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Various factors are believed to influence quality of semen in breeding bulls. The main objective of this study was to evaluate how breed, age and time of semen production are relevant in the production of good quality semen used for Artificial Insemination. A total of 16,827 ejaculates from 187 bulls (Holstein Frisian = 114, Jersey = 35, Borena = 12, 50%HF × 50%Borena = 5, 75%HF × 25%Borena = 15 and Fogera = 6) were collected and examined at the National Animal Genetic Improvement Institute (NAGII). All these factors (breed, age and period of production) had significant (p ≤ 0.05) effect on semen volume, colour, concentration, mass activity, individual motility and production doses/ejaculate. All these semen quality measures were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) minimal in 50%HF × 50%Borena crosses and all of them except concentration were observed superior in HF. Excluding ejaculate volume and production doses, all the semen quality measures were recorded better in the first two age classes (less than 2 and 2 to 4 years of age classes). Significance differences in ejaculate volume, concentration, mass activity, and individual motility were observed among production periods; these disparities could be due to the variation in managemental practice and efficiency of implementing the protocol in selecting candidate bulls for the time period. In conclusion, breed, age and period of semen production have significant effect on bovine semen characteristics. Key words: Borena, cross breeds, Fogera, Holstein Frisian, Jersey, semen characteristics.

At present, frozen-thawed semen is used extensively for artificial insemination (AI) in Ethiopia. However, subjective semen quality assessment is still practiced by the semen processing organizations of the country. In this study, motility and motion characteristics of spermatozoa were assessed by using integrated semen analysis system (ISAS) to diagnose breed differences in quality of semen. Semen was collected from 14 breeding bulls (Boran = 4, Crosses of 75 % Holstein Frisian EŸ 25% Boran = 4 and Holstein Frisian = 6). After initial subjective assessment, the semen was evaluated at fresh, chilled and frozen stages for various sperm motion characteristics using integrated semen analysis system (ISAS® v1, Proiser, Spain). PH, volume and morphological defects were differed significantly (P < 0.05) among breeds. Significantly higher (P < 0.05) motility percentage (82.5%) was identified in Boran fresh semen. In contrast spermatozoa motion characteristics: Medium, medium progressive and slow types were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in crosses. Individual motility percentage and spermatozoa motion types (medium and slow) were significantly low (P < 0.05) in Boran chilled semen. In line with chilled semen significantly high motility percentage (42.9%) for frozen semen was observed in HF. The sperm kinematic parameters: Average path velocity (VAP, µm/s), straight line velocity (VSL, µm/s), curvilinear velocity (VCL, µm/s), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH, µm), beat cross frequency (BCF, Hz) and straightness (STR) percentage were differed significantly (P < 0.05) among the three breeds at all stages of semen production. The smallest kinematic values of all parameters except for LIN, STR and WOB of fresh semen were recorded in cross breed bulls at all stages of production. On the other hand significantly higher (P < 0.05) values for all the parameters (VCL, VAP, VSL, ALH, BCF, LIN, STR and WOB) of frozen semen were recorded in Boran breed. Thus it is possible to conclude that breed has influence on motility and motion characteristics of bull spermatozoa at different stages of semen production. Key words: Boran, Integrated Semen Analysis System (ISAS), kinematic parameters.

Maximizing the number of offspring born per female is a key functionality trait in commercial- and/or subsistence-oriented livestock enterprises. Although the number of offspring born is closely associated with female fertility and reproductive success, the genetic control of these traits remains poorly understood in sub-Saharan Africa livestock. Using selection signature analysis performed on Ovine HD BeadChip data from the prolific Bonga sheep in Ethiopia, 41 candidate regions under selection were identified. The analysis revealed one strong selection signature on a candidate region on chromosome X spanningBMP15, suggesting this to be the primary candidate prolificacy gene in the breed. The analysis also identified several candidate regions spanning genes not reported before in prolific sheep but underlying fertility and reproduction in other species. The genes associated with female reproduction traits includedSPOCK1(age at first oestrus),GPR173(mediator of ovarian cyclicity),HB-EGF(signalling early pregnancy success) andSMARCAL1andHMGN3a(regulate gene expression during embryogenesis). The genes involved in male reproduction wereFOXJ1(sperm function and successful fertilization) andNME5(spermatogenesis). We also observed genes such asPKD2L2,MAGED1andKDM3B, which have been associated with diverse fertility traits in both sexes of other species. The results confirm the complexity of the genetic mechanisms underlying reproduction while suggesting that prolificacy in the Bonga sheep, and possibly African indigenous sheep is partly under the control ofBMP15while other genes that enhance male and female fertility are essential for reproductive fitness.

