Improve Livestock Production Research Articles

Bovicins: The Bacteriocins of Streptococci and Their Potential in Methane Mitigation.

Bovicin is a type AII lantibiotic, possessing two β-methyllanthionine and a disulfide bridge encoded by bovA gene hitherto unknown a couple of decades ago. Bacteriocins can be useful in directly inhibiting methanogens and/or redirecting H2 to other reductive microorganisms, in particular, propionate producers or reductive acetogens. So far, the role of nisin and bovicin to suppress greenhouse gas (GHG) production under in vitro conditions has been documented. GHG emissions from ruminants are a threat to the environment, because of their role in global warming as well as in climate change. Methane (CH4) produced from livestock farming practices is a potent GHG, comprising 18% of total GHG emissions in the world. Therefore, minimizing enteric CH4 production is quite essential from both the economical livestock production as well as environment perspectives. Strategies for the abatement of CH4 have provided two-way opportunities, viz., improved livestock productivity and reduced GHG emissions. In the past, different strategies have been proposed and tested to mitigate CH4, such as the dietary composition of feeds, ionophores, antibiotics, vaccines, analogues, probiotics, and secondary metabolites of plants and fungi. However, quite a few of these strategies have been adopted at farm level due to their varied effect on animal health and/or residues on animal products. The use of bacteriocins might have potential in inhibiting methanogens in the rumen. A bacteriocin produced by Streptococcus bovis (an isolate from rumen) named bovicin HC5 has been exhibited to decrease CH4 production to an extent of 50%. In this review, authors intend to discuss the sources, structure, biochemical properties, and antimicrobial spectra of bovicins, besides the potential applications with special reference to CH4 mitigation.

Infection dynamics of Theileria annulata over a disease season following cell line vaccination

Tropical theileriosis is a tick-borne haemoparasitic disease of cattle caused by the protozoan parasite Theileria annulata. Globally, the economic impact of the disease is immense and enhanced control measures would improve livestock production in endemic regions. Immunisation with a live attenuated vaccine is an effective and widely used control method, however, the repeated use of live vaccines may have an impact on the field parasite population at a genetic level. Additionally, there has been an increasing number of reports of vaccine breakthrough cases in recent years. Thus, the present study was designed to evaluate the genetic composition of a parasite population over a disease season in a locality where live cell line vaccination is practised. A diverse range of parasite genotypes was identified and every T. annulata positive cattle blood sample harboured multiple parasite genotypes. An alteration in the major genotype and an increasing multiplicity of infection in individual animals was observed over the course of the disease season. Vaccination status was found not to effect within-host multiplicity of infection, while a significantly higher number of genotypes was detected in grazed cattle compared to non-grazed ones. A degree of genetic isolation was evident between parasite populations on a micro-geographic scale, which has not been reported previously for T. annulata. Analysis of parasite genotypes in vaccinated animals suggested only a transient effect of the vaccine genotype on the genetic diversity of the T. annulata population. The vaccine genotype was not detected among clones of two vaccine ‘breakthrough’ isolates and there is no suggestion that it was responsible for disease. The obtained data indicated that in the system studied there is no apparent risk of introducing the vaccine genotype into the population with only a transient effect on the genetic diversity of the parasite population during the disease season.

Economic analysis of new generation vaccines for control of lumpy skin disease and Rift Valley Fever in South Africa

ABSTRACTLivestock disease outbreaks in Africa threaten improved animal and human health, increased productivity, and sustainable agricultural livelihoods. Investment into research and development of livestock vaccines has potential to generate new technologies that can benefit the livestock sector and result in control of diseases such as Rift Valley fever (RVF) and lumpy skin disease (LSD). Veterinary research and development efforts have focussed on the development of an improved, combined LSD RVF 2-in-1 vaccine, using new generation technologies. Through collaborative, multidisciplinary research, it is possible to create solid economic arguments that guide policy and investment on strategies for controlling livestock diseases. Using Monte Carlo simulation through various vaccination scenarios this paper evaluates ex-ante the costs and benefits of an LSD RVF 2-in-1 vaccine on dairy production in South Africa. Simulations over a 15 year period yielded positive net present values at R830 641 and R13 954 073 with internal rate of return at 32.4 per cent and 32.9 per cent for small scale and large scale operations, respectively. The results of the study provide decision makers with solid economic arguments regarding the potential benefits of investing in new generation vaccines for control of RVF and LSD. Continuous awareness on the importance of the vaccines, particularly for small-scale farmers is recommended for improved livestock productivity.

