Farm typology of smallholders integrated farming systems in Southern Coastal Plains of Kerala, India

Adoption of an integrated farming system (IFS) is essential to achieve food and nutritional security in small and marginal holdings. Assessment of IFS to know the resource availability and socio-economic condition of the farm household, farm typology plays a critical role. In this regard, a sample survey of 200 marginal households practicing mixed crop-livestock agriculture was conducted during 2018–2019 at Southern Coastal Plains, which occupies 19,344 ha in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, India. Farming system typology using multivariate statistical techniques of principal component analysis and cluster analysis characterized the diverse farm households coexisting within distinct homogenous farm types. Farming system typology identified four distinct farm types viz. resource constrained type-1 households with small land owned, high abundance of poultry, very low on-farm income, constituted 46.5%; resource endowed type-2 households oriented around fruit and vegetable, plantation crop, with a moderate abundance of large ruminant and poultry, high on-farm income, constituted 12.5%; resource endowed type-3 household oriented around food grain, extensive use of farm machinery, with a moderate abundance of large ruminant, low on-farm income, constituted 21.5%; and resource endowed type-4 household oriented around fodder, with high abundance of large ruminant, medium on-farm income, constituted 19.5% of sampled households. Constraint analysis using constraint severity index assessed the severity of constraints in food grain, horticulture, livestock, complementary and supplementary enterprises in each farm type, which allowed targeted farming systems interventions to be envisaged to overcome soil health problems, crops and animal production constraints. Farming system typology together with constraint analysis are therefore suggested as a practical framework capable of identifying type-specific farm households for targeted farming systems interventions.

Characterization of a Nigerian Lumpy Skin Disease Virus Isolate after Experimental Infection of Cattle

Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), together with sheeppox virus and goatpox virus, belong to the genus Capripoxvirus within the family Poxviridae. Collectively, they are considered the most serious poxvirus diseases of agricultural livestock. Due to their severe clinical course and consequent loss of production, as well as high mortality of naïve small and large ruminant populations, they are known to have a significant impact on the economy and global trade restrictions of affected countries. Therefore, all capripox diseases are classified as notifiable under the guidelines of the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE). Since the 1970s, several outbreaks of LSD have been recorded in Nigeria. Until now, only a little information on the virus strains leading to the reported outbreaks have been published, dealing mainly with the phylogenetic relationship of those strains and the description of field outbreaks. During the present study, we experimentally infected cattle with a low-passage Nigerian LSDV strain isolated from a skin sample of LSD positive cattle in Nigeria in 2018. Clinical, molecular and serological data indicate that this LSDV isolate is highly pathogenic in cattle since it induced a severe clinical course and approximately 33% mortality in naïve Holstein Friesian cattle after experimental infection.

The Sustainability of Bison Production in North America: A Scoping Review

The American bison (Bison bison) is iconic of the Great Plains of North America, yet the genus has had to overcome near extinction in the recent past prior to being re-established for food production. This scoping review summarizes the literature on the Plains Bison as a large ruminant species adequate for modern-day meat production in order to evaluate the species’ appropriateness as a sustainable meat source and to identify knowledge gaps hindering the sustainability evaluation of bison production. To date, we can anecdotally assume that bison husbandry could contribute to sustainability based on its positive contribution to biodiversity, physiological robustness, economically higher price per kg, and nutritive values, despite their decreased growth and performance rates compared to beef cattle. However, targeted and system-based research is required in order to unequivocally assess the sustainability of bison production in North America.

