Spatial data management for livestock distribution in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has the largest livestock population in Africa. It is estimated at 105 million tropical livestock units, which includes 49.3 million heads of cattle, 47 million heads of sheep and goat, 8.3 million equines, 760 thousand camels and a poultry population of 38.13 million. The sector contributes to the livelihood of 60-70% of the Ethiopian population - this translates into approximately 44-52 million people whose subsidiary needs and economic activities rely on livestock production. Understanding the spatial distribution of livestock species is crucial in order to devise a feasible and geographically targeted livestock development policy. The aim of this study is to identify the research gap on the spatial distribution of livestock in LIVES project and to fill the gap by reviewing different literatures and related works. Besides, we proposed and developed a web-based spatial data management application for the LIVES project that makes use of researchers and academicians to have a ground reference to make further research and improve the internal operations of the organization, raises community satisfaction, and simplifies spatial data management and exchange. In order to conduct and justify this project we reviewed different journal articles and related works. In addition we have discussed with the GIS expert of LIVES project. In the mean time we have also collected livestock shape files from the LIVES project so as to use as an input to the proposed prototype web based application. Through the course of this project we were able to observer and identify that the LIVES project handles and manages their spatial data using ArcGIS Desktop application that lacks to handle and render up-to-date and quality livestock information via the web. We believed that having a web based application is necessary to permit timely livestock information dissemination, easy access, and render up-to-date livestock information to the ix public. Furthermore, it improves the efficiency of spatial data management and provides quality of services through the web

Do Foreign Direct Investment and Foreign Aid Promote Good Governance in Africa?

The literature on the roles that governance/political and economic stability play to attract capital flows into African economies has been burgeoning. Good governance, liberalization, infrastructure, incentive packages have been regarded as cures to break the deadlock to reverse the economic plight, to attract inflow of capital and, in some cases, to reverse outflows of African economies. The flow of capital, however, has undesirable side effects on host economies’ working conditions, environmental standard, inequality, and culture, among others. These economic and social external or negative spillover effects are due to the phenomenon of “race-to-the-bottom” where companies invest in economies with lax regulations and generous incentive packages. Given the highly expected significant economic impacts of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and foreign aid in Africa,, it is becoming clear that the increased inflow of FDI and foreign aid may also have impacts on the political institutions and governance of a nation, especially for the case of economically low income African economies. However, these effects of capital flow on democratic institutions and governance of host economies have not been formally addressed. Using data on governance indicators, FDI, and foreign aid recently made available and other control variables, the present study explores whether FDI and foreign aid promotes or retards governance in African economies. Appropriate estimation techniques that take into account endogeniety in the data as well as heterogeneity of the sample countries are employed. The results of the study show that foreign aid (official development aid) has had immediate and persistent positive effects during the study period. Flow of FDI also has positive, though weak, effects on governance but with no persistent effect. Other forms of official flow, with less grant component, have both immediate and lag negative effects on governance in African economies

Do Foreign Direct Investment and Foreign Aid Promote Good Governance in Africa?

The literature on the roles that governance/political and economic stability play to attract capital flows into African economies has been burgeoning. Good governance, liberalization, infrastructure, incentive packages have been regarded as cures to break the deadlock to reverse the economic plight, to attract inflow of capital and, in some cases, to reverse outflows of African economies. The flow of capital, however, has undesirable side effects on host economies’ working conditions, environmental standard, inequality, and culture, among others. These economic and social external or negative spillover effects are due to the phenomenon of “race-to-the-bottom” where companies invest in economies with lax regulations and generous incentive packages. Given the highly expected significant economic impacts of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and foreign aid in Africa,, it is becoming clear that the increased inflow of FDI and foreign aid may also have impacts on the political institutions and governance of a nation, especially for the case of economically low income African economies. However, these effects of capital flow on democratic institutions and governance of host economies have not been formally addressed. Using data on governance indicators, FDI, and foreign aid recently made available and other control variables, the present study explores whether FDI and foreign aid promotes or retards governance in African economies. Appropriate estimation techniques that take into account endogeniety in the data as well as heterogeneity of the sample countries are employed. The results of the study show that foreign aid (official development aid) has had immediate and persistent positive effects during the study period. Flow of FDI also has positive, though weak, effects on governance but with no persistent effect. Other forms of official flow, with less grant component, have both immediate and lag negative effects on governance in African economies

Prediction of genetic gains for breeding objective traits and designing selection schemes for Washera and Gumuz indigenous sheep

In Ethiopia,there are 32.85 millions of sheep,more than 99 % of which are indigenous.However,the productivity of local sheep under traditional production system is low with high mortality of sheep.There are two ways of improving performance of sheep and goats,namely improving the enviroment of animals and/or improving there genetic potential.The aim of this study was to predict genetic gains of breedingobjective traits and select the best sheep selection scheme for Gumuz andWashera sheep. Body size(six month weight and yearling weight) and litter size were breeding objective traits identified by own flock animal ranking experiment and personal interview. Deterministic approach of ZPLAN computor program is used for modeling input parametres of Gumuz and Washera sheep and simulating breeding plans using gene flow method and selection index procedures. One-tier cooperative sheep breeding scheme were proposed whereby ram exchange between and within villages is the main means of genetic dissimination. Genetic gains predicted for six month weight of Gumuz and Washera sheep were 0.43 and 0.55 kg,respectively. Genetic gains predicted for yearling weight of Gumuz and Washera sheep were 0.55 and 0.60 kg,respectively. Genetic gains predicted for litter  size of Gumuz and Washera sheep were 0.08 and 0.09 lambs,respectively. The lower rate of inbreeding, the higher monetary genetic gain for aggregate genotype,higher return to investmnet and higher profit/ewe/year were quality measures of breeding program considered to prefer scheme 4 for both Gumuz and Washera sheep.Hence,for both Gumuz and Washera sheep populations a sheep selection scheme designed with 15 % selection proportion and one year ram use for breeding was recommended. Special emphasis need to be given to yearling weight with higher predicted genetic response and higher percentage return to investment

