Swidiq Mugerwa

Mapping the Potential for Hay Making in Rangelands: A Methodological Proposition

On the Ground We present information useful to various stakeholders, including land managers, agency personnel, practitioners, and researchers, as it presents methodology for ○ Determining the best period for hay harvest corresponding to peak productivity of the vegetation in rangelands; ○ Estimating the amount of hay available (biomass) at peak productivity, using commonly available satellite imagery; and ○ Highlighting the best areas for hay production based on grassland availability. All of this is done by employing the readily available tools of remote sensing and geographical information system.

Optimizing bio-physical conditions and pre-treatment options for breaking lignin barrier of maize stover feed using white rot fungi

The greatest limitation to utilization of maize stover by ruminants as a feed is the high concentration of lignin, which limits fibre digestibility. However, ruminants can effectively utilize maize stover if its nutritive value is improved using white rot fungal species. This study was designed to determine optimal bio-physical conditions for mycelial growth and select the most ideal fungal species and pre-treatment options for improving nutritive value of maize stover. Four popular edible Pleurotus fungal species (viz. Pleurotus florida, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus sajor caju and Pleurotus pulmonarius) were subjected to varying temperatures, pH levels, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration and illumination to establish the extent of mycelial growth rate. Inclusion of H2O2 was used to determine optimal levels for preservation and prevention of contamination from other indigenous microbiota. Effects of pre-treatment options on chemical composition and nutritive value of maize stover were also examined. Mycelial growth rate of Pleurotus species on potato dextrose agar (PDA) varied (P < 0.05) with temperature, pH level and H2O2 concentration following a quadratic trend. Optimal temperature, pH and H2O2 concentration for mycelial growth on PDA were 25 °C, 5 and 0.01 mL/L, respectively. Under the different bio-physical conditions, P. sajor caju had the highest mycelia density and growth rate. Chemical composition of solid-state fermented maize stover differed (P < 0.05) among the Pleurotus species. Maize stover fermented with P. sajor caju had the highest crude protein (CP) of 86.6 g/kg DM, in-vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of 731 g/kg DM, in-vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) of 670.4 g/kg DM and metabolizable energy (ME) of 10.0 MJ/kg DM but with the lowest lignin (sa) of 50 g/kg DM. At 25 °C, P. sajor caju had the highest mycelial growth rate on PDA and highest lignin (sa) breakdown in the maize stover substrate. It was, therefore, selected as the most ideal fungal species for improving nutritive value of maize stover. Pre-treatment of maize stover with Lactobacillus plantarum and molasses under anaerobic condition for 7 days before inoculation with P. sajor caju resulted into a substrate with the highest (P < 0.05) CP (96.6 g/kg DM), IVDMD (752.3 g/kg DM), IVOMD (687.2 g/kg DM) and ME (10.2 MJ/kg DM). However, neutral detergent fiber exclusive of residual ash (NDFom) and lignin (sa) fractions decreased (P < 0.05) as a result of subjecting maize stover to pre-treatment with L. plantarum and molasses prior to fermentation with P. sajor caju. Therefore, pre-treatment of maize stover with L. plantarum and molasses for 7 days prior to fermentation with P. sajor caju for 14 days in darkness at 25 °C offered the greatest potential for breaking the lignin barrier.

Simulation of Methane Emissions from Stall Fed DairyAnimals under Different Dietary Strategies in Uganda

T purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the lactation stage on body condition at 2nd mating, delivery and 10th day of lactation. Body condition was measured as body weight (BW) and the Perirenal Fat Thickness (PFT) at 2nd mating, delivery and 10th day of lactation. The Non-Esterified Fatty Acid (NEFA) was also measured before and after stimulation with isoprotenol (NEFAb and NEFAr). All analyses were performed using Bayesian methodology. The model included the effects of lactation-physiological status (lactating and non-lactating females at 2nd mating, delivery and 10th day of lactation), line status (High and Low lines selected for residual variance of litter size), season and an effect of female. The BW and PFT were not affected by lactation stage at 2nd mating. However, lactating females showed lower BW and PFT than non-lactating females at delivery and 10th day of lactation. The NEFAb increased by 19% and 27% in lactating and non-lactation females between mating and delivery and it decreased by -22% and -17% until 10th day of lactation. From mating to delivery, NEFAr increased slightly by 5% in lactating females, while non-lactating females increased by 17%. From delivery to 10th day of lactation, NEFAr decreased by -15% and -28% in lactating and non-lactating females. In conclusion, lactating status affected body weight and body fat mobilization in female rabbit at delivery and 10th day of lactation.Due to increasing environmental pressures related to global food demand, recent scandals concerning authenticity and origin of food items, and not lately strategic brand positioning and reputation concerns from relevant retailers and processors of the food industry, the sourcing of sustainably produced feed items is acquiring a key role in the strategy of global food players. Although the flourishing of several and variegate sustainability standards, procedures granting correspondence between specific features of a product and the reality of its sustainability claims remain of uncertain validity. In order to preserve the higher added-value of sustainably produced feed, it is presented a series of organizational and technical innovations granting better correspondence, and traceability, of specific sustainability features of feed raw materials (soymeal, palm oil, PFAD etc.) such as avoided deforestation and land use change, preservation of bio-diverse areas and reduction of green house gas emissions. An on-line platform enables actors along the feed supply chain to monitor and manage incoming raw materials/outgoing goods, tracing back the origin of a delivery with specific sustainability features (e.g. amount of GHG emissions per ton) until the farm level. Once located the origin of the raw material a second on-line system allows proofing through processed spectroscopic data and an ad-hoc indicator the validity of the claim. The information is provided under the form of a map displaying several colours according to the type of sustainability features under examination. Both on-line platforms have a global geographical scope and are able to provide feed producers, through a third party sustainability certificate, with evidences for their contractors when it comes to validity of their sustainability claims. Reliable information on sustainability improvements reflects on trust among actors of the meat production chain, triggering the expansion in new markets and the reinforcing of reputational capital for feed producers.The study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of feeding whole sugarcane based rations on the performance of lactating crossbred cows. Twenty lactating cows (370 kg BW) were divided in four similar groups viz. WS0, WS50, WS75 and WS100. Control group (WS0) was fed on concentrate and green maize as roughage. Animals in groups WS50, WS75 and WS100 groups were fed with concentrate and green chopped whole sugarcane at 50, 75 and 100 percent of total roughage DM requirement, respectively, and remaining roughage DM was provided through jowar kadbi. Experimental feeding was carried out for 180 days. A digestion trial was conducted at the end of experimental feeding. Digestibility of DM was higher in WS100 animals fed solely on whole sugarcane as roughage portion of the diet. Digestibility of CP was significantly higher in animals in WS100 fed 100% whole sugarcane than other groups, while the animals under WS50 and WS75 showed significantly higher CP digestibility than the control group (WS0). The DCP and TDN contents were 7.98, 7.57, 7.87, 8.10 and 65.84, 62.67, 65.67, 68.16 percent in the WS0, WS50, WS75 and WS100 diets, respectively. There were no adverse effects on nutrient intake and utilization even when 100% whole sugarcane was used in the ration. There was no adverse effect on reproductive performance of crossbred cows. It is, therefore, concluded that whole sugarcane can be fed solely to lactating cows as source of roughage without adverse effect on production, reproductive performance and nutrient utilization.The LIFE-SIM models were used to estimate methane emissions fro m cows maintained under different feeding strategies. Feeding strategies with adequate protein requirements led to production of more milk and also increased methane emissions. The amount of methane produced per kilogram of milk was lowest in feeding strategy that involved supplementing animals with fresh maize stover and sweet potato vines after feeding Napier grass. The study revealed that there is a great possibility for develop ment of feed management strategies to mitigate methane emissions from cattle through enhancing animal production and reducing the amount of methane produced per unit of milk.E primiparous lactating dairy cows were used in a feeding study to assess effects of different levels of Non-Fiber Carbohydrate (NFC) and Particle Size (PS) on production, ruminal, and plasma measures of Holstein dairy cattle in cross over design with 14 days preliminary period and four 21 days treatment periods. Samples and data were collected in the