Native Pasture Research Articles

Feed Resources for Livestock and Improved Forage Production Status in Enor Woreda, Gurage Zone of Ethiopia

This study was conducted with the objective of assessing feed resources for livestock and improved forage production status in Enor woreda. Three kebeles were selected purposively based on livestock potential, 90 forage producer farmers, 30 from each kebele were selected using systematic random sampling from forage participant lists. SPSS (version 20) were used for analyzing the data. Mean land holdings of the area were 2.98 (SD=0.2), 2.86 (SD=0.19) and 2.93 (SD=0.21) in enset, cereal and mixed based farming system, respectively. Cereal dominate system has higher TLU than other two farming system. Feed shortage was the primary challenge in enset-based (Index=0.26), cereal-based (Index=0.32) and mixed (Index=0.32) farming system followed by water shortage problem in both enset and cerealbased system. Natural pasture (28%), crop residues (straw) (23%), hay (17%), improved forages (13%) enset (12%) and by-products from industries (7%) were observed to be the major feed resources in the area. In all the three agro-ecologies, Desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) and Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) were the dominant forage species, whereas Sesbania (Sesbaina sesban) was the dominant in cereal-based system adopted in the area.

Effect of Processed Coffee Husk on Feed Intake, Nutrient Digestibility, Body Weight Changes and Economic Feasibility of Bonga Sheep Fed on Natural Pasture Hay as a Basal Diet.

Ethiopia is one of the world's coffee producers, generating about 192,000 metric tonnes of coffee husks annually as by-products. The material can be used for ruminant diets to improve the nutrient utilisation of animals. However, coffee husk has toxic compounds, which can be minimised through different processing methods. Though the above techniques can minimise the toxicity level of coffee husk and increase the bioavailability of nutrients, there is scanty information on the comparative efficacy of these techniques, especially in ruminant nutrition. The study was conducted to examine the effect of processed coffee husk on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, body weight changes and profitability of Bonga rams based on natural pasture hay. In the experiment, 24 rams were used, and the rams were grouped into six blocks based on initial body weight (mean BW 21.5 ± 1.01kg). The rams were quarantined for 21 days, and each ram was randomly assigned to one of the experimental feed treatments in a randomised complete block design (RCBD). The experimental treatment feeds include 400g conventional concentrate mix (CM) containing Noug seed cake and wheat bran (T1); 200g boiled coffee husk + 200g CM (T2); 200g roasted coffee husk + 200g CM (T3) and 200g raw coffee husk + 200g CM (T4). The CM was made in the ratio of 1:1. The data collected from the 90-day experimental period were: dry matter and nutrient intakes, initial body weight, final body weight and body weight changes. After the growth experiment, a 7-day digestibility trial was followed by collecting faeces using a harness bag. The data were managed using Microsoft (MS) Excel 2010 and analysed using R software (v. 4.3.2). The chemical compositions of the CM had maximum crude protein (22%), followed by boiled coffee husk (14.74%), which was higher than natural pasture hay (6.91%) and raw coffee husk (12.4%). The total dry matter intake (p < 0.05), metabolisable energy, and total nutrient intakes of rams were significantly (p < 0.001) maximised when rams fed on boiled coffee husk (T2) than raw (T4) and roasted (T4) coffee husk, except for NDF and organic matter intakes. The apparent digestibility of nutrients and feed conversion efficiency were maximised for rams assigned to T2. There was maximum daily body weight gain (p < 0.001) when rams were supplemented with boiled coffee husk (T2). Also, body weight changes of rams were significantly (p < 0.001) higher for rams supplementation with boiled coffee husk. Therefore, the boiled coffee husk as an alternative feed resource can be replaced by about half of the commercial CM without adverse effects of anti-nutritional factors and enhance the income of smallholder farmers in the coffee crop-livestock production system.

