Animal Production

ASSESSEMENT OF HUSBANDRY AND BREEDING PRACTICES OF NUER COMMUNITY FOR ABIGAR CATTLE IN LARE AND JIKAWO DISTRICTS, GAMBELLA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Sat, 01 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

ASSESSEMENT OF HUSBANDRY AND BREEDING PRACTICES OF NUER COMMUNITY FOR ABIGAR CATTLE IN LARE AND JIKAWO DISTRICTS, GAMBELLA REGION, ETHIOPIA Koang Gatbel Tut; Yosef Tadesse (PhD); Moges Dereje (PhD) The Study was conducted to assess cattle husbandry and breeding practices of Nuer Community for (Abigar) cattle in two districts of Gambella Ethiopia. Multi-stage purposive sampling techniques were employed to select the districts and kebeles of the study area. Random sampling was employed to select the households. Focus group discussion and structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 160 households. Data were analyzed using SAS version 9 and SPSS. The study result indicated that cattle production in the study area had significant role in socio economic condition of the farmers and being used as a source of income, prestige of household in the community, marriage and others. More than half of the respondents reported that Abigar cattle relatively have better level of tolerance or resistance to most of the existing stress as compared to the other cattle breeds in the region which ranges from 63.8% for heat tolerance to 71.2 % for withstanding feed shortage. From the observation of the research location the common breeding system was herd mating and natural controlled-breeding. The age at puberty for female Abigar cattle was found to be in the range of 34 to 40 months on average and the mean age at first calving was found to be 47.4 to 51.3 months. Average daily milk was to be 2.1± 0.2 liters. Natural mating was the dominant breeding method and animal were selected majorly based on their Physical appearances. According to elder and cattle owners of Lare and Jikawo, Nuer cattle population trend were in increasing (60.6%) trend. River/Baro was the water source of the cattle. Inaccessibility of veterinary services security, flood, cattle raiders, recurrent drought, rangeland degradation, illegal cattle marketing was among the identified threats for the decreasing trend of Abigar cattle in the study areas. The major animal production constraints were animal health problem water scarcity and seasonal feed shortage. From the data the prevalent disease in the study area are Trypanosomiasis, Anthrax, , CBPP, black leg. The major cause of feed scarcity was lack of awareness on feed conservation methods for dry season. Hence, this study concludes that, training and extension services on husbandry, breeding practices health care and feed conservation technologies should be undertaken by different stakeholders in study area. 99p.

EFFECTS OF SUPPLEMENTATION OF WHEAT BRAN BOKASHI WITH CONCENTRATE MIXTURE ON GROWTH AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF HARARGHE HIGHLAND AND SOMALI GOATS FED ON GRASS HAY BASAL DIET.

Sat, 01 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

EFFECTS OF SUPPLEMENTATION OF WHEAT BRAN BOKASHI WITH CONCENTRATE MIXTURE ON GROWTH AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF HARARGHE HIGHLAND AND SOMALI GOATS FED ON GRASS HAY BASAL DIET. NABEK TEBASSA GELETA; Dr.Sileshi Gadissa (PhD); Dr.Mengistu Urge (Professor) Roughage constitutes a major feed source for animals under the crop-livestock mixed farming system in Ethiopia; however, this feed is poor quality; hence, it is poorly digested. An effective microbe (EM) is considered an option for improving poor-quality feeds. This study was conducted at the Haramaya University Goat Farm with the aim of evaluating the effects of feeding effective microbe-treated wheat bran (WB Bokashi) to both the Hararghe Highland and Somali goat breeds on nutrient intake, digestibility, growth and slaughter performance, carcass yield and quality. A total of 40 (20 from each breed) yearling goats with an initial body weight of 18.1 ± 3.3 kg (mean ± SD) were purchased from local markets and used for a 90-day feeding trial. The experimental design was RCBD with a 2×4 factorial arrangement (2 genotypes × 4 WB Bokashi supplementation levels) in which the animals were blocked based on their initial body weight and randomly assigned to each dietary treatment. The bucks were grouped into five blocks and four treatment groups. Each block had four bucks from each breed based on their initial body weight (IBW), and bucks within a block were randomly assigned to one of the four treatment diets. The four dietary treatment groups were T1, T2, T3, and T4, in which WB Bokashi was fed to the animals at rates of 0%, 3%, 5%, and 7%, respectively. The concentrate mixtures formulated from wheat bran, noug seed cake and ruminant vitamin and mineral premixes were fed to the animals on a DM basis at a rate of 2.5% of their body weight. The pasture grass hay was provided ad libitum. The results of this study indicated that HH goats (762 gm/day) had better (p < 0.05) daily DMI than did Somali goats (664 gm/day). The mean daily dry matter intake of the goats was 713 g/day/head. The DM intake was greater (824.5 g/day) for the bucks fed the T4 diet than for those in the other treatment groups. In addition, the bucks fed the T4 diet had greater (p < 0.05) FCE (0.124), ADG (103.3 g/head/day), HCW and CCW (13.7 kg and 12.8 kg, respectively) than did the bucks fed the other dietary treatments. When both breeds were compared, HH goats were found to have greater (p < 0.05) FCE, ADG, rib eye area, fat thickness, and carcass weight than short-eared Somali goats. there was significant difference (p < 0.05) across the treatments in terms of the real dressing percentage. xvii This study also indicated that compared with short-eared Somali goats, Hararghe highland goats have significantly greater (p < 0.05) mean weights of edible offal parameters, such as blood, head, heart, empty gut, and total yields of edible products (TYEPs). However, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the two goat breeds in terms of the weights of the tongue, kidney, liver with gall bladder, gut fat, or total edible noncarcass fat. Furthermore, ADG was positively and strongly correlated with FCE, DM, and CP total intake. In conclusion, this study indicated that the maximum potential of both goat breeds is to achieve optimum growth performance and produce optimum carcass and meat yields when fed WB Bokashi at 7% supplemented with concentrate mixtures. Finally, based on this study, it can be concluded that 7% Wheat bran Bokashi supplementation was biologically and economically profitable for HH and Somali goats managed under both commercial and smallholder farmer management conditions. 88

