Modeling poultry and maize sector interactions in Southern Africa under a changing climate

•This study explores how regional-level interactions of livestock and crop sectors influence the capacity of a southern Africa sub-region to meet its future demand for livestock-derived foods. •It uses a spatial equilibrium modeling framework to simulate regional trade in poultry and maize products in Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zambia. •Model outputs on the demand, production, and trade of poultry products and maize are compared for a baseline and an alternative future scenario representing drought conditions.•The study’s abstraction of a regional approach to livestock and feed sector interactions in the selected region highlights the role of markets in addressing cross-boundary challenges related to food demand expansion and resource management.•Results imply that the study countries could benefit from addressing their growing demands for livestock-derived foods using a harmonized approach. Further, regional livestock markets may offer cushioning effects to the impacts of climate change in at least one of the countries.•However, improved quality data and an enhanced specification of the analytical model to better account for the nuances of livestock and feed trade in the region and for varied scenarios of future climate change will be needed, to extend the current study to practical policy application.

Production and Trade Impacts of CAP Post 2022 Reform on Main Croatian Crop and Livestock Markets—Partial Equilibrium Modelling Approach

The Latest Common Agricultural Policy reform intends to expand and strengthen environmental and social support and to liberalise the delivery model carried out through strategic planning. This paper aims to assess the potential impacts of the new CAP reform on the main agricultural markets in Croatia. The impact assessment is analysed using the AGMEMOD model where, in addition to the baseline scenario, three scenarios of potential changes are developed and compared to the baseline. Changes in market patterns (production, yield and net trade) at the end of the simulated period are compared with the baseline scenario results by 2030. The reduction in support levels to production, abolishment of voluntary coupled supports and introduction of additional environmental constraints have a significant impact on the main Croatian agricultural markets. Crop markets prov to be less dependent on subsidies, so that market pattern changes will not mean the loss of Croatia’s net export status for soft wheat, maize and soy beans, while barley no longer holds this status. Livestock sectors, especially beef and dairy, in addition to demonstrating a distinct lack of competitiveness even before the Croatian accession to the EU, additionally suffer significant production volume losses along with an increase in imports. Although significant, changes to the Croatian agricultural market are not dramatic enough to cause a complete production breakdown by 2030.

Molecular prevalence and risk factors associated with tick-borne pathogens in cattle in western Kenya

Background Tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) are of global importance, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where they represent a major constraint to livestock production. Their association with human disease is also increasingly recognized, signalling their zoonotic importance. It is therefore crucial to investigate TBPs prevalence in livestock populations and the factors associated with their presence. We set out to identify TBPs present in cattle and to determine associated risk factors in western Kenya, where smallholder livestock production is important for subsistence and market-driven income. Results Tick-borne pathogen infections in blood samples collected from cattle at livestock markets and slaughterhouses between May 2017 and January 2019 were identified by high-resolution melting analysis and sequencing of PCR products of genus-specific primers. Of the 422 cattle sampled, 30.1% (127/422) were infected with at least one TBP, while 8.8% (37/422) had dual infections. Anaplasma spp. (19.7%) were the most prevalent, followed by Theileria (12.3%), Ehrlichia (6.6%), and Babesia (0.2%) spp. Sequence analysis of the TBPs revealed them to be Anaplasma platys-like organisms (13.5%), Theileria velifera (7.4%), Anaplasma marginale (4.9%), Theileria mutans (3.1%), Theileria parva (1.6%), and Babesia bigemina (0.2%). Ehrlichia ruminantium, Rickettsia spp., and arboviruses were not detected. Exotic breeds of cattle were more likely to be infected with A. marginale compared to local breeds (OR: 7.99, 95% CI: 3.04–22.02, p < 0.001). Presence of ticks was a significant predictor for Anaplasma spp. (OR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.32–3.69, p = 0.003) and Ehrlichia spp. (OR: 2.79, 95% CI: 1.22–7.23, p = 0.022) infection. Cattle sampled at slaughterhouses were more likely to be positive for Anaplasma spp. (OR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.01–2.70, p = 0.048) and A. marginale (OR: 3.84, 95% CI: 1.43–12.21, p = 0.012), compared to those sampled at livestock markets. Conclusion This study reports TBP prevalence and associated risk factors in western Kenya, factors which are key to informing surveillance and control measures.