Prevalence, risk factors and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Salmonella isolated from dogs of Ambo, Bako and Gojo towns of West Shoa, Ethiopia

Salmonella is the most known zoonotic bacterial agent, which produces salmonellosis in animals as wells as in humans. The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence, to determine antimicrobial susceptibility and to assess risk factors associated with Salmonella shedding in dogs in selected towns of West Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Using a cross-sectional design, a total of 438 rectal swab samples were collected from randomly selected dogs for isolation and identification of Salmonella using standard procedures. A questionnaire survey was also administered. The results showed that 48 (11.0%, 95%, [CI]: 8.2% - 14.3 %) dogs were positive for Salmonella. The occurrenceof Salmonella was 10.9% (26/238), 11.6% (15/129) and 9.9% (7/71) in Ambo, Bako and Gojo towns respectively. Salmonella shedding was significantly higher in older dogs (15.0%) than younger ones (6.1 %) (P<0.05). The occurrence of Salmonella was not significantly associated with study towns, sex, breed of dogs,educational level of owners, presence of other domestic animals and housing system (P>0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the odds of isolation of Salmonella was significantly higher in old than young dogs (OR): 2.6, 95% CI: 1.3-5.6, P=0.007) and in dogs eating mixed type of feeds (raw animal products, household leftover) than cooked feed (OR = 9.0, 95% CI: 1.2 – 68.1, P=0.033). There was also a significant difference between kebeles of the study areas in that Salmonella isolation was nearly nine times higher in Bako Kebele 02 (P=0.005) as compared to Ambo kebele 03. Salmonella isolates have developed the highest level of resistance for ampicillin (100%), tetracycline  (93.3%) and streptomycin (80.0 %), however, all isolates were susceptible to Norfloxacin. The occurrence of Salmonella, most of which resistant to commonly used antimicrobials, in rectal swab samples show the potential threat dogs may pose to public health in the study area.Keywords: Antimicrobial Resistance; Dog; Ethiopia; Prevalence; Risk factor; Salmonell

Genetic Variability and Relationship of Camel (Camelus dromedarius) Populations in Ethiopia as Evidenced by Microsatellites Analysis

AbstractThis study was carried out to assess the genetic diversities and population structure of six camel populations of Ethiopia. Blood samples were collected from 114 camels (17-24 per population) and genotyped using10 camel microsatellite marker loci. The result revealed high genetic diversities in Ethiopian camel populations with average observed and expected heterozygosity, total number of alleles (TNA), mean number of alleles (MNA) and effective number of alleles of 0.55, 0.73,153, 6.8 (0.36) and 4.47(0.23), respectively. Among the 52 private alleles in the six Ethiopian camel populations, 31 of them were occurring at a frequency of ≥5%. It was also found that most of the variations in Ethiopian camels were attributed to within population variation (92%) while 8% was explained by between populations variation. Even though there was high heterozygosity, high inbreeding coefficient was detected in Ethiopian camel populations. From the sex camel populations 34.1, 33.4 and 28.6% alleles of Gelleb, Amibara and Liben camel populations respectively affected by inbreeding. The between population differentiation was (FST=0.11(0.01) indicating moderate population differentiation. The neighbor-joining tree and structure analysis show that the Ethiopian camel populations were clustered into four subgroups. The Afar camels were grouped into two together with the Ethiopian Somali camels (Jigjiga with Mille and Gelleb with Amibara) and the two Ogaden camels (Liben and Hoor) are separated into two subgroups indicating that some of the Afar and the Somali camels were admixed. Therefore, even though high hetrozygosity within population and moderate genetic differentiation between populations were observed, the presence of high inbreeding coefficient may affect hetrozygosity in the overall populations

Whole-Genome Resequencing Reveals Selection Signatures of Abigar Cattle for Local Adaptation

Over time, indigenous cattle breeds have developed disease resistance, heat tolerance, and adaptability to harsh environments. Deciphering the genetic mechanisms underlying adaptive traits is crucial for their improvement and sustainable utilization. For the first time, we performed whole-genome sequencing to unveil the genomic diversity, population structure, and selection signatures of Abigar cattle living in a tropical environment. The population structure analysis revealed that Abigar cattle exhibit high nucleotide diversity and heterozygosity, with low runs of homozygosity and linkage disequilibrium, suggesting a genetic landscape less constrained by inbreeding and enriched by diversity. Using nucleotide diversity (Pi) and population differentiation (FST) selection scan methods, we identified 83 shared genes that are likely associated with tropical adaption. The functional annotation analysis revealed that some of these genes are potentially linked to heat tolerance (HOXC13, DNAJC18, and RXFP2), immune response (IRAK3, MZB1, and STING1), and oxidative stress response (SLC23A1). Given the wider spreading impacts of climate change on cattle production, understanding the genetic mechanisms of adaptation of local breeds becomes crucial to better respond to climate and environmental changes. In this context, our finding establishes a foundation for further research into the mechanisms underpinning cattle adaptation to tropical environments.</p