International Journal of Livestock Production最新文献

{"title":"Assessment on artificial insemination service delivery system, challenges and opportunities of artificial insemination services in cattle production in Western zone of Tigray Region, Ethiopia","authors":"Mekonnen Teweldemedhn, Berhe Leul","doi":"10.5897/ijlp2020.0722","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5897/ijlp2020.0722","url":null,"abstract":"The aim of the survey was to assess artificial insemination (AI) service delivery system and identify the challenges and opportunities of AI service in cattle production in Western Zone of Tigray Region, Ethiopia. Twenty Kebeles (lowest administrative units) and 353 respondents were purposively involved in face-to-face interview. Data analysis was performed using SPSS and mainly summarized by frequency and percentages. Chi-square test was the statistical method used to test proportions of variables. There was statistically significant (P<0.05) differences in AI service interruptions in both regular working hours and weekends and holiday hours. AI service interruption was a critical challenge in regular working days and in weekends and holidays. This is because 73% of the respondents reported that AI service was interrupted in Monday through Friday and 75% of the respondents also reported that Artificial Insemination Technicians (AITs) were not available to deliver AI service in weekends and holidays. Above half (63%) of the small scale farmers reported that AITs were very poor. Most of the very poor AITs were in midland (48%) and lowland (36%) agro-ecologies compared to the AITs in highland (16%) agro-ecology. Mobile AI service delivery system through motor bikes was the most common AI service delivery system used. The major challenges of AI service in order of their importance were lack of community awareness, poor animal management, unskilled AITs and inadequacy of AITs. The government and NGOs should solve the current challenges of AI service. The current approach and system of AI delivery should be restructured. Adequate numbers of skilled manpower should be assigned based on the standard numbers of breedable cows per AI center or per AIT. Moreover, agro-ecology based human management system and infrastructure development should be adequately addressed.  \u0000 \u0000 Key words: Communication means, AI service interruption, distance between homestead and AI service center, AI service delivery system, agro-ecology.","PeriodicalId":14143,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Livestock Production","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82548079","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cattle crossbreeding for sustainable milk production in the tropics","authors":"R. Osei-Amponsah, Ebenezer Asem, F. Obese","doi":"10.5897/ijlp2020.0717","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5897/ijlp2020.0717","url":null,"abstract":"Crossbreeding has been used to improve milk production performance of local cattle in the tropics. Crossbreeding exploits additive and non-additive allele gene effects leading to improvements in lactation length, decrease in calving interval, higher milk yields and early age of calving of cows and potentially increasing producer incomes. Varying levels of success have been reported for various crossbreeding programmes and the objective of the current review was to document the key challenges, best practices, lessons learnt and to propose sustainable interventions for future initiatives. Although crossbreeding has had some impacts on smallholder dairy production in the tropics, a number of bottlenecks affect its smooth implementation including inadequate funding, inappropriate policies, low participation of farmers and genotype and environment mismatches. The availability of large base of adapted local cattle genetic resources, innovative state of the art breeding technologies and goodwill of governments to make favourable policies and increase budgetary allocations for the livestock sector offer some prospects for crossbreeding for a sustainable dairy industry. Provision of the required infrastructure for improved management of crossbred dairy cattle including feeding and health care, access to markets, training of stakeholders, a well-trained and motivated local extension service personnel are recommended to help achieve this objective. \u0000 \u0000 Key words: Artificial insemination, genotype-environment interaction, local breeds.","PeriodicalId":14143,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Livestock Production","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72906225","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rabbit production practices in Kiambu County, Kenya","authors":"Abraham Kipchumba Cherwon, M. Wanyoike, C. Gachuiri","doi":"10.5897/ijlp2020.0719","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5897/ijlp2020.0719","url":null,"abstract":"To document current rabbit management practices in Kiambu County, a survey using structured questionnaire was undertaken in 45 farms identified using snow ball sampling technique. Data collected were subjected to descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that the majority of the respondents (57.8%) kept more than 10 does while the most prevalent