The synergetic effects of some phytobiotics mix on growth, hematology and microbial loads of broiler chickens.

This study investigated the growth and health-promoting effectiveness of three medicinal plants (black cumin, fenugreek, and turmeric) on broilers. A total of 270 (Cobb 500) day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 6 dietary treatments: basal diet (T0), basal diet + oxytetracycline (T1), basal diet + black cumin and fenugreek (T2), basal diet + black cumin and turmeric (T3), basal diet + fenugreek and turmeric (T4), basal diet + black cumin, fenugreek and turmeric (T5). BWG and ADG had no differences (p ≥ 0.05) between T5 and antibiotics-fed birds. Phytobiotic supplemented birds (T2, T3, T4, and T5) had lower feed intake and higher FCR (T3 and T5) than controls T0 and T1 (p ≤ 0.05). Comparable (p ≥ 0.05) RBC counts were observed between birds fed phytobiotics (T2 and T4) and fed an antibiotic (T1), likewise, there were no (p ≥ 0.05) differences between T0 and birds fed phytobiotics (T3 and T5). A mixture of phytobiotics (T2, T4, and T5) outperformed in lowering total coliform and E. coli bacteria in the cecum than antibiotics (p ≤ 0.05). A mixture of the three phytobiotics can replace commercial antibiotics and have a favorable effect on broiler growth and health by safeguarding human health from the negative effects of antibiotic residue in broiler products.

Repeat Breeding and Its' Associated Risk Factors in Crossbred Dairy Cattle in Northern Central Highlands of Ethiopia.

The purpose of the current study was to ascertain the prevalence and incidence of repeat breeding and related risk variables in crossbred dairy cattle in the northern Central Highlands of Ethiopia. The prevalence and incidence of repeat breeding in crossbred dairy cattle were 38.4% and 36.6%, respectively, out of the total cows and heifers taken into account for this study and handled with various production strategies. Age, parity, body condition, breeding practices, milk yield, management condition, and insemination time were all substantially (P < 0.05) associated with the prevalence and incidence of repeat breeders. Repeat breeder is more common in elderly, underweight, multiparous, high-milk producing, and AI serviced cows, as well as cows kept in poor management condition. It was deduced that the production system had a significant impact (P < 0.05) on the prevalence of repeat breeders in the research area. In addition, herd size was significantly associated (P < 0.05) with the prevalence of repeat breeder in this study. Insemination time and heat detection practices were also substantially (P < 0.05) interrelated with the prevalence and incidence of repeat breeders, indicating that incorrect heat detection and/or insemination timing had an impact on these variables. Therefore, it is suggested to increase the mindfulness of farm owners, managers, and attendants about appropriate feed and feeding management, accurate heat detection, and insemination time. To reduce the incidence of repeat breeders and the associated reproductive issues, as well as the resulting financial losses on dairy farms, health, housing, and reproductive management should also be improved.

Effects of brewer's spent yeast inclusion level and ensiling duration on fermentative, fungal load dynamics, and nutritional characteristics of brewer's spent yeast-based silage.

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of brewer's spent yeast (BSY) inclusion level and ensiling duration (ED) on fermentative, fungal load dynamics, and nutritional characteristics of brewer's spent-yeast based silage. Materials and methods: To prepare the silages materials, 4 BSY inclusion levels (0, 10, 20, and 30%) to replace BSG and 3 ED (2,4 and 6 weeks) were arranged in 4 × 3 factorial combination using a completely randomized design (CRD) in 5 replications. The ratio of brewery spent grain (BSG) to wheat bran (WB) used majorly as protein and energy sources, respectively was 30:69 with a 1% salt addition. Parameters measured include observation for surface spoilage, yeast and mold colony count, silage temperature, pH, total dry matter loss (TDML), major proximate, detergent fractions and permanganate lignin, in-vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) and estimated metabolizable energy (EME) values. Results: The study revealed that at any BSY inclusion level and ED, extensive mold growths and discolorations were not observed. However, slightly higher values of 6.5, 5.7, and 12.2 colonies forming unit (CFU)/g DM yeast, mold, and total fungal counts (TFC), respectively were recorded only at the 6 weeks of the fermentation period with 30% BSY inclusion level. Brewer's spent yeast inclusion level and ED had a significant (P < 0.05) effect on silage temperature (mean = 18.05 °C) and pH (mean = 4.16). Among proximate and detergent values, crude protein (mean CP g/kg DM = 204.5), neutral detergent fiber (mean NDF g/kg DM = 552.9), and acid detergent fiber (mean ADF g/kg DM = 115.9) responded significantly (P < 0.05) to both BSY inclusion levels and ED. Conclusion: Among nutritional quality, CP, IVOMD, and EME of silage samples were subjected to substantial improvements when silage masses were prepared from 20% BSY inclusion levels and when the same silage materials were allowed to ferment for four weeks. In addition, the lab-based experiment should be supported with additional silage quality parameters like volatile fatty acid content of the silage materials and supplementation of ruminant livestock under both on-station and on-farm conditions using either a pilot and/or target animals.

