Growth response of post weaned F1 Friesian × Borena (Bos taurus × Bos indicus) crossbred growing heifers fed on wheat straw-based densified complete feed block.

This experiment was designed to investigate the effect of feeding wheat-straw based densified complete feed block (DCFB) on daily weight gain, feed intake, digestibility and feed conversion rate in growing heifer calves. Eight weaned F1 Frisian*Borena (Bos taurus × Bos indicus) crossbred calves (92.5 ± 27.5 kg body weight) and 5 months of age were randomly distributed into four groups, each with two animals evaluated under 4 × 4 double Latin Square Design for 240 days. The control treatment was natural pasture hay (NPH) and concentrate mix (CM) fed conventionally in a way that covers 50:50% requirements on dry matter (DM) bases and DCFB prepared by mixing wheat straw (WS) to concentrates mixture in the ratio of 50:50 (T2), 40:60 (T3) and 30:70 (T4), respectively. Each heifer group was fed on each diet for 60 days. At the end of each period the last 7 days were used to collect feed and feacal samples. However, the heifers were weighed each 15 days to estimate daily growth performances. It was found that significant (P < 0.05) differences among groups in average daily gain, feed conversion rate, feed intake and digestibility. The densification of WS and feeding in the form of feed block generally improved feed DM and nutrient intake and digestibility. The increase in the proportion of CM in the DCFBs also increased the DM and nutrient intake and digestibility. Heifer growth rate was higher (P < 0.05) in T1, T3 and T4 diets than T2 groups. Feed conversion ratio was higher (P < 0.05) both in T3 and T4 compared to T1 and T2. The total cost of production per each gram body weight gained was recorded higher (P < 0.05) for calves in the T2 group compared to calves in T1, T3 and T4. In conclusion, maintaining post weaned F1 heifer calves on DCFB composed of wheat straw and a commercial calf's concentrate based diet in the ratio of 40 to 60 would both biologically and economically feasible.

Economic values of some important traits for smallholder dairy production in Central Ethiopia.

Economic value (EV), sensitivity of EV and relative economic importance of milk yield (MY), age at first calving (AFC), calving interval (CI) and herd life (HL) traits were estimated for smallholder dairy cattle production in the central part of Ethiopia. The data on biological and economic parameters were collected using household interview and group discussions methods participating 238 farmers who had crossbred dairy cattle. Bio-economic model was used to calculate EV, sensitivity of EV and relative importance of EV. Cost of animal feed takes the highest share which accounted 81.35% of the total expenditure. The overall average profit per farmer expressed in Ethiopia currency (ETB, 1 US-$ = 39.55696 ETB) was 72,458.10 ± 5068 per year. Profitability of crossbred dairy cattle significantly varied (P < 0.05) between zones. Economic value estimated for MY, AFC, CI and HL in ETB were 13.38/kg, -16.19/day, -33.58/day and 79.55/day. The associated EV per additive standard deviation were 6083.62, -1311.59, -1271.05 and 117.73 ETB for MY, AFC, CI and HL, respectively. Analysis of sensitivity to scenario change (± 20%) showed that milk price had positive association with profit and EV, whereas feed price has inversely influenced both profit and EV. The profit obtained by farmers was altered by ± 29.08% and ± 12.31% as milk price and feed price fluctuated by ± 20%, respectively. Similarly, the EV of MY was changed by ± 20% with change in milk price and ± 7% with feed price. Scenario change in feed price (± 20%) has also caused ± 13.63% change on EV for AFC and ± 17.58% for CI. It can be noted that profit and EV of the traits were less sensitive to the change in price of milk, feed and labor. In general, the results of EV and profitability were encouraging for dairy farmers and the estimates can be used as an input for development of breeding program in the study area.

Stability analysis and nutritional quality of soybean (Glycine max (L).Merrill.) genotypes for feed in southwestern Ethiopia.

Soybean is a leguminous crop known for its multiple utilizations both as food and feed for humans and livestock. The objectives of the study were to identify high dry matter yielder and stable genotypes across environments in southwestern Ethiopia. The effect of genotype environment (G x E) interaction on dry matter yield of soybean genotypes were evaluated in two cropping seasons (2019-2020) under rain fed condition. Eight pre tested soybean genotypes with two checks were used as treatment in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Collected data were recorded and analyzed using GGE biplot models using R software. The combined analysis of variance showed that dry matter yield of soybean genotypes was significantly affected by genotype, environment and genotype-environment (G x E) interaction. The genotype, environment, and genotype-environment interaction, respectively, accounted for 11.4%, 49.5%, and 38.8% of the observed variation to the dry mater yield. This indicates that dry matter yield was significantly more affected by environments and G × E interaction than genotypes. The GGE biplot analysis revealed that six environments used in the current study were grouped into four mega-environments. The mega-environments were identified for genotype evaluation. The biplot showed that the vertex genotypes were G4, G10, and G9 and considered as optimum performance in their respective mega-environments and more responsive to environmental changes. The biplot also showed that ENV5 (Kersa 2020) was an ideal and the most discriminating and representative environment. Genotype G4 (TGX1990-114FN) was the ideal genotype and overall winner in dry matter yield and stability in the findings. Therefore, genotype G4 (TGX-1990-114FN) is the better option to be used as forage soybean in Ethiopia. Further demonstration of the feeding values of high yielders and stable genotypes on animal performances should be done.