Investigation was carried out to assess the effects of environmental factors and to estimate genetic parameters and trends for reproductive traits in Bonga sheep, Ethiopia. Animals used in this study were managed by two communities involved in a community-based breeding programs (CBBPs) from 2009 to 2018. The database consisted of 15,595 individual phenotypic information from about 1500 ewes with variable number of records for each trait. The traits analyzed were age at first lambing (AFL), lambing interval (LI), and litter size (LS). Fixed effect analysis was done using the general linear model procedures of SAS. The Average Information Restricted Maximum Likelihood method of WOMBAT, fitting univariate animalmodel, was used to estimate heritabilities, repeatabilities and breeding values. Results showed that Bonga sheep had overall mean AFL, LI, and LS of 453 ± 109 days, 254 ± 51 days, and 1.43 ± 0.008, respectively. All traits were influenced (p

Stagnant early growth and poor lamb survival are the major constraints of sheep production in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to evaluate early growth and survival rate of crossbred lambs (Dorper × indigenous, Adilo) under semi-intensive conditions. Body weight (BW, kilograms) at 0-180 days, average daily gain (ADG, g/day), pre- (0-90), post (90-180) and overall (0-180 days), and pre-weaning survival rate (PSR) of crossbred (50%) lambs (n=305) were evaluated. The non-genetic factors (season, parity, sex of lambs, litter size) were also determined. The least squares means (±SE) of BW at birth, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 days of age were 2.6± 0.63, 5.6± 0.12, 8.7± 0.18, 11.6±0.23, 15.0±0.46, 17.2± 0.31, and 18.4±0.26 kg, respectively. The crosses were higher by 11.9% and 9.3% at 90 and 150 days, respectively, than indigenous Adilo lambs. There was clearly evident effect of season on body weights at various ages, pre- and post-weaning and overall ADG. Parity influenced weight at 30, 60, and 90 days, and ADG (pre, post and overall). The litter size (1.68 ± 0.6) consistently affected BW at all ages, pre-weaning and overall ADG. Weight at birth, 30 and 90 days, and ADG from 30-60, 60-90 and 120-150 days were affected by parity-by-litter size interaction. The PSR rate (90.2%) was influenced by all non-genetic factors except sex. The improvement in litter size, body weight, and survival represents potentially significant economic advantage of crossbred over local sheep. Managing dam age through replacement ewes, and improving nutrition and litter size would improve lamb survival and growth that enhances total lamb output per ewe per year. Key words: Growth rate, market weight, crossbred lamb, fixed factors.

To understand the ovarian basis for prolificacy of Bonga sheep, a total of 31 ewes were selected based on litter size (LS) records and divided into two groups: High Prolificacy (HP) (n = 20) with LS ≥ 2 and Low Prolificacy (LP) (n = 11) with LS = 1. At a synchronized estrus, follicular dynamics were determined using transrectal ultrasonography. Plasma estradiol concentrations were also monitored. In total 27 ewes were observed in estrus being 9/11 LP (82%) and 18/20 HP (90%). On the day of estrus (day 0), the mean number of large follicles was higher (p < .05) in HP (1.78 ± 0.19) than in LP (1.0 ± 0.28) ewes. Prior to estrus, more (p < .05) medium follicles were visible for HP compared to LP ewes. Plasma estradiol concentrations were higher in HP compared to LP ewes (18.91 ± 0.41 vs. 14.51 ± 0.65 pg/ml; p < .05) and similarly was ovulation number (2.3 ± 0.15 vs. 1.28 ± 0. 14; p < .05). Higher ovulation rates and litter size in Bonga sheep are evidenced by the previous presence of more large follicles and the existence of co-dominance effects as most likely medium follicles are selected to ovulate.

Effects of dietary concentrate level and grass hay source were determined to evaluate a method (www2.luresext.edu/goats/research/suppconc.html) of predicting negative associative effects between feedstuffs in Boer goat wethers. Forage DM intake (g/kg BW0.75) was similar (P = .157) between growing and yearling wethers (34.9 and 30.8) and ranked 0 and 15 > 30 > 45 g/kg BW0.75 of concentrate dry matter (48.5, 41.8, 25.9, and 15.2, respectively). Age and concentrate level interacted in neutral detergent fibre digestibility (57.3%, 60.6%, 61.4%, and 58.4% for growing and 56.6, 62.9, 56.8, and 30.0% for yearling wethers with 0, 15, 30, and 45 g/kg BW0.75, respectively). There was a tendency (P = .074) for an interaction in metabolizable energy (ME) intake between age and concentrate level (361, 530, 634, and 709 for growing and 363, 547, 541, and 555 kJ/kg BW0.75 for yearling wethers with 0, 15, 30, and 45 g/kg BW0.75); values predicted for treatments with concentrate were 563, 631, and 619 for growing ...