The Surface Water Potentiality in Arid and Semi-Arid Basins Using GIS and HEC-HMS Modeling, Case Study: Gebel El Sibai Watershed, Red Sea

The Red Sea region is considered one of the regions that suffer most from water scarcity among the Egyptian areas. This situation reinforces the importance of maximizing the utilization of available water sources. Rainwater and flood harvesting may form a good water source if good harvesting practices are applied. Natural pastures, Bedouin communities, and wild plants may be affected by severe droughts expected due to climate change. Additional water resources are very important to enhance the resilience of the Bedouin communities to probable droughts. Five main hydrographic basins are issued from Gebel El Sibai (+1435 m), including Wadi Esel, Wadi Sharm El Bahari, Wadi Sharm El Qibli, Wadi Wizr, and Wadi Umm Gheig. Detailed investigation of morphometric parameters, runoff/rainfall relationship, and flood volume using GIS and HEC-HMS model of each basin were estimated as well as natural vegetation. This study reveals that rainfall ranges from 84 mm to 0 mm, and a storm of 84 mm (highest event) is expected to occur every 42 years with a probability of 2.4%. Quantitative morphometric analysis implies that the area has good potential for flooding, especially Wadi Sharm El Qibli and Wadi Umm Gheig, where Wadi Sharm El Bahri represents the lowest priority for flooding. The flood volume of Umm Gheig basin is the greatest: 12 million m3 at the basin outlet with a rainfall event of 15 mm. Wadi Esel is expected to collect 8.7 million m3 due to the ratio of the impervious soil and rainfall quantity, Wadi Sharm El Bahari 2.1 million m3, Wadi Sharm El Qibli 1.6 million m3, and Wadi Wizer 1.04 million m3. Seven storage dams (SD1-SD7) were proposed to enhance the utilization of the surface water potentialities of this study area.

Impact of Agroforestry Practices on Soil Microbial Diversity and Nutrient Cycling in Atlantic Rainforest Cocoa Systems.

Microorganisms are critical indicators of soil quality due to their essential role in maintaining ecosystem services. However, anthropogenic activities can disrupt the vital metabolic functions of these microorganisms. Considering that soil biology is often underestimated and traditional assessment methods do not capture its complexity, molecular methods can be used to assess soil health more effectively. This study aimed to identify the changes in soil microbial diversity and activity under different cocoa agroforestry systems, specially focusing on taxa and functions associated to carbon and nitrogen cycling. Soils from three different cocoa agroforestry systems, including a newly established agroforestry with green fertilization (GF), rubber (Hevea brasiliensis)-cocoa intercropping (RC), and cocoa plantations under Cabruca (cultivated under the shave of native forest) (CAB) were analyzed and compared using metagenomic and metaproteomic approaches. Samples from surrounding native forest and pasture were used in the comparison, representing natural and anthropomorphic ecosystems. Metagenomic analysis revealed a significant increase in Proteobacteria and Basidiomycota and the genes associated with dissimilatory nitrate reduction in the RC and CAB areas. The green fertilization area showed increased nitrogen cycling activity, demonstrating the success of the practice. In addition, metaproteomic analyses detected enzymes such as dehydrogenases in RC and native forest soils, indicating higher metabolic activity in these soils. These findings underscore the importance of soil management strategies to enhance soil productivity, diversity, and overall soil health. Molecular tools are useful to demonstrate how changes in agricultural practices directly influence the microbial community, affecting soil health.

Bohccuid dálvebiebman – váikkuhusat bohccuid láhttenvieruide, boazodoalu geavadagaide ja birrasii

This report is based on the results from a Nordic network project funded by The Nordic Joint Committee for Agricultural and Food Research (NKJ) during the years 2021-2022. This network was created to encourage further cross-border discussions about the prospects of winter feeding of reindeer. In reindeer husbandry winter feeding has increased during the last decades due to competing land use activities and climate change. Herders in Norway, Sweden and Finland have previously raised concerns about the benefits and risks associated to the increasing need of winter feeding of reindeer in all three countries. The report, published in Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish and North Sámi, and covers the main findings from a series of preparatory workshops within each country and a main workshop in Arvidsjaur 8-9 June 2022. During the network activities, reindeer herders, researchers and managers discussed the effects of feeding on reindeer behaviour, herding practices and the environment. The two main topics discussed at the preparatory workshops were 1) the short- and long-term effects of winter feeding on reindeer behaviour, and 2) local to large scale effects of feeding on the environment and the natural pastures. During the main workshop, discussions were held about reasons for feeding of reindeer, the preconditions of feeding in the three countries, how winter feeding is usually performed, and best practices in relation to reindeer behaviour and the environment. The work aimed at promoting knowledge exchange on winter feeding of reindeer among all participants to help find solutions and mitigation actions to avoid changes in reindeer behaviour and negative effects of feeding on reindeer, reindeer herding and the environment. The report is aimed at herders, managers, as well as other land users, authorities and policymakers to give information on what was discussed and a summary of the challenges related to winter feeding and effects on reindeer behaviour and reindeer husbandry, and the environment. Rangifer Report No 23 is the North Sámi version of the report. The Swedish, Finnish and Norwegian versions have already been published (Rangifer Report No 18, 19 and 20 respectively).

