Livestock Value Research Articles

Responding to harvest failure: Understanding farmers coping strategies in the semi-arid Northern Ghana.

Farmers coping strategies against harvest failures have implication for future adaptation to such shocks. Previous studies on farmers' vulnerability and response to shocks have emphasized on adaptation, at the expense of their coping to such shocks. Using a survey data from 299 farm households in northern Ghana, this study has analyzed farmers' coping strategies against harvest failure, and the drivers of the choice and intensity of the coping strategies. The empirical results show that most of the households used liquidation of productive assets, reduction in consumption, borrowing from family and friends, diversification of livelihoods, and migration to cities for off-farm jobs as coping measures in response to harvest failure. The empirical results from a multivariate probit model indicate that the choice of coping strategies is influenced by farmers' access to radio, net value of livestock produced per man-equivalent (ME), experience of yield loss in the previous year, farmers' perception about the fertility status of their crop fields, access to credit, distance to market, farm-to-farmer extension, location of the respondent, cropland per ME, and access to off-farm income. Empirical results from a zero-truncated negative binomial regression model also indicate that the number of coping strategies adopted increases with the value of farm implements, access to radio, farmer-to-farmer extension and being located in the regional capital. It however decreases with the age of the household head, number of family members abroad, a positive perception about the fertility status of crop fields, access to government extension services, distance to market, and access to off-farm income. Limited access to credit, radio, and markets renders farmers more vulnerable and pushes them to adopt more costly coping strategies. In addition, an increase in income earned from secondary livestock products decreases incentive for farmers to adopt liquidation of productive assets as coping strategy after a harvest failure. Policy makers and stakeholders could make smallholder farmers less vulnerable to harvest failure by enhancing their access to radio, credit, off-farm income and market, promotion of farmer-to-farmer extension, implementing measure to improve the fertility of crop fields in the study area, and enhancing farmers' engagement in the production and selling of secondary livestock products.

Diversity of Food Insecurity Coping Strategies among Livestock Farmers in Northern Cape Province of South Africa

Small-scale livestock farmers in the drylands of South Africa are highly exposed to agricultural drought-related food insecurity. Research has used descriptive analyses and missed the need to index the diversity of coping strategies used for managing agricultural drought-induced food insecurity. This study was conducted to bridge this gap using a two-step procedure. Initially, the study identified the farmers’ coping strategies and food security status. A coping strategy diversity index was computed using the Shannon–Weiner method and its relationship with the food security status was determined. Secondly, the determinants of the coping strategy diversity index were explored using an ordered logit regression model after testing for the proportional odds assumption. A mixed methods approach was utilized and a standardized questionnaire was administered to 217 smallholder livestock farmers in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The household food insecurity mean score (8.429 ± 7.105) from the household food insecurity scale (HFIAS) was significantly related to a higher diversity of coping strategies. Similar results were reported for the household food insecurity access prevalence (HFIAP) status. The different forms of support (e.g., cash, food, training and assets) had a significant (p < 0.05) and positive effect on the coping strategy diversity index among the households. Education, access to credit and insurance facilities and the frequency of droughts significantly (p < 0.05) influenced the diversity of coping strategies under drought conditions. The utilization of cash reserves and investment stocks also significantly (p < 0.05) influenced the extent of coping strategy diversity. The study recommended strengthening the functional and technical capacity pillars of dealing with agricultural drought through strategic partnerships between the government and livestock value chain players. This collaboration should target affordable credit lines tailor-made for farmers to cope with agricultural drought. If well-coordinated, these interventions should reduce food insecurity prevalence, especially during drought conditions among vulnerable smallholder livestock farmers. Lessons from this study could also inform future research on the effectiveness of the current agricultural drought coping strategies while expanding the diversity clusters over space and time.

Skin-Based Vaccination: A Systematic Mapping Review of the Types of Vaccines and Methods Used and Immunity and Protection Elicited in Pigs.

