Strategies to Improve Forage Utilization by Sheep Offered Forage Mixtures

In the first experiment, alfalfa and novel endophyte-infected tall fescue (NE+) forages were harvested after a killing frost, then mixed to formulate 4 different treatments; alfalfa alone, 67% alfalfa +33% fescue, 33% alfalfa + 67% fescue, or 100% fescue. After 3 months of storage as silage, Dorper ewe lambs (n = 20; mean BW = 34.7 ± 6.65 kg) were fed silage for ad libitum consumption, using 5 animals per treatment. Increasing the proportion of NE+ tall fescue improved (P \u3c 0.05) silage total acids and lactic acid concentrations and decreased silage ammonia concentration. Digestible dry matter and organic matter intake and nitrogen utilization parameters decreased with increasing inclusion of NE+ in diet. In the second experiment, 16 Dorper ewe lambs (41.8 ± 4.61 kg BW) were assigned to 4 different treatments; alfalfa silage alone (0 g/kg; CONT) or alfalfa silage mixed with chopped sericea lespedeza (SL) hay to provide 90 (LOW), 180 (MED), or 270 g/kg SL (HIGH) on a dry matter basis in a randomized complete block design experiment with 2 period to provide 4 observations per treatment for each experimental period. Increasing the proportion of sericea lespedeza in the diet decreased dry matter and organic matter digestibility but did not affect feed intake. Fecal nitrogen (g/kg N intake) increased linearly (P \u3c 0.01) while urinary N (g/ day and g/ kg of N intake) tended to decreased linearly and quadratically (P ≤ 0.1) with increasing the proportion of SL in diet. In the third experiments, 16 gestating Dorper ewe lambs (49.1 ± 4.61 kg BW) were allocated to 4 treatments; alfalfa silage alone (0% g/kg; CONT) or alfalfa silage mixed with lablab purpureus(LP) hay to provide 90 (LOW), 180 (MED), or 270 g/kg LP (HIGH) on a dry matter (DM) basis, in a randomized complete block design experiment with a total 8 replication per treatment. Supplementation of LP in diet increased quadratically (P ≤ 0.04) forage dry matter, organic matter intake, digestible dry matter and digestible organic matter intake (P \u3c 0.05). Nitrogen apparently absorbed and urinary N both decreased linearly (P \u3c 0.01) with adding more LP hay in diet. Harvesting and mixing alfalfa and fescue after a killing frost improved silage fermentation characteristics and supplementation of tannins from SL and polyphenol from LP altered N excretion. Key words: lablab, sericea lespedeza, alfalfa silage, nitrogen, sheep

Agriculture and rural development in Rwanda

A conference paper presentation in IPAR's Annual research conference 201

Effect of Delayed Wrapping and Wrapping Source on Intake and Digestibility of Alfalfa Silage in Gestating Sheep

Baling silage with oxygen can result in dry matter deterioration and reduce silage intake by animals. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of two different wrapping sources and time intervals between baling and wrapping on intake and digestibility of alfalfa silage. The second objective was to assess the correlation of alfalfa silage fermentation parameters with intake and digestibility parameters in gestating sheep. Alfalfa silage was baled in large round bales then wrapped with plastic either with (KURA) or without (SUN) an oxygen-limiting barrier either the day of baling or 1, 2 or 3 d after baling. Beginning in January, silages were chopped and packed into plastic-lined trash containers, then offered randomly for ad libitum consumption to 16 gestating ewes (n = 16; 63.5 ± 1.71 kg BW) to provide 2 observations per treatment for 3 experimental periods. Each period consisted of a 10-d dietary adaptation period followed by 7 d of total fecal and urine collection. Ewes were housed in individual 1 × 1.5-m pens with plastic coated grate flooring and were re-randomized to different treatments each period such that ewes were not offered the same treatment in any period. In general, intake and digestibility measurements were not affected (P ≥ 0.15) by wrap type. Maximum digestible DM and DOMI were from silage wrapped the day following baling (P \u3c 0.05). Correlations between fermentation measurements with intake and digestibility were not strong (r2 \u3c 0.42) however lactic concentrations expressed a greater correlation value (r2 = 0.14) with both DDMI and DOMI compared to other fermentation characteristics. Therefore, wrapping silage beyond 1 day after baling can have detrimental effects on energy status in gestating ewes and desirable fermentation should also result in greater intake of digestible dry and organic matter, and lactic acid concentration was not the best predictor of DDMI and DOMI in sheep

