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A study was conducted at Fafen Livestock and Forage Research Station of Somali Region Pastoral and Agro-pastoral Research Institute, Ethiopia to determine forage mass, botanical composition and nutritive value of herbaceous vegetation of a range co-grazed by sheep, goats, cattle and camels. The area is located at an altitude of 1600 m and has an average rain fall of 660 mm. Grazing experiment was conducted on 6 ha of land co-grazed by sheep, goats, cattle and camels. Grazing lasted 16 weeks (November 2019 to February 2020) using 6 growing animals from each species. The range was dominated by species of grasses such as Chloris radiata, Eragrostis ciliaris and Panicum atrosanguineum; forbs such as Asystasia schimperi, Acanthospermum hispidum and Solanum somalensis; and browses such as Lantana camara and Acacia spp. Four enclosures (E) each 25 m2 were made to serve as control. Forage measures were performed from fives areas of grazing and the four enclosures at the start, middle and end of the grazing period. Botanical composition was assessed as the contribution of dominant grass (Chloris radiata), other grasses and forbs. The result of the study revealed that forage mass at the start (2085 vs 2001 kg/ha; SEM= 99.9) and middle (2352 vs 2115 kg/ha; SEM = 80.5) was similar (P > 0.05) between grazing and enclosure areas, while values for grazing area was lower (P < 0.05) at the end (1496 vs 1918 kg/ha; SEM=68.8) of the grazing period. Forage mass at the end of the grazing compared to the start was reduced by 28 and 3% for grazing and enclosure area, respectively. The contribution of Chloris radiata, other grasses and forbs for enclosure area were 44.2, 20.4 and 35.4%, respectively, with no impact of the grazing period (P > 0.05). For grazing area, the contribution of other grasses was unaffected (P > 0.05), while the percentage of forbs decreased by 37% (from 40.5 to 25.5%) and Chloris radiata increased by 31% (from 32.9 to 43.1%) at the end compared to the start (P < 0.05). The chemical composition of herbaceous forages did not differ much between grazing and enclosure area, reflecting less impact of co-grazing on nutritive value. The CP content (9.0, 6.2 and 4.5 % DM; SEM = 0.43) and IVDMD (58, 50, and 47%; SEM = 1.68 for start, middle and end, respectively) decreased (P < 0.05) with advance in grazing period; while the opposite trend was noted for fiber content of forages. The impact of co-grazing on biomass and chemical composition in this study appears to be of not high magnitude. However, the poor chemical composition of the range, coupled with selective feeding of forbs reflects the need for range improvement measures and/or supplementation strategies for improved livestock productivity., East African Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Vol. 4 No. 1 (2020): East African Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

Chemical composition and nutritive values of lowland bamboo (LB) (Oxytenanthera abyssinica), red highland bamboo (RHB) and black highland bamboo (BHB) (Yushania alpina) varieties (V) harvested during wet and dry seasons were determined in this study. Morphological fractions of the varieties such as leaves, twigs and foliage were evaluatedo for the purpose. The chemical compositions were determined according to the standard procedures. IVDMD was determine using two-stage rumen inoculum-pepsin method. In sacco N degradability were evaluated by the nylon bag technique using three ruminally fistulated Boran x Holstein Friesian steers. The result of the study revealed that leaves collected from RHB had significantly (P, East African Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Vol. 3 No. 2 (2019): East African Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

The study was conducted in Digelu-Tijo and Meiso districts representing the mixed crop-livestock and agro-pastoral production systems, respectively with an objective of characterizing sheep production practices. A total of 150 households from six rural kebeles (75 households from each production system) were selected randomly based on sheep population and accessibility. Data were collected through structured questionnaire, focus group discussion and field observation. The average number of sheep per household in mixed crop-livestock (12.5±0.99) was higher (p, East African Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Vol. 3 No. 1 (2019): East African Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

A cross-sectional single visit multi-purpose survey was conducted in Gondar, Mekele, and Tachi-Gayint to understand the suitability of hydroponic fodder technology to urban and peri-urban dairy farms. A total of 436 households who own at least one crossbred dairy cow were randomly selected and interviewed using semi-structured questioner. The study identified zero-grazing as the main feeding system practiced by large proportion of dairy owners. Conserved crop residue and hay were the main bulk feed available in both dry and rainy season followed by agro-industrial byproduct in dry season and green feed in rainy season. Feed shortage was the primary problem impacting dairy production. Purchasing feed, culling less productive animals, and feeding less or using alternative feed were the copping strategies employed for feed scarcity. Hydroponic fodder production practice was low (6.9%) due to lack of awareness, high cost of seed, and labor shortage. However, greater proportion (56.7%) of dairy cattle owners having experience of using hydroponic fodder witnessed that it improved milk production, calf growth, and animal’s body condition. Unlike urban respondents who have suspicion on the feasibility of the technology, large proportion (83.2%) of peri-urban consider production of hydroponic fodder as a good opportunity and ready to grow if the technology is cost effective and proven to increase milk production without affecting animal health. Although majority of the required facilities for hydroponic fodder production exists in the study area, seed cost and information on the effect of the fodder on productivity and health of animals limited its wider adoption and use. Hence, future research should focus on identifying cost effective technologies and knowledge on effect of feeding such fodder on animal productivity and health., East African Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Vol. 2 No. 2 (2018): East African Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