The advantages of skin-based vaccination include induction of strong immunity, dose-sparing, and ease of administration. Several technologies for skin-based immunisation in humans are being developed to maximise these key advantages. This route is more conventionally used in veterinary medicine. Skin-based vaccination of pigs is of high relevance due to their anatomical, physiological, and immunological similarities to humans, as well as being a source of zoonotic diseases and their livestock value. We conducted a systematic mapping review, focusing on vaccine-induced immunity and safety after the skin immunisation of pigs. Veterinary vaccines, specifically anti-viral vaccines, predominated in the literature. The safe and potent skin administration to pigs of adjuvanted vaccines, particularly emulsions, are frequently documented. Multiple methods of skin immunisation exist; however, there is a lack of consistent terminology and accurate descriptions of the route and device. Antibody responses, compared to other immune correlates, are most frequently reported. There is a lack of research on the underlying mechanisms of action and breadth of responses. Nevertheless, encouraging results, both in safety and immunogenicity, were observed after skin vaccination that were often comparable to or superior the intramuscular route. Further research in this area will underlie the development of enhanced skin vaccine strategies for pigs, other animals and humans.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever among livestock value chain actors in Kagadi district, Uganda.

Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a zoonotic tick-borne disease with an increasing number of outbreaks among communities in Uganda. Following the disease outbreak in the western district of Kagadi on 20th February 2020, a KAP survey was conducted to identify knowledge gaps and at-risk behaviors related to the disease among livestock value chain actors. A household survey using a semi-structured questionnaire was conducted in 399 households in the two sub counties of Bwikara and Ruteete, Kagadi district. A focus group discussion with members of the community was conducted as well as key informant interviews with at-risk individuals. Descriptive and inferential analysis was performed using STATA version 13 (Statacorp Texas; USA). Comparative analysis of the data from the two sub counties was also performed using cross tabulations in STATA, between each independent variable and the subcounty variable. The descriptive and comparative statistics used were minimum, mean and maximum values, standard deviations, frequencies, percentages, chi square values and t-statistics. A chi-square test was then employed on each tabulation, to determine whether there was an association between the two categorical variables or not. The test was set at an alpha level of 0.05, and where the p-value was less than or equal to the alpha value, we concluded that the 2 variables were associated. Although majority of the respondents believed in the existence of the disease, only 12.8% had knowledge of prevention measures against CCHF. 67.2% of the respondents reported regular interaction with ticks during routine farm operations and they employed tick control measures on their farms. Although the respondents believe the disease is fatal, almost all of them (99%) would welcome a CCHF survivor back into the community. 95.2% of the respondents actively attended to animals but only 25.8% participated in slaughtering animals. Qualitatively, the technical informants had knowledge about CCHF but non technical informants hardly knew about the disease. Limited funding appropriated for local governments, as well as limited engagement in One health activities were some of the barriers highlighted towards the infection prevention and control activities. Most of the focus group discussion participants knew about the disease, but lacked knowledge on its transmission and prevention. Limited access to personal protective equipment and high exposure to tick-prevalent areas when slaughtering and grazing animals respectively, were the major challenges highlighted. Knowledge on CCHF among majority of the respondents was poor. There is a need for educational programs to increase awareness of CCHF in communities. This awareness should be done by both the community leaders and technical people to ensure the community receives enough knowledge on how to prevent and control the disease. To ensure effectiveness of these programs a One health approach should be adopted to implement prevention and control strategies.

The Level of Breeding Value of Cattle of the Auliekol Breed, Calculated by the Blup Method

