Adugna Tolera

Nutritive evaluation of some browse species

Browse plants play an important role in providing fodder for ruminants in most parts of the World. However, the presence of tannins and other phenolic compounds in a large number of these feed resources limits their utilization as animal feed. This paper presents the nutritive value of some browse species based on their chemical composition (nitrogen, polyphenolics and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content), dry matter (DM) degradability in sacco and gas production in vitro including the effect of the phenolic binding compound, polyethyleneglycol-4000 (PEG 4000), on in vitro gas production. The browse species evaluated were Calluna vulgaris (heather), Sarothamnus scoparius (broom), Ulex europaeus (gorse) and Chamaecytisus palmensis (tagasaste). The crude protein (CP) content was highest (P < 0.05) in broom (189 g kg−1 DM) followed by tagasaste (175 g kg−1 DM) and gorse pre-flower (168 g kg−1 DM) and the lowest was in heather (98 g kg−1). Heather had the highest (P < 0.05) concentration of the phenolic compounds compared with all the other species. Gorse in-flower contained a higher concentration (P < 0.05) of total extractable phenols (TEPH), total extractable tannins (TETa) and NDF and a lower content of CP than gorse pre-flower which is a reflection of their stage of maturity. As a result, gorse pre-flower had a higher in sacco degradability and in vitro gas production than gorse in-flower. Heather had the lowest degradability values. The ranking order of the browse plants in gas production was gorse pre-flower > tagasaste > broom > gorse in-flower > heather which was similar to their in sacco degradability values. Increasing the amount of substrate incubated slightly depressed the amount of gas produced by the browse plants. The response to PEG treatment increased with increased concentration of phenolic compounds in the browse plants. Thus, in heather, gas production increased by 51% at 12 h of incubation as a result of PEG treatment while the response was zero in the species with a low content of phenolic compounds. The results show that the phenolic compounds depress in vitro gas production and that PEG treatment has a potential for improving gas production and fermentation of feedstuffs high in phenolics due to the binding of the phenolic compounds to the PEG.

Ethno-medicinal study of plants used for treatment of human and livestock ailments by traditional healers in South Omo, Southern Ethiopia

BackgroundPlants have traditionally been used for treatment of human and livestock ailments in Ethiopia by different ethnic and social groups. However, this valuable source of knowledge is not adequately documented, which impedes their widespread use, evaluation and validation. Here, we recorded indigenous knowledge and standard practices for human and livestock disease control, of three ethnic groups (Aari, Maale and Bena-Tsemay) in South Omo Zone of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State, Ethiopia.MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out using a semi-structured questionnaire to document knowledge of 50 traditional healers (40 male and 10 female) in medicinal plant use for treatment of human and livestock ailments. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze and summarize the ethno-botanical data.ResultsNinety-one plants, with claimed medicinal properties against a total of 34 human and livestock ailments, were reported and botanically identified as belonging to 57 genera and 33 plant families. Most of the plant species reported belonged to one of seven major families: Lamiaceae, Solanaceae, Menispermiaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Plumbaginaceae and Geraniaceae. Woody plants (shrubs 21% and trees 29%) were the major growth form used, whilst roots (40%) and leaves (35%) were the major plant parts used in the study areas. Healers mostly practice oral administration of plant preparations (65%). Multiple medicinal plants were cited against particular ailments, and mixing of two or more different medicinal plants (14.3%) against a single ailment was also commonly reported.ConclusionThis study showed that traditional medicine, mainly involving the use of medicinal plants, is playing a significant role in meeting the primary healthcare needs of the three ethnic groups. Acceptance of traditional medicine and limited access to modern healthcare facilities could be considered as the main factors for the continuation of the practice. Documented knowledge of the traditional healers can be used to support the country’s human and livestock health care system and improve lives and livelihoods. Information generated will be used in future studies to validate bioactivity of selected medicinal plants used by traditional healers, so to increase their acceptability in health care systems both nationally and internationally.

Supplementation of graded levels of Desmodium intortum hay to sheep feeding on maize stover harvested at three stages of maturity 1. Feed intake, digestibility and body weight change.

Feed intake, digestibility and body weight change of lambs fed basal diets of maize stover harvested at three stages of maturity and supplemented with graded levels (0, 150, 300 and 450 g per head per day) of desmodium (Desmodium intortum cv. Greenleaf) hay were studied. The maize stovers were harvested at 30, 22 and 12% grain moisture content which were designated as stages I, II and III, respectively. The crude protein (CP) content of the stovers showed a decreasing trend whereas the fibre contents showed an increase from stages I to III. The desmodium hay had higher CP, phenolic compounds, calcium, sulphur and manganese contents and lower fibre (neutral and acid detergent fibres, cellulose and hemicellulose) contents than the stovers. Maize stover, total dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) intake showed a decreasing trend (p>0.05) with increasing stage of maturity of the stover. The CP intake was significantly higher (p 0.05) with increasing stage of maturity. Crude protein digestibility and the intakes of digestible

