Husbandry Techniques Research Articles

Immunostimulant In Fish Hatchery- A Tool In Pharmacological Research

Fish is an aquatic animal that is used as food and presently they are used in scientific research. They provide a simple system for biomedical research and hence there is an increase in demand for fish production due to its dynamic purposes. The fish are less sentient and they have a high potency with the homology of mammals hence they are used as a model in pharmacological research. The various fish that are used are zebra fish, rainbow trout fish, medaka fish, etc. Various husbandry techniques were introduced to increase the production of fish. Their intensification led to poor-quality of fish production. Immunostimulants are drugs that enhance the innate immunity of fish and increase their resistance to the disease. They are biological and synthetic compounds that increase phagocytic, lysosomal, and bactericidal activity by directly activating the immune cells and NK cells and helping in the control of disease. They are used in the pharmacological research of toxicology, genetics, cancer research, biomedicine, neurobiology, endocrinology, ecology, and gerontology, and also in the development of biology and act as a model to provide elemental knowledge on biological science.

Assessment of Reproductive Health Disorders in Dairy Cattle and Its Associated Risk Factors in Melka Belo Woreda of East Hararghe Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

One of the key elements affecting the profitability of the cow-calf business is reproductive disorders. From March to August of 2022, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Melka Belo Woreda East Hararghe Zone with the aim of identifying reproductive health issues in dairy cattle and the risk factors associated with them. According to the current study, of the 50 respondents, 37 (74%) were men and 13 (26%) were women, with respect to various occupational and educational backgrounds. Of the 50 respondents, 2 (4%) worked in Artificial Insemination, 17 (34%) in animal health, and 31 (62%) as animal owners. All of these respondents were representative of the study population in the study area. Out of the 397 cows that were analyzed, 126 (31.74%) had at least one reproductive issue that was found through both routine follow-up (n = 13) and retrospective analysis (n = 384). The study found that dystocia (8.85%), retained fetal membrane (7.3%), repeat breeder (5.2%), prolapse of the uterus and vagina (4.43%), anestrous (3.13%), and abortion (2.34%) were the main reproductive issues. Breeds and parity had no statistically significant (p>0.05) impact on the incidence of reproductive difficulties in dairy cattle, while the prevalence of assessed reproductive disorders showed a significant difference (p<0.05) with respect to age and body condition. In general, the current findings showed that reproductive health issues are prevalent in the study region, as indicated by their percentage and categories, which occasionally vary. This study demonstrated the strong correlation between reproductive problems and dairy cows’ ability to reproduce. Therefore, consistent control of reproductive health and appropriate husbandry techniques may offer ways to mitigate issues that arise in various production systems. The primary reproductive health conditions in the research region should be the subject of more thorough investigations.

Establishing a Freshwater Turtle (Emydura subglobosa) Laboratory Line (FTLL) as a novel model species for research and education

<b>The Jardine River turtle (Emydura subglobosa) was selected as a potential model species for studies on freshwater turtles and general reptile physiology. Attempts to establish a freshwater turtle laboratory line were made when an adult pair of E. subglobosa was received in 2016 by the Laboratory of Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture (Poznań University of Life Sciences). The first generation of offspring was obtained in 2017, and the second generation in 2023. In each generation, unrelated specimens were added to the animal cohort to avoid inbreeding. Husbandry regimes were established, and a basal diet for nutritional experiments was developed and manufactured by two methods, producing extruded feed and a gelatine-solidified variant. The establishment of the Freshwater Turtle Laboratory Line (FTLL) provides an opportunity to improve the development of husbandry techniques, increase knowledge of reptile physiology, and use laboratory-raised animals as model species for research and education.

Assessing the euryhaline characteristics and metabolic responses of meagre (Argyrosomus regius) when reared under different salinities: Opportunities for aquaculture refinement