Serological and immuno-histopathological detection of Paramphistomum epiclitum infection in large ruminant population in Punjab, Pakistan

Recent molecular identification of Paramphistomum epiclitum in Pakistan raises concerns about its epidemiology and pathologies in infected tissues of ruminants. The present study aimed to find the seroepidemiological and histopathological record of Paramphistomum epiclitum from cattle and buffaloes. Indirect ELISA on animal sera and histology of infected rumen with hematological and biochemical analyses were performed. The overall prevalence of P. epiclitum was noted as 15.3% in the abattoir survey and 37.6% in the serological examination. The sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic test were 100% and 83.3% respectively. The paramphistomosis was significantly (p= 0.001) higher during August (6.4%) followed by September (5.4%), whereas the lowest prevalence was recorded during April (0.4%). The hematological and biochemical variations showed significant increase in total leukocyte count (p= 0.002), alanine aminotransferase (p= 0.05), glucose (p= 0.01) and cholesterol (p = 0.024) levels. However, significant decrease in the level of erythrocyte (p= 0.019), hemoglobin (p= 0.001), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (p= 0.05), mean corpuscular volume (p= 0.038) and platelets count (p= 0.048) was observed. The histopathology of rumen tissue showed haemorrhages, atrophy of ruminal papillae, sloughed mucosa, cellular vacuolation, and infiltration of lymphocytes inflammatory cells. The present study provides the prevalence and histopathological record of P. epiclitum in Pakistan for the first time in order to take control measures in the country.

The Development of an Abattoir-Based Surveillance System in Lao PDR for the Detection of Zoonoses in Large Ruminants: Q Fever and Brucellosis Seroepidemiology as a Pilot Study

Although animal health surveillance programmes are useful for gaining information to help improve global health and food security, these programmes can be challenging to establish in developing economies with a low-resource base. This study focused on establishing a national surveillance system initiated by the Lao PDR government using a passive surveillance system of abattoir samples as a pilot model, and to gain information on contagious zoonoses, particularly Q fever and brucellosis, in the large ruminant population. A total of 683 cattle and buffalo samples were collected from six selected provinces of Lao PDR between March–December 2019. Out of 271 samples tested, six samples (2.2%, 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.0, 4.8) were positive in the Q fever antibody ELISA test. Only one sample (out of 683; 0.2%, 95% CI 0.0, 0.8) tested positive to the Brucella antibody ELISA test. Seroprevalence of these important zoonoses in Lao PDR were relatively low in cattle and buffaloes; however, extensive animal movement within the country was identified which could increase risks of spreading transboundary diseases. The study highlights the importance of ongoing animal health surveillance and the need to find cost-effective approaches for its long-term sustainability.

Improved Milk Production from Supplementation of Swamp Buffalo with Molasses Nutrient Blocks Containing 10% Urea

Milk production from Asiatic swamp buffalo is a new enterprise in Laos. As yields are limited, provision of high-quality cow-calf molasses nutrient blocks containing 10% urea (UMNB10) may improve productivity. A trial in a recently established commercial buffalo dairy examined dietary supplementation of lactating buffalo cows with UMNB10, with three groups of nine cows in mid-lactation randomly selected. Two groups received ad libitum access to UMBs with the remaining group free of block supplements. All animals were daily fed fresh Napier grass (30 kg), corn (750 gm), rice bran (1.45 kg), plus accessed fresh Mulatto grass. Daily milk production (DMP) and body condition score (BCS) were recorded for the 2 months of access to UMB. Average DMP for the two supplemented groups were 1.02 and 0.96 L, compared to 0.78 L for the control group, suggesting improved milk productivity of 31 and 24% from accessing UMB. Partial budget analysis identified a strong incentive for use of the molasses blocks, with a net profit of USD 408 and USD 295 over a 30-day period for the supplemented groups. A multi-intervention livestock development strategy that includes a combination of nutritional and health interventions has been proposed for scale-out to assist smallholder livestock farming efficiency in developing countries. The use of high-quality molasses blocks may be a simple motivator for these communities to increase the efficiency of large ruminant production, improving rural livelihoods, food security, and potentially, reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe) from ruminant-derived foods.