Currently, the assessment of the breeding value of livestock provides for new approaches to determine the genetic qualities of animals that sustainably transmit to offspring. This is achieved by using the phenotypic data of the ancestors, the closest lateral relatives, as well as the animals themselves and their descendants, which, according to all canons, is facilitated by the so-called BLUP methodology. The purpose of the study is to establish the estimated breeding values of Auliekol cattle by productive indicators. For the Auliekol cattle breed, the estimated breeding values in terms of live weight at birth varied in the range: The first year from -3.47 to ++9.03; the second year -5.18 to +12.60; the third year -5.22 to +12.52; in 2021-5.18 to +12.52. The percentile distribution of the calculated EBV of the live weight of the Auliekol cattle breed at weaning in 2018 varied in the range from -19.76 to +53.63, in 2019-23.88 to +63.65, in 2020 -24.33 to +63.01, in 2021 -23.58 to +62.53. The EBV in terms of live weight at one year of age in 2018 varied from -39.37 to +71.86, in 2019 -34.44 to +90.83, in 2020 -33.34 to +90.24, in 2021 -34.21 to +90.81. The estimated breeding value in terms of live weight for adult animals in 2018 ranged from -43.11 to +57.72, in 2019 -97.40 to +105.45, in 2020 -95.57 to +106.99, in 2021 -176.40 to +110.53. The EBV for the indicator of the milking capacity of mothers of the Auliekol breed in 2018 ranged widely from -28.89 to +65.89, in 2019 -26.18 to +52.71, in 2020 -24.01 to +51.55, in 2021 -23.67 to +52.75. For the Auliekol cattle breed, the EBV in terms of the average daily gain from birth to 12 months of age is in the range of the minimum indicator from -198.29 to -242.68, the maximum indicator from +235.88 to +348.71.

Perceptions of livestock value chain actors (VCAs) on the risk of acquiring zoonotic diseases from their livestock in the central dry zone of Myanmar

ObjectivesThe Central Dry Zone (CDZ) is one of the most important livestock production areas of Myanmar. However, there is an eminent lack of information on the attitudes and traditional beliefs of local farmers and livestock supply chain actors in CDZ of Myanmar on the public health implications. A modified data collection instrument of the Health Belief model was developed to investigate attitudes, beliefs and barriers to the application of recommended zoonotic disease prevention.Study designCross-sectional study.MethodData analyses were conducted considering a two-phase multilevel mixed effect binomial generalized linear models modelling approach.ResultsThe availability of information about zoonosis to supply chain actors influenced their confidence to implement preventive actions (OR = 1.5, p = 0.045 for cattle diseases; OR = 1.5, p = 0.022 for village chicken diseases). Supply chain actors were more likely aware of zoonosis transmitted by cattle compared to livestock farmers (OR = 0.3, p = 0.005 for cattle farmers), while people not rearing or trading small ruminants and/or poultry were less likely to be aware of the zoonotic risk associated with these animals (p < 0.005). Information on zoonosis transmitted from small ruminants was mainly promoted through farmers (p = 0.032), while information on zoonotic diseases that can be obtained from chickens was disseminated through farmers, local authorities and the media. Nevertheless, appropriate hand hygiene measures (i.e. cleaning of hands after touching, cutting, cooking meat) (OR = 7.7, p < 0.001 for zoonotic small ruminant diseases; OR = 1.6, p = 0.073 for zoonotic village chicken diseases) and treating of sick animals (OR = 7.3, p < 0.001 for small ruminant zoonotic diseases; OR = 2.2, p = 0.031 for village chicken zoonotic diseases) increased the confidence of small ruminant and village chicken owners to prevent these zoonotic infections.ConclusionsThe findings from this study indicate that while gender and the availability of information on zoonotic risks play an important role on the perceived threat of zoonoses, the practice of prevention methods influenced the confidence of value chain actors (VCAs) on zoonoses prevention.

Plant growth, salt removal capacity, and forage nutritive value of the annual euhalophyte Suaeda salsa irrigated with saline water.