breed was New Zealand White (82.2%). The main purpose of keeping rabbits for the majority (54%) of the farmers was income generation. Rabbit keepers depended on locally available feed resources with the majority (82.2%) feeding a mixture of forages and concentrate. The majority of respondents (71.1%) weaned the kits at 8 weeks of age while does were rebred at 9 weeks after kindling on 68.9% of the farms. Treatment of sick rabbits was done majorly by the farmers themselves (60.5%). Constraints identified included high cost of feeds (88.9%), diseases (84.4%) and lack of markets for rabbits and rabbit products (71.1%). This study concluded that rabbit farming in Kiambu County is practiced on small scale characterized by limited resource allocation and small flock sizes which may not support a sustainable off-take rate to meet the intended purpose of income generation.  Key words: Rabbits, feed resources, health, Kenya.","PeriodicalId":14143,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Livestock Production","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76675442","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An assessment of the role of proper health management in reducing goat mortality in Kraals: A case of Napak District in Eastern Uganda","authors":"Godfrey Ochan, D. Makosa","doi":"10.5897/IJLP2018.0529","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5897/IJLP2018.0529","url":null,"abstract":"Poor animal health is reported as one of the major constraints of goat production leading to mortality in pastoral areas like Karamoja Sub-Region in Eastern Uganda. Based in Napak District, this study was aimed at gaining an understanding of the role of proper health management in reducing goat mortality in Kraals. Through convenience sampling, 312 pastoralists out of 388 who own animals in community kraals were reached. The study was carried out using mixed methods approach through structured interviews and focus group discussions to collect both primary and secondary data. The health management index (HMI) as a measure of proper goat health management was constructed using seven routine farm practices (Vaccination, Deworming, Use of Antibiotic, Spraying, Isolation of sick animals, Sanitation and Hygiene and Navel Cord Disinfection). Multivariable regression was conducted using STATA (12) software. The first regression was conducted to find out which socio-economic factors have influence on HMI. It was established that accessibility to training and membership to social groups improve HMP while involvement in other occupation has a negative influence. A second regression was conducted to ascertain if HMI scores affect goat mortality levels. The results revealed a negative and significant influence, implying that an improvement in HMP leads to a reduction in mortality. Enhancing mechanisms which favor practical training and social group formation in form of technology intervention platforms can enhance HMP which will ultimately reduce goat mortality. \u0000 \u0000 Key words: Socio-economic factors, goat health management index, Karamoja, goat, multivariable regression.","PeriodicalId":14143,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Livestock Production","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75684101","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Breeding of goats: An indigenous approach to enhancing opportunities for smallholder farmers in Inyathi, Zimbabwe","authors":"N. Christopher, Mayimele Rachel, W. Obert, Ndudzo Abigirl","doi":"10.5897/ijlp2019.0586","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5897/ijlp2019.0586","url":null,"abstract":"In Zimbabwe, at least 97% of the national goat herd is owned by smallholder indigenous farmers. The farmers rarely breed the goats for commercial purposes despite the fact that the country has potential to export goat products. Common breeds in Zimbabwe include the Matabele goats, Mashona goats, Boer goats and the Kalahari goats. With this diversity of the goats’ population, there is need to move from subsistence to commercial production. The drought prone Inyati community is likely to benefit in terms of nutrition and economic security from the goat business. Goats are a rich source of meat (chevon), milk and skins products. While there is a market for goat meat locally, communities can exploit better opportunities in the Southern Africa region such as South Africa as well as beyond the continent, to the Middle East. Goat farming is a viable enterprise and farmers in Inyati district can prosper relying on their indigenous environment. The focus of the study is Inyati community, particularly the smallholder indigenous goat farmers in the area. A purposive sample of 19 goat keeping households was selected on the basis of their flock size from 8 villages under the Inyati community. Data were collected using semi-structured group interviews coupled with personal interviews involving three to four households per village as well as observations. Extension workers, as representatives on the ground were used in the collection of information from communities. Findings of the study revealed that there were management challenges in the rearing and marketing of goats by indigenous farmers. Among other challenges were factors such as high kid