The effect of stage of maturity on yield and quality of maize grain and stover

Abstract Stage of maturity at the time of harvest is considered as one of the factors influencing the nutritive value of crop residues. Thus this study was carried out to assess the effect of harvesting maize at different stages of grain maturity on yield and quality of maize grain and stover. The maize crop was harvested at grain moisture content of 28–30, 20–23 and 10–12%, which were designated as Stages I, II and III, respectively. Grain yield, standardised to 12.5% moisture content, showed an increasing trend, whereas cob, stover, total crop residue and total biomass dry matter (DM) yield showed a decreasing trend with increasing stage of maturity (p>0.05). The declining trend in stover yield with increased stage of maturity was due mainly to leaf loss. There was a significant decrease (p

The supplementary value of forage legume hays in sheep feeding: feed intake, nitrogen retention and body weight change

Supplementation with forage legumes could be a sustainable way of improving the feeding value of poor quality crop residues especially to the resource poor African smallholders. Thus, the potential of Desmodium intortum, Macrotyloma axillare and Stylosanthes guianensis in improving the utilization of a basal diet of maize stover by sheep was assessed in a feeding trial. Maize stover used in this experiment was high in lignocellulosic cell-wall constituents and very low in CP. S. guianensis hay contained higher CP and lower NDF, ADF, and lignin contents than D. intortum and M. axillare hays. According to animal responses, under the conditions of this experiment, S. guianensis was superior to the other two legumes in improving the feeding value to sheep of maize stover based diets. M. axillare was found to be inferior. In general, 250 g of S. guianensis and 350 g of D. intortum hays per day per sheep (18.2 kg Lwt ± 1.2) were found to be optimum levels of supplementation to maize stover. At these levels of supplementation modest levels of bodyweight gain were achieved. It is suggested that the two legumes are useful to bridge the gap in feed supply in areas where livestock depend on poor quality crop residues during the dry season.

Evaluation of n-alkanes and their carbon isotope enrichments (δ 13 C) as diet composition markers

Plant cuticular n-alkanes have been successfully used as markers to estimate diet composition and intake of grazing herbivores. However, additional markers may be required under grazing conditions in botanically diverse vegetation. This study was conducted to describe the n-alkane profiles and the carbon isotope enrichment of n-alkanes of common plant species from the Mid Rift Valley rangelands of Ethiopia, and evaluate their potential use as nutritional markers. A total of 23 plant species were collected and analysed for long-chain n-alkanes ranging from heptacosane to hexatriacontane (C(27) to C(36)), as well as their carbon isotopic ratio ((13)C/(12)C). The analysis was conducted by gas chromatography/combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry following saponification, extraction and purification. The isotopic composition of the n-alkanes is reported in the delta notation (δ(13)C) relative to the Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite standard. The dominant n-alkanes in the species were C(31) (mean ± s.d., 283 ± 246 mg/kg dry matter) and C(33) (149 ± 98 mg/kg dry matter). The carbon isotopic enrichment of the n-alkanes ranged from -19.37‰ to -37.40‰. Principal component analysis was used to examine interspecies differences based on n-alkane profiles and the carbon isotopic enrichments of individual n-alkanes. Large variability among the pasture species was observed. The first three principal components explained most of the interspecies variances. Comparison of the principal component scores using orthogonal procrustes rotation indicated that about 0.84 of the interspecies variances explained by the two types of data sets were independent of each other, suggesting that the use of a combination of the two markers can improve diet composition estimations. It was concluded that, while the n-alkane profile of the pasture species remains a useful marker for use in the study region, the δ(13)C values of n-alkanes can provide additional information in discriminating diet components of grazing animals.

Feeding value of enset (Ensete ventricosum), Desmodium intortum hay and untreated or urea and calcium oxide treated wheat straw for sheep

Feed intake, in vivo nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilization were evaluated in male sheep fed different fractions (leaf, pseudostem, corm, whole plant) of enset, untreated or 2% urea- and 3% calcium oxide- (CaO or lime) treated wheat straw and Desmodium intortum hay as sole diets. All feeds, except D. intortum hay and enset leaf had low crude protein (CP) content. Non-fiber carbohydrate contents were higher in enset fractions, especially in pseudostem and corm relative to other feeds. Enset leaf and pseudostem had high calcium, phosphorus and manganese contents. Corm, whole enset and D. intortum hay were rich sources of zinc. Daily dry matter and CP intakes were higher (p < 0.05) in sheep fed D. intortum hay (830 and 133 g, respectively) than those fed pseudostem (92 and 7.8 g, respectively). Organic matter digestibilities were highest for corm (0.780) and whole enset (0.776) and lowest for D. intortum hay (0.534) and untreated wheat straw (0.522). The CP digestibility ranged from 0.636 in D. intortum hay to 0.408 in corm. Nitrogen (N) balance was highest (p < 0.05) in D. intortum hay (10.4 g/day) and lowest in corm (-1.3 g/day). Enset leaf could be a useful protein supplement whereas the pseudostem and corm could be good sources of energy.

