Aberra Melesse

Effects of elevation and season on nutrient composition of leaves and green pods of Moringa stenopetala and Moringa oleifera

Moringa stenopetala and Moringa oleifera are multipurpose trees widely grown in the tropics and sub-tropics. The aim of this study was to investigate the variability in nutritive values of leaves and green pods of M. stenopetala and M. oleifera as influenced by species, elevation and season. Leaves and green pods were collected from each three trees of M. stenopetala and M. oleifera grown at two different elevations in rainy and dry seasons. In leaves, crude protein (CP) content (g/kg DM) averaged 263 in M. stenopetala and 290 in M. oleifera. In green pods, the highest and lowest CP concentrations (g/kg DM) were 184 and 153 for M. stenopetala at low and mid elevations, respectively. Leaves contained higher fat concentration than green pods. Compared to leaves, green pods had a high level of structural carbohydrates. At low elevation, the concentrations of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) and trace minerals zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) were highest whereas that of sodium (Na) and trace mineral manganese (Mn) were lowest in M. stenopetala leaves compared to those of M. oleifera. Green pods of M. oleifera contained higher concentrations of P and trace minerals iron (Fe), Mn, Zn and Cu. Leaves contained greater concentrations of essential amino acids than green pods and levels generally were comparable to concentrations found in soybean. In leaves, except for lysine and arginine, essential amino acid concentrations were similar across Moringa species. Except for aspartic acid, phenylalanine and serine, amino acid concentrations in M. stenopetala leaves at mid elevation were higher than those at low elevation. However, the amino acid concentrations in M. oleifera leaves were similar between low and mid elevations. In conclusion, leaves and green pods could serve as valuable sources of protein supplement for ruminants in the tropics during the dry season. Moreover, due to their excellent amino acid profiles, leaves could be used as potential sources of feed for non-ruminants and humans.

Assessing the feeding values of leaves, seeds and seeds-removed pods of Moringa stenopetala using in vitro gas production technique

This study presents the feeding values of leaves, seeds and seeds-removed pods of Moringa stenopetala for ruminants as evaluated by in vitro gas production technique. Feed samples were analyzed for proximate nutrients using official methods. Each feed samples (200 mg) were incubated in buffered rumen fluid for 96 h and fermentation characteristics were estimated using established in vitro gas production models. Metabolizable energy (ME), organic matter digestibility (OMD) and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) were calculated from corrected 24 h gas production data. The gross energy content (MJ/kg DM) was 24.9, 18.6 and 16.8 for seeds, leaves and seeds-removed pods, respectively. The crude protein ranged from 11.2% in seeds-removed pods to 39.5% in seeds, the average being 16.8%. The sugar content was 10.7 and 7.3% for leaves and seeds respectively. The OMD value was highest in leaves (74.3%) followed by seeds (52.3%) and seeds-removed pods (38.1%). The highest SCFA (103 mmol) was obtained from leaves and the lowest from seeds-removed pods (31 mmol). The ME (MJ/kg DM) ranged from 4.15 in seeds-removed pods to 9.94 in leaves. The average gas production from insoluble but with time fermentable fraction was 53.0, 32.4, and 26.1 ml/200 mg DM for leaves, seeds and seeds-removed pods, respectively. In vitro gas volumes at various incubation times were positively correlated with ash, sugar, nitrogen free extract and non-fiber carbohydrate; while they were negatively correlated with cellulose, hemicelluloses, neutral and acid detergent fibers. In conclusion, Moringa stenopetala leaves can be used as potential sources of protein and energy supplements to tropical livestock feeding system by replacing expensive conventional feed resources. Keywords: Chemical compositions, feeding values, in vitro gas production, leaves, M. stenopetala , seeds, seeds-removed pods

Morphological characterization of indigenous sheep in Southern Regional State, Ethiopia

Information on morphological characteristics is a prerequisite to sustainable breed improvement, utilization and conservation. The present study was initiated to describe the physical and morphological characteristics of indigenous sheep reared in Sidama-Gedeo, Kembata Tembaro-Hadiya, Gurage-Silte, Gamogofa and Wolaita zones of Southern Regional State of Ethiopia. Data on the assessment of qualitative characters and linear body measurements were obtained from a total of 3966 sheep that were drawn from 928 households. The results indicated that the most common tail form in the Sidama-Gedeo, Kembata Tembaro-Hadiya, Gurage-Silte and Wolaita sheep was of long fat type ending with a straight tip, whereas that of Gamogofa sheep was long thin tail ending with a curve tip. Hair coat colour pattern was mainly plain followed by patchy. The common hair of sheep in all studied zones was short and smooth. Sheep from Sidama-Gedeo, Kembata Tembaro-Hadiya and Gurage-Silte were devoid of wattle and ruff. Rams of Gurage-Silte and Wolaita had higher ( P P P P P

Phenotypic characterization of indigenous chicken populations in Southeastern Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia

The objective of this study was to characterize the native chickens reared in three agro-ecological zones of Southeastern Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia. Data on visual appraisal and linear body measurements were obtained from a total of 600 matured local chickens of both sexes drawn from 240 households. The results indicated that the average flock size, age at first egg of hens and eggs produced per clutch were 11.9 heads, 6.2 months and 15.4 eggs, respectively. The majority of the male chicken possessed snake head shape (60.7 percent) and most of them had rose combs (57.9 percent), red feather plumage (46.1 percent), yellow shanks (86.3 percent), red earlobes (84.2 percent) and yellow skin (56.8 percent). Majority of the hens possessed single combs (43.5 percent), red earlobes (77.3 percent), yellow shanks (44.4 percent), yellowish brown feather (27.4 percent) followed by red (24.2 percent) and black (21.2 percent). The cocks were generally heavier (1.39 kg) than the hens (1.22 kg). The average values for breast angle (degrees), body length, body width, shank length, shank circumference, keel bone length, wing span, comb length and beak length of the cocks were 45.9, 24.1, 24.9, 7.43, 3.86, 9.63, 7.99, 4.86 and 1.91 cm, respectively. The corresponding values for the hens were 40.2, 22.7, 23.8, 7.43, 3.46, 8.95, 7.40, 2.47 and 1.71. The values for wing span, comb length, beak length, body weight, breast angle and keel bone length differed (P < 0.05) across the agro-ecologies. The best predictor for assessing the body weight of hens was breast angle and body length, whereas in the cocks it was best estimated using breast angle and shank circumference values. The present study suggests that indigenous chickens in the study area possess useful economic traits that could be improved through systematic breeding for enhanced productivity under scavenging production systems.

The effect of partial substitution of roasted soybean seed with graded levels of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) leaf meal on growth performances and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens

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The effect of partial substitution of plant protein by fishmeal prepared out of cooked and sun dried fish offal on feed intake and carcass traits of Rhode Island Red chicks

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%.