The aquaculture of meagre (Argyrosomus regius), a commercially important fish species, is still under development towards its full potential and optimized production. While its key strengths in fish farming, including high growth rate, efficient feed conversion ratio, superior flesh quality, nutritional value, size, and established husbandry techniques, are well-known, further scientific research can unlock additional rearing opportunities for this species. As migratory fish, meagre spends its early life stages in estuaries before moving to coastal and offshore areas, experiencing diverse environmental conditions that significantly influence its feeding behavior, growth, and reproduction. Despite its adaptability, meagre production has been limited to sea cages and land-based salt ponds. Considering its high tolerance to a wide range of factors, particularly salinity, the present study aimed to evaluate the stress and biochemical costs associated with rearing meagre fingerlings under hypo-osmotic environments. The objective was to enhance aquaculture practices and explore the possibility of cultivating this species in more diverse locations without compromising productivity. Meagre fingerlings were reared under different salinities for 28 days, namely at 5, 10, 20, and 30 PSU. Growth rate was calculated, and biochemical responses associated with oxidative stress and energy metabolism were measured in muscle, liver, and heart tissues. Meagre fingerlings displayed remarkable euryhaline characteristics at the biochemical level, as evidenced by their limited response to the varying salinity conditions. An increase in oxidative stress responses and energetic demand was found, together with higher growths, at higher concentrations (20 and 30 PSU), farther from the meagre isoosmotic concentration (∼10 PSU). Understanding these biochemical responses enhances our knowledge of aquaculture techniques and paves the way for adapting and expanding operations to diverse environmental conditions and practices. By leveraging the euryhaline potential of meagre, this research contributes to the sustainable growth of the aquaculture industry while offering new perspectives to produce this valuable fish species.

Evaluation of the relative efficiency of broiler housing facilities using Data Envelopment Analysis

This research aimed to observe the efficiency of productive units of broiler chickens using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with the CCR model. This technique aims to define an efficiency frontier from the process’s inputs and outputs, which can be used to evaluate the relative efficiency of the studied units and to define consistent goals to the units bellow the expected performance, comparing units of the same technology profile and scale. The study identified benchmark units as performance reference in order the improve the organization’s results level, increasing productivity and reducing costs. Twenty-five production units were examined in aviaries with automated technology, located in the Center-West region of Brazil, of which 23 presented global inefficiency, with potential to increase the volume of meat produced with the same amount of inputs. The units that contained only male birds presented the highest global efficiencies, followed by the mixed units and, at last, the units that contained only female birds. The units with the lowest efficiency rates were the ones with the highest mortality rates (3.3 and 4.05%). Several other factors can contribute to these results, such as, possible human errors ant the equipment’s adjustments and the employment of correct husbandry techniques. Investigating the low performance causes is necessary for the company to design a strategy of performance improvement.

A Tale of Enduring Myths: Buffon’s Theory of Animal Degeneration and the Regeneration of Domesticated Animals in Mid-19th Century Brazil

The long 19th century was a period of many developments and technical innovations in agriculture and animal biology, during which actors sought to incorporate new practices in light of new information. By the middle of the century, however, while heredity steadily became the dominant concept in animal husbandry, some policies related to livestock improvement in Brazil seemed to have been tailored following a climate-deterministic concept established in the mid-18th century by the French naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc, the Comte de Buffon. His theory of animal degeneration posited, among other things, the necessity of recurrent crossbreeding to preserve animal species living in nonnative environments from climate-induced degeneration. Although largely discredited by the early 19th century, the teachings of the French naturalist seem to have found supporters in a Brazilian program to modernize national agriculture through the application of the natural sciences. Herein I examine the revival of Buffon’s theories in that government-sponsored program to improve animal husbandry and breeding techniques, including actual applications of this theory in the real world. Ultimately, I argue that Buffon’s theory of degeneration was used to tailor public policies and funding for the improvement of domesticated animals in Brazil between 1856 and 1860.

Sustainable small-scale animal agriculture and food security in Africa

<p>For Africa, smallholder livestock farming is crucial for rural livelihood and food security. Understanding the connections between food security, gender inequality, and climate change can help us find solutions to Africa’s persistent food crisis. Women’s participation in small-scale animal agriculture helps ensure the food security of households; however, climate change has a detrimental effect on animal productivity, so prioritizing climate-smart animal husbandry techniques is critical. The shift in animal agriculture toward sustainability must be fueled by gender-sensitive strategies. Production and food security will improve through a transdisciplinary strategy that recognizes the connections among small-scale animal agriculture, climate change, and gender issues. Policies that are adapted to local conditions and encourage equitable growth in small-scale animal agriculture will be necessary to address the challenges this sector faces and improve food security. The majority of developing nations have institutional and technical obstacles that could prohibit the small-scale farming sector from participating in new food security efforts aimed at enhancing rural livelihoods. Therefore, it is highly doubtful that any strategy created to improve food security while downplaying the importance of smallholder agriculture will be long-term viable. The discussion makes clear the importance of small-scale animal agriculture and offers potential solutions that could be adopted to transform the small-scale animal agriculture sector to increase its value and enhance food security across the continent.</p><p><strong> </strong></p>

Genetic tools for the study of the mangrove killifish, Kryptolebias marmoratus, an emerging vertebrate model for phenotypic plasticity.