Sustainable agricultural development in semiarid and arid regions is severely restricted by soil and water salinization. Cultivation of the representative halophyte Suaeda salsa, which can be irrigated with saline water and cultivated on saline soils, is considered to be a potential solution to the issues of freshwater scarcity, soil salinization, and fodder shortage. However, the salt removal capacity and differences in the forage nutritive value of S. salsa under different saline water treatments remain unknown. Using the methods of field trials and randomized blocks design, we quantified salt accumulation in the aboveground biomass, and the biochemical and nutritive value of field-cultivated S. salsa in arid northwestern China under irrigation with water of different salinities [i.e., freshwater or water containing10, 20, 30, or 40g/L NaCl). The fresh and dry weights of S. salsa increased, then decreased, with increase in salinity. The salt content of the plant's aboveground biomass increased to a constant range and, thus, the salt extraction of S. salsa was relatively stable under different salinities of irrigation water. Under the experimental conditions, the crude protein content significantly increased to 9.45% dry weight (DW) and then decreased to 6.85% DW, with an increase in salinity (p<0.05). The neutral detergent fiber (42.93%-50.00% DW) and acid detergent fiber (34.76%-39.70% DW) contents were suitable for forage. The contents of trace elements, such as copper and zinc, were significantly increased after irrigation with saline water (p<0.05). The forage of S. salsa is of high nutritive value for livestock, and contains low concentrations of anti-nutrients. Therefore, S. salsa can be considered for cultivation in saline soils irrigated with saline water. In addition, it provides a viable additional source of fodder in arid regions, where the availability of freshwater and non-saline arable land is limited.

Diagnostic challenges of brucellosis in humans and livestock in Tanzania: A thematic review

Abstract Brucellosis is an endemic bacterial zoonosis in Tanzania, and is among the most prioritized zoonotic diseases in the country. Brucellosis affects public health and livestock production in developing countries. Most human and livestock cases are not detected by the existing surveillance systems resulting in significant underestimation of the disease burden, and poor management of human cases by using nonspecific antibiotics may potentially contribute to antimicrobial resistance. To quantify the factors related to underreporting and those associated with the challenges in the diagnosis of brucellosis in Tanzania, search terms including “Brucella” “diagnosis” and “challenges” were used to query in Google search engine and publisher databases such as MEDLINE, PUBMED, NCBI, Springer, Hindawi, and Elsevier. The search parameters were limited to publications between 1995 and 2020. The searches returned 319 publications and grey articles which were screened and 57 were eligible for inclusion in this study. Four main areas were identified that cause underreporting of brucellosis and hinder brucellosis diagnosis: (1) inadequate knowledge of brucellosis among stakeholders in the livestock value chain, (2) limited diagnostic capacity for brucellosis due to unawareness of diagnostic tests and lack of epidemiological background of brucellosis among human and livestock health service workers (3) challenges associated with diagnostic tests, which include unreliable availability of diagnostic tests and unskilled workers, and (4) the uneven distribution of brucellosis surveillance studies in the country. This study suggests that there is a need for (1) training on public health education and brucellosis awareness among stakeholders in the livestock value chain; (2) providing scheduled continuing professional education with regard to brucellosis and other zoonotic diseases to health and livestock workers; (3) future brucellosis surveillance studies must focus on unrepresented regions; and (4) lastly, we recommend that the rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) should be considered in brucellosis diagnostic schemes as a complementary tool to hasten the implementation of an ongoing national strategy for the prevention and control of brucellosis in humans and livestock in Tanzania. We suggest that these recommendations be considered for inclusion in the national strategy for brucellosis control in Tanzania. One Health Impact Statement Brucellosis is a disease caused by bacteria of genus Brucella and is transmitted from animals to humans. Humans get infected through ingestion of infected animal products but also through contact with bacteria via broken skin or inhalation of aerosolized bacteria particles during culture in the laboratory. Humans working with animals or animal products and laboratory personnel are at higher risk of infection. Tanzania has recently established a One-Health desk in the Prime Minister’s Office to address all matters related to One Health. However, the desk is in the infancy stage, more studies must be done to fill knowledge gaps so that working instruments became realistic. This review provides a synthesis of information that could be used by the One Health desk and other One Health stakeholders in the country on how to improve the existing brucellosis surveillance structures for improvement of One-Health service delivery in the country.

Natural products as anthelmintics: safeguarding animal health.