The Effects of Concentrate Supplement Levels on Feed Utilization and Red Meat Production of Blackhead Somali Sheep Fed Natural Pasture Grass Hay as a Basal Diet.

In recent years, consumers have become aware of their health, and their preference has been rapidly changing to consume less fatty meat. Therefore, devising a strategy to produce lean meat is a concern in this study. One of the strategies, among others, for lean meat production is controlling the amount of supplements given to sheep. Hence, muscle (lean) and adipose tissue (fat) require different amounts of energy to lie down. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of concentrate supplementation levels on feed utilization and red meat production in Blackhead Somali sheep (BHS) fed natural pasture grass hay as a basal diet. A total of 16 BHS sheep weighing 19.5±0.2kg (mean±SE) at the beginning of the experiment were kept for 90 days by feeding two levels (1% [T1] and 1.75% [T2] body weight [BW] of sheep) of supplement. The sheep were blocked according to their initial BW (IBW), and the supplements were randomly assigned within a block. At the end of the feeding period, all sheep were slaughtered, and carcass and non-carcass data were recorded. Data were analysed using the SAS software version 9.1 of PROC GLM programme. Sheep fed T1 and T2 consumed 6.1 and 8.2MJ/day metabolizable energy (ME), respectively, and 73.1 and 93.6g/day crude protein (CP), in that order. Consequently, sheep fed T2 produced 1.37kg extra BW by growing an average rate of 15g/day greater (p<0.0001) over their counterpart fed T1. They also produced 0.9kg, 0.8 cm2 and 2.64% heavier carcasses, a wider rib eye area and a higher intramuscular fat content (p<0.0001), respectively, over the sheep fed T1. On the other hand, the lean-to-fat ratio was significantly lower in sheep fed T2 than T1. In most parameters considered in this study, sheep fed T2 (1.75% BW) were superior, but its intramuscular fat (IMF) content was much higher than the limit that the consumers needed. Therefore, it can be concluded that 1% BW supplementation is enough for BHS to produce lean meat containing the optimal fat content in stall feeding condition.

Newly adopted dromedary husbandry systems and breeding practices in the Algerian northern Sahara

Background: Traditional nomadic livestock farmers have adopted new lifestyles, management methods and husbandry practices to improve their livestock income and enhance the value of camel products, whose benefits are increasingly being recognized worldwide. Driven by a rising demand for camel products among urban consumers, these changes include a strong tendency for nomadic communities to settle near urban centers, the temporary stationing of part of the camel herd in urban and peri-urban areas, and the intensification of production in these areas. Aims: This paper aims to present the newly adopted dromedary husbandry practices, and discuss the products and services provided by dromedaries. Methods: Between September 2020 and March 2021, formal and informal interviews were carried out in three locations in the Algerian northern Sahara with 11 camel breeders, whoheld a total of 537 dromedaries (average 48.8 ± 4.36). Results: The study identified three types of dromedary farming systems: 70% of the farms were peri-urban,semi-intensive dairy farms established to meet the rising demand for camel milk, 23% were settled, intensive, peri-urban feedlot farms producing all categories of fattened dromedaries, especially young males, and 7% were settled, urban, and peri-urban dromedary racing farms dedicated to breeding dromedaries for racing and riding during local festivals, activities anchored in the traditions of the native population. The surveyed farms primarily generated income from the sale of milk and live animals, with manure and wool also contributing to their earnings. The food resources used for dromedaries were natural pastures, crop residues and harvest residues. Conclusion: The intensification of dromedary breeding appears essential to ensure the sustainability of this animal resource as it can improve reproductive potential, milk production, and the availability of young calves for fattening farms. The changes in practices identified in this study are enabling breeders, who are managing their livestock in guarded and semi guarded camel production systems, to increase their income.