last 7 days of each period. Feed sources that differed in NFC profile were ground corn (higher NFC), ground barley (lower NFC). Dietary particle size was altered by two size of alfalfa hay coarse and chopped. Reduction of particle size increased DMI, OM, Ash, daily NDF intake (kg), but decreased the proportion of physically effective factor and physically effective NDF in the ingested rations. Digestibility of ether extract and NDF affected with NFC reduction and coarse particle size respectively. Blood urea and BUN affected with PS and cows fed the low NFC diet tended to LDL. Increasing was fed coarse alfalfa hay increase rumen pH. Chewing activity increase with coarse Alfalfa hay and tended to decrease with high NFC. Cows consuming high NFC had the highest milk yield, FCM, milk fat, protein, lactose and solid non-fat yield per kilogram. Milk protein percentage, tended to significant, but milk fat percentage, solid non-fat yield per kilogram did not differ across treatments.W growing population needs more protein sources. Broilers are important source of protein, so design and synthesize novel efficient supplements for improving their performance alongside decreasing mortality rate of flocks is necessary. In the present study for the first time we have evaluated the effects of broiler‘s diet supplementation with Bonzachick which is based on selfassemble method. One-day-old Ross 138 broiler chickens in control and test groups were feed by standard diet. In test group during rearing cycle, diet was supplemented by 120 ppm Bonzachick. The results showed that compared to control group, Bonzachick group mortality rate decreased up to 60%. Using Bonzachick in broiler‘s diet showed 10% increase in live and carcass weight. The spleen weight significantly was higher in Bonzachick treated group. The results showed that Bonzachick as an efficient supplement improves metabolism toward performance increase and mortality decrease.T branched-chain amino acid L-valine is typically the fifth-limiting amino acid in practical feed formulation in European pig diets. Current recommendations for the optimal valine:lysine ratio in piglet feed vary between different organizations indicating the need of further research. A trial was performed to evaluate the effects of graded levels of L-valine on the performance of piglets. 200 weaned piglets weighing 8.7±1.1 kg were randomly allocated to 5 dietary treatments. The treatments consisted of two basal diets (pre-starter and starter) providing valine:lysine ratios of 0.59 and 0.57 on a standardized ileal digestible basis and increasing supplemental valine providing valine:lysine ratios of 0.63, 0.67, 0.71 and 0.75 during the pre-starter phase and 0.62, 0.66, 0.70 and 0.75 during the starter phase. Throughout the experiment, the supplementation of L-valine to the basal diets resulted in a significant increase in weight gain and feed intake (p<0.05). The benefits of additional L-valine were observed to occur in a dose-response relationship totaling a 17% higher weight gain in the groups provided a valine:lysine ratio of 0.75 compared to the basal diet. It can be concluded that the supplementation of valine deficient piglet diets with L-valine improves weight gain and feed intake and that a valine:lysine ratio of 0.70 can be suggested as the requirement of piglets in the body weight range of 8-30 kg.W growing population needs more protein sources. Broilers are important source of protein, so design and synthesize novel efficient supplements for improving their performance alongside decreasing mortality rate of flocks is necessary. In the present study for the first time we have evaluated the effects of broiler‘s diet supplementation with Bonzachick which is based on selfassemble method. One-day-old Ross 138 broiler chickens in control and test groups were feed by standard diet. In test group during rearing cycle, diet was supplemented by 120 ppm Bonzachick. The results showed that compared to control group, Bonzachick group mortality rate decreased up to 60%. Using Bonzachick in broiler‘s diet showed 10% increase in live and carcass weight. The spleen weight significantly was higher in Bonzachick treated group. The results showed that Bonzachick as an efficient supplement improves metabolism toward performance increase and mortality decrease.P feeding is the concept of providing feeds in amount and composition that match the requirements of animals according to their needs for maintenance and production. It evolved and is now well established in monogastric species and is becoming popular also in the cattle industry. Low feed costs/high feed efficiency and positive environmental impacts are the main benefits of the system. The concept should be applied to small ruminant production systems, as well. Intensive systems of dairy sheep and goats depend heavily on supplementary and expensive feeds to attain high productivity; however, animals are usually fed rations in excess of their requirements. The latter results in low feed efficiency and health/welfare related problems. Therefore, appropriate grouping strategies and lead factors for ration formulation, according to age and production stage, are a prerequisite to success, especially when accelerated breeding schedules are adopted. Less intensive or even extensive systems should not skip our attention, either. Such systems rely mainly on grazing natural pastures and their output depends on grass/shrub production and composition that is affected by climatic conditions. The application of precision feeding in these systems would greatly increase their efficiency and productivity and decrease health and welfare issues. Research focused on genotype x environment interactions is needed to quantify both the true nutrient requirements at different production stages and the effect of various management and nutritional strategies. Feeding an ever increasing human population with limited natural resources is a challenging task; precision feeding of farm animals and sustainability are inextricably connected.