Breeders\u2019 knowledge on cattle fodder species preference in rangelands of Benin

BackgroundWe undertook ethnobotanical and ecological studies on fodder plants grazed by cattle across Benin national area. The study aims to ascertain the top priority fodder plants in order to catalogue the indigenous knowledge regarding their use.MethodsData were collected through semi-structured interviews and covered 690 breeders and 40 days of pasture walk. These were analysed using similarity index of Jaccard (IS), relative frequency citation (RFC) and fodder value during pasture walk (FVPW).ResultsWe documented a total of 257 fodder plant species, of which 116 recorded during ethnobotanical investigations and 195 during pasture walk. These species belong to 181 genera and 54 families. Both methods shared 52 species. Leaves (58%) and leafy stem (28%) were the most grazed parts of plant. The most common species used as fodder included Andropogon gayanus, Panicum maximum, Pterocarpus erinaceus and Flueggea virosa. The top species with a highest FVPW were Panicum maximum and Pterocarpus erinaceus. A total of 16 species were considered as top fodder plants in Benin.ConclusionsThe wide diversity of plants reported indicates that there is a number of promising fodder species in the flora of Benin. The insight gained in this study relating to bovine feeds could guide in the selection and introduction of feed innovations that could improve livestock production.

Chemical composition, phytochemical and mineral profile of garlic (Allium sativum)

The practice of complementary and alternative medicine is now on the increase in developing countries in response to World Health Organization’s directives. This has culminated in several pre-clinical and clinical studies that have provided the scientific basis for the efficacy of many plants used in folk medicine to improve growth performance in farm animals and treat infections. This study was carried out to investigate the chemical, mineral and phytochemical contents of garlic as a preliminary work to evaluate the influence of garlic on the performance characteristics of broiler chickens. Garlic bulbs (Allium sativum), including cloves and hulls, were obtained from the open market at Ado-Ekiti-Nigeria. The garlic bulbs were desegmented into cloves and were cut into chips. The chips were sun-dried for 3 weeks. The dried garlic chips were milled and analysed for the chemical compositions. The results obtained indicated that garlic on dry matter basis contained 4.55 mg/100g, 73.22 mg/100g and 15.33 mg/100g of moisture, carbohydrate and crude protein respectively. The crude fat was 0.72 mg/100g while crude fibre and ash were 2.10 mg/100g and 4.08 mg/100g, respectively. Garlic contained 10.19, 26.30, 10.19, 5.29, 0.001, 0.34 and 0.001 mg/100g of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, zinc and manganese respectively while lead and cobalt were below detection level. Garlic is acidic (pH = 3.91) and contained 4.21, 3.54, 0.64, 0.80, 5.56, 0.04 and 0.02 mg/100g of alkaloids, tannins, carotenoids, saponin, flavonoids, steroids and cardenolides, respectively. Garlic as a feed additive possesses nutritional properties for use in the enhancement of improved livestock production.

Does climate adaptation of vulnerable households to extreme events benefit livestock production?

Extreme climate events have become more frequent and severe as a result of climate change. In semi-arid pastoral regions, extreme drought is harmful to livestock production and to vulnerable human communities and livelihoods. In this study, we considered extreme drought in semi-arid regions and investigated climate adaptations taken by the local vulnerable households and their effects on livestock production. We first analyzed the characteristics of spatio-temporal variation of extreme drought in Hulun Buir, Inner Mongolia, China, during 1980–2015 by using the FAO Penman–Monteith model and then applied stochastic frontier analysis to evaluate the technical efficiency of livestock production of 126 pasturing households. We further explored the effects of climate adaptations to extreme drought on the technical efficiency of livestock production. The results showed that the average frequency of extreme drought in Hulun Buir was 4.6 month/year and displayed a decreasing trend varying from southwest to northeast during 1980–2015. Based on the survey data, the average technical efficiency of livestock production of the local households was 0.530 in 2015, which could be greatly improved. The adaptations of the households significantly positively increased the technical efficiency of livestock production. Purchasing more forage and selling more livestock were the two most frequently adopted and effective adaptive measures for the response of vulnerable households in Hulun Buir to extreme drought risks. Further policy options were provided to improve livestock production as well as rangeland protection and restoration for coping with extreme drought in the context of climate change in semi-arid pastoral regions.