The effect of agro-ecological zone on the chemical composition of feed resources in the Gera district, southwest Ethiopia

The poor quality of available feed resources is the major limiting factor for livestock production in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the chemical composition of major feed resources in three agro-ecological zones (AEZs) of the Gera District, southwest Ethiopia. Three representative samples of natural pasture (Cynodon dactylon, Pavonia schimperiana Hochst and Rhynchosia ferruginea), three indigenous fodder trees and shrubs (IFTSs) (Erythrina abyssinica, Vernonia amygdalina and Maytenus undat), two cultivated forages (Pennisetum purpureum and Pennisetum pedicellatum) and five crop residues (Hordeum vulgare (barley), Zea mays (maize), Sorghum bicolor (sorghum), Triticum aestivum (wheat) and Eragrostis tef (Teff)) were randomly and separately collected from the Highland (HL), midland (ML) and lowland (LL) AEZs. The samples were analyzed for ash, dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), ether extract (EE), and acid detergent lignin (ADL) content using standard analytical methods. The results showed that AEZ significant (P < 0.05) affected the chemical composition parameters of most of the feed samples. Regardless of the feed sample and AEZs, the mean DM, CP, ash, EE, NDF, ADF, ADL and CF content varied from 89.17% in Pennisetum purpureum to 92.22 ± 0.51 in Erythrina abyssinica, 2.90 ± 0.22% in Triticum aestivum to 10.70 ± 0.52 in Vernonia amygdalina, 7.24 ± 0.19% in Sorghum bicolor to 13.25 ± 0.51% in Pavonia Schimperiana Hochst, 1.33 ± 0.04% in Triticum aestivum to 2.39 ± 0.15% in Maytenus undata, 57.65 ± 1.19% in Erythrina Abyssinica to 79.16 ± 1.04% in Triticum aestivum, 34.57% in Pennisetum purpureum to 59.41 ± 0.98% in Sorghum bicolor, 8.15 ± 0.62% in Rhynchosia ferruginea to 12.65 ± 0.57% in Triticum aestivum and 37.51% in Pennisetum pedicelatum to 69.93 ± 0.65% DM in Triticum aestivum, respectively. It was observed that IFTSs had the highest CP and the lowest NDF, implying their potential for protein supplement, whereas crop residues had the lowest CP and the highest NDF, indicating the need for their treatment using urea or supplementing animals with protein source feeds, especially during the dry season. In conclusion, AEZ has an influence on the chemical composition traits of feed resources attributed to its effects on the microclimate conditions that affect plant growth and maturation in the study sites.

Rehabilitation of a degraded acid Mediterranean soil after 11 years of by‐product calcium amendments and pasture improvement

AbstractThe clearing of natural vegetation and tillage for agricultural purposes makes acid soils highly vulnerable to degradation, resulting in significant losses of soil fertility and crop productivity. This work focused on nature‐based agricultural solutions to rehabilitate degraded acid soils in low‐resource systems. We studied after 6 and 11 years how the introduction of a legume‐rich pasture replacing a natural pasture or a tilled forage crop, with and without Ca‐amendment, contributed to recover the soil health, the fertility and the productivity of degraded Ultisols in Western Spain. Industrial by‐products, mainly sugar foam, were used as Ca‐amendment to promote circular economy. The Ca‐amendment factor influenced soil chemistry to 30 cm depth, while the type of soil use affected soil organic matter (SOM) to 15 cm; and both factors had positive effects on biomass productivity. Except for pH and Ca, no interaction between factors was found. Ca‐amendment increased nutrient availability and soil pH, and Al ion precipitated at 0–15 cm depth. As a result, biomass production increased by 35% relative to no Ca‐amendment. Forage cop produced 66% more biomass than pastures, but this increase did not translate into an increase in SOM. In fact, the legume‐rich pasture was the best option to recover soil organic C and N levels, earlier and deeper. Over the 11 years, the use of pastures and Ca‐amendment enhanced biomass production stability. Relative to natural, the improved pasture did not increase plant biomass but provided higher biomass stability and quality in terms of legume abundance, which was promoted when sugar foam was applied. Pastures also favoured key biological variable as earthworm's population, increasing it by four times with respect to forage crops. Compared to the non‐amended and unfertilized natural pasture out of the experiment, the use of improved pasture, followed by natural pasture, combined with sugar foam and fertilization enhanced soil health, soil fertility and biomass production stability. Thus, this solution has proven effective for restoring degraded acid soils, promoting diversity and mitigating climate change, while offering a more economically beneficial alternative.