The study was carried out in Wolaita, Hadya, Dawuro zone and Konta Special Woreda. The study was used household and key informant interview. The objective of the study was assessment of major opportunities and constraints of Honey production in central zones of SNNPR. Availability of ready and eager beekeepers to follow modern technology path way, availability of natural forest with adequate apiculture flora and water resource, availability of natural forest with adequate apiculture flora and water resource, existence of strong bee colony and a number of colonies, diversity and seasonal availability of bee forages and market access are some of opportunities of Honey production in the area. The major constraints of apiculture farming identified in the study districts comprised of lack of technical knowhow of small scale farmer, prevalence of honey bee enemies, lack of improved apiculture equipments, lack of improved honeybee flora, little attention given to apiculture development and technology introduction in the sector, lack of market oriented apiculture farming system and market information problem and others. The remedial measures for listed constraints of apiculture farming in the region recommended includes capacity building of small scale farmers, value chain analysis and value chain development adoption, pre-scaling up of proven apiary technologies and establishment of market oriented farmers apiary cooperatives.

household and key informant interview. The objective of the study was assessment of major opportunities and constraints of Honey production in central zones of SNNPR. Availability of ready and eager beekeepers to follow modern technology path way, availability of natural forest with adequate apiculture flora and water resource, availability of natural forest with adequate apiculture flora and water resource, existence of strong bee colony and a number of colonies, diversity and seasonal availability of bee forages and market access are some of opportunities of Honey production in the area. The major constraints of apiculture farming identified in the study districts comprised of lack of technical knowhow of small scale farmer, prevalence of honey bee enemies, lack of improved apiculture equipments, lack of improved honeybee flora, little attention given to apiculture development and technology introduction in the sector, lack of market oriented apiculture farming system and market information problem and others. The remedial measures for listed constraints of apiculture farming in the region recommended includes capacity building of small scale farmers, value chain analysis and value chain development adoption, pre-scaling up of proven apiary technologies and establishment of market oriented farmers apiary cooperatives

Fourteen days old Rhode Island Red chicks were used to evaluate effects of processed fish offal (fishmeal) on DM intake (DMI), body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR = DMI/BWG) and carcass traits. Ten chicks were assigned to each of 3 replicates of 6 diets (T(1), T(2), T(3), T(4), T(5), T(6), containing 0, 3.32, 6.64, 9.96, 13.28 and 16.6% fishmeal, respectively, having 18.44-19.82% CP). After 77 days of ad-lib feeding, 3 male and 3 female chicks per treatment were fasted overnight, killed and body parts weighed. T(1) had lowest but T(6) highest (por = 0.001) daily intakes of 68.5 and 77.0 g DM head(-1), 13.3 and 14.8 g CP head(-1) and 231 and 243 kcal ME head(-1), respectively. BWG (10.7 g head(-1) d(-1)), FCR (6.79), weights of carcass (569 g), breast (160 g) and total edible (676 g) and dressing % (66%) of T(1) (0% fishmeal) was smaller (por = 0.001) than those of fishmeal groups {12.8 to 13.5 g head(-1) d(-1); 5.83 to 6.35 g; 671 to 729 g; 196 to 219 g; 807 to 876 g and 67 to 68%, respectively}. Best results of BWG, FCR and carcass traits were obtained at 9.96% fishmeal inclusion level; however acceptable results could be obtained up to 12.5%.

Effects of cooked and sun dried fish offal, fishmeal, on intake, growth and carcass traits of Rhode Island Red (RIR) chicks was evaluated at Wolayta Soddo, southern Ethiopia. After 14 days of uniform brooding of unsexed day old RIR chicks, a feeding trial, with 6 dietary groups (T 1 to T 6 ), 5 replicates each and 10 chicks per replicate, was run for 11 weeks when daily group feed intakes were recorded. Results showed that chicks fed T 1 had significantly (p£ 0.01) lowest (68.5g dry matter (DM) , 13.3g crude protein (CP), 0.54g calcium (Ca), 0.35g phosphorus (P) and 231kcal metabolizable energy (ME) head -1 ) but those on T 6 had the highest daily intakes (77g DM, 14.8g CP, 1.81g Ca, 0.58g P and 243kcal ME head -1 ). Slaughter weight was 1022g, 1234g, 1202g, 1295g, 1272g, and 1272g head -1 for T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 , T 5 and T 6 , respectively. Commercial carcass weight (breast + thighs + drum sticks + wings + back) of the control (552g/head) was significantly (p£ 0.01) lower than fishmeal groups (683g, 671g, 729g, 717g and 711g for T 2 , T 3 , T 4 , T 5 and T 6 , respectively). Difference in weights of drum sticks, thighs, wings and back separately were significantly (p 1 (160g) was significantly (p 2 (196g), T 3 (203g), T 4 (219g), T 5 (213) and T 6 (217g). Total edible carcass weight, including skin, liver and gizzard of T 1 was significantly lower (676g head -1 , p£ 0.01) than the rest of the groups (837g, 807g, 874g, 860g and 850g head -1 for T 2 , T 3 , T 4 , T 5 and T 6 , respectively). Significantly (p£ 0.05) lower Dressing % was obtained from T 1 (54.0%) than T 2 (55.3%), T 3 (55.7%), T 4 (56.2%), T 5 (56.5%) and T 6 (55.8%). Dressing percentage (on the basis of edible carcass) of T 1 (66.1%) was also significantly (p£ 0.05) lower than T 2 (67.8%), T 3 (67.1%), T 4 (67.5%), T 5 (67.6%) and T 6 (66.8%). Males had significantly (p< 0.01) higher slaughter weight (1294g) and carcass weight (721g) than females (1138g and 633g, respectively), but they had similar breast weights and dressing %. It can thus be concluded that fishmeal inclusion in to diets of growing RIR chicken up to the levels of 16.6% of the DM of the diet did not affect health or carcass traits; however, best results were obtained at 9.96%.

