Performance of the Ethiopian Somali goats during different watering regimes

Water is scarce in the semi-arid regions of Ethiopia and therefore goats are watered intermittently. This can result in dehydration and decreased animal performance. The aims of these studies were to investigate the mechanisms employed by the Ethiopian Somali goat to endure water scarcity and to generate information on milk yield and kid growth. All studies were conducted at the Errer Valley research station, eastern Ethiopia. The first study evaluated the effects of watering male goats once daily and every 2nd, 3rd and 4th day for 72 days at indoor conditions. The goats were fed hay ad libitum and were given 200 g of concentrates daily. In the second study, 14 does and their kids were studied 3 to 4 months after parturition in the hot dry season. They were randomly distributed to once daily or once every 4th day watering. The kids followed the does out on pasture. Every evening, the does were each given 300 g concentrates. The kids were offered 100 g of concentrate per head and day in-group. The third experiment evaluated drinking pattern and milk production of 12 goats during a rainy period. The does were randomly assigned to two feeding treatments starting 11 to 17 days after parturition and continuing for 72 days. Six goats were each given 250 g concentrates every evening and six goats were only grazing. The kids suckled morning and evening. One udder half was hand milked in the mornings. Plasma osmolality and vasopressin concentration increased to high levels on the 4th day of water deprivation in the males and initially in late lactating does. It shows that four days of water deprivation challenged water balance. The osmolality in every 4th day watered does increased less as the cycles continued, indicating that the goats economized on water. Intermittently watered does and kids spent more time in the shade and browsed watery plants. Rectal temperature increased daily by about 3.5°C in all does and by 2.5°C and 3.2°C in kids watered daily and every 4th day, respectively, during the hot dry period. Milk yield was about 22 % lower than in the group given water daily. Kids watered once every 4th day did not gain body weight as fast as those watered daily. Goats did not always drink when offered water during a rainy period. The milk yield was less than half a litre per day although good forage was available. Concentrate supplementation increased milk yield by 13%, but reduced fat percentage. Both does and kids increased their body weight during the rainy period. In conclusion, the Ethiopian Somali goat rapidly adjusts to water shortage and starts to economize on water when subjected to a prolonged period of intermittent watering. It is important that this unique adaptability is considered in breeding programs aimed at increasing the comparatively moderate milk production. Nevertheless, more than three days interval between watering during the hot dry season is not recommended since it may jeopardize animal performance and welfare

Comparison of Supplementing Urea-Molasses Blockand Urea-Atela Blocks on Feed Intake and Digestibility of Male Blackhead Ogaden Sheep Fed Natural Pasture Hay

The experiment consisted of ninety days of feeding trial and seven days of digestibility trial at the end of the experiment with the objectives of the study were: (a) to evaluate the effect of supplementation with urea molasses block and urea-atela blocks on feed intake (b) digestibility of male black head ogaden sheep fed natural pasture hay (c) the physical and nutritional quality of the feed blocks and the economic feasibility of supplementing block made from molasses versus block made from atela were also compared. the treatments consisted feeding of urea-molasses block ad libitum (50% of molasses: 23% wheat bran: 9% urea: 12% cement: 6% salt, T1), urea-atela block adlibitum (30% atela: 43% wheat bran: 9% urea: 12% cement: 6% salt, T2), urea-atela block ad libitum  (40% atela: 33% wheat bran: 9% urea: 12% cement: 6% salt, T3) urea-atela block ad libitum (50% atela:23% wheat bran:9% urea:12% cement :6% salt, T4). Two kg block per week per head was given to each experimental animal.Supplementation with urea-atela block, consisting higher amount of wheat bran (T2) had significantly (P<0.001) higher nutrient intakes (CP=104.2 ± 3.2) than Urea-molasses block. Supplementation with T2 diet has also significantly (P<0.001) higher apparent digestibility of DM (69 ± 0.007), OM (63.2 ± 0.007) and CP (82.2 ± 0.01) than urea-molasses block. Keywords: black head ogaden sheep, digestibility, feed intake, urea-atela block, urea-molasses bloc