An experiment was conducted to assess the influence of sheep breed and concentrate supplement level on proximate chemical composition and eating quality of mutton. At the end of 90 days fattening, all sheep were slaughtered and 6 to 13 rib position of longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle was sampled for meat quality assessments. Higher a* (15.5±0.12), b* (12.9±0.15), and ultimate pH (5.8±0.03) values were recorded in LL muscle of Washera breed than Blackhead Ogaden (BHO) and Horro breeds. However, Washera sheep had lower L* (34.7±0.29) (P, East African Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Vol. 2 No. 2 (2018): East African Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

A total of 192 day-old unsexed broiler chicks were randomly and equally distributed in to 12 pens and used to evaluate the effects of replacing maize with enset corm on feed intake, body weight gain, carcass characteristics, blood hematology and biochemistry. Treatments were dietary levels of enset corm at 0% (T1), 15% (T2), 30% (T3) and 45% (T4) to replace maize by weight. Isocaloric and isonitrogenous starter and finisher rations were prepared and used for 42 days trial at Haramaya University. Four broilers (2 from each sex) were randomly taken from each pen and slaughtered for carcass evaluation. Daily dry matter intake during the entire period of the study ranged from 86.9 to 90 g/bird and was significantly (p0.05) among the treatments except alkaline phosphatase (ALP) which was significantly higher (p, East African Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Vol. 2 No. 1 (2018): East African Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

This study was conducted to assess farmers’ perception, production and utilization of improved forage (IF) under rural and peri-urban production systems of Adea-berga and Ejere districts of West Shewa and Welmera district of Oromia special Zone, central highlands of Ethiopia. A questionnaire based survey was conducted on 105 households (47 rural, 58 peri-urban) identified by purposive random sampling method. Fifteen non-users were also included to assess factors hindering IF utilization. The known commonly grown IF includes; oats, elephant grass, and vetch as reported by 95, 85 and 67% of the respondents, respectively. About 92% of the respondents produce their own IF while others either purchase or purchase and produce. About 91 % of respondents have medium and high level of perception score. Illiterateness and land holding significantly (p, East African Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Vol. 2 No. 1 (2018): East African Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

A study was conducted to evaluate the feedlot performance of intact and castrated Washera sheep under Low (300 g/day) and High (450 g/day dry matter (DM)) levels of concentrate mix supplementation. The concentrate mix contained 68 and 32% of wheat bran and noug seed cake, respectively. Twenty four sheep (12 intact and 12 castrated) with age range of 9-10 months and initial weight of 24.1±1.8 kg (mean ± SD) were used. A randomized complete block design in a 2x2 factorial treatment arrangement (2 sex category and 2 concentrate levels) was employed. The study period lasted for 90 days of fattening and 7 days of digestibility. Basal hay was fed ad libitum at a rate of 20% refusal. Total DM (871 vs 738), organic matter (OM) (789 vs 666), and crude protein (CP) (134 vs 104 g/d) intakes were significantly higher (p, East African Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Vol. 1 No. 2 (2017): East African Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

This study evaluated the potential of three sheep breeds (Blackhead Ogaden (BHO), Horro, and Washera) under two concentrate supplement levels (CSL) (L1= 1% body weight and L2= 1.75% body weight) for quantity and quality of skin and leather production. Forty eight yearling intact sheep, 16 from each genotype (8 per CSL) with average initial weight of 21.3±1.5 kg (mean ±SD) were used in a 3 breed x 2CSL factorial arrangement of treatments in randomized complete block design. The animals were individually fed for 90 days a basal diet of pasture hay ad libitum supplemented with L1 or L2 and slaughtered for skin and leather quality study. Skin weight, length and width were measured. Skins were preserved and processed into leather for physico-chemical analysis. Horro breed produced leather with higher (p, East African Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Vol. 1 No. 2 (2017): East African Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