Covering literature to December 2022This review provides a comprehensive account of all natural products (500 compounds, including 17 semi-synthetic derivatives) described in the primary literature up to December 2022, reported to be capable of inhibiting the egg hatching, motility, larval development and/or the survival of helminths (i.e., nematodes, flukes and tapeworms). These parasitic worms infect and compromise the health and welfare, productivity and lives of commercial livestock (i.e., sheep, cattle, horses, pigs, poultry and fish), companion animals (i.e., dogs and cats) and other high value, endangered and/or exotic animals. Attention is given to chemical structures, as well as source organisms and anthelmintic properties, including the nature of bioassay target species, in vivo animal hosts, and measures of potency.

Evaluation of the nonmarket value of livestock and poultry feces returning to farmland utilization using CVM in Heilongjiang, China

Aiming at a series of hot issues and topics, such as resource waste, environmental pollution, and Mollisol protection, related to the arbitrary discharge of livestock and poultry feces, livestock and poultry feces are taken as the research object, a questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate residents' cognition and willingness to pay (WTP) for the nonmarket value of livestock and poultry feces returning to farmland in Heilongjiang Province, China. The contingent valuation method (CVM) was used for the correlation analysis of WTP and socioeconomic characteristics, and correlation analysis of payment mode and socioeconomic characteristics. Meanwhile, the factors influencing WTP and payment mode were analyzed. The results show that the majority of the respondents are aware of the harmfulness of the arbitrary discharge of livestock and poultry feces and the importance of its nonmarket regeneration value. Approximately 90.09% of respondents were willing to pay for the return of livestock and poultry feces to fields. In 2020, the total value of WTP of livestock and poultry feces returning to farmland in Heilongjiang Province was 4.65 billion CNY, equivalent to 1.32% of the total agricultural production of Heilongjiang Province in the same year. And the nonmarket value of livestock and poultry feces is estimated to be 1456.69 CNY/t. The annual average WTP of rural and urban households is 286.42 CNY and 422.90 CNY per household, accounting for 0.46% and 0.52% of the average annual income of households, respectively. Therefore, the return of livestock and poultry feces to farmland utilization has a high nonmarket value. The analysis shows that the average annual household income is a significant factor in WTP, and the registered permanent residence type and the average annual household income are significant factors in payment mode. The research results should provide a scientific and theoretical basis for the government's policy and decision-making on the return of livestock and poultry feces to farmland. Keywords: nonmarket value, livestock and poultry feces, farmland utilization, CVM, WTP DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20231602.7588 Citation: Shang J J, Xie Y T, Guo L F, Fan J X, Liu H X. Evaluation of the nonmarket value of livestock and poultry feces returning to farmland utilization using CVM in Heilongjiang, China. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2023; 16(2): 48-56.

Innovation And Biotechnology Of Coffee Peel Waste Using Different Fermenters As Alternative Feed Animal

The waste of peel coffee was potential to be used as feed animal because it is rich in nutritional quality for livestock needs. The Purpose of this study consist of: 1) Developing biotechnology and innovation of feed made from coffee peel waste as an alternative feed to support agro-industry, 2) Utilization of appropriate local raw material innovations as quality feed animal to increasing the nutritional value, growth and production of livestock; 3) Reduce the cost of forage substitution feed production using coffee rind as feed animal.Observation and collection of quality coffee peel waste, 2) Preparation and manufacture of fermenters, 3) Processing and manufacturing of fermented coffee peel waste feed additives, 4) Analysis of the nutritional quality of coffee peel waste using several fermenters. The results of the study using mixed coffee peel + local microrganism of the tempeh yeast is very significant and has a high nutrient content, much higher than other fermenters when viewed from dry matter 88.1%, crude protein 27.20%, crude fat 16.90%, Total Digestible Nutrient (TDN) 72.50%, and Crude Fiber decreased by 15.60%. The results of the study using coffee peel waste were alternative to the feed animal to support agro-industry it can be concluded fermenters using mixed coffee peel + local microorganism tempeh yeast have a high content when viewed from dry matter 88.1%, Crude Protein 27.20 %, Crude Fat 16.90%, TDN 72.50%, and Crude Fiber decreased by 15.60%.