Effects of Inclusion Rate of Cassava (Manihot Esculenta Crantz) Leaf and Root Mixture on Feed Intake and Growth Rate of Grower Chicks

The experiment studied the effect of inclusion rate of cassava leaf and root mixture (CLRM) on the performance of grower male white leghorn chicks at Wolaita Sodo ATVET College. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of inclusion rate of CLRM on performance of grower chicks and to determine the best level of the CLRM. The collected cassava leaves and roots were separately chopped, dried, ground and then mixed in the ratio of 50:50 to get CLRM. Four diets were formulated, T1 contained no CLRM and served as the control, diets T2, T3 and T4 had CLRM at levels of 7.5, 11.25 and 15%, respectively. The grower chicks kept in a deep litter system and the feeding trial lasted for twelve weeks. A total of 180, eight weeks old grower chicks with average initial body weight of 495.68±26.74g (mean±SD) were randomly assigned to 4 experimental groups. Each group was replicated thrice with 15 chicks per replicate. A completely randomized design (CRD) experiment was used. The birds were given known amount of feed and water ad libitum throughout the experimental period. Data were collected on daily dry matter intake (DDMI), total DMI (TDMI), daily body weight gain (DBWG), final BWG (FBWG), DM conversion ratio (DMCR) (g/g), cost-benefit analysis. Data were subjected to analysis of variance for all parameters considered. The chemical analysis showed that, the crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy (ME) contents of CLRM were 14.5% and 3061.63 kcal/kg DM, respectively. The result of the experiment showed significant difference (P<0.05) among treatments in DDMI, TDMI, and CPI. T3 (66.9gm) had higher DDMI than T1 (65.14gm), T2 (65.18gm) and T4 (65.14gm). Similarly, T3 had higher TDMI, than the other dietary experimental feeds. However, there was no significant (P>0.05) difference in DBWG, FBWG between treatments. The control diet has lower (5.05±0.29 (±SEM)) DMCR compared to T4 ration (4.70±0.15 (±SEM)). Economic analysis showed that feed cost per bird was lower in the CLRM based diets than the control group. Similarly, the highest net return and marginal rate of return was noted for T3. The results showed that ration formulation using CLRM, like as in T3 of the present study resulted in better biological and economic performance in grower rations. It was concluded that feeding grower chicks with CLRM at 15% of the ration can be used without any adverse effect on the growth and carcass weight of the birds, while 11.25% CLRM in the ration gave the highest economic return and can be considered as best level for growers. Keywords: Cassava leaf and root mixture, dry matter intake, daily body weight gai

Weight Gain and Carcass Characteristics of Adilo Sheep Fed Urea Treated Wheat Straw Supplemented with Enset (Ensete Ventricosum), Atella and Their Mixtures

The experiment was carried using twenty-five male intact yearling Adilo sheep with average body weight of 16.5 ± 3.5 kg to determine the effects of Enset ventricosum, atella and their mixture supplements to urea treated wheat straw (UTWS) on body weight gain (ADG) and carcass parameters. The experiment consisted of ninety days of feeding followed by carcass evaluation. The experimental design was randomized complete block design, and animals were blocked based on their initial body weights. Treatments were UTWS fed ad libitum alone (T1) or with 300 g/d atella (T2), 200 atella+100 g/d enset (T3), 200 enset +100 g/d atella, (T4) and 300 enset (T5).  Results of laboratory analyses for CP (6.4, 18.2 and 7.6 %) and NDF contents (72, 51 and 62 %) were for UTWS, atella and enset respectively. The result revealed that sheep fed on supplemented feed achieved greater (P<0.05) ADG (-8.9, 47.8, 34.4, 30 and 24.4 (± 3.35) g for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively). The value of ADG was greater for T2 among supplemented groups. Hot carcass weight was 5.4, 8.2, 7.2, 6.7 and 6.6 (± 0.25) kg for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively and followed similar trend like that of ADG. Results of this study highlighted that supplementation of urea treated wheat straw with enset and atella to have a positive effect on, ADG and carcass parameters. However, the effect is more pronounced for atella than enset or the two mixtures possibly due to the higher CP content of atella. Keywords: Atella, Carcass, Enset, Sheep