mortality and lack of good management practices among farmers, lack of information on the emerging commercial goat production system, economic viability, prospects and constraints of commercial goat farming in the country. Recommended for the study was information on marketing system for goats and their products, and the mechanisms stretch from village level to markets, both locally and abroad. The study came up with a model which promotes the sharing of information between commercial goat farmers in the country. The information shared includes quality of animal’s breeds (germplasm) which are critical for the strengthening of indigenous farmer goat enterprise in Zimbabwe. \u0000 \u0000 Key words: Goat flock, goat breed, goat breeding, indigenous, small holder farmers.","PeriodicalId":14143,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Livestock Production","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74153252","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The last of us? An online survey among German farm veterinarians about the future of veterinary training, livestock farming and the profession in general","authors":"Christian Dürnberger","doi":"10.5897/IJLP2020.0697","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5897/IJLP2020.0697","url":null,"abstract":"This online survey investigated how German farm veterinarians perceive the future of their profession. According to the participants, the following topics should play a greater role in veterinary training: Economics, herd health management, practical education, agricultural knowledge and animal welfare issues. The top answer indicates that knowledge about entrepreneurship is seen as a crucial competence of veterinarians. In regard to urgently needed changes in livestock farming, the participants recommend a general economic restructuring, a more fact-based public and political debate, an improved control system, improved training of farmers with a focus on animal welfare and a general critical questioning of performance optimisation. While the common literature focuses on reasons for distress, the survey identified factors for job satisfaction: German farm veterinarians recommend their job because of the variety of veterinary work, the contact with animal owners, the contact with animals, economic security, the importance of the work because it is about producing food and the possibility to work outdoors. At the same time, the survey identified a general dark mood when it comes to the future of the profession and livestock farming in general. Veterinarians see themselves as part of a world that is in decline. \u0000 \u0000 Key words: Online survey, German farm veterinarians, veterinary ethics, food production, veterinary curriculum, animal welfare, veterinary education.","PeriodicalId":14143,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Livestock Production","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83676766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of nutritional flushing on reproductive and body weight performance of Abergelle goat does","authors":"M. Birhanie, Mulalem Zenebe, H. Hagos","doi":"10.5897/IJLP2020.0695","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5897/IJLP2020.0695","url":null,"abstract":"This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of flushing on the reproductive and body weight change on Abergelle breed does. The study indicated that a mix of 300 or 450 g wheat bran (WB) with 50 g noug seed cake (NSC) flushed per day improved the does’ conception rate (70 to 80%) and kidding rate (70%); while does flushed with low concentrate level (150 g WB plus 50 g NSC) or those not flushed had poor and reduced conception and kidding rate almost by half from the flushed ones. However, the high concentrate level is not strategic to reduce abortion rate. Does flushed with high concentrate level (300 and 450 g WB mix with 50 g NSC) were significantly (p<0.05) better in body weight at kidding (18.52 kg) and postpartum weight (19.48 kg) than does flushed with low concentrate level (16.44 and 17.70 kg, respectively). As the concentrate levels supplementation of their dam increased, birth weight of kids increased (1.73 to 2.36 kg). Therefore, the conception rate, postpartum weight, kid production of Abergelle goat can improve by flushing with 300 g WB and 50 g NSC concentrated feed. However, its effect on the reduction of abortion rate is not promising. Further study is needed on the abortion problem. \u0000 \u0000 Key words: Abortion rate, birth weight, body weight, conception rate, concentrated feed, goat, kidding rate, supplementation.","PeriodicalId":14143,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Livestock Production","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82450734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative effects of Moringa oleifera powder and soybean meal on the zootechnical parameters of the ISA Brown pullet","authors":"Jacques S. Adouko, Bienvenu O. M. Koutonin, K. Kassa, A. Soha, Fr ejus O. H. Ohouko, Jacques Tossou Dougnon","doi":"10.5897/IJLP2019.0646","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5897/IJLP2019.0646","url":null,"abstract":"Poultry farming is an important sector of the Beninese agriculture. But this sector is facing economic difficulties. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of Moringa oleifera powder and soybean meal on zootechnical parameters in the ISA Brown pullet. For this purpose, the experiment was carried out on a total of 250 day-old chicks with an initial average weight of 40 ± 1 g. Among these chicks, 25 subjects were used for the digestibility test and the rest were grouped into cinq (05) batches of 45 chicks fed with different rations. The test lasted 56 days. The apparent digestibility of the dry matter varied significantly from 50.0 ± 9.18 to 50.42 ± 16.11 at the 5% threshold between the different batches. Feed consumption of chicks of the different experimental batches did not show any significant variation, while for the feed conversion rate, weight gain and average daily gain, most averages vary significantly between batches and weeks. It brings out that M. oleifera powder improves the feed conversion and growth rates of ISA Brown pullets fed with a feed containing M. oleifera powder at different incorporation rates. \u0000 \u0000 Key words: Moringa oleifera, soybean, ISA Brown laying hens, zootechnical parameters.","PeriodicalId":14143,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Livestock Production","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73411843","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The performance of artificial insemination delivery system in Amhara, Oromia, SNNP and Tigray Regions of Ethiopia","authors":"K. Melesse, A. Mengistu, Driba Geleti","doi":"10.5897/IJLP2019.0666","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5897/IJLP2019.0666","url":null,"abstract":"The study was conducted in Amhara, Oromia, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples and Tigray regions of the country to provide information on the performance of Artificial Insemination (AI) service delivery system, its seasonality and effectiveness. Semi-structured questionnaire was prepared to interview AI technicians (on their performance and related issues) and farmers (about the outcome of AI services). Data on field performance were received directly from AI technicians using a pre-restructured reporting format. A follow-up calving survey for AI services were provided to farmers was conducted in March 2019 to know the outcome of insemination services provided to farmers. Peak season falls from August to December when AI technicians on average perform 6.7 inseminations per day. January, February, June, and July were categorized as regular season with daily average insemination of 3.8. March, April, and May are off-season with an average of only 2.2 inseminations per day. The seasonal variation is mainly associated with availability of feed. Field level actual performance data showed significant difference (P 0.05) with mean SPC of 2.13. About 2.6 SPC obtained from a follow-up survey conducted with farmers who received AI service in a specified period. About 62% conception rate and 82% calving rates are obtained in this study. \u0000 \u0000 Key words:  Cattle, farmers, performance, technicians, semen.","PeriodicalId":14143,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Livestock Production","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81204875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative test of the two final commercial dual-purpose breeds during early growth performance under on-farm management conditions in two districts of Jimma Zone, Ethiopia","authors":"Hassen Wasihun, A. Mohammed, E. Wondmeneh, J. Belete, Seid Ahmed, O. Tekle","doi":"10.5897/IJLP2019.0658","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5897/IJLP2019.0658","url":null,"abstract":"This study was conducted to evaluate the production and reproduction performance of chicken breed under semi-scavenging system of Seka Chekorsa and Omo Nada districts of Jimma Zone. A total of 800 day old chicks were obtained from Debre Zeit Agricultural Research center. 50 day old chicks were distributed with hay box brooder, and the experiment was arranged in a nested design. The result of the current study indicated that male chickens of both breeds in this study reached sexual maturity and slaughter weight within four months in both districts and mature body weights of 1831.25 and 1569.18 g at Seka and 1615.00 and 1586.25g in Omo Nada, respectively for Lohmann dual and Dominant red barred. Although there was no statistically significant difference between the two breeds, Lohmann dual breeds attained age at first egg within 148 days and Dominant red barred (162.25 days) breeds in Seka Chekorsa and 157.50 and 160.25 days, respectively for lohmann and Dominant red barred in Omo Nada district. In general, the current study indicated good performance of Lohmann dual breeds while it needs further study to conclude number of eggs per clutch, number of eggs per hen per year and hatchability for both breeds in both study districts. So this study might be good to consider in the future in other areas. \u0000 \u0000 Key words: Dual purpose breed, on farm evaluation, semi-scavenging, Omo Nada, Seka Chekorsa.","PeriodicalId":14143,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Livestock Production","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82639405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}