Runs of Homozygosity Revealed Reproductive Traits of Hu Sheep.

Hu sheep, a famous breed in the Taihu Basin, has the advantages of non-seasonal estrus, multiple fetuses, coarse feeding tolerance, and suitability for house feeding. Runs of homozygosity (ROHs) were found to be an effective tool to detect the animal population structure and economic traits. The detection of ROHs is beneficial for reducing the incidence of inbreeding as well as identifying harmful variants in the genome. However, there is a lack of systemic reports on ruminants in previous studies of ROHs. Here, we sequenced 108 Hu sheep, detected ROHs in Hu sheep to calculate their inbreeding coefficient, and selected genes of Hu sheep breeds within the ROH islands which are relevant to agricultural economic characteristics. Then, we compared the characteristics of the occurrences of SNPs between Hu sheep and other sheep breeds, and also investigated the distribution of the frequencies of SNPs within specific gene regions of Hu sheep breeds to select their breed-specific genes. Furthermore, we performed a comparative genome and transcriptome analysis in human and sheep breeds to identify important reproduction-related genes. In this way, we found some significant SNPs, and mapped these with a set of interesting candidate genes which are related to the productive value of livestock (FGF9, BMPR1B, EFNB3, MICU2, GFRA3), healthy characteristics (LGSN, EPHA5, ALOX15B), and breed specificity (FGF9, SAP18, MICU2). These results in our study describe various production traits of Hu sheep from a genetic perspective, and provide insights into the genetic management and complementary understanding of Hu sheep.

How costly is using livestock as a savings device?

Livestock is a major savings device in sub-Sahara Africa agriculture. I measure to what extent the value of livestock drops during food shortages. For this purpose I exploit Malawian prices of meat and maize for 72 markets from 1991 to 2009, a period with several food shortages. I show that large drops in the meat–maize terms of trade – our proxy for the value of livestock – are associated with food shortages. During food shortages the value of livestock decreases with 54% to 65%. The evidence is consistent with increased livestock sales during food shortages, but the drop in meat–maize terms of trade arises primarily due to increases of maize prices. Our results are robust to spatial spill-overs and various other threats. Similar drops in livestock value are shown to occur in other SSA countries. The value of livestock has decreased at the very moment livestock is sold on the market to purchase staple foods. Like produced staple foods, agricultural households systematically sell low. To bridge food shortage periods savings instruments are needed that do not lose value when liquidated. A few policy options are discussed. On-farm grain storage appears most promising.

Inequity in Environmental Pollution of China’s Livestock and Poultry Industry: A Frontier Applications of Spatial Models

The study’s main aim is to find out the environmental livestock and poultry pollution. The study used data from 31 provinces in China from 2007 to 2019. This paper used two steps for empirical findings. In the 1st step, it conducted an initial analysis of the farmland pollution burden and water pollution that arises from the livestock and poultry industry. After this, through the fair distribution index researcher, the study analyzed the inequity of the environmental pollution burden on the livestock and poultry industry. Finally, by constructing a frontier spatial matrix and spatial econometric model, the study has analyzed the impact of economic development on the inequity of the environmental pollution burden. The econometrical analysis has provided the following conclusions: (1) China’s arable land is facing a serious pollution burden due to livestock and poultry manure. The results show that the livestock and poultry manure burden value is greater than 1. This value explained the serious environmental threat in 13 areas of China. Water pollution showed a fluctuating trend in four areas of China, while the threat of farmland pollution showed a downward trend. (2) The environmental equity index of the livestock and poultry industry in many regions of China is less than 1. This means one region is producing more pollution than its capacity. So, the pollution has crowded out the environmental capacity of other regions, resulting in an unfair environmental burden. This unfair environmental burden is especially prominent in the western region of China. (3) The phenomenon of environmental pollution-burden inequality has a spatial correlation. The environmental pollution burden inequality of a region has a significant spatial crowding out effect on the surrounding areas at the level of 1%, and the coefficient of spatial effect is −0.909. (4) The per capita GDP of the surrounding areas has a significant “inverted U-shaped” indirect impact on the environmental distribution equity index of the region, with an inflection point of 33,500 yuan/person. The research points out that clear property rights, guidance to regulate emissions trading, control blind pollution transfer, moderate industrial structure adjustment, improving rural residents’ education level, etc., are beneficial to the improvement of the environmental livestock and poultry pollution.