Digestibility and Feed Intake of Menz Sheep Fed Natural Pasture Hay Supplemented with Ameja (Hypericum quartinanum) Leaf and Noug (Guizotia abyssinica) Seed Cake

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementation of different  proportion of Ameja (Hypericum quartinanum) leaf (AL) and Noug (Guizotia abyssinica) seed cake (NSC) on digestibility and  feed  intake of Menz sheep. Twenty five yearling male Menz lambs were divided based on their initial body weight (BW) and randomly assigned to treatments. Treatments were natural pasture hay (NPH) ad libitum + 150 g/day oats grain alone (T1) or with 344 g/day AL (T2), 230 g/day AL + 50 g/day NSC (T3), 112 g/day AL + 100 g/day NSC (T4) and 150 g/day NSC (T5). The supplements from AL and NSC were on iso-nitrogenous basis. The crude protein (CP) content of NPH, NSC, AL and oat grain was 6.5, 35.6, 15.1 and 9.8%, respectively. Total dry matter (DM) intake was greater for T3, T4, and T5 as compared to T1. There was significant difference among treatments in CP  intake and its digestibility differed (P < 0.001) among the  treatments but not for DM and other nutrients. Thus it is advisable to use Noug seed cake alone or Ameja/Noug seed cake combination at 67:33 proportion as protein supplement, whenever Noug seed cake is available. However, when Noug seed cake is unavailable or expensive, Ameja leaf can be used as a sole protein supplement. Keywords: Menz Sheep, Intake, Digestibility, Ameja, Noug, Crud protein

Effects of Different Feeding Regimes on Leather Quality of Finished Blackhead Ogaden Sheep

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Effects of different proportions of dried cafeteria leftover inclusion in a concentrate mix on performance of growing pigs

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of inclusion of dried Cafeteria leftover (DCLO) at various levels in concentrate mix (CM) on feed intake, digestibility, average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), carcass characteristics, and economic benefits of weaned pigs at Haramaya university piggery. Twenty Yorkshire pigs with initial live weight of 19.89±0.297kg (mean±SE) were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized block design each with five replicates. The experimental rations were sole CM (mixture of maize grain, wheat short, wheat bran, noug seed cake, soybean mill, vitamin premix and salt), replacement of the concentrate with DCLO at different proportions as (33%CM and 67% DCLO; 67% CM and 33% DCLO) and feeding with only sole DCLO. The mean feed intake ranged 1.6-1.82kg/day and ADG was 0.4-0.64kg/day. The least feed intake was for sole DCLO (P<0.05) and the highest for 67% CM:33%DCLO. The FCR (w/w) was lowest (P<0.05) for pigs fed 33% DCLO diet, and pigs fed 67% DCLO:33%CM achieved highest FCR. Crude protein digestibility did not differ between treatments, but DM, EE and CF digestibility increased with increasing level of DCLO in the diets. The mean carcass weight (43.7kg-57.02kg) was highest in 67% CM but lowest in sole DCLO. Back fat thickness (2.4cm-3.2cm (SEM=±0.03)) was lowest in sole CM but highest in sole DCLO. The highest and lowest (P<0.05) rib eye area (23.9 cm2-31.9cm2 (SEM=±0.81)) were recorded for sole CM and sole DCLO, respectively. Cost of feed per kg weight gain was declined significantly (P<0.01) with increasing level of DCLO. Despite the lower production cost of sole DCLO groups, the pigs showed lower performance and this must have contributed to lowest net return of the groups. Thus, it is concluded that DCLO can replace the conventional concentrate mix up to 67% without adverse effect on pig performance.Keywords: Carcass Digestibility Live Weight Gain Nutritive Value Profitabilit