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Background: Elephant Grass (Pennisetum purpureum L.) is a forage grass with high potential to improve livestock production. However, the dry matter yield of the forage crop is low because of poor agronomic and soil fertility management practices. Objectives: This study was, therefore, conducted to evaluate the effects of nitrogen fertilizer rate and cutting height on morphological characteristics and yield of elephant grass (P. purpureum L.). Materials and Methods: Treatments were arranged in a 3 x 4 factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design with three replications (3 cutting heights i.e., 7.5, 15, and 22.5 cm; and 4 nitrogen fertilizer rate i.e., 0, 69, 115, and 161 kg N ha-1). Data on morphological characteristics and yield of elephant grass (P. purpureum L.) were collected and subjected to the analysis of variance using the general linear model procedure of the statistical analysis system version 2004. Results: Most morphological characteristics of elephant grass increased (P < 0.05) as cutting height and nitrogen fertilizer rate increased, except for weight per tiller, tiller diameter, and internode length. Forage dry matter yield was in the order of 0 < 69 < 115 = 161 kg N ha-1 and 7.5 < 15 = 22.5 cm. Looking at the combination of the two factors 115 kg N ha-1 x 22.5 cm and 161 kg N ha-1 x 15 cm treatments resulted in greater dry matter yield of 6.25 and 6.45 ton DM ha-1 cut-1, respectively, and 115 kg N ha-1 was economically feasible. Conclusions: This study suggests that the rate of 115 kg N ha-1 x 22.5 cm cutting height is optimum for intensive cultivation of the forage crop with high dry matter yield at reduced nitrogen fertilizer cost., East African Journal of Sciences, Vol. 14 No. 2 (2020): East African Journal of Sciences

One hundred and eighty 26-week old white leghorn layers were used to evaluate the effect of replacing maize with kocho on egg production, egg and chick quality as well as fertility and hatchability. The layers were fed with ration containing kocho at the levels of 0% (T1), 33% (T2), 67% (T3) and 100% (T4) replacing white maize grain in the ration. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with four treatments, each replicated three times with 15 birds each. The experiment lasted 12 weeks. Hens were weighed at the start and end of the experiment. Data on dry matter intake, hen day egg production (HDEP), egg weight and egg mass were recorded daily. Egg quality parameters (egg shell weight and thickness, albumen weight and height, Haugh unit and yolk weight as well as color) were determined at the interval of 7 days on 4 eggs per replicate. Kocho contained 3663 kcal/kg DM, 3.8% CP, 2.5% ether extract, 2.3% crude fiber and 1.5μg/100g beta-carotene. Highly significant (P0.05) among treatments. HDEP for T3 (53.83 %) and T4 (53.62%) was similar and significantly (P < 0.05) higher than T1 (40.54%) and T2 (43.19%). Egg quality characteristics, except yolk color were similar (P > 0.05) among treatments. Yolk color was higher (P < 0.05) for T1 compared with T3 and T4. Percent hatchability on fertile egg bases for T4 was significantly (P 0.05) among treatments. The partial budget analysis indicated that replacement of maize with 67% (T3) kocho gave a higher net return. Therefore, kocho can replace maize in layers ration when there is scarcity of maize in enset growing areas of Ethiopia., East African Journal of Sciences, Vol. 13 No. 1 (2019): East African Journal of Sciences

Due to increasing price of conventional feeds, alternative locally available non-conventional feed ingredient is required for layers’ production. Rumen contents are abundantly available as slaughterhouse by-product and mainly considered as waste material creating environmental pollution. Therefore, a study was conducted for 90 days to evaluate effects of sun-dried rumen content (SDRC) inclusion in layer rations on egg laying performance, egg quality parameters, fertility, and hatchability, chick quality and blood parameters. Treatment diets contained T1, T2, T3, and T4 at 0, 5, 10, and 15 percent SDRC, respectively. On chemical analysis, the rumen content contained 11.18% crude protein, 1.22% ether extract, 22.99% crude fibre, 21.54% ash and 1099.32 cal/kg of DM of metabolizable energy. The daily DM intake value increased (P < 0.05) with the increase in level of rumen content. The bird fed with 10 percent SDRC diet had a high DM intake. The weight gain and egg production of the laying hens reduced significantly (P < 0.05) as the level of rumen content increased. The average egg weight increased significantly (P < 0.05) with the increase in the level of rumen content. The feed to gain ratio increased as the level of rumen content increased in the diet. The hen fed T2 (5 percent SDRC) had the best feed to gain ratio. Most external and internal egg quality parameters, especially yolk color, were improved when the diet contained sun-dried rumen content (SDRC). Fertility, hatchability, early and mid embryonic mortality showed no significant differences among treatments. However, chick quality parameters increased (P < 0.05) with the increase in the level of rumen content. Mortality rate was not influenced by treatments. All blood parameters studied were within the normal range. It is concluded that under the condition of this experiment, diets up to 10% SDRC in the ration did not affect DMI, daily weight gain, egg production performances and blood parameters in white leghorn layers.  Keywords: White leghorns; SDRC; Egg mass; Egg quality; Fertility; Hatchability, East African Journal of Sciences, Vol. 10 No. 1 (2016): East African Journal of Sciences

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of treating sesame straw (SS) with lime and urea on the chemical composition, in vitro organic matter (OM) digestibility (IVOMD), and in sacco dry matter (DM) degradability of the straw. The treatments consisted of three levels of urea (0, 2 and 4%, w/w) and three levels of lime (0, 3 and 6%, w/w). The experiment was laid out as a completely randomized design (CRD) in a factorial arrangement and replicated three times per treatment. The results showed that urea treatment at 2 and 4% increased crude protein (CP) content of the straw by 47 and 76% from the level of 4.5% CP in the untreated SS. Urea treatment reduced the contents of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and cellulose in SS. Treating the straw with lime increased significantly only the level of ash due to the added calcium. In vitro organic matter (OM) digestibility (IVOMD), in sacco dry matter (DM) disappearance at most of the incubation hours, and washing loss and effective degradability of SS were increased with 4% urea treatment. However, treating the SS with lime did not improve the IVOMD and in sacco degradability of DM. Treating the straw with combined lime and urea also did not increase digestibility compared to the sole urea treatment. In conclusion, this study has revealed that treating sesame straw with 4% urea is the most effective method to enhance the feeding value of SS, which results from increased crude protein (CP) content and digestibility of the straw., East African Journal of Sciences, Vol. 7 No. 2 (2013): East African Journal of Sciences Vol (7) No 2