Gender-inclusive business models in livestock value chains in low- and middle-income countries: What can we learn from the literature?

Gender inequality is one of the key challenges of the twentyfirst century. Gender equality is one of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and getting a more equal society is increasingly seen as supporting the achievement of the other SDGs. At the same time, the question remains: how to support gender equality in practice? This paper looks at gender-inclusive business models in the livestock sector. Such models can contribute to women's economic empowerment (an intermediate indicator toward gender equality) directly by addressing barriers to women's participation in livestock markets, or indirectly by involving them as implicit beneficiaries where such businesses provide services or products in circumstances where women face constraints such as poor access to inputs. A review of the literature was conducted to assess inclusive business models that are successful in increasing women's participation in livestock or livestock products marketing and its associated benefits and outcomes, focusing on low- and middle-income countries. The review included peer-reviewed publications, gray literature, and websites from non-government organizations that implement inclusive business models. A literature search was conducted using Google scholar and Research4Life databases for publications since 2010. Websites from development and international organizations implementing inclusive business models were also searched. Data from included records were extracted according to a pre-defined extraction form. A total of 29 studies were included. Results from the review show scarcity of literature and lack of research rigor in the few studies that document outcomes associated with inclusive business models. The few studies on gender-inclusive business models are mainly on collective action and contract farming to support women and men farmers to access markets, inputs, and services. Tangible benefits for women involved are reported, including women empowerment and change in gender norms to some extent.

The Seed Coat's Impact on Crop Performance in Pea (Pisum sativum L.).

Seed development in angiosperms produces three genetically and developmentally distinct sub-compartments: the embryo, endosperm, and seed coat. The maternally derived seed coat protects the embryo and interacts closely with the external environment especially during germination and seedling establishment. Seed coat is a key contributor to seed composition and an important determinant of nutritional value for humans and livestock. In this review, we examined pea crop productivity through the lens of the seed coat, its contribution to several valued nutritional traits of the pea crop, and its potential as a breeding target. Key discoveries made in advancing the knowledge base for sensing and transmission of external signals, the architecture and chemistry of the pea seed coat, and relevant insights from other important legumes were discussed. Furthermore, for selected seed coat traits, known mechanisms of genetic regulation and efforts to modulate these mechanisms to facilitate composition and productivity improvements in pea were discussed, alongside opportunities to support the continued development and improvement of this underutilized crop. This review describes the most important features of seed coat development in legumes and highlights the key roles played by the seed coat in pea seed development, with a focus on advances made in the genetic and molecular characterization of pea and other legumes and the potential of this key seed tissue for targeted improvement and crop optimization.

Revealing the process of storage protein rebalancing in high quality protein maize by proteomic and transcriptomic

Quality protein maize (QPM) (Zea mays L.) varieties contain enhanced levels of tryptophan and lysine, exhibiting improved nutritive value for humans and livestock. However, breeding QPM varieties remains challenging due to the complex process of rebalancing storage protein. This study conducted transcriptome and proteome analyses to investigate the process of storage proteins rebalancing in opaque2 (o2) and QPM. We found a weak correlation between the transcriptome and proteome, suggesting a significant modulating effect of post-transcriptional events on non-zein protein abundances in Mo17o2 and QPM. These results highlight the advantages of proteomics. Compared with Mo17, 672 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified both in Mo17o2 and QPM, and several of them were associated with storage protein, starch, and amino acid synthesis. We identified 178 non-zeins as DEPs in Mo17o2 and QPM kernels. The up-regulated non-zein DEPs were enriched in lysine, tryptophan, and methionine, which affected the protein quality. Co-expression network analysis identified regulators of storage protein synthesis in QPM, including O2, PBF1, and several transcription factors. Our results revealed how storage protein rebalancing occurs and identified non-zein DEPs that may facilitate superior-quality QPM breeding.

Asesmen Produktivitas Ternak dan Kesesuaian Potensi Tanaman Pertanian Sebagai Hijauan Pakan: Sebuah Potret Kawasan Agro-Ekologi Dataran Rendah Selatan Merauke, Papua

The study aimed to descriptively capture livestock production and food waste and the suitability of border farms in the lowland Merauke region. Data were analyzed on livestock population structure (individual/ST), food crop waste production (dry weight, DW), capacity, and location quotient (LQ), and SWOT. Food crop waste production is 350 thousand tons of DW and so far only provided for ruminant cattle about 11%. Food crop straw waste is still dominated by rice straw (97%), followed by corn waste (2%), sweet potatoes, and peanuts. The capacity to increase the cattle population is close to 315 thousand ST. The LQ value of both livestock and food crops in Merauke is still in the range of 0 -&lt;1 and is still a prospective sector to be optimized. The results of SWOT analysis conclude that the S-O strategy is the intensification and expansion of livestock commodities. Keywords: livestock population structure, location quotient, KPPTR, crop residues, Merauke

STUDY OF LIVESTOCK FEED RESOURCES AND NUTRITIONAL VALUES OF MAJOR LIVESTOCK FEEDS IN DOYOGENA DISTRICT, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

The main barrier to livestock production in Ethiopia is an insufficient supply of feed, both in terms of quantity and quality. This study was conducted in the Doyogena district of the Kembata-Tembaro zone of Southern Ethiopia with the objectives of determining the availability and nutritive value of major livestock feeds; conserving and utilizing available feed resources. The utilization practices of different feeds was assessed with a self-structured questionnaires. Chemical composition of major feed resources was estimated in animal nutrition lab of Hawassa University. Natural pasture and crop leftovers are key feed resources in the area and cultivated forages were only lately introduced, with limited adoption due to agricultural land scarcity. Their use for livestock feed had been hindered by economic, inadequate handling and processing problems. The involvement of the government for improving the financial capabilities of farmers with improved technologies related to feeding crop residues and natural pastures were suggested as an important strategy. Chemical analysis on major feed resources indicated that there were significant (p&lt;0.05) difference among the feed types in CP and NDF content. The CP varied from 5.37% to 79.24% in woynadega while in kola it ranged from 4.54% to 79.41%. In the woynadega agroecology, the NDF content ranged from 44.17% to 79.24%, whereas in kola, it ranged from 44.13 % to 79.41 %. ADF and lignin contents were also significantly different (P&lt;0.05). The ADF and lignin contents ranged from 12.86% to 48.91%and 3.57% to 9.70% respectively in woynadega, in kola agroecology ranged from 12.74% to 50.04% and 3.52% to 10.49% respectively. There were significant differences in IVDMD (p&lt;0.05%) also, and it ranged from 47.30% to 79.78% in woynadega agro-ecology and in kola it ranged from 59.98% to 79.67%. As a result, farmers must learn how to use and process locally available feeds in order to improve local animal production performance.

Mitigating the Impact of Covid-19 on Ghana’s Livestock Industry: The Role of Stakeholders

COVID-19 a global health pandemic since its outbreak in Wuhan, China in December 2019 continues to cause major problems to various sectors of the global economy. In Ghana, the pandemic has negatively impacted the livestock sector in feed production and supply, supply of agricultural inputs, veterinary services delivery, livestock trade, capacity building, and slaughtering, processing, and marketing of livestock products. Therefore, the need to develop suitable strategies to counteract these negative effects on actors along the livestock value chain to ensure sustainable livestock production for food security and enhance wealth creation. The adverse effects of COVID -19 on the livestock industry and mitigation strategies in response to the effects of the pandemic are documented. Sensitization of stakeholders on such mitigation strategies including their roles will make the livestock industry more resilient and respond more appropriately to future pandemics.