Family philantropy: mapping governance best practices in european family foundations

Family foundations offer particularly interesting grants, as they are long-term oriented, flexible, and less risk averse. However, compared to its American counterpart, the European family philanthropy field offers less research and plays a smaller role in public perception – leading to little information being available for potential philanthropists. By conducting interviews with different experts on the topic, this report will map best practices for family foundations in Europe, focusing on their incorporation and their governance. The aim is to develop path to explore and bring reflection to family foundations that want to work as efficiently as possible, hence maximizing their impact

Water Physico-Chemical Characteristics of the Lakes Burera and Ruhondo, Rwanda

Rwanda possesses multiple lakes, whose properties were rarely described. The present study assessed physico-chemical characteristics of water in Burera and Ruhondo lakes located in highly populated area with steep slopes, which are under extensive agriculture, thus water quality monitoring is important. Both lakes were alkaline with high content of Mg, while Ruhondo had higher electrical conductivity than Burera. Phosphorus and nitrogen exceeded Class III EPA standards indicating that both lakes are at risk of eutrophication. Keywords: water quality, lakes Burera and Ruhondo, Rwand

Heavy Metal Concentrations in Water Samples from Lake Kivu, Rwanda

Heavy metals are among the pollutants threatening the living organisms including human beings. The presence of heavy metals in water is of great concern due to their toxicity to aquatic organisms, humans and ability to accumulate in food chains. Thus, there is a need to regularly monitor heavy metal levels in aquatic medium. The present study was conducted to assess heavy metal concentrations in Lake Kivu water. Water samples from Lake Kivu were taken from three sites, namely: Rusizi, Karongi and Rubavu. Heavy metals in the samples were analyzed using Atomic Absorption spectro-photometer (SHIMADZU AAS-6800) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES).Copper, lead, cadmium, chromium, manganese, mercury and arsenic concentrations were determined. Copper ranged from 3.24 to 10.01 μg/l, lead varied from 8.81 to 37.44 μg/l, cadmium ranged from 5.01 to 14.01 μg/l,chromium was between 139.5 and 226.6 μg/l, manganese varied from 598.3 to 795.7 μg/l, mercury ranged from 0 to 0.047 μg/l, while arsenic was not detected in any of the analyzed water samples. Except for arsenic, all the other heavy metals exceeded the EPA (US Environment Protection Agency) maximum permissible limit for class III surface water intended for fish consumption and recreation. Thus, there is a need to establish the sources of lake water pollution by heavy metals in order to design further strategies limiting the amounts of heavy metals entering Lake Kivu. Keywords: Cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, manganese, mercur

El torrent de la font de s'Espinal

[cat] Presentam la topografia, descripció geogràfica i tècnica d'un torrent inèdit si bé que ben conegut de la serra de Tramuntana. El recorregut és entre el puig d'en Galileu i el torrent de Lluc, un dels dos cursos d'aigua que més avall formen el torrent de Pareis. Entre els aspectes a destacar trobam la presència d'un avenc al marge del tàlveg i les construccions hidràuliques relacionades amb les fonts de la capçalera i els conreus de la desembocadura.[eng] We present a topography and a geographic and technical description of an unpublished but well-know torrent in the Serra de Tramuntana. This torrent rises on the Puig d'en Galileu and flows into the Torrent de Lluc, one of the two streams which feed into the Torrent de Pareis. Among its noteworthy features are a pothole on the flank of its course and hydraulic constructions associated with the springs at its head and the arable land at its confluence