Kryptolebias marmoratus (Kmar), a teleost fish of the order Cyprinodontiformes, has a suite of unique phenotypes and behaviors not observed in other fishes. Many of these phenotypes are discrete and highly plastic-varying over time within an individual, and in some cases reversible. Kmar and its interfertile sister species, K. hermaphroditus, are the only known self-fertile vertebrates. This unusual sexual mode has the potential to provide unique insights into the regulation of vertebrate sexual development, and also lends itself to genetics. Kmar is easily adapted to the lab and requires little maintenance. However, its internal fertilization and small clutch size limits its experimental use. To support Kmar as a genetic model, we compared alternative husbandry techniques to maximize recovery of early cleavage-stage embryos. We find that frequent egg collection enhances yield, and that protease treatment promotes the greatest hatching success. We completed a forward mutagenesis screen and recovered several mutant lines that serve as important tools for genetics in this model. Several will serve as useful viable recessive markers for marking crosses. Importantly, the mutant kissylips lays embryos at twice the rate of wild-type. Combining frequent egg collection with the kissylips mutant background allows for a substantial enhancement of early embryo yield. These improvements were sufficient to allow experimental analysis of early development and the successful mono- and bi-allelic targeted knockout of an endogenous tyrosinase gene with CRISPR/Cas9 nucleases. Collectively, these tools will facilitate modern developmental genetics in this fascinating fish, leading to future insights into the regulation of plasticity.

The Role of Preventative Medicine Programs in Animal Welfare and Wellbeing in Zoological Institutions.

The overarching goal of a preventative medicine program is to minimize the chances of health problems developing and to maximize the chances of detecting health problems early, in a manner that best benefits the animals and the organization. The traditional paradigms of animal welfare, stemming from the five freedoms and being progressively fleshed out to five domains, the 24/7 approach and so forth do not apply perfectly to zoological collections and less so to animals undergoing veterinary treatments. The physiology and behaviour of animals undergoing veterinary treatments, including therapeutic, quarantine and preventative medicine, are derailed from their normal states and their choices and comfort are de facto limited. A paradigm separating animal wellbeing from animal welfare is necessary to instil clarity of thought and to guide actions in regard to the welfare of animals under human care. Using such a model, preventative medicine programs emerge as a cornerstone of zoo and aquarium animal welfare, all the more if it incorporates modern veterinary and husbandry techniques, including operant conditioning.

Zoo-bred female birds prefer songs of zoo-bred males: Implications for adaptive management of reintroduction programs

Understanding the factors affecting the success of animal reintroductions is crucial for facilitating endangered species recovery. Cultural differences between individuals from different animal populations can lead to assortative mating, whereby individuals prefer to breed within their own familiar cultural cohort. Assortative mating can hinder the assimilation of zoo-bred individuals into wild populations, so quantifying this risk becomes important for informing adaptive management strategies in conservation. We conducted mate choice experiments on zoo-bred female regent honeyeaters (Anthochaera phrygia) to assess whether they showed stronger behavioural responses to the familiar but abnormal songs of zoo-bred male regent honeyeaters than those of their wild counterparts or an interspecific control song. Female regent honeyeaters were no more likely to enter the playback aviary in response to the songs of zoo-bred males than those of wild males or a different species. However, females that did enter the playback aviary were significantly more likely to respond quickly, approach the speaker closely and remain in the playback aviary for longer in response to the songs of zoo-bred males than wild songs or control songs. Our study is the first to show experimentally that zoo-bred females prefer familiar, but abnormal, zoo-bred songs over unfamiliar wild-type songs. We suggest that assortative mating amongst released birds is a risk in reintroduced regent honeyeaters, given recent evidence that the breeding success of reintroduced pairs is low. Our study demonstrates how small-scale experiments conducted within applied zoo-breeding settings can yield useful information to refine husbandry techniques and reduce cultural divides between wild and reintroduced populations.

Adapting conservation breeding techniques using a data-driven approach to restore the 'Alalā (Hawaiian crow, Corvus hawaiiensis).