PSXV-22 Effect of inclusion of dried citrus pulp in the receiving supplement for newly received stocker cattle

Citrus pulp is a source of flavonoids which have been found to have antioxidant properties. Thus, the objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of feeding dried citrus pulp on performance of newly received calves. Crossbred beef heifers (n = 254, initial body weight = 248 ± 5.9 kg) were obtained on 3 dates (block, 8 pens/block). Treatments were: 1) a corn and distillers’ grains based receiving supplement (control) or 2) a receiving supplement that contained 20% dried citrus pulp (replacing a portion of the corn). Upon arrival from regional livestock markets, cattle had access to hay and water and rested overnight then were processed the next day in which they received an identification tag, were vaccinated with a clostridial and a 5-way modified live bovine respiratory viral, dewormed, weighed, branded, and ear notched for detection of persistent infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus. Each truckload was assigned randomly to pens resulting in 8 pens with 9 to 12 heifers/pen. Pens were assigned randomly to 1 of the 2 treatments. Cattle were offered bermudagrass hay and water for ad libitum intake and were offered up to 1.8 kg/day of their appropriate receiving supplement. Overall average daily gain for the 42-day receiving period was increased (P &lt; 0.01) for calves fed the supplement that included dried citrus pulp (1.01 kg/day) compared to the calves fed the control supplement (0.90 kg/day). However, the percentage of calves treated for clinical bovine respiratory disease was increased (P &lt; 0.05) for calves fed the citrus pulp containing supplement (14% morbidity) compared to control calves (7% morbidity). The supplementation of dried citrus pulp to calves improved growth performance, but did not reduce the incidence of clinical bovine respiratory disease during the receiving period; however, clinical morbidity was low for both treatments.

A Model for Prediction of the Buffalo and Cattle male Calves' live Weight

The buffalo and cattle population in Egypt reached about 4.898,893 and 3,476,396 heads, respectively, in 2019. The buffalo and cattle meat production represented around 43% and 45% of the total meat production in Egypt, respectively, and the average carcass weight of buffalo and cattle reached 318 kg and 336Kg in 2019. About 50% of livestock numbers are slaughtered off-slaughter houses due to a shortage in the capacity of slaughterhouses and other financial and administrative reasons. The conducted field survey of this study showed that the majority of Egyptian livestock markets lack live weight scales, and if available, they are expensive and frightening for the animals. Therefore, numerous feedlot enterprises hire an agent who can visually forecast the expected live weight of the exhibited feeder calves for sale in the market at a high charge. Most of the models to predict the weight of live cattle-bulls knowing the chest circumference were lacking such models for buffalo-bulls and were linear models that fit only limited periods of cattle-fattening. The sample survey included 500 buffalo males and 340 cattle males of different live weights from 14 villages in 4 provinces in the Nile Delta. The data were used to estimate the best-fitted model for Egyptian livestock. This study showed that the best-fitted model was curved linear. It was a quadratic form. For empirical application, the study designed a table to predict the live weight of buffalo and cattle males at a range of 100-200 cm chest circumference. The results showed that a 1% increase in the chest circumference was associated with a 2.4% and 2.8% increase in the buffalo and cattle male's circumference, which implicitly reflects higher live weight gain of cattle than buffalo males and better meat quality. Therefore, the farm price of cattle feeder males surpassed the buffalo by $1000.