Solar irrigation system: Analysis of the solution for livestock production in North Cameroon

This article examines the impact of implementing a solar irrigation system on livestock production in North Cameroon, a region marked by climatic challenges and increasingly dry conditions with 600 to 1,200 mm of rainfall per year and temperatures between 30°C and 40°C. Livestock farmers in the region rely heavily on natural pastures and forage crops to feed their livestock, but these resources are insufficient during periods of drought. The area is home to around 2 million head of cattle, with an estimated 500,000 to 700,000 head of sheep and 300,000 to 500,000 head of goats. Our methodology involved a comparative before-and-after analysis, where data on crop yields, pasture quality and animal performance were collected. Statistical simulation was used to assess improvements in pasture biomass, forage yield and animal performance. The results show significant improvements if the solar irrigation system is installed, with: a 30% increase in biomass; a 50% increase in forage yield with a 16.7% gain in animal weight; a 20% increase in milk production; a 30% reduction in forage procurement costs; and a 33.3% increase in income generated. These results indicate that solar irrigation will have a positive impact on farm productivity and profitability. The installation of a solar irrigation system in Northern Cameroon represents a sustainable and economically viable solution for improving livestock production in a region vulnerable to drought.In sub-Saharan Africa, solar irrigation systems have been successfully implemented in several countries, including Kenya, Ethiopia, Mali and Burkina Faso. These projects have demonstrated the viability of this technology in semi-arid and arid environments, with notable improvements in agricultural production and water management. The climatic and geographical conditions in Northern Cameroon are similar to those in the regions where solar irrigation systems have been tested.

Transcriptome Responses in Medicago sativa (Alfalfa) Associated with Regrowth Process in Different Grazing Intensities.

Medicago sativa L. (alfalfa), a perennial legume, is generally regarded as a valuable source of protein for livestock and is subjected to long and repeated grazing in natural pastures. Studying the molecular response mechanism of alfalfa under different grazing treatments is crucial for understanding its adaptive traits and is of great significance for cultivating grazing-tolerant grass. Here, we performed a transcriptomic analysis to investigate changes in the gene expression of M. sativa under three grazing intensities. In total, 4184 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified among the tested grazing intensities. The analysis of gene ontology (GO) revealed that genes were primarily enriched in cells, cellular processes, metabolic processes, and binding. In addition, two pathways, the plant-pathogen interaction pathway and the plant hormone signal pathway, showed significant enrichment in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. Protein kinases and transcription factors associated with hormones and plant immunity were identified. The plant immunity-related genes were more activated under high grazing treatment, while more genes related to regeneration were expressed under light grazing treatment. These results suggest that M. sativa exhibits different strategies to increase resilience and stress resistance under various grazing intensities. Our findings provide important clues and further research directions for understanding the molecular mechanisms of plant responses to grazing.

Heavy metal changes related to land use changes in a karst area: a case study in Changshun, Guizhou Province, China

Karst areas are often characterized by fragile ecological systems, and environmental pollution has increased the pressures on people living in such regions. This study aimed to investigate the status of pollution caused by heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, As, and Cu) in soils based on different land uses in Changshun County, a karst area in southwestern China. Soil samples were collected from natural forestlands (NFLs), natural brush lands (NBLs), natural pasture lands (NPLs), artificial forestlands (AFLs), artificial brush lands (ABLs), and artificial pasture lands (APLs) for evaluation. The results suggest that the soil profile characteristics of the heavy metals studied herein vary significantly among different land uses. The heavy metal concentrations in all soil samples collected from NFLs were lower than those in samples from other land uses. Forest trees can protect soil from heavy metal pollution caused by atmospheric deposition; this is especially true for Hg. In cultivated forestlands and brush lands, special attention should be devoted to Cd pollution in the soil, which may be caused by the use of fertilizers. Changing both natural and artificial pastoral lands to forestlands could benefit the local ecosystems as it may reduce Hg contamination.

Nutritional position of managed honey bees during pollination of native plants by the melissopalynology method

Pollination services are crucial for maintaining ecological stability and ensuring food security for humans. Managed honey bees, which are economically valuable and are experiencing population growth due to the increasing demand for their products, play a significant role in pollination. To produce high-quality honey, beekeepers often choose natural high meadows, characterized by high plant species richness, for their apiaries. This practice, in turn, may contribute to the pollination of native plants, as managed honey bees are likely to forage on diverse floral resources within these meadows In this study, we investigated the nutritional position of managed bees in the pollination of native plants in Iran using the melissopalynology method to determine the extent of their contribution to the pollination of native plants. Ninety-four honey samples were collected from beekeepers located in the natural pastures of two biodiversity hotspots in Iran (Zagros and Alborz). Then, plant pollens were extracted from the honey and photographed by scanning electron microscopy. In the next step, plant species were identified, and their abundance was calculated. The results showed that managed bees visited 54 plant genera, seven of which were non-native plants. Additionally, more plant species and the highest abundance of pollen were observed at altitudes ranging from 1000 to 3000 m. Therefore, beekeepers set up their hives in this altitude range to obtain high-quality honey. In general, in this study, the results of melissopalynological analysis, involving the identification of plant genera and pollen counts, revealed that managed honey bees likely contributed less than 3% to the pollination of native plant species in Iran.

