Growth performance of crossbred kids (Boer x Indigenous Goat Breeds)

The study was conducted to evaluate growth performance of crossbred (Boer x Hararaghe Highland and Boer x Short Eared Somali) kids at Haramaya University Goat Farm in Eastern Ethiopia. Breed (

Beekeeping management practices and constraints in Eastern Tigray, Ethiopia

The study was designed to assess beekeeping management practices and challenges in eastern zone of Tigray. A semi-structured questionnaire, field observation and focal group discussion were employed to collect primary data. Randomly selected three districts were used for the study. A total of 120 respondents were selected from the zone and 40 beekeepers from each district for the study. Both primary and secondary data were collected. Beekeepers indicated that frame hive technology was most preferred. Even though, some equipments such as casting mold and honey extractor were not durable and available as required. Study reveals frame hive was more productive than tradition in the study area.Trees, shrubs and herbs were major honey bee flora identified in the study area. Accordingly, honey produced specially from Leucas abyssinica is a special white and highly demanded honey in Tigray. Beekeepers indicated large amount of honey was harvested in September and October. However, low amount of honey harvested in July and August of the year. Bee forage and absconding due to pestes are major constraint honey bee production in the study area. Honey bees required feed supplementation during dry season; higher supplements were made during February to March and followed by December to January. The commonly used supplements were sugar, shuro and barely flour (besso). The study suggests that bee forage, absconding and pests and predators were the most constraints in the study area

Sweet Corn Stalk Treated with Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Alone or in Combination with Lactobacillus Plantarum: Nutritional Composition, Fermentation Traits and Aerobic Stability

This study examined the effects of a high-dose Saccharomyces cerevisiae inoculant alone or jointly with Lactobacillus plantarum on nutrient preservation, fermentation quality, and aerobic stability of sweet corn stalk silage. Fresh stalks (231 g dry matter (DM)/kg) were chopped and subjected to the following treatments: (1) deionized water (Uninoculated; U); (2) S. cerevisiae at 1 × 108 cfu/g of fresh forage (S); and (3) S. cerevisiae at 1 × 108 cfu/g plus L. plantarum at 1 × 105 cfu/g (SL). Treated stalks were ensiled in 5-litre laboratory silos for 30, 60, and 90 day. The S and SL silages had a greater (p < 0.001) pH and greater crude protein, ammonia nitrogen/total nitrogen, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, and ethanol contents at all three ensiling periods than the U silage. Acetate, propionate and volatile fatty acids in the S and SL silages after 30 and 90 day of ensiling were greater (p < 0.05) than those in the U silage, but they were lower (p < 0.05) in the S and SL silages than in the U silage after 60 day. The lactate and V-score of the S and SL silages were lower (p < 0.001) than those of the U silage at all three ensiling periods. Compared with the U group, the aerobic stability of the S silage after 90 day of ensiling decreased (p < 0.05), and the aerobic stability of the SL silage was unaffected (p > 0.05). Overall, the quality of sweet corn stalk silage was not improved by inoculation with 108 cfu/g of S. cerevisiae alone or in combination with 1 × 105 cfu/g of L. plantarum

Erectile dysfunction and its associated factors among the male population in Adigrat Town, Tigrai Region, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study.

BackgroundErectile dysfunction is one of the common sexual dysfunctions, but it is generally misunderstood as it is not a condition that threatens life. It affects an individual's physical as well as psychosocial health and has a significant impact on sufferers and their families' quality of life. No data are suggesting the prevalence of erectile dysfunction at the population level in Ethiopia. This research aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of erectile dysfunction among the male population.MethodsWe employed a community based cross-sectional study among 802 study participants. A two-stage random sampling method was used for enrolling study participants. Including the International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire-5 (IIEF-5) for erectile dysfunction, data were collected using pretested and a structured questionnaire administered by an interviewer. Binary logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with erectile dysfunction.ResultOut of the total of 802 individuals, 25.4%(95% CI:(22.4, 28.3%)) (n = 204) reported erectile dysfunction. The mean age of the participants was 34.3 ± 9.6 years. Age of 40years and above [AOR = 10.74, 95% CI: (7.07, 16.35)], physical inactivity [AOR = 3.62, 95% CI: (2.40, 5.45)], depression [AOR = 4.01, 95% CI: (2.22, 7.21)], poor quality of life [AOR = 1.59, 95% CI: (1.07, 2.36)] were significantly associated with erectile dysfunction.ConclusionsIn this study, the prevalence of erectile dysfunction was high. Therefore, it is recommended that erectile dysfunction treatment be integrated into the health care system that focuses on educating and inspiring people on healthy eating, physical activity, and behavior enhancing wellbeing