Evaluation of breeding objectives, breeding practices and reproductive performance of indigenous dairy cows in selected districts of Kaffa Zone, South West Ethiopia

Long-Term Body Weight Trends in Gobra Zebu Cattle Reared at the 'Centre de Recherches Zootechniques' of Dahra (Senegal): A Historical Perspective (1952-2018)

The socio-economic impact of rearing Gobra zebu cattle in rural areas has yet to be demonstrated in Senegal. This impact was evident in the 1950s when a genetic breeding programme for this breed was initiated by the 'Centre de Recherches Zootechniques' of Dahra. The management of animals in this programme has evolved considerably, particularly due to the constraints encountered and the progressive acquisition of knowledge about the animals. This study aims to describe the evolution over time of the weight performance of Gobra zebu cattle reared at the Dahra station. The study utilizes all body weight monitoring data of the animals maintained at the centre from 1952 to 2018. The data were analysed based on age, sex, year of birth and the selection scheme in force at the time of the animal's birth. The average body weights observed in this study are as follows: 23.3 kg at birth, 69.3 kg at 3 months, 106.08 kg at 6 months, 145.9 kg at 1 year, 225.1 kg at 2 years, 294.9 kg at 3 years, 327.06 kg at 4 years and about 350 kg at ages over 4 years. Significant differences in average body weights were noted depending on sex and the selection scheme in place. These results are supported by various research studies conducted at the Dahra station.

Smallholder farmers' participation in small-scale irrigation system: Insight from Lume district, Ethiopia

Irrigation systems play a crucial role in ensuring food security and mitigating the impacts of drought and water scarcity. Numerous farmers do not possess the technical expertise required for efficient irrigation management. Therefore, this study examined the determinants that affect participation in small-scale irrigation in the Lume District of Ethiopia. Random sampling techniques were used to select four kebeles from a total of thirteen kebeles that have access to small-scale irrigation in the district. Data was gathered from a sample of 176 randomly selected farm households. The households in these kebeles were divided into two groups: the irrigation users and non-users. The overall sample consisted of 121 irrigation users and 55 non-users, accounting for 68.75 % and 31.25 % of the total sample, respectively. A binary logistic regression model was utilized to pinpoint the factors influencing participation in these irrigation systems. The results revealed that key factors such as the age of the household head, the family size of the household head, land ownership, proximity to irrigation sources, and access to credit significantly influence engagement in small-scale irrigation. The study suggests that policymakers and stakeholders should enhance credit accessibility and improve the distance to irrigation sites to encourage more significant participation in small-scale irrigation systems.

Spatiotemporal analysis and forecasting of lumpy skin disease outbreaks in Ethiopia based on retrospective outbreak reports

Introduction

Lumpy skin disease is a viral disease that affects cattle belonging to genus Capripoxvirus (Poxviridae) and lead to significant economic losses.

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate the distribution of lumpy skin disease (LSD) outbreaks and predict future patterns based on retrospective outbreak reports in Ethiopia.

Methods

Data were collected through direct communication with regional laboratories and a hierarchical reporting system from the Peasant Associations to Ministry of Agriculture. Time-series data for the LSD outbreaks were analyzed using classical additive time-series decomposition and STL decomposition. Four models (ARIMA, SARIMA, ETS, STLF) were also used to forecast the number of LSD outbreaks that occurred each month for the years (2021-2025) after the models' accuracy test was performed. Additionally, the space-time permutation model (STP) were also used to study retrospective space-time cluster analysis of LSD outbreaks in Ethiopia.

Results

This study examined the geographical and temporal distribution of LSD outbreaks in Ethiopia from 2008 to 2020, reporting a total of 3,256 LSD outbreaks, 14,754 LSD-positive cases, 7,758 deaths, and 289 slaughters. It also covered approximately 68% of Ethiopia's districts, with Oromia reporting the highest LSD outbreaks. In the LSD's temporal distribution, the highest peak was reported following the rainy season in September to December and its lowest peak in the dry months of April and May. Out of the four models tested for forecasting, the SARIMA (3, 0, 0) (2, 1, 0) [12] model performed well for the validation data, while the STLF+Random Walk had a robust prediction for the training data. Thus, the SARIMA and STLF+Random Walk models produced a more accurate forecast of LSD outbreaks between 2020 and 2025. From retrospective Space-Time Cluster Analysis of LSD, eight possible clusters were also identified, with five of them located in central part of Ethiopia.

Conclusion

The study's time series and ST-cluster analysis of LSD outbreak data provide valuable insights into the spatial and temporal dynamics of the disease in Ethiopia. These insights can aid in the development of effective strategies to control and prevent the spread of the disease and holds great potential for improving efforts to combat LSD in the country.