ASSESSMENT OF IMPROVED BEEKEEPING PRACTICES AND EFFECT OF NUTRITIONAL INTERVENTION ON BROOD DEVELOPMENT AND HONEY YIELD IN HARAMAYA DISTRICT, EAST HARARGHE ZONE, ETHIOPIA

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

ASSESSMENT OF IMPROVED BEEKEEPING PRACTICES AND EFFECT OF NUTRITIONAL INTERVENTION ON BROOD DEVELOPMENT AND HONEY YIELD IN HARAMAYA DISTRICT, EAST HARARGHE ZONE, ETHIOPIA BELETE FIKADU GEMEDA; Dr.Tibebu Manaye (PhD); Dr.Nagassi Ameha (PhD) The study was conducted to evaluate the performance of honeybee colonies kept in frame hives under farmers' management conditions and the effect of supplementary feeding on brood development and honey yield in Haramaya District, East Eararghe Zone, Ethiopia from (9-4- 2024 to 31-5- 2024). Both Questionnaire survey and experimental research methods were conducted. A total of 57 beekeepers were purposively selected and participated in the interview based on, who acquired bee colonies and framed beehives from Haramaya University, through different research programs and those who practice beekeeping using modern beehives. Structured and semi-structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, focal group discussions, and field observation were used for data collection. For the experimental research, 20 bee colonies were purposively selected to ensure uniformity in colony strength, and brood frames before the experiment and then assigned into 4 treatment groups using a complete randomized design (CRD), with five replicates each. The treatments included energy supplements, protein supplements, a combination of both (energy and protein), and an unfed (control) group. Feed was provided inside the hives. The sealed brood area was measured every 15 days during the experiment, and honey yield was harvested after feeding the experimental bee colonies. According to the respondents, the mean honey yield obtained from traditional and modern bee hives in the study areas was 4.74 and 18.11 kg/colony/year. The study also highlighted that beekeepers first ranked the wax moth as the main pest in the study areas, followed by ants, bee lice, beetles, spiders, lizards, birds, wasps, and honey badgers, respectively. On the other hand, lack of bee forage also ranked first by beekeepers as the main factor causing a decrease in bee colonies and honey yields, followed by pests/ predators, absconding, diseases, pesticides/herbicides, lack of improved beekeeping skills, and lack of credit, respectively. Over half of the beekeepers (63.2%) were fed their bee colonies, while smaller percentages (36.8%) did not. The experimental investigation study found significant differences (p=0.0001) in all measured parameters among the treatments. The result showed that energy-supplemented feed had the highest consumption rate of 95.5% per colony from the given feed, followed by a combination of energy and protein (93.4%) and protein (88.4%), respectively. The result also indicated that the highest mean sealed brood area (338.17 cm2 per colony) and honey yield (13.78 kg per colony) were observed in honeybee colonies fed with a combination of (energy and protein) supplement feed, followed by protein, and energy supplement feed, respectively. In comparison, the least amount of mean sealed brood area (113.76 cm2 per colony) and honey yield (4.16 kg per colony) were noticed in the control group (unfed). This research recommended that combining high energy with crude protein feed sources positively impacts on brood development and honey yield. 65

EVALUATION OF GROWTH PERFORMANCE, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS, EATING QUALITY OF MEAT, AND BLOOD BIOCHEMICAL PROFILE OF TWO BROILER STRAINS FED ON COMMERCIAL AND ON-FARM FORMULATED DIETS