Adoption and Utilization of Cactus Pear in South Asia—Smallholder Farmers’ Perceptions

Livestock production in arid and semi-arid regions is facing the challenges of low and erratic rainfall, poor nutrient soils, and high temperatures, which all contribute to inadequate forage production to support livestock. Under these challenging conditions, promoting forage species, such as cacti, that are tolerant and well adapted is important to sustain and improve livestock production. This study analyzes the potential of adopting a spineless cactus through analysis of smallholder farmers’ perceptions with respect to its potential use as a livestock feed in South Asia. A total of 456 households were stratified into three groups in 2017: Farmers not familiar with cactus (non-adopters), farmers familiar with cactus but not growing it (potential adopters), and those already growing it (actual adopters). Main findings confirm that farmers already growing cactus are satisfied with its potential. A considerable proportion of non-adopter farmers cited the unavailability of plant material and technical information as the main reason for their lack of interest in cultivating spineless cactus. Therefore, the potential gains of livestock farming from spineless cactus production in the world’s dry areas could be immense, although more efforts, through farmer education and information sharing, are needed to ensure that the plant’s potential is effectively realized.

Effects of Lactobacillus buchneri NCIMB 40788 and forage: Concentrate ratio on the growth performance of finishing feedlot lambs fed maize silage

Inoculation of maize silage with Lactobacillus buchneri has improved livestock production in some cases, but the published literature has shown that results depend on the dietary forage: concentrate (F:C) ratio; however, there is little knowledge on the interaction between the silage inoculant and F:C ratio. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effect of feeding maize silage inoculated with L. buchneri NCIMB 40788 and two F:C ratios on feed intake and growth performance of lambs. Twenty-eight Dorper × Santa Ines lambs were arranged in a randomized block design (n = 7) and then assigned to one of four diets as follows: 1) untreated maize silage (with no silage inoculant) and low concentrate (400 g/kg dry matter (DM); US-LC); 2) maize silage inoculated with L. buchneri and low concentrate (400 g/kg DM; IS-LC); 3) untreated maize silage and moderately high concentrate (600 g/kg DM; US-HC); and 4) maize silage inoculated with L. buchneri and moderately high concentrate (600 g/kg DM; IS-HC). There was an interaction between inoculation and F:C ratio for DM intake (DMI), in which lambs fed the US-LC diet had lower DMI (P = 0.013) than that of all the other diets. Inoculation decreased crude protein (CP) digestibility (P = 0.003; –6.1%). As compared with the LC diet, the HC diet had a lower (P ≤ 0.016) apparent digestibility of DM, organic matter, and CP. Inoculation increased the average daily gain of lambs (P = 0.022) mostly when they were fed the LC diet than that observed for the HC diet. In conclusion, inoculation of maize silage with L. buchneri improved lamb production on feeding of diets having a higher proportion of silage, but this response was not accompanied of higher profitability. Additionally, the response of L. buchneri on lamb production is highly dependent of the F:C ratio.

Livestock model innovation under the concept of smart cities

Objectives: In this paper, we propose a model of livestock innovation lab employs the concept of living in the context of smart cities, which will improve the productivity of livestock farms of Sucre - Colombia. Methodology: living lab concept is analyzed and defined as it applies to cattle farms taking into account the concept of co-creation, exploration, experimentation and evaluation. Findings: A model of innovation livestock incorporating information technology and communications, implements a living lab including an information system, smart irrigation system with adequate knowledge management and decision support through big data. Application/Improvements: The model will improve livestock productivity using intelligent decision making using the concept of big data. Keywords: 3D-Porous Coated Scaffolds, Bionanocomposite, Implantation, Non-Seeded, Rabbits

Livestock model innovation under the concept of smart cities

Objectives: In this paper, we propose a model of livestock innovation lab employs the concept of living in the context of smart cities, which will improve the productivity of livestock farms of Sucre - Colombia. Methodology: living lab concept is analyzed and defined as it applies to cattle farms taking into account the concept of co-creation, exploration, experimentation and evaluation. Findings: A model of innovation livestock incorporating information technology and communications, implements a living lab including an information system, smart irrigation system with adequate knowledge management and decision support through big data. Application/Improvements: The model will improve livestock productivity using intelligent decision making using the concept of big data. Keywords: 3D-Porous Coated Scaffolds, Bionanocomposite, Implantation, Non-Seeded, Rabbits

Long-term culture of undifferentiated spermatogonia isolated from immature and adult bovine testes.