For some critically endangered species, conservation breeding is a vital steppingstone toward re-establishing wild populations. The 'Alalā (Hawaiian crow, Corvus hawaiiensis), currently extinct in the wild, exists today only in a conservation breeding program, which, for many years, utilized successful hands-on husbandry approaches such as separating and resocializing pairs, providing partially manmade nests, artificially incubating eggs, and puppet rearing nestlings. Yet, a top priority of any conservation breeding program is to retain natural behaviors essential to postrelease survival and reproduction, to achieve successful reintroduction and restoration to the wild. We describe how we are adapting 'Alalā husbandry techniques to strengthen pair bonds through full-time socialization, enable pairs to build robust nests, encourage females to incubate eggs to hatch, and provide pairs and their offspring with vital parental rearing experiences. We discuss the use of standardized, data-driven methods to objectively track our progress towards successful parental breeding and to select release candidates based on their likelihood to survive and breed in the wild. The information shared in this report can be applied to other conservation breeding programs, particularly those implementing or transitioning to husbandry techniques geared towards preparing species to thrive in the wild.

Stable Isotopes and Herding Strategies in Middle Uruk Period in Tell Humeida (Syrian Euphrates Valley)

The techniques of agriculture and animal husbandry at Tell Humeida, a Middle Uruk Period (Late Chalcolithic) site on the middle Syrian Euphrates, were studied using stable isotopes of bone collagen of domestic and wild mammals and from cereal and ruderal plant seeds. Two archaeological campaigns in 2009 and 2011 yielded a small collection of bones, most of which were taxonomically indeterminable. The work had to be interrupted due to the political conflict. The faunal study comprised collagen peptide fingerprinting for taxonomic identification, followed by isotopic analysis. Multiple 14C dating were performed to date the infill to around 3600 cal BC. An isotopic analysis of the sparse plant remains suggested that irrigation and manuring were common practices. Sheep and equids predominated in the faunal assemblage. Sheep grazed on manured soils, and their diet could include millet or another C4 plant, of which, however, no carpological remains were found. The diet of equids differed from that of sheep but also that of other wild ungulates (cervids/gazelles). Their isotopic signatures indicated that they grazed in humid areas, near the watercourse. These finds indicated a settlement that was closely linked to the availability of water, which made it possible to grow crops in an almost desert-like area, and the rearing of sheep.

Safe harbor: translocating California red‐legged frogs to a climate refuge in Yosemite National Park

Safe harbor: translocating California red‐legged frogs to a climate refuge in Yosemite National Park

Vegetarian vs. Carnivore Feeding Enrichment in a Pack of Captive Iberian Wolves (Canis lupus signatus): Towards Individual and Species-typical Needs?

The aim of this study was to compare two different types of feeding enrichment (vegetarian vs. carnivore) through the daily activity, space use and inter-individual distances in a captive Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) pack housed at the Barcelona Zoo. Multifocal sampling methods were used for data collection and instantaneous scans were made at 15-min intervals during sessions of varying duration. The enrichment sessions were carried out once a day, three days per week –Monday, Wednesday, and Friday- repeating the delivered schedule of items every two weeks. Thus, both feeding phases included six different enrichment sessions; the vegetarian phase included chopped fruit – apples inside a burlap sack, scattered bananas, peaches, frozen pears, and oranges, and kiwis inside a frozen water block; the carnivore phase included animal products -beef raw lean meat inside a burlap sack or inside a frozen water block, horse leg, live carp, frozen rabbit skin and live grasshoppers-. There were individual differences in the response to both feeding enrichments. Only the carnivore enrichment provoked statistically significant differences in exploration, locomotion, inactivity and not visible. Only the indeterminate zone showed changes during both enrichment phases. The inter-individual distance between Iberian wolves was statistically significantly lower during both feeding enrichment phases –especially during the carnivore as compared to the vegetarian phase- than during the baseline phase. Enrichment items designed more according to the natural history of these animals seem to have a greater capacity to improve the wolf welfare. Future studies on this species are necessary to improve husbandry techniques, welfare, and conservation programs.