EFFECTS OF BANDITRY ON RUMINANT ANIMAL PRODUCTION IN KATSINA STATE

Ruminant animal production has recently come under a big threat due to the challenges of insecurity. This study was conducted to assess the effect of banditry on ruminant animal production in Katsina state. Using a two-stage sampling procedure, 60 ruminant animal farmers (keeping cattle, sheep and goats) in the state were selected for the study. In the first stage, three livestock markets from each of the state agricultural zones namely: Mai’dua, Charanchi and Sheme markets were purposively selected based on the volume of ruminant animal sold there. The use of livestock markets was because of the difficulty of accessing the famers in their homes due to the prevalent security challenges in the study area. In the second stage, 60 questionnaires were randomly distributed to ruminant animal producers identified in the markets. However, only 44 were used due to incomplete information. The information gathered was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study revealed that 66% of the respondent were within the age of 41-60 years, married (93%) and educated (57%). Similarly, majority of the respondents (64%) have large families. According to the study, the most prominent system of production used was Semi-intensive (29%) and forage was the major source of feed (70%). The study concluded that banditry has significantly reduced the ruminant production in the study area with untold negative effect on their standard of living and that government should improve security in the study area

A survey of mosquito-borne and insect-specific viruses in hospitals and livestock markets in western Kenya

Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens complex mosquitoes are prolific vectors of arboviruses that are a global threat to human and animal health. Increased globalization and ease of travel have facilitated the worldwide dissemination of these mosquitoes and the viruses they transmit. To assess disease risk, we determined the frequency of arboviruses in western Kenyan counties bordering an area of high arboviral activity. In addition to pathogenic viruses, insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs), some of which are thought to impair the transmission of specific pathogenic arboviruses, were also evaluated. We trapped mosquitoes in the short and long rainy seasons in 2018 and 2019 at livestock markets and hospitals. Mosquitoes were screened for dengue, chikungunya and other human pathogenic arboviruses, ISFs, and their blood-meal sources as determined by high-resolution melting analysis of (RT-)PCR products. Of 6,848 mosquitoes collected, 89% were trapped during the long rainy season, with A. aegypti (59%) and Cx. pipiens sensu lato (40%) being the most abundant. Most blood-fed mosquitoes were Cx. pipiens s.l. with blood-meals from humans, chicken, and sparrow (Passer sp.). We did not detect dengue or chikungunya viruses. However, one Culex poicilipes female was positive for Sindbis virus, 30 pools of Ae. aegypti had cell fusing agent virus (CFAV; infection rate (IR) = 1.27%, 95% CI = 0.87%-1.78%); 11 pools of Ae. aegypti had Aedes flavivirus (AeFV; IR = 0.43%, 95% CI = 0.23%-0.74%); and seven pools of Cx. pipiens s.l. (IR = 0.23%, 95% CI = 0.1%-0.45%) and one pool of Culex annulioris had Culex flavivirus. Sindbis virus, which causes febrile illness in humans, can complicate the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with fever. The presence of Sindbis virus in a single mosquito from a population of mosquitoes with ISFs calls for further investigation into the role ISFs may play in blocking transmission of other arboviruses in this region.

Sourcing and Management Practices by the Live-Goat Suppliers and Retailers in Lagos State, Nigeria

The sourcing and management practices of the live-goat suppliers and retailers in Lagos State, Nigeria were evaluated. Sources of the live-goat and the husbandry practices on them by suppliers and retailers were determined, using three-stage sampling procedures. Three livestock markets each from Lagos East, West and Central Senatorial Districts were purposively selected. Nine suppliers and 18 retailers were randomly selected in each market resulting to 81 and 162 respondents, respectively. Data on sourcing, handling, and holding period of live-goat were collected using two well-structured questionnaires for the suppliers and retailers of goats. Results showed that most suppliers (89.3%) purchased goats from open markets outside the state. The suppliers (52.0%) and retailers (80.0%) tethered goats. Most suppliers (77.3%) and retailers (90.0%) held goats for a maximum of three weeks, fed goats on dry grass sold in the open markets and some from open paddock. Routine administration of analgesic, dewormer, salt licks and water mainly sourced from boreholes and rivers were practices by both the suppliers and retailers. The age and level of education of the suppliers and retailers significantly influenced (p &lt; 0.05) the management systems, handling, pest control, deworming, watering and additives used by the suppliers and retailers of goats. Most retailers (90.0%) belonged to markets regulated by different sectorial market associations while the local and state government officials in the markets performed no regulatory roles. Therefore, live-goat in Lagos State were sourced from other parts of Nigeria, handled, and managed by the suppliers and then retailers prior to their disposal in a manner directly influenced by the age and levels of education of the practitioners.