Prediction of feed intake, digestibility and growth rate of sheep fed basal diets of maize stover supplemented with Desmodium intortum hay from dry matter degradability of the diets

The in sacco dry matter (DM) degradability of diets based on maize stover harvested at three stages of maturity and supplemented with graded levels of desmodium (Desmodium intortum cv. Greenleaf) hay were estimated from degradability of the individual feeds and their corresponding DM intake. The estimated DM degradability of the diets was used for prediction of DM intake (DMI), digestible DM intake (DDMI), DM digestibility (DMD) and growth rate of sheep feeding on the diets. The desmodium hay had significantly higher (P<0.05) DM disappearance than the maize stovers after 4, 8, 16, 24 and 48 h of incubation, as well as higher washing loss (A), degradation rate (c value) and effective DM degradability (ED) than the maize stovers. The washing loss was lowest in maize stover harvested at stage III and, as a consequence, the washing loss of the diets showed a significant decrease (P<0.05) with increasing stage of maturity of the stovers. The DM disappearance after 48 h incubation, washing loss and degradation rate showed a significant increase whereas the insoluble, but potentially degradable, fraction (B) showed a significant decrease (P<0.05) with increasing level of supplementation. The DM disappearance after 24 and 48 h of incubation, washing loss, ED and degradation rate showed strong positive correlation whereas the insoluble, but potentially degradable, fraction showed a negative correlation with DMI, DMD, DDMI and growth rate. On the other hand, the DM disappearance after 96 h of incubation, potential degradability and the lag phase showed very low correlation with these parameters. In general, the washing loss, ED and the DM disappearance after 24 and 48 h of incubation were found to be simple and reliable predictors of DMI, DDMI, DMD and growth rate. However, the use of the A, B and c values simultaneously in a multiple regression gave a more precise prediction of feed intake, digestibility and growth rate.

Effects of variety, cropping year, location and fertilizer application on nutritive value of durum wheat straw

This study was carried out to assess the effects of variety, year, location and level of fertilizer application on chemical composition and in sacco dry matter (DM) degradability of durum wheat straw as well as to understand the relationship between straw quality and agronomic traits of the crop and to assess the possibilities of selecting wheat varieties that combine high grain yield with desirable straw quality. Two local (Arendeto and Tikur sinde) and two improved (Boohai and Gerardo) varieties of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum Desf.) were used in the experiment. The four varieties were grown at two locations (Akaki and Ejere) in the years 2001/2002 and 2002/2003 in 5 x 5 m plots in three replications. Diammonium phosphate and urea fertilizers were applied at four levels (0/0, 32/23, 41/23 and 64/46 kg/ha of nitrogen/phosphorus). Straw quality was assessed based on chemical composition and in sacco DM degradability. Correlation of straw quality with grain and straw yield and with other agronomic characteristics of the crop was determined. The potential utility index (a measure that integrates grain and digestible straw yield) was used for ranking of the varieties. The local varieties had higher crude protein (CP) and lower neutral detergent fibre contents and higher digestibility than the improved varieties. The cropping year and location had significant effect on CP content and degradability of the straw, which could be due to climatic variation. However, the fertilizer level did not have any significant effect on straw quality except that the CP content of the straw tended to increase with increasing level of fertilizer application. Based on the potential utility index the varieties ranked, in a decreasing order, as Tikur sinde > Arendeto > Gerardo > Boohai and the ranking was consistent across years and locations. Except the CP content, straw quality was not negatively correlated with grain and straw yield. This indicates that there is a possibility of selecting varieties of wheat that combine high grain and straw yield with desirable straw quality.

Pastoralists' perceptions of feed scarcity and livestock poisoning in southern rangelands, Ethiopia.

A survey was conducted between April and July 2007 to generate information on dry season feeding management and livestock poisoning in the southern rangelands of Ethiopia. A total of 119 pastoralists were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Moreover, additional information was obtained through informal discussions. The study revealed that pastoralists have rich knowledge of natural resource management and utilization and employ various strategies such as migration, collection of grasses and pods, and cutting branches to overcome feed scarcity during dry/drought periods. Migration of livestock and people to areas with better grazing is the widely used strategy. However, the implementation of this strategy is diminishing as a result of changes such as bush encroachment, expansion of settlements, and crop cultivation in dry-season grazing lands. The respondents also indicated the presence of poisonous plants in the rangeland, and about 20 such plants were identified by the respondents. Various species and classes of livestock are reported to be affected by toxic plants particularly in the dry and early rainy seasons when feed is in short supply. A more extensive survey is required to document all poisonous plants in the rangelands and to identify the major toxic principles in the different species. Future development interventions should consider the prevailing constraints and potentials of the rangelands with active participation of the pastoralists.