Undifferentiated spermatogonia eventually differentiate in the testis to produce haploid sperm. Within this cell population, there is a small number of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). SSCs are rare cells in the testis, and their cellular characteristics are poorly understood. Establishment of undifferentiated cell line would provide an indispensable tool for studying their biological nature and spermiogenesis/spermatogenesis in vitro. However, there have been few reports on the long-term culture of undifferentiated spermatogonia in species other than rodents. Here, we report the derivation and long-term in vitro culture of undifferentiated spermatogonia cell lines from immature and adult bovine testes. Cell lines from immature testes were maintained in serum-free culture conditions in the presence of glial-cell-line-derived neurotropic factor (GDNF) and bovine leukemia inhibitory factor (bLIF). These cell lines have embryonic stem (ES)-like cell morphology, express pluripotent-stem-cell-specific and germ-cell-specific markers at the protein and mRNA levels, and contributed to the inner cell mass (ICM) of embryos in the blastocyst stage. Meanwhile, cell lines established from adult testes were maintained in low-serum media in the presence of 6-bromoindirubin-3'-oxime (BIO). These cell lines have characteristics resembling those of previously reported male mouse germ cell lines as confirmed by their botryoidally aggregated morphology, as well as the expression of germ-cell-specific markers and pluripotent stem cell markers. These findings could be useful for the development of long-term culture of undifferentiated spermatogonia, which could aid in conservation of species and improvement of livestock production through genome editing technology.

RUMINANT NUTRITION SYMPOSIUM: Tiny but mighty: the role of the rumen microbes in livestock production.

The microbes inhabiting the rumen convert low-quality, fibrous, plant material into useable energy for the host ruminant. Consisting of bacteria, protozoa, fungi, archaea, and viruses, the rumen microbiome composes a sophisticated network of symbiosis essential to maintenance, immune function, and overall production efficiency of the host ruminant. Robert Hungate laid the foundation for rumen microbiome research. This area of research has expanded immensely with advances in methodology and technology that have not only improved the ability to describe microbes in taxonomic and density terms but also characterize populations of microbes, their functions, and their interactions with each other and the host. The interplay between the rumen microbiome and the host contributes to variation in many phenotypic traits expressed by the host animal. A better understanding of how the rumen microbiome influences host health and performance may lead to novel strategies and treatments for trait improvement. Furthermore, elucidation of maternal, genetic, and environmental factors that influence rumen microbiome establishment and development may provide novel insights into possible mechanisms for manipulating the rumen microbial composition to enhance long-term host health and performance. The potential for these tiny but mighty rumen microbes to play a role in improving livestock production is appreciated despite being relatively obscure.

Serological evidence of Brucella infections in dairy cattle in Haryana, India

ABSTRACTBackground: In India, milk production is important for both the economy and the provision of nutritious food. However, the productivity of the livestock is affected by circulating infectious diseases, and some zoonotic diseases, such as brucellosis, may cause a heavy impact on the farm as the disease cause abortions and reproductive failures in bovines, with chronic febrile illness in humans.Methods: 249 dairy farms in the state of Haryana, India, were interviewed, and collected raw milk from 81 were analyzed for antibodies towards Brucella abortus.Results: More samples were positive using milk ring test (MRT) (55.6%, 45/81) than using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (29.6%, 24/81), with all ELISA positive samples also positive in MRT. The ELISA results were used for risk factor analyses. Seropositive farms were significantly (p = 0.015) larger than seronegative, with an average 7.9 cattle, compared to 4.9. Seropositive farms were more likely to report stillbirth occurring the last year, and a significantly higher proportion of seropositive farms reported retained placenta (odds ratio 5.2).Conclusion: This study showed that Brucella seroprevalence is high among farms in Haryana, and a control program is needed to ensure improved human and animal health, as well as improved livestock productivity.

An Update on the Sense of Taste in Chickens: A Better Developed System than Previously Appreciated.

Taste is important in guiding nutritive choices and motivating food intake. The sensory organs for taste are the taste buds, that transduce gustatory stimuli into neural signals. It has been reported that chickens have a low taste bud number and thus low taste acuity. However, more recent studies indicate that chickens have a well-developed taste system and the reported number and distribution of taste buds may have been significantly underestimated. Chickens, as a well-established animal model for research, are also the major species of animals in the poultry industry. Thus, a clear understanding of taste organ formation and the effects of taste sensation on nutrition and feeding practices is important for improving livestock production strategies. In this review, we provide an update on recent findings in chicken taste buds and taste sensation indicating that the chicken taste organ is better developed than previously thought and can serve as an ideal system for multidisciplinary studies including organogenesis, regenerative medicine, feeding and nutritional choices.

