with respondents selected using a stratified proportionate technique from each organization's employees to disseminate a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews done using a purposeful sampling technique. Correlation and regression, as well as thematic analysis, were used in the analysis. Results: The finding of the study reveals that supplier integration, information sharing, postponement, and outsourcing affect humanitarian relief organizations’ performance positively in a statistically significant way. Limitations: The main limitation is that the study focused only on humanitarian relief organizations operating in the Gedeo zone. Contribution: Ethiopia experienced natural and human-made disasters such as (El Niño, flood, famine, war, communal conflict, etc) for decades. To reduce the threat of this, the Study suggests that supply chain management practice is a serious concern for many relief humanitarian organizations operating in the Gedeo zone

NUTRITIONAL CHARACTERIZATION OF SELECTED INDIGENOUS BROWSE SPECIES IN NORTHERN ETHIOPIA

Background. Utilization of indigenous browse species have considerable potential to improve the nutritional deficiencies of low quality ruminant feeds under farmers’ condition. However, there is scarcity of scientific information on their nutritive value and ultimate impact on animals’ performance in Southern Tigray, Ethiopia. Objective. To evaluate the chemical composition, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and in sacco degradability of selected indigenous browse species as animal feed in Southern Tigray, Ethiopia. Methodology. Chemical analysis, IVDMD and in sacco degradability evaluation were done, following standard procedures, on leaf samples collected from nine dominantly available browse species (Ziziphus spina-Chiristi, Acacia tortilis, Balanites aegyptiaca, Grewia mollies, Carissa spinarum, Acacia etbaica, Pittosporum viridiflorum, Olea europaea and Dodonaoea angustifolia) during the main rainy season (end of September, 2020). Results. The crude protein (CP) contents of the browse species ranged from 9.96 to 23.32% on dry matter (DM) basis. The fiber components were highest for P. viridiflorum and lowest for D. angustifolia. The highest values of IVDMD (64.75%) and metabolizable energy (9.01 MJ/Kg DM) were recorded for Z. spina –Chiristi. All in vitro digestibility parameters were positively correlated with CP content but negatively correlated with acid detergent lignin (ADL) contents of the browses. The highest in sacco DM disappearance was recorded for Z. spina–Chiristi   at 48 and 72 hours. The concentration of calcium (Ca) ranged from 0.69% for O. europaea to 0.98% for G. mollis. The mean Ca to Phosphorus (P) ratio was 2.7:1. Implications. The information generated in this study is useful for efficient utilization of these valuable indigenous browse species in the study area. Conclusions. All studied browse species could be considered as potential feed sources to supplement low quality roughages

Women’s satisfaction with their urban health extension programme and associated factors in Gondar administrative city, northwest Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study

Objectives Ethiopia is a developing country striving to achieve universal health coverage using the health extension programme. There is limited evidence about Ethiopian women’s satisfaction with their urban health extension programme. Thus, this study was aimed at assessing the level of women’s satisfaction with their urban health extension services and associated factors in Gondar administrative city of northwest Ethiopia and elucidate factors associated with its access and use.Design Cross-sectional study.Setting Community.Participants Randomly selected 744 women were interviewed using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire.Outcome Satisfaction of women over 17 years of age with their urban health extension programme (use and services).Results Some 29.4% (95% CI 26.2 to 32.5) of women were satisfied with their urban health extension programme. Divorced women (adjusted OR (AOR): 0.35, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.85), women in the age group of 45–53 years (AOR: 0.35, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.85), private employees (AOR: 0.35, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.85), unsatisfactory knowledge (AOR: 0.13, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.25) and perceived accessibility of health extension workers (AOR: 0.99, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.17) were factors associated with women’s satisfaction with their urban health extension programme.Conclusions Women’s satisfaction with their urban health extension programme was low. This finding was associated with age, marital status, occupation, knowledge of participants and women’s perceived accessibility of services. Therefore, increasing awareness about the programme, promoting and improving accessibility of services, particularly by mothers, may augment the utilisation of the programme ultimately leads to efficient use of scarce healthcare resources in Ethiopia