Rumen degradability characteristics of normal maize stover and silage, and quality protein maize silage-based diets offered to cows.

Rumen degradability characteristics of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and crude protein (CP) of normal maize (NM) stover (T1)-, NM silage (T2)- and quality protein maize (QPM) silage (T3)-based diets were studied using three rumen-fistulated Boran × Friesian non-lactating cows (371 ± 32.00 kg) in 3 × 3 Latin Square Design. Cows were supplemented with a similar concentrate mix. In sacco degradability of DM and OM indicated that the (a) values of DM (128) and OM (114) for NM stover were lower (P < 0.001) than that for NM silage (268 and 253) and for QPM silage (323 and 303), respectively. The (a) value for CP was lower (P < 0.05) for QPM silage (286) than for NM stover (404) and NM silage (326). The (b) values of DM in NM stover (597) and NM silage (535) were higher (P < 0.05) than in QPM silage (499). The (b) value of CP in NM stover (372) was lower (P < 0.05) than in NM silage (655) and in QPM silage (608). Rate of degradation of OM in NM stover and NM silage, each with 0.03, was faster (P < 0.01) than in QPM silage (0.02). Moreover, QPM silage had higher potentially degradable fraction for DM (821) (P < 0.05) and OM (840) (P < 0.01) than DM (725) and OM (712) in NM stover. The mean rumen ammonia concentration (209 mg/l) of QPM silage was higher (P < 0.05) than that of NM stover (179 mg/l) and NM silage (170 mg/l). The average rumen pH (6.1) in cows fed QPM silage was lowest (P < 0.05) compared to pH (6.3) in cows fed either NM stover or silage. The concentration of total volatile fatty acids (116 mmol/l) in the rumen of cows incubated with QPM silage was higher (P < 0.001) than in those incubated with NM stover (113 mmol/l) and NM silage (110 mmol/l). It was concluded that QPM silage-based diet was superior in DM and OM degradability, and had higher ammonia and VFA concentration than NM stover-based diet. No differences have been observed in all parameters measured between QPM and NM silages.

Feed utilisation of Ethiopian Highland lambs on a basal diet of Eleucine coracana straw and supplemented with variously sourced protein mixed with wheat bran.

The study investigated the effect of supplementation of a basal diet of Eleucine coracana (finger millet) straw with different protein sources mixed with wheat bran on feed utilisation in Ethiopian Highland lambs. Twenty yearling intact male lambs (14.9 ± 0.30 kg; mean ± SD) were used in a randomised complete block design. Dietary treatments included a basal diet of E. coracana straw ad libitum (T1); basal diet supplemented with a mixture of 222 g noug seed (Guizotia abyssinica) cake (NSC) and 78 g wheat bran (WB) (T2); basal diet with a mixture of 234 g cotton seedcake (CSC) and 66 g WB (T3); and basal diet with a mixture of 5.4 g urea (U) and 294.6 g WB (T4). The supplements were offered at the daily rate of 300 g dry matter (DM) per lamb in two equal portions at 0800 and 1600 hours. Supplementation of Ethiopian Highland lambs on E. coracana straw basal diet with varied protein sources increased (P < 0.01) the total DM, OM and CP intake and improved (P < 0.01) the daily body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency. Lambs in T2, T3 and T4 gained weight at the rate of 22.7, 21.9 and 14.1 g/day, respectively, while lambs on the control diet lost weight at a rate of -24.9 g/day. Supplementation also improved (P < 0.01) the digestibility of DM, OM, CP and NDF of the total diet. It was concluded that supplementation of E. coracana straw with NSC, CSC and U mixed with WB improves feed utilisation, body weight gain and digestibility in Ethiopian Highland lambs.

Effects of different levels of dried sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) leaves inclusion in finisher ration on feed intake, growth, and carcass yield performance of Ross broiler chicks.