Effect of cooked and sun dried fish offal on intake and nutrient retention of growing Rhode Island Red (RIR) chicks in southern Ethiopia was evaluated. Unsexed day old RIR chicks were uniformly brooded, vaccinated against Gumboro and Newcastle diseases. At the age of 14 days, 10 chicks were assigned to each of the 5 replicates of the 6 dietary groups, fed for 11 weeks and daily group feed intakes were recorded. The control diet (T 1 ) consisted of Maize (34.1%), wheat short+bran (21.0%), limestone (1.20%), salt (0.5%), premix (0.1%), lysine (0.05%), methioinine (0.05%), roasted soybean (27.0%) and noug cake (16.0%); the rest of the diets contained all ingredients in the control plus fishmeal at rates of 3.32% (T 2 ), 6.64% (T 3 ), 9.96% (T 4 ), 13.28% (T 5 ), and 16.6% (T 6 ) of the diet and had 19.76, 18.89, 19.82, 18.44, 18.96 and 19.20% cp, respectively. At the beginning of the feeding trial, 13 chicks representing initial body weight of those in the trial were stunned by dislocation of the neck. At the end, one male and one female chick from each of the 3 replicates of each of the 6 treatment groups were systematically selected, tagged, fasted for 12 hours, weighed, and stunned by dislocation of the neck. All carcasses were kept intact in deep freezer at -20°C and then cut into small pieces in freezing condition, minced and dried in an oven at 65°C for 80 hours, ground, homogenized and chemically analyzed. Chicks fed T 1 had significantly (p 0.001) lowest (68.5g dm, 13.3g cp, 0.54g Ca, 0.35g P and 231kcal me head -1 ) but those on T 6 had the highest daily nutrient intakes (77 g dm, 14.8 g cp, 1.81 g Ca, 0.58 g P and 243 kcal ME head -1 ). T 1 (2.28) of all and T 4 (2.65) among fishmeal groups viz T 2 (3.01), T 3 (2.92), T 5 (2.86) and T 6 (2.85) had the lowest (p -1 d -1 ) than female (2.62 g head -1 d -1 ). Energy retention of T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 , T 5 , T 6 were 21.6, 28.7, 29.1, 27.0, 25.9 and 28.1 kcal head -1 d -1 , respectively, with significant differences (p 1 and fishmeal groups. Sex had no influence on energy retention. Based on the results of the present study fishmeal can be incorporated up to 16.6% of the diet of rir chicks, however, best results of protein retention was obtained at 3.32%, and of energy retention at 6.64%.

The effects of feeding cooked and sun-dried fish offal meal (fishmeal) on feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion efficiency of RIR chicks were assessed at Wolayta Soddo, southern Ethiopia. Unsexed day-old RIR chicks (300) were brooded uniformly for 14 days and then vaccinated against Gumboro and Newcastle diseases. A feeding trial with 6 dietary groups, 5 replicates each and 10 chicks per replicate was run for 11 weeks and daily feed intake and weekly individual body weights were recorded. The control diet (T1) consisted of Fishmeal (0%), Maize (34.1%), wheat short+bran (21.0%), limestone (1.20%), salt (0.5%), premix (0.1%), lysine (0.05%), methioinine (0.05%), roasted soybean (27.0%) and noug cake (16.0%); the rest of the diets contained ingredients in the control plus fishmeal included at rates of 3.32%(T2), 6.64%(T3), 9.96%(T4), 13.28%(T5), and 16.6%(T6) of the diet replacing 7.6, 15.3, 22.9, 30.5 and 38.2% of the protein of the control diet. T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 had 19.76, 18.89, 19.82, 18.44, 18.96 and 19.20 % CP, respectively. Chicks fed T1 had the lowest (p, East African Journal of Sciences, Vol. 2 No. 2 (2008): East African Journal of Sciences