Effects of Supplementation of Zinc, Manganese, or Copper and Different Phytase Levels in Serum and Bone Acid and Alkaline Phosphatases of Broiler Chicks

The knowledge of biological trace minerals and phytase requirements for modern broiler genotypes is not established and the pressure to reduce their usage in animal feeding due to environmental issues is increasing. Here, the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and tartarate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) of the tibia and serum of broilers fed with diets containing various levels of phytase and reduced levels of zinc, manganese, and copper was evaluated. The experiment was performed using 1,200 male Cobb broilers raised according to standard commercial husbandry techniques. Data were analyzed as a 4×3 factorial arrangement with four concentrations of zinc (0.34, 0.49, 0.64, and 0.79 ppm), manganese (0.18, 0.43, 0.68, and 0.93 ppm), or copper (0.09, 0.12, 0.15, and 0.18 ppm) and three concentrations of phytase (0, 500, and 1,000 FTU/kg) for age periods of 1-21 and 36-42 days. While the dietary supplementation with copper did not induce a significant effect in bone tissue biochemical markers, serum TRAP activity of 42-day old broilers increased with higher copper levels. Increasing dietary zinc levels linearly increased ALP activity in tibia growth, suggesting that zinc is essential for longitudinal bone growth. Phytase significantly promoted the increase of TRAP and ALP activities, suggesting that manganese increased growth plate activity, accelerated calcification, and remodeled the newly formed tissue into trabecular bone. Although not every enzymatic activity was affected by the treatments, the phytase use, along with trace minerals, improved the animal response to the rapid growth required nowadays and provided the nutrients for adequate bone metabolism.

MILK SECTOR TRENDS: THE CASE OF ALBANIA

Since the transformation of Albania's agricultural sector in 1992, it has shifted from subsistence farming to a thriving commercial industry, making a significant 17.7% contribution to the country's GDP. Among the agricultural subsectors, animal production, particularly in the dairy sector, plays a pivotal role in both farm income and market supply, contributing about 40% to the total agricultural value. Despite this positive trajectory, the dairy production sector is confronted with a set of challenges. This paper conducts a comprehensive analysis of the dairy sector in Albania, using a systematic methodological approach that involves primary and secondary data analysis. The analysis underscores the need for substantial improvements in various aspects of primary production. These improvements should primarily focus on feed and forage practices, specialized dairy breeds, and advanced animal husbandry techniques. Attention is also required for milking and milk collection, which includes maintaining high standards of hygiene, animal health control, milk safety, quality controls, and effective cooling systems. Furthermore, the conclusions highlight the significance of strengthening public extension services, motivating agricultural advisors, and providing financial support to address the knowledge gaps among farmers. Additionally, it is crucial to emphasize that Albania currently depends on net imports for various agricultural products, including milk, as it aligns with EU standards. This underscores the need for efforts to enhance competitiveness and food quality within the dairy sector. The findings of this study are based on the information and data accessible at the time of the analysis, and thus, they may not capture the entirety of the complexities within the dairy sector in Albania. The dairy industry is subject to various external factors, such as changes in global markets, trade policies, and economic conditions, which can influence its performance. In summary, while this research provides valuable insights into the challenges and prospects of Albania's dairy sector, readers should consider these limitations to understand the potential constraints and biases in the study, as well as the dynamic nature of the industry beyond the scope of this analysis.

Economics of milk production and its constraints: A case study of Himachal Pradesh

An attempt has been made in this investigation to work out the cost and returns from milk production across different milch species of animals. Tabular analysis was employed to workout the cost and returns while Garrett’s Ranking Technique (GRT)was used to identify the major constraints in milk production. The multistage random sampling technique was adopted to select the sample of 60 dairy farmers. Average milk yield per day per animal was found to be significantly higher in the case of crossbred cows (7.06 litres) as compared to local cows (2.88 litres).Similarly, net maintenance cost per milch animal per day was found to be relatively higher in crossbred cows ( 200.76) as compared to local cows ( 113.76). The per litre cost of milk production was observed to be significantly higher in case of local cows ( 35.09) followed by crossbred cows ( 26.34). The net income per day was relatively higher in case of crossbred cows ( 64.62) as compared to local cows ( 4.29), while it was found lowest in the small herd size category for local cows (0.54). The net return from crossbred cows was more than that of local cows indicating that crossbred milking cow was more economical than the local cow in the study area. High cost of concentrate, unavailability of veterinary services and low milk productivity were the major constraints in milk production in the study area. Therefore, efforts should be made to impart knowledge to dairy farmers regarding advanced animal husbandry techniques through extension services.

A critical assessment of ex situ conservation based on the Brazilian avifauna: Are we focusing on what is easier?