A survey was conducted to assess goat production system and production constraints under two farming systems (Agro-pastoral (AP) and mixed crop livestock (MCL)) in the rural areas of Dire Dawa Administration, Ethiopia. Semi structured questionnaire was used to collect information from 150 goat owning households. Household goat holding was higher in AP (32.00±2.3) as compared to MCL farming system (14.13±1.08). Lower age at first kidding (16.08±0.24 months) and shorter kidding interval (7.64±0.11 months) was reported in MCL as compared to AP farming system (17.00±0.21 and 8.23±0.14 months, respectively). Age at marketing in AP (13.83±0.89 months) was lower than MCL farming system (17.55±0.75 months). In both farming systems, cash income from sales of live goat was the primary objective of goat production. Grazing on natural pasture in wet season and crop stubble after crop harvest were the main sources of feed. About 79.3% of the total respondents have got their own buck. Higher proportion of respondents in AP farming (84%) practice breeding buck selection as compared to MCL farming system (53.3%). In both farming systems, size, parent performance and body conformation were the three main criteria to select breeding buck. Goats are kept overnight in an open kraal in AP farming (72%) and with human in the same main living house in MCL farming system (48%). Feed scarcity was ranked as the first important constraint of goat rearing, while disease and predator attack in MCL, and scarcity of water and market access in AP farming system ranked as second and third important constraints, respectively. Thus, enhancement of goat production in the study area requires improvement in quality and quantity of the available feed, improved breeding practices, housing practices, utilization of health services, and access to water and market., East African Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Vol. 1 No. 2 (2017): East African Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

The study was conducted to describe and compare the current pig production practices in Bishoftu and Holeta towns and their surroundings, central Ethiopia. The areas were selected since they are the most important pig production areas in the country. A structured questionnaire was used to interview 20 and 23 pig farmers from Holeta and Bishoftu, respectively. The parameters studied in the survey included socio-economic characteristics, production and management, ownership, herd structure, purpose of keeping, feed resource, feeding and fattening practices, reproductive management, meat utilization and marketing, and pig production constraints. Results indicate that household characteristics of pig keepers did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) between the two study areas. Pig farmers keep adapted exotic pig breeds. Herd composition did not differ statistically (P > 0.05) between the two study areas. Mean pig herd size per household was 5.72. The majority (58%) practice both pig breeding and fattening. The two study areas were similar (P > 0.05) in the type of pig house. Pigs were permanently housed by 88.4% of the households. Major feed sources offered to pigs in both study areas include household wastes, market wastes and crop residues. Reproductive managements did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) between the two study areas. Similar results (P > 0.05) were obtained for origin of animal stocks in the two study areas. Most (83.7 %) of the farmers acquired their foundation stock from local markets. The farmers did not slaughter pigs for home consumption and pigs were kept as a source of income. Farmers in both study areas named high cost of feeds, followed by pig mortality due to diseases, marketing constraints and lack of capital as major constraints for pig production. Despite the existence of production constraints, most respondents had aspiration to continue rearing pigs and plan to expand pig farm. It can be concluded that an improvement of pig production in Central Ethiopia should consider an improvement in feeding practices, marketing system, prevention of diseases, and a reduction of inbreeding., East African Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Vol. 1 No. 1 (2017): East African Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

This study was aimed at evaluating the anticoccidial efficacy of Lepidium sativum (Garden cress (GC)), Capsicum frutescens (Hot red pepper (Hrp)) and their mixtures powder in``` broiler chickens. A total of 144 Cobb-500 broiler chickens were randomly allocated into six treatment groups with three replications. The experiment lasted for 42 days. Rations were fortified with 0.75% GC, 0.75% Hrp, 0.38% GC+0.38% Hrp and 0.0125% amprolium in groups 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively and fed to the chicks starting on day two of age. Ration fed to chicks in group 1 and 2 were without any additives. Chicks in groups 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were infected with 105 sporulated Eimeria tenella oocyst per chick at the age of 15 days. Animal performance, oocysts output, cecal lesion score, carcass and serum parameters were recorded during the experiment. Uninfected-unfortified and amprolium ration groups in the starter period and group that received ration fortified with a mixture of GC+Hrp and uninfected-unfortified ration in the finisher phase resulted in a higher body weight gain (BWG). Across the entire experimental period, BWG was higher in the uninfected-unfortified ration group. The average feed intake in the entire period was higher in uninfected-unfortified ration, GC and amprolium groups. Broiler chicks fed a diet fortified with GC 0.75% or amprolium (0.0125%) as additive were equally effective to reduce E. tenella oocyst shed at day 6, 7, 8 and average total count post inoculation. Infected chickens fed diet fortified with GC, Hrp and their mixtures showed cecal lesion similar to those fed with infected-unfortified diet group at day 7 post inoculation. Highest intestinal length at 27 days post inoculation was observed in the uninfected-unfortified ration group and the shortest length was noticed in infected-unfortified ration group. In conclusion, broilers fed diet fortified with GC 0.75%, Hrp 0.75%, GC 0.38%+Hrp 0.38% mixture and amprolium 0.0125% showed better BWG at the end of the production phase than infected-unfortified ration group. Garden cress and amprolium lowered oocyst shed indicating better protection against E. tenella infection., East African Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Vol. 1 No. 1 (2017): East African Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences