Hatchability and growth performances of normal feathered local, Sasso-RIR and their F1-cross chickens managed under on-station condition in southern Ethiopia.

The Normal feathered local chicken (LL), Sasso-RIR (SRSR) and their F1-cross (LSR) chickens were hatched to evaluate for egg hatchability, body weight, feed efficiency, and survival rate. After 14 days of brooding, 150 chicks of each genotype were randomly selected and further replicated into five pens in a deep litter grower house consisting of 30 chicks each in a completely randomized design, and evaluated for a period of 16 weeks. Hatchability of fertile eggs was highest for LL (80.0%), intermediate for LSR (68.6%), and lowest for SRSR (55.9%) chickens. The body weight (BW) of chicks at 2 weeks of age was 80.0, 76.3, and 61.5 g/bird for SRSR, LSR, and LL, respectively, the latter being the lowest (p < 0.05). The respective BW at 8 weeks of age was 732, 587, and 451 g while at 18 weeks it was 1877, 1379, and 1070 g/bird and different from each other (p < 0.05). During 3- to 8-week and 9- to 18-week growth periods, the LL chickens were inferior (p < 0.05) in feed intake (29.7 and 66.9 g/d/bird) whereas the SRSR chickens were superior (p < 0.05) in body weight gain (15.5 and 16.3 g/d/bird) and feed conversion ratio (2.67 and 5.35 g feed/ g gain), respectively. The mortality rate of chicken was not affected by genotypes. It can be concluded that Sasso-RIR chicken genotype had played a significant role in upgrading the growth rate and market weight of the local normal feathered chicken without adverse effect on hatchability, feed efficiency, and survival rate.

Camel production systems in Ethiopia: a review of literature with notes on MERS-CoV risk factors.

Camels are the most adapted species to the harsh conditions of arid/semi-arid rangelands of Ethiopia where pastoralism is the dominant mode of life and mobility is an inherent strategy to efficiently utilize the spatially and temporally distributed pasture and water resources. Usually, large numbers of camels and other domestic animals from many different herds/flocks congregate at watering sites, and this may create a perfect condition for disease transmission and spread among animals. The same water sources are also shared by multitudes of wild animals. Camel herd sizes per household range from few heads (five to ten) to several hundreds. Female camels account for more than 75% of the herd. Male camels are usually sold early as pack animals or for slaughter. Female camels may remain fertile up to 25 years, during which time they produce eight to ten calves. Camels are herded during daytime on communal rangelands. During night, they are kept in traditional kraals around homesteads. Breeding time is short and seasonal and is affected by rainfall patterns and feed availability. Usually, only men milk camels. Milking frequency ranges from two to five times per day. Washing of hands, milking vessels, the udder and teats is not practised by many prior to milking the camels. Besides, the milking area is generally full of dust and dung and without shade. This affects the quality and safety of the produced milk. Pathogens and diseases of camelids are less well known; however, they are suspected as zoonotic sources for the human infection with the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. There is an increasing need to determine whether camels are clinically susceptible, act as potential reservoirs and maintenance or bridge hosts, to viral pathogens.

Participatory definition of breeding objectives for sheep breeds under pastoral systems--the case of Red Maasai and Dorper sheep in Kenya.

Crossing local breeds with exotic breeds may be an option for increased livestock productivity. However, there is a risk for endangerment of the local breeds. One such case is in Kenya where the imported Dorper breed is used for crossbreeding with Red Maasai sheep. The aim of this study was to investigate farmers' trait preferences as a basis for determination of breeding objectives for Red Maasai and Dorper sheep at two sites, Amboseli and Isinya, in Kenya. Within their own flock, each farmer identified three ewes representing the best, average and poorest within each breed group: Red Maasai, Dorper and Crosses. Farmers gave reasons for their ranking. Body measurements and weights were also taken. At the harshest site, Amboseli, differences between breed groups in body weight were small and breeds were equally preferred. In Isinya, where environmental conditions are better and farmers are more market oriented, Dorper and Crosses had significantly higher body weights and market prices and were thus preferred by the farmers. Red Maasai were preferred for their maternal and adaptive traits. Breeding objectives should emphasize growth traits and milk production in both breeds at both sites. Body condition needs to be specifically considered in the breeding objectives for sheep in Amboseli, whereas adaptive traits need to be generally emphasized in Dorper.