PSLBII-5 Impacts of residual feed intake measured as a heifer in drylot on mature cows and calves grazing native pasture

Abstract Selection for feed efficiency is crucial for improving economic and environmental sustainability in beef cattle production. Residual feed intake (RFIfat) is a commonly used measure of feed efficiency and is determined in a drylot setting by calculating the difference between observed and expected dry matter intake (DMI), where expected feed intake is adjusted for metabolic body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG) and body fatness. Lower RFIfat cattle are more efficient animals as they eat less than predicted for the same growth, body size and body fatness. Limited studies have been conducted evaluating the role of RFIfat on the subsequent performance of cow-calf pairs on native range. Kinsella Composite cows and calves (n = 120) grazed native pasture from July 11 to Sept 12 (summer) and from Sept 13 to Nov 2 (fall) of 2023 were included in this study. All dams had previously been evaluated for RFIfat as a heifer (8 to 12 mo of age) using the GrowSafe Feed Intake System (Vytelle, Canada). Cow and calf ADG were subjected to an analysis of covariance using lm function from stats R core package (R Core Team, 2024), with cow age (2 to 8 yr of age) as the fixed effect and RFIfat as the covariate, analyzing separately by season. An unbalanced Tukey HDS post-hoc were applied for age and p-values &amp;lt; 0.05 were considered significant. Weight gain was assessed on cows with an initial BW on pasture of 598.4 ± 68.4 kg, and 2 to 8 yr of age, and on calves having an initial on pasture BW of 106 ± 21.5 kg, and 65 ± 14 d of age. Cow age affected (P &amp;lt; 0.01) cow ADG during summer, with the youngest dams (2 yr old) gaining more weight than older animals (7 yr old; Figure 1A). No effect of RFIfat was found on cow weight gain during summer grazing. However, during fall grazing, RFIfat affected (P &amp;lt; 0.01) cow ADG (Figure 1B). Low-RFIfat cows (efficient) had increased weight gain during fall grazing as compared with high-RFIfat cows (inefficient: Figure 1B). Calf ADG was not affected (P &amp;gt; 0.1) by cow age, cow RFIfat and cow ADG during summer and fall. We conclude that cows with low RFIfat exhibited superior body weight gain, during fall grazing on native range when forage nutrient quality and quantity become limiting.

PSXIII-16 Kinematics and viability of spermatozoa from Criollo and Angus bulls in a low-input system

Abstract The Chihuahuan Criollo cattle is a genetic resource with special adaptive characteristics to rough, arid and semi-arid ecosystems. There is a great interest in incorporating such adaptations into beef production systems as one of the strategies for sustainable production to face the climate change challenge. Reproductive success is determinant to achieve sustainability in animal production systems. Most research efforts to improve reproductive efficiency have focused on the study of females. However, it has been shown that much of the economic losses caused by embryonic deaths are due to the bull. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of thawed semen from Angus and Criollo bulls kept in a low-input system. Thirteen healthy bulls (n = 7 Angus and 6 = Chihuahuan Criollo), with an average age of 4.3 ± 0.48 yr, grazing in the same rangeland and subjected to natural pasture conditions, were studied. Semen obtained by electroejaculation, were frozen and subsequently thawed for analyses. Characteristics of motility, vitality (V), morphology (M) and plasma membrane integrity (PMI) were evaluated in fresh and thawed semen, whereas movement kinetics (MK) and acrosome reaction (AR) were evaluated in thawed semen. Statistical analysis was performed using the PROC GLM of SAS Studio 2022 including the fixed effects of breed, semen condition and their interaction for variables of progressive motility (PM), V, M, PMI and the effect of breed for variables of MK and AR. As expected, PM and V were less (P &amp;lt; 0.05) in thawed (57.93 ± 4.1 and 53.69 ± 2.7) compared with fresh (72.64 ± 3.9 and 74.98 ± 2.6) semen, whereas no differences (P &amp;gt; 0.05) were found in M. However, the interaction between semen condition and breed for PMI tended to the significance (P = 0.08) with a PMI of 68.95 ± 4.6 and 58.98 ± 4.3 for Criollo and Angus, respectively, in fresh semen, whereas in thawed semen this difference was inverted (52.08 ± 4.6 and 58.40 ± 4.6). It is important to note that the semen retained quality traits with values above the minimum accepted for use in artificial insemination, despite the scarcity of resources of the system in which the animals were kept. There were no differences by breed in the main MK variables; however, AR reported as live unreacted sperm was less (P &amp;lt; 0.05) in Criollo (40.49 ± 4.49) compared with Angus bulls (58.48 ± 4.49). In conclusion, it is important to incorporate the assessment of membrane integrity and acrosome reaction in thawed semen evaluation to obtain a more accurate prediction of the potential fertility of samples, even if motility parameters appear to be optimal.