A novel Schmallenberg virus subunit vaccine candidate protects IFNAR-/- mice against virulent SBV challenge

Schmallenberg virus (SBV), an arthropod-transmitted pathogenic bunyavirus, continues to be a threat to the European livestock industry, causing morbidity and mortality among young ruminant livestock. Here, we describe a novel SBV subunit vaccine, based on bacterially expressed SBV nucleoprotein (SBV-N) administered with a veterinary-grade Saponin adjuvant. When assayed in an IFNAR-/- mouse model, SBV-N with Saponin induced strong non-neutralizing broadly virus-reactive antibodies, decreased clinical signs, as well as significantly reduced viremia. Vaccination assays also suggest that this level of immune protection is cell mediated, as evidenced by the lack of neutralizing antibodies, as well as interferon-γ secretion observed in vitro. Therefore, based on these results, bacterially expressed SBV-N, co-administered with veterinary-grade Saponin adjuvant may serve as a promising economical alternative to current SBV vaccines, and warrant further evaluation in large ruminant animal models. Moreover, we propose that this strategy may be applicable to other bunyaviruses.

Is Improved Milk Production from Supplementation of Buffalo with Molasses Nutrient Blocks Containing 10% Urea, a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Mitigation Strategy?

Milk production from Asiatic swamp buffalo is a new enterprise in Laos. As yields are limited, provision of high-quality Cow-Calf molasses nutrient blocks containing 10% urea (UMNB10) may improve productivity. A trial in a recently established commercial buffalo dairy examined dietary supplementation of lactating buffalo cows with UMNB10, with 3 groups of 9 cows in mid-lactation randomly selected. Two groups received ad-libitum access to UMBs with the remaining group free of block supplements. All animals were daily fed fresh Napier grass (30kg), corn (750gm), rice bran (1.45kg), plus accessed fresh Mulatto grass. Daily milk production (DMP) and body condition score (BCS) were recorded for the 2 months of access to UMB. Average DMP for the 2 supplemented groups were 1.02 litres and 0.96 litres, compared to 0.78 litres for the control group, suggesting improved milk productivity of 31% and 24% from accessing UMB. Partial budget analysis identified a strong incentive for use of the molasses blocks, with a net profit of USD408 and USD295 over a 30-day period for the supplemented groups. Molasses nutrient blocks may be a simple motivator for smallholder farmers in developing countries to increase the efficiency of large ruminant production, improving rural livelihoods, food security and potentially, reducing GHG emissions.

PERAN KARAKTERISTIK, PENGETAHUAN DAN SIKAP PEKERJA TERHADAP PRAKTIK PENGELOLAAN LIMBAH DI INSTALASI KARANTINA HEWAN (Characteristics, Knowledge and Attitude of Workers Regarding Waste Management Practices in Animal Quarantine Installations)

AbstrakLimbah Instalasi Karantina Hewan (IKH) ruminansia besar dapat menjadi sumber penularan penyakit yang mungkin terbawa akibat lalu lintas ternak serta dapat menimbulkan permasalahan lingkungan. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk menganalisis sejauh mana karakteristik, pengetahuan dan sikap petugas IKH berpengaruh terhadap praktik pengelolaan limbah di IKH. Responden adalah petugas yang melakukan pengelolaan limbah di IKH. Hubungan dan tingkat pengaruh langsung dan tidak langsung pada variabel yang diamati dianalisis menggunakan analisis jalur (path analysis). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan secara keseluruhan karakteristik, pengetahuan dan sikap petugas IKH berpengaruh sebesar 68,85%. Pengaruh tersebut digambarkan sebagai pengaruh langsung sebesar 22,76% dan tidak langsung sebesar 46,09% terhadap praktik pengelolaan limbah di IKH. Pengetahuan berpengaruh signifikan terhadap sikap dan praktik pengelolaan limbah di IKH. Sikap berpengaruh signifikan terhadap praktik pengelolaan limbah di IKH. Pengelolaan limbah di IKH dapat ditingkatkan dengan cara meningkatkan pengetahuan melalui pelatihan sistem manajemen lingkungan sesuai ISO 14001:2015, pelatihan AMDAL dan UKL/UPL serta pengetahuan mengenai risiko penyakit yang mungkin terbawa oleh limbah IKH.AbstractWