Diagnostic study on major honeybee disease, pests and predators in North Western Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: The study was conducted in Pawe district from Benishangul-Gumuz and Jawi and Fagita Lekoma districts from the Amhara region to investigate major honeybee pests, predators and diseases. METHODS: Using a purposive sampling technique, 183 households were interviewed, and 240 samples were collected for laboratory analysis of bee disease; data were analysed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: The share of hive types owned by sampled respondents was 88.6%; overall, 1.1% and 10.3% were traditional, transitional and modern beehives, respectively. About 92% of the sample respondents acquired their base colonies by catching swarm bees on the apex of trees. The majority of beekeepers executed external inspections of their colony, whereas only 50% carried out internal inspections. Based on the responses of beekeepers, around 48.9%, 56.3% and 23.1% of colonies absconded every year from Pawe, Jawi and Fagita Lekoma districts, respectively. Ants, wax moths, bee lice, beetles, spiders, birds, monkeys and honey badgers were the major honeybee pests and predators discovered in study areas in decreasing order. Concerning the incidence of Varroa mites, Nosema apis and amoeba disease, 27.5%, 60% and 71.6% of samples showed positive results in study locations, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: From this result, we observed that ants, wax moths, bee lice, beetles, spiders, birds, monkeys and honey badgers were the major honeybee pests and predators. The prevalence of amoeba disease was comparatively higher in highland areas and in the summer season. This finding suggests the need for the alertness of beekeepers in controlling bee disease and pests and strengthening bee colonies through seasonal colony management. There should be a strict quarantine, and check-up undertaken when a new colony is purchased from one region to another is essential.

Performance evaluation of local honey bee race (Apis melifera secutellata) in the Metekel Zone of North Western Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Honeybee colonies differ in performance due to variations in their traits in terms of production, productivity and behaviour. The objective of this study was to identify and evaluate the performance of honey bee race at their geographical location. METHODS: A total of 20 honey bee colonies from traditional hives were transferred into frame hives and arranged randomly with enough space between the colonies. Colonies were evaluated for aggressiveness, hygienic behaviour, brood area, pollen and nectar stores, absconding and honey yield. RESULTS: The results indicated that colonies were generally aggressive, and the majority of colonies at 2.3-m away from the entrance reacted to the external body. They removed 95.7% ± 0.75% of the pin-killed pupae in 24 h, and there was significant (p < 0.05) variation among the different observations. The average population of the brood was 24.925 ± 7.714 unit area of brood/hive during the honey flow period. Similarly, the area allocated for storing pollen grains could reach up to 11.46 ± 3.96-unit area of pollen/hive. The swarming and absconding behaviour of the race was on average 3.39 ± 0.6, and 25% queen cells were found during the breeding season and dearth period, respectively. On average, the 8.85 ± 0.54 kg honey yield per colony per harvest on one honey chamber box was nearly similar to the national average (19.4 kg/hive/year) when harvested two times per year. CONCLUSION: In general, the Apis mellifera secutellata race is good in hygienic tendency and also performs well for honey yield under optimal management practices. The absconding and aggressive behaviour was high; the main reasons were extreme weather condition, and different pest and disease, seasonality of bee flora were the major ones. So, based on the current findings A. m. scutellata was predominantly available in the area and highly productive if well-managed. On the other hand, we are recommended on dearth period management and on the height of shade bee colonies.

Appraisal of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) hay as a replacement for noug seed (Guizotia abissynica) cake in the ration of Gumuz lambs in Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the replacement value of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) hay for noug seed (Guizotia abissynica) cake on dry matter (DM) and nutrient intake, nutrient digestibility, body weight change, carcass characteristics and economic feasibility of the feeding regime of Gumuz lambs. METHODS: The study was conducted using 25 yearling intact male lambs with an initial body weight of 18.26 ± 0.63 kg (mean ± SD).The lambs were assigned into five treatments: (T1) 272.3 g noug seed cake (NSC); (T2) 200.73 g NSC + 105.55 g cowpea Sewinet variety hay (CSH); (T3) 134.3 g NSC + 211.86 g CSH; (T4) 66.31 g NSC + 313.79 g CSH and (T5) 417.98 g CSH on DM basis. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design (RCBD), and lambs were blocked based on their initial body weight. The feeding trial was conducted for 90 days followed by 7 days of digestibility trial. Natural pasture hay was treated with molasses solution for improvement of palatability and digestibility and offered for all experimental lambs in ad libitum. RESULTS: The crude protein (CP) contents of natural pasture hay (NPH), CSH and NSC were 4.99, 18.31 and 36.5%, respectively. The total DM intakes of lambs (P < 0.05) increased at higher levels of CSH supplementation. The CP intake decreased with increasing levels of CSH supplementation. Digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) was improved by a higher level of CSH supplementation but CP digestibility was not affected by supplementation of CSH. The average daily gain (ADG) showed significant difference (P < 0.05) among treatments. Similarly, the feed conversion efficiency (FCE) was significantly different (P < 0.05) among treatments; higher FCE was recorded at T1 but lower was at T3 and T4. The hot carcass weight (HCW) showed significant difference (P < 0.05) among treatments; higher value was observed in T5 (9.36 kg), but the smallest value was recorded for lambs on the T3 (7.36 kg). The higher dressing percentage (DP) on empty body weight basis was recorded in three treatment (T1 = T4 = T5) groups compared with (T2 > T3) treatments. Significantly higher (P < 0.05) rib-eye area was achieved at a high level of CSH and sole NSC supplemented lambs. The economic feasibility showed that the highest profit was achieved in T5. CONCLUSION: From the present study, it was concluded that CSH could be used for supplementation of protein source feed for body weight gain for Gumuz lambs by replacing high-cost concentrates in a native hay-based basal diet. As a final point, CSH supplementation was recommended as replacement of NSC at 417.98 g CSH (T5) for better biological performance as well as economic value.