Assessment of livestock husbandry practices and production constraints among smallholder mixed crop-livestock production systems in the Majang zone, southwest Ethiopia

Livestock production plays a significant role in improving the livelihoods of poor smallholder farmer households in the Majang zone. However, despite its importance, there is limited information on husbandry practices and constraints on livestock production to design and implement effective interventions to maximize productivity. The aim of this study was to assess husbandry practices and major constraints on livestock production in the Majang zone, southwest Ethiopia. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a randomly selected sample of 168 households (HHs) through a face-to-face interview from January to May 2021. The results revealed that mixed crop-livestock farming is the dominant livestock production system in the study area. The overall average herd size per household (HH) was 2.15 ± 0.11 cattle, 0.15 ± 0.01 sheep, 0.31 ± 0.09 goats, 0.10 ± 0.02 donkey, 0.04 ± 0.00 mule, 0.13 ± 0.02 horses and 0.24 ± 0.02 chickens. Overall herd size did not differ significantly by AEZ except for sheep (p < 0.05). The primary reason for keeping cattle, goats, sheep, equines and poultry were milk production (27.4 %), meat for home consumption (33.9 %), cash income (33.3 %), transportation (85.1 %), and meat for home consumption (72 %), respectively. In the dry and wet seasons, natural pasture, crop residues, indigenous fodder trees and shrubs (IFTSs), nonconventional feed resources (NCFRs), crop stubbles and improved forages were the main livestock feed resources. The majority (60.1 %) of respondents practiced free-grazing systems. Separate sheds, family dwellings, kraals, and open-walled sheds were the main housing systems used for animals. The majority (79.2 %) of respondents used rivers as a source of livestock drinking water. Trypanosomiasis (18.45 %), African horse sickness (66.1 %) and Newcastle disease (47.02 %) were the most important diseases of livestock. Diseases (35.7 %), lack of access to artificial insemination (35.7 %) and inadequate veterinary services (11.3 %) were identified as the top three constraints limiting production. It is recommended that constraints identified by farmers should be considered in developing and implementing effective interventions to improve livestock productivity and their contribution to poverty alleviation in the study area.

Carbon and Nitrogen Stocks in Soil under Native Pastures in the Pantanal Wetland Biome, Brazil

The Pantanal has a high diversity of native pastures that provide food for many wild and domestic animals. Pantanal cattle raising is practiced in an extensive grazing-based system that varies according to the flood levels in the area. This study aimed to evaluate the fractions of soil organic matter in areas of native pastures under different uses and to quantify C and N stocks in sandy soils of the Pantanal. Soil samples from three native pastures differentiated by the predominance of Hymenachne amplexicaulis, Axonopus purpusii, and Mesosetum chaseae under different land use systems (continuous grazing and no grazing for five years) were collected and used to quantify the contents of carbon, nitrogen, and humic fractions. The dynamics of SOM are modified in grazed areas of the Pantanal, with influence on C and N, including their stocks. Native pastures of Axonopus purpusii and Hymenachne amplexicaulis showed an increase in organic matter after five years without grazing, while Mesosetum chaseae showed lower soil density and nitrogen levels. The highest C stock was observed in ungrazed areas of H. amplexicaulis (127.41 Mg ha−1 in the 0–40 cm layer). The dynamics of nitrogen in Pantanal pastures are influenced by the type of vegetation and land management, with higher nitrogen content in the surface layer (0–10 cm) and an increasing C/N ratio with soil depth, indicating lower nitrogen availability.

