Search

Cenchrus is important genera of grasses inhabiting tropical pastures and the Indian grasslands system. Its forage value is well established to sustain nomadic livestock and wildlife. This study deals with the evaluation of the representative set of global Cenchrus germplasm collection with 79 accessions belonging to six species (C. ciliaris, C. setigerus, C. echinatus, C. myosuroides, C. pennisetiformis, and C. biflorus) at flowering stage. Crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), cellulose, and lignin values were in the range of 61.1–136, 640–749, 373–490, 277–375, and 35.6–75.50 g kg−1DM, respectively, while sugar contents varied from 11.6 to 101 mg g−1 DM. From the evaluated germplasm, 14 accessions of C. ciliaris having >70 mg g−1 DM sugar contents were selected and further evaluated for protein, fiber, carbohydrate and protein fractions, palatability indices, in vitro CH4 production, and ensiling traits. Protein contents were lower in EC397323 (61.8) and higher in IG96-96 (91.5), while the NDF, ADF, cellulose, and lignin contents varied between 678–783, 446–528, 331–405, and 39.6–62.0 g kg−1DM, respectively. The carbohydrate and protein fractions of selected accessions differed (p < 0.05), and the sugar contents varied (p < 0.05) between 74.6 and 89.6 mg−1g DM. Dry matter intake (DMI) and relative feed value (RFV) of accessions varied (p < 0.05) and were in the range of 1.53–1.77% and 58.2–73.8 g kg−1 DM, respectively. The total digestible nutrients (TDNs), digestible energy (DE), and metabolizable energy (ME) of selected accessions varied between 362–487 g kg−1 DM, 6.62–8.90, and 5.42–7.29 Mj kg−1 DM, respectively. In vitro gas and CH4 production (24 h) varied (p < 0.05) between 73.1 to 146 and 7.72 to 21.5 ml/g, respectively, while the degraded dry matter (g kg−1 DM) and CH4 (ml/g DDM) ranged between 399–579 and 17.4–47.2, respectively. The DM contents at ensiling, silage pH, and lactic acid contents of accessions differed (p < 0.05) and ranged between 185–345 g kg−1 DM, 5.10–6.05, and 1.39–23.3 g kg−1 DM, respectively. Wide genetic diversity existed in germplasm and selected C. ciliaris accessions for protein fiber, energy, sugar, and other nutritional traits. Silage prepared from EC397366, IG96-96, IG96-50, and EC397323 had pH and lactic acid contents acceptable for moderate to good quality silage of tropical range grasses.

Study of appropriate planting time and response to agronomic management practices is imperative for the newly introduced cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.) into a semi-arid region of India. Responses of cactus pear to agronomic practices (planting time and irrigation and fertilizer application) were evaluated to determine the potential for fodder production and livestock feed in a semi-arid environment of India. We assessed four planting times (February, March, July and October) and two agronomic managements (with and without irrigation and fertilizer application) during 2016–2020 at Jhansi, India. Cactus pear establishment and growth improved with planting time in July and October due to favorable soil moisture and congenial temperature. However, plant height (19 cm) and cladode weight (118 g) were greater in July than in October planting. Nutrient uptake and crude protein contents, however, were higher for the earlier plantings of February and April compared to June and October. Irrigation and nutrients application had little effect on the cactus pear plant growth, except on plant width and cladode length and width. Cactus pear can be planted during July in moderately fertile soils without any agronomic intervention in semi-arid situations of India and has potential as an effective alternative source of forage for livestock during the summer months.

The illness cost borne by households, known as out-of-pocket expenditure, was 74% of the total health expenditure in Bangladesh in 2017. Calculating economic burden of diarrhea of low-income urban community is important to identify potential cost savings strategies and prioritize policy decision to improve the quality of life of this population. This study aimed to estimate cost of illness and monthly percent expenditure borne by households due diarrhea in a low-income urban settlement of Dhaka, Bangladesh. We conducted this study in East Arichpur area of Tongi township in Dhaka, Bangladesh from September 17, 2015 to July 26, 2016. We used the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of three or more loose stool in 24 hours to enroll patients and enrolled 106 severe patients and 158 non-severe patients from Tongi General Hospital, local pharmacy and study community. The team enrolled patients between the first to third day of the illness (≤ 72 hours) and continued daily follow-up by phone until recovery. We considered direct and indirect costs to calculate cost-per-episode. We applied the published incidence rate to estimate the annual cost of diarrhea. The estimated average cost of illness for patient with severe diarrhea was US$ 27.39 [95% CI: 24.55, 30.23] (2,147 BDT), 17% of the average monthly income of the households. The average cost of illness for patient with non-severe diarrhea was US$ 6.36 [95% CI: 5.19, 7.55] (499 BDT), 4% of the average monthly income of households. A single diarrheal episode substantially affects financial condition of low-income urban community residents: a severe episode can cost almost equivalent to 4.35 days (17%) and a non-severe episode can cost almost equivalent to 1 day (4%) of household’s income. Preventing diarrhea preserves health and supports financial livelihoods.