The effect of supplementation with increasing levels of dried leaves of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) on feed intake, body weight gain, and carcass yield characteristics of finisher Ross broiler chicks was studied at Haramaya University, Ethiopia. Three hundred Ross broiler chicks aging 29 days and weighing 540 +/- 5.28 g (mean +/- SD) were randomly distributed to 15 pens, each with 20 chicks, representing five treatment rations each with three replications. Dietary treatments consisted of inclusions of dried leaves of sweet potato at levels of 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 g/kg DM for treatments T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5, respectively. The experiment lasted for 28 days, during which, dry matter intake (DMI), body weight gain, and feed conversion efficiency; carcass yield characteristics; and weights and lengths of different parts of gastrointestinal tract were measured. Data were subjected to statistical analysis using SAS (1998). Inclusion of dried leaves of sweet potato at the level of 200 g/kg DM resulted in lower (P < 0.01) daily DMI as compared to chicks in control diet (T1). The daily body weight gain declined (P < 0.01) when the level of dried leaves of sweet potato in the diet was 150 and 200 g/kg DM. Inclusion of dried leaves of sweet potato up to 100 g/kg DM did not affect (P > 0.05) eviscerated carcass weight, and weights of drumstick with thigh and breast meat were not affected (P > 0.05) by inclusion of dried leaves of sweet potato up to 150 g/kg DM. The results of this study revealed that inclusion of dried leaves of sweet potato up to 100 g/kg DM in the finisher ration might be considered as the optimum level of supplementation when chickens are sold on live weight basis, but if birds are sold on eviscerated carcass weight basis, inclusion up to 150 g/kg DM might be economically feasible as it produced higher carcass yield components.

Feed intake and production parameters of lactating crossbred cows fed maize-based diets of stover, silage or quality protein silage.

Thirty-six Boran × Friesian dairy cows (392 ± 12 kg; mean ± SD) in early parity were used in a randomised complete block design. Cows were blocked by parity into three blocks of 12 animals and offered normal maize (NM) stover (T1), NM silage (T2) or quality protein maize (QPM) silage (T3) basal diets supplemented with a similar concentrate mix. Feed intake, body weight and condition changes and milk yield and composition were assessed. The daily intake of DM, OM, NDF and ADF for cows fed the NM stover-based diet was higher (P<0.05) than for the cows fed the NM silage and QPM silage-based diets. However, the daily intake of DOM (9.3 kg) and ME (140.8 MJ) for cows on QPM silage-based diet was higher (P<0.05) than for cows on NM stover-based diet (8.4 kg and 124.2 MJ) and NM silage-based diet (7.9 kg and 119.1 MJ). Body weight of cows was affected (P<0.05) by the diet, but diet had no effect (P>0.05) on body condition score, milk yield and milk composition. The digestible organic matter in the NM stover-based diet (724 g/kg DM) was lower (P<0.05) than that in the NM (770 g/kg DM) and QPM silage-based diet (762 g/kg DM). It was concluded that the performances of the cows on the NM silage and QPM silage diets were similar and were not superior to that of the NM stover-based diet.

Flock composition, breeding strategies and farmers' traits of interest evaluation of Wollo highland sheep and their F1 crosses.

BACKGROUND: Sheep production is a major component of the livestock sector in Ethiopia. The country owing to the large population of 30.70 million estimated numbers of sheep in the country and out of which about 72.14% are females, and 27.86% are males with diverse genetic resources. The real value of indigenous breeds was often under-estimated mostly due to their poor appearance and relatively low productivity. Developing countries in most cases opt for exotic breeds to increase animal productivity through crossbreeding or breed substitution without properly investigating the production potential of the indigenous breeds. The main objective of the research was to identify sheep flock composition and structure, farmers' traits of interest and breeding objective of Wollo highland sheep, and their F1 crossbreed progenies. RESULTS: Smallholder farmers' flock synthesized from breeding ewes, breeding rams, pre-weaned ewe lambs, pre-weaned ram lambs, unproductive ewes, castrated and fattened rams, with the percentage coverage of 29.2, 13.3, 15.5, 16.5, 12.4, and 12.5%, respectively. The maximum number of flock size was 289.0 sheep per flock and higher in the third stratum. The off-take rate percentage of the three strata presented as 21.9% in 1st stratum, 12% in the 2nd stratum, and 16.4% in the 3rd stratum and higher off-take rate recorded in the first stratum. Sheep producer's traits of interest ranked by growth rate (first), body size (second) and marketing value was third rank. Communal breeding (random mating), village based controlled breeding, mixed type and private ram controlled breeding practice were comprised of 39.7, 61.7, 52 and 71.3%, respectively. The percentages of ewes per flock composition were presented as 36.5, 27.1 and 25.5%, respectively in the 3rd stratum, 2nd stratum and 3rd stratum in the order of their importance's. CONCLUSION: Genetic improvement practices at smallholder sheep producers situation was showing promising outcome with indigenous Washera F1 crossbred lambs and which designated for weaning rate, body size, marketing age, age at first lambing, good temperament and large litter size in the order of their rank. The contemporary breeding practice tendency indicated that, reduced flock size to improve flock productivity via crossbreeding practices.