Effects of brewery by-products based silage on productive performance of crossbred dairy cows.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of an increasing levels of brewery by-products based silage on productive performances of 3/4 Friesian x Boran mid-lactating cows. Experimental cows had similar in initial milk yield (11.7 ± 1.0), average days in milk (81.7 ± 6.1) and live weight (LW, 430.7 ± 40.3kg) but different in parities (2-5).The dietary treatments were arranged randomly in 4 × 4 Latin Square Design that included ad libitum natural pasture hay feeding for all treatments as a roughage source plus a commercial dairy concentrate mix supplemented at 0.5kg DM (dry matter)/liter of milk produced/day for cows in the control group (T1) and 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7kg DM of brewery by-products based silage per liter of milk yield/cow/day for cows in T2, T3 and T4 groups, respectively. The study revealed that the daily milk yield of experimental cows was influenced by dietary treatments with relatively higher daily milk yield being recorded (P < 0.05) for cows in the T4 (13.9l) followed by T3 (13.8l). Milk composition of cows remained unchanged (P > 0.05) except for fat percentage of the milk that showed a declining trend (P < 0.05) with incremental inclusion levels of brewery by-products based silages. The highest net income (NI, 437.9 Eth. Birr) and marginal rate of return (MRR, 800.7%) was obtained for cows receiving brewery by-products based silage at the rate of 0.7kg/liter of milk yield as compared to cows in the other treatment groups. Further study is required on the long term effect of brewery by-products based silage supplementation on productive, reproductive performance, and milk microbial qualities.

Evaluation of Bovine Milk Production in the Commune of Tioroniaradougou

This study was carried out in the sub-prefecture of Tioroniaradougou on 30 cattle farms to identify the real conditions of milk production in the area. The lack of reliable data in the sector as well as the lack of control over milk production parameters prompted this study. Over two months, a survey was carried out on these farms followed by the collection and estimation of the different amounts of milk on the said farms. The results showed that 63.33% of breeders are of Burkinabé nationality, 23.33% of Malian nationality and 13.34% of Ivorian nationality. The Fulani were the most numerous (70%), followed by the Malinkés (16.67%) and Senufos (10%). Most of breeders (86.67%) were illiterate. Almost all breeders used night park, and the herd was made up of Zebus (93.33%), where cows represented 47.33% of the herds. The diet was based entirely on natural pasture, only 20% of breeders distributed food supplements. The herds were watered in the rivers. Total milk production produced in the 30 farms during the month was 9,408 L with a variation of (130 to 615.5 L/Farm). Regarding the daily milk production in the villages, it varied from 9.33 +/- 0.46 L to 13.27+/-2.88 L. This study made it possible to highlight the characteristics of cattle breeding and their low level of production in the sub-prefect.

Effect of Seed Rate on Forage Yield, and Nutritional Value of Sudan Grass and Vetch Mixtures in Ethiopia: A Review

The livestock feed resources in Ethiopia are classified as natural pasture, crop residues, improved pasture and forage, agro-industrial by-products, and also hay production of which the first two feed resources are the major feed contributors for the livestock production in Ethiopia but they are lacking in protein and minerals. Natural pastures contribute about 80-85 of animal feed in Ethiopia, including naturally occurring grasses, legumes, shrubs, hurbs, and tree foliages. Crop residue is one of the feed resources used for animal production in Ethiopia and is available in those areas in which livestock and crop production are practiced. Around 30 million tonnes of DM of agricultural crop residues are produced annually on the national scale, of which 70% are used as animal feed. The major agro-industrial by products commonly used in Ethiopia are obtained from different agro-industries. The nutritional values of agro-industrial by products are excellent but their productivity is small, limited, and limited to few farms in urban and peri-urban areas and they contribute much less to livestock feed. Furthermore, traditional livestock feed supply mainly depends upon natural pasture and crop residues, which have low crude protein and other chemical composition. However, there is tremendous potential to alleviate feed shortages using improved forage production. To fulfill this gap, producing a stable improved forage in the livestock sector is mandatory. For that reason, the legume and grass intercropping system are important to increase biomass production and forage yield. Hence, Sudan grass (Aden gode) known with its plant height than other cultivars and vetch (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Vicia dasycarpa&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;) have greater plant height and creeping growth habit that enable compatible to larger grass species and they are selectable forages to enhance the forage yield and quality under similar times.