Species have been lost at unprecedented rates. Because only a small fraction of the threatened taxa have been managed under human care, contrasting the characteristics of taxa that have, and have not been targeted to ex situ conservation can reveal the reach of this conservation strategy, and can indicate its main challenges. Here we investigated whether the level of threat, diet, body mass, phylogeny, and previous presence in captivity due to non-conservation purposes could be potential parameters accounting for the occurrence of Brazilian threatened avian species and subspecies in ex situ conservation facilities and for their eligibility to organized ex situ conservation plans. Using Bayesian phylogenetic comparative models we found positive effects of body mass and phylogeny, and a negative effect of insectivorous diet in the occurrence of the taxa in non-conservation facilities. The previous presence in non-conservation facilities, together with phylogeny, diet, and body mass were the main parameters accounting for the occurrence of the threatened taxa in ex situ conservation facilities, and the previous presence in non-conservation facilities and phylogeny explained the existence of organized ex situ conservation plans. This is evidence that conservation breeding facilities have mostly harbored threatened confiscated birds than choosing them based on scientific criteria. We suggest that investing in the development of husbandry techniques, especially for insectivorous passerines, and choosing taxa based on scientific criteria are important challenges that should be on the agenda of conservation managers.

Effects of post-collection storage conditions on sperm motility longevity in the blunt sea urchin Sphaerechinus granularis

The standardization of procedures for the post-collection management of semen samples is a prerequisite for the development of husbandry techniques, as well as for the use of semen in laboratory research. Despite the relevance of the sea urchin Sphaerechinus granularis as a laboratory model, the basics related to sperm collection and storage have received little attention. The aim of this research was to optimize procedures for the management of S. granularis semen, focusing on the post-collection storage of samples. Specifically, the effects of post-collection storage conditions on sperm motility parameters were evaluated; motility was assessed by computer-assisted analysis (CASA-mot) upon activation (t0), and 15 min, 30 min and 60 min after dilution in freshly collected semen, and in chilled and cryopreserved samples. Motility parameters remained unchanged for up to 60 min after activation in both fresh and chilled semen. In cryopreserved samples, sperm motility upon activation was significantly lower than in fresh semen; however, no differences with respect to t0 values were recorded when thawed semen was cold- incubated for up to 60 min post activation, thus meeting standards required by germplasm cryobanks. Post-activation longevity showed by both fresh and stored S. granularis semen, as well as its resistance to cryopreservation, are positive spermatological features that will allow the running of easy management procedures, encouraging a wider use of S. granularis in hatchery practices, as well as in laboratory activities.

Dairy Value Chain and Household Development in Rwanda

The value chain in terms of dairy can lead to the development of business and households in general. Hence, the aim of the study was to examine the dairy value chain and household development in Rwamagana district in Rwanda. The study employed a descriptive research design to examine the dairy value chain and household development in Rwamagana district in Rwanda. The target population was 11,595 respondents. The sample size was 385 respondents got by using Slovin’s formula. The study used purposive and simple random sampling techniques to determine the sample size. Questionnaire and interview guides were used to collect the data. The validity of the research instrument was maintained by distributing the research instruments to the expert respondents in the area of the study while reliability was maintained by conducting a pilot study that provided reliability of the research instrument. The findings revealed that technical services, dairy inputs availability and profitable market access contributed in household incomes. It was also revealed that animal husbandry techniques by reproduction and artificial insemination promoted cross-breeding, where 50% of respondents confirmed that their cows increased from 1 to 2, and other at 46.9% increased up to 5 cows.  The study found that 98.2% of the respondents received trainings on animal health disease management and 97.9% of them practiced what acquired from training, and this improved the animal health and reduced the cows’ death rate. Majority of dairy value chain actors at 88.5% of respondents cultivated fodder to feed their cows and 91.7% of them gained different conservation techniques such as hay making and silage useful in dry and drought seasons to avoid milk shortages and cow death. Besides, 73.2% of respondents of dairy chain actors had different milk equipment to support in keeping good quality and safety, storage and feeding such as milk cans, choppers, sprayers and other testing materials, and 87% of them accessed veterinary pharmacies nearby. Findings revealed that a large number of respondents at 90.9% consumed milk at home level which improved the households’ members livelihood, and the surplus was sold to milk collection centers, milk kiosks, restaurants, hotels, schools. The study recommended that farmers should be mobilized for more house water harvesting strategies and increased measures of fodder conservation by hay making and silage techniques. Government and private sector in partnership with dairy chain actors should put in place a processing plant for products development, diversification, market penetration and market development strategies. There should be mobilizing of private investors or cooperatives in the dairy equipment shops. Keywords: Dairy, Value change, Household, Household development and dairy value chain, Rwanda