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

EVALUATION OF GROWTH PERFORMANCE, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS, EATING QUALITY OF MEAT, AND BLOOD BIOCHEMICAL PROFILE OF TWO BROILER STRAINS FED ON COMMERCIAL AND ON-FARM FORMULATED DIETS Bikila Negari Chemeda; Dr. Demissu Hundie; Dr. Negassi Ameha; Dr. Kefelegn Kebede; Dr. Biazen Abrar his study was conducted to evaluate the growth performance, carcass characteristics, eating quality of meat, and blood biochemical profile of two broiler strains fed on commercial and on-farm- formulated diets. The study contained four sections. The first section is based on the evaluation of commercial and farm-formulated broiler feed. In this section, the chemical composition of commercial broiler feeds produced by feed processing and farm-formulated feed was evaluated. For this purpose, a total of eight feed mills located in Bishoftu, Gelan, and Akaki-Kality towns were purposefully selected to collect the broiler starter and finisher phase diet. Moreover, farm-formulated diets were evaluated for chemical analysis. Section two of this study evaluated feed intake, growth performance, and feed conversion efficiency of the two strains of broilers based on the feed manufactured at the processing plant and formulated on the farm. The third section of the study evaluated carcass characteristics and blood biochemical profile. Finally, sensory and instrumental eating qualities of meat in broiler chickens were evaluated. A total of 384 mixed-sex day-old chicks (192 per strain) were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments with four replicates, each consisting of 12 broilers. The experiment was set up as a 2 x 4 factorial design, providing each strain with four diets in a completely randomized design. After 42 days of the experiment, one male and one female of each strain from each pen (eight birds per treatment) were slaughtered for carcass characteristics, hematological, serum, eating quality of meat, and sensory analysis. The data generated in the first part of the study was analyzed using the SPSS software package, version 24, while data generated in the other three sections was analyzed using the General Linear Model procedure in SAS version 9.4. The result of the study showed that there was a significant difference in the chemical compositions of the commercial and farm-formulated diets prepared for the broiler starter and finisher phases. In this study, farm formulation diets contained similar chemical compositions to the commercial broiler diets in both phases. Similarly, the source of the commercial feeds was manufactured based on products produced on the farm (37.5%) and purchased from the market (62.5%). The majority of manufacturers of commercial broiler feed cost more than 3551 Ethiopian birr per quintal. The feed price was higher (62.5%) during the dry compared to the rainy season. The main constraints on feed manufacturers are high prices and low quality of feed ingredients, shortage of land, scarcity of feed to be mixed, and transportation costs. The result of the study in the second section showed that there was a significant difference in the feed efficiency, xiii growth, and feed intake of broilers across all dietary treatments. Broiler-fed commercial diet (T2) exhibited the highest average daily body weight gain compared to other diet treatments. Total feed intake was highest in broilers subjected to a commercial diet (T3) compared to other dietary groups. Furthermore, broilers in T2 demonstrated the best feed conversion ratio in the entire phase. Chicken strain had an effect on the final body weight, body weight change, average daily body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio throughout the study period. Chicken strain by diet interaction significantly (P < 0.05) influenced total feed intake and average daily feed intake of broilers during the starter phase. The study further demonstrated that broilers subjected to a farm-formulated diet (T1) had a similar final body weight and body weight change to those fed on the commercial diet (T4). There was a significant effect of strains on the weight of eviscerate, dress, thigh, drumstick, breast, neck, back, and eviscerate yield percentage, with Cobb 500 showing higher values than Hubbard broilers. The farm-formulated diet (T1) significantly increased the weight of non-edible offal compared to the commercial diets, except for the weight of crops and lungs, which were similar to those in the commercial diet group (T4). The Hubbard strain showed a higher least square mean for packed cell volume than the Cobb-500 strain. Sex was found to have no significant impact on the hematological parameters. The farm-formulated diet (T1) also resulted in a higher marginal return rate than that of the commercial diet (T3) in the Cobb-500 strain. The result showed a significant effect of the diets on color redness, pH, and cooking loss in the breast and thigh meat. The farm-formulated diets (T1) have better water-holding capacity than commercial diets (T2 and T3) for breast meat. The farm- formulated diets (T1) of meat proximate composition are similar to commercial diets (T2, T3, and T4) in the breast and thigh meat of broilers. The meat color redness is better in the Hubbard than in the Cobb-500 in the breast and thigh meat. The dry matter meat proximate composition Cobb-500 is better than Hubbard in the breast and thigh meat. Generally, Cobb 500 strains were better in terms of feed intakes, growth performances, carcass yields, and meat quality than Hubbard broiler strain chickens. Farm-formulated diets made from locally available ingredients were found to be an important feed alternative in comparison to commercial diets concerning feed intake, growth performance, feed efficiency, carcass yield, blood biochemical profile, eating quality of meat, and sensory evaluation of broiler chickens. The feed produced on-farm formulation from locally available feed ingredients can serve as an alternative feed to replace a commercial diet for broiler chickens in the study area. 163p.