Nutrient composition and in vitro methane production of sub-tropical grass species in transitional rangeland of South Africa

The development of greenhouse gas mitigation strategies has become an important issue globally. Enteric methane (CH4) emissions from livestock do not only contribute substantially to the environmental footprint of livestock production but it also represents a loss of energy that could be channelled towards animal growth and production. In this study 14 sub-tropical grass species typical of transitional rangeland regions of South Africa were characterised in terms of ecological status, chemical composition, in vitro total gas and CH4 production. The aim of the study was 2-fold: to identify grass species that could be selected for low enteric CH4 production; evaluate the influence of rangeland ecological status on the methanogenic potential of a rangeland. Grass samples were collected by hand, air-dried, milled and analysed for nutrient composition, in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) and in vitro gas and CH4 production. Cenchrus ciliaris and Urelytrum agropyriodes produced the highest 48-h in vitro CH4 of 17.49 and 14.05 mL/g DM digested respectively. The lowest 48-h in vitro CH4 was produced by Andropogan gayanus and Bothriochloa bladhii with 5.98 and 6.08 mL/g DM digested respectively. The evaluated grass species were overall of poor quality with low CP concentrations ranging from 2.4% for Trachypogon spicatus to 6.7% for Digitaria eriantha and IVOMD ranging from 22.5% for Andropogon gayanus to 42.2% for Urelytrum agropyriodes. Decreaser grass species presented with higher in vitro CH4 production compared with Increaser I and Increaser II grass species in the present study. The results of the study emphasise the importance of including the nutritional potential of grass species for improved livestock production when evaluating grass species for possible greenhouse gas mitigation strategies.

Emission factors estimated from enteric methane of dairy cattle in Andean zone using the IPCC Tier-2 methodology

Enteric CH4 emissions from ruminant livestock represent a loss of dietary energy and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, actually, that is depending on feeding level and diet composition. We calculated emission factors of methane depending to enteric fermentation of Holstein cattle in Andean zone of Colombia, based on methodology IPCC Tier 2. This study involved animal performance, management practices for improved livestock productivity, higher digestibility of pasture and forage from silvopastoral system of the association Pennisetum clandestinum/Trifolium repens on paddocks bounded by live fences of Acacia decurrens. For that, some model parameters and Tier-2 model equations were applied: body weight, mature weight, daily gain, weight loss, milk production, milk fat content, pregnancy rates and quality of feed to calculate gross energy GE. All these variations were used to investigate the effects on predicted CH4, emission in terms of the changes in the CH4 emission factor (MEF) in kg of CH4 per head dairy cattle−1 year−1. CH4 conversion factor (MCF) as a percentage of gross energy intake with feed, resulting in emission factor of 52 kg CH4 head−1 year−1 in SPS, 28 and 45% lower than in improved pasture of Lolium multiflorum and degraded pasture of Pennisetum clandestinum in rotation with potatoes, resulting in emission factors of 72 and 93 kg CH4 head−1 year−1 respectively. These emission factors were compared with the emission factors of Tier-1 and Tier-2 methodology used value Ym default of IPCC from national inventories. Through this research these emission factors can be applied for regional and national inventories in Andean areas of Colombia with these features.

192 Culture Conditions Supporting Long-Term Expansion of Bovine Spermatogonial Stem Cells Isolated from Adult and Immature Testes

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSC) self-renew and differentiate into spermatocytes to produce haploid sperm. Because SSC are a small population of adult stem cells in the testis, numerous studies have been reported to derive cell lines from cultured SSC. It has been reported that neonatal and adult mouse SSC can be cultured in vitro over the long term. Male germline stem (GS) cells, embryonic stem (ES)-like cells, and multipotent male germline stem (MGS) cells were derivated from mouse SSC. However, in domestic species including cattle, information about in vitro culture of SSC is mainly available in the neonatal and immature animal. To our knowledge, there are no reports about long-term culture of SSC isolated from adult bovine testis. In this report, we established culture conditions to maintain SSC isolated from adult and immature testes. The SSC were isolated by 3-step enzymatic digestion and enriched by Percoll gradient centrifugation. For adult testicular cell suspensions, SSC were further enriched by differential plating on precoated gelatin dish. After Percoll gradient centrifugation, we found differential expression of SSC markers (GFRα-1 and UCHL-1) in the isolated cells from immature and adult testis. The RT-PCR results also confirmed the expression of differentiated spermatogonia markers (SYCP3 and STRA-8) in adult testicular cell suspensions. It suggests that isolated testicular germ cell population from adult testis are more heterogeneous than those of immature testis. The SSC isolated from adult testes were cultured in low-serum media containing 6-bromoindirubin-3′-oxime (BIO), an inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3α (GSK3), and subsequently the cultures were maintained in the medium containing glial cell line-derived neurotropic factor (GDNF). The cell lines have characteristics resembling mouse GS cell lines as confirmed by their grape-like shape morphology, the expression of SSC markers (UCHL-1, DBA, and GFRa-1), and pluripotent stem cell markers (POU5F1, SOX2, KLF4). The SSC from immature testes were proliferated for more than 3 months in serum-free culture conditions in the presence of GDNF and bovine leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). The cell lines had ES-like cell morphology, expressed pluripotent stem cell markers and SSC-specific markers. They differentiated in vitro into 3 germ layers confirmed by the expression of ectoderm (NESTIN), mesoderm (BMP4), and endoderm (GATA-6) markers by RT-PCR and neuron like-cells confirmed by the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) by immunofluorescence analysis. In conclusion, these findings indicate an efficient method to enrich SSC without cell sorting method and different long-term culture systems subsequently established to maintain SSC from adult and immature testes. Furthermore, our data would be useful for further studies that aim to preserve endangered species and improve livestock production through genome editing technology.

The Utilization of Prebiotics, Probiotics, Organic Acids and Antibiotics in Monogastric Animals

The gastrointestinal microbiota is a complex ecosystem made up of a multitude of bacterial species, some of which are potentially pathogenic, while others are considered good for the host. The beneficial microorganisms that live in the hindgut influence gastrointestinal functionality and the host’s health in general. Nowadays, many dietary supplements are available to be fed to young farm animals such as broilers, turkeys, piglets and calves in order to improve their intestinal health and growth performance. Despite the fact that non-pharmacological feed additives in general do not reach the efficacy of antibiotics as growth promoters, the proper choice and use of a dietary supplement may improve livestock productivity. Nevertheless, it has to be considered that dietary supplements usually increase the feed price, which means that the cost-benefit ratio of feed additives should always be determined. Keywords: gastrointestinal microbiota; dietary supplements; livestock productivity

African animal trypanosomiasis as a constraint to livestock health and production in Karamoja region: a detailed qualitative and quantitative assessment

BackgroundNagana (African Animal Trypanosomiasis-AAT) and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) constrain livestock production in most parts of sub-Saharan Africa. To this realisation, Uganda government set up an African trypanosomiasis (AT) control unit, which among other activities generates national tsetse control priority maps using apparent tsetse density data. Such maps underestimate mechanically transmitted AAT and thus ought to be refined using actual AT prevalence data. We therefore set out to generate up-to-date cattle and donkey trypanosomiasis prevalence data as well as find out the constraints to livestock production in Karamoja region in a bid to re-define AT control priority in this region.ResultsLivestock keepers and animal health workers indicated that TBDs and AAT were the most important livestock diseases in Karamoja region. The prevalence of Trypanosoma spp. in cattle and donkeys was 16.3% (95% CI: 12.4–21.1%) and 32.4% (95% CI; 20.2–47.6%) respectively. Trypanosoma vivax (12.1%) and Trypanosoma congolense savannah (29.6%) were the most prevalent Trypanosoma spp. in cattle and donkeys respectively. Majority of the cattle (85.7%) and more than half of the donkey (57.1%) herds were positive for Trypanosoma spp.ConclusionsAfrican animal trypanosomiasis and TBDs are the most important constraints to livestock production in Karamoja region. In order to improve livestock production and hence Karamajong livelihoods, government of Uganda and her development partners will need to invest in livestock health programs particularly targeting tsetse and TBD control.

Stargrass

The purpose of the document is to provide comprehensive information and guidelines on the cultivation, management, and utilization of stargrass (Cynodon spp.), specifically focusing on recommended varieties, growing conditions, cultural practices, and the advantages and disadvantages of stargrass as a forage crop. This detailed resource aims to assist farmers and ranchers in understanding the optimal methods for establishing and managing stargrass to maximize forage production and animal performance in warm-season environments. The document also highlights the specific traits and benefits of various stargrass varieties, offering practical insights into effective fertilization, weed and pest control, grazing management, and hay production strategies. Overall, it serves as a valuable guide for those seeking to incorporate stargrass into their agricultural operations for improved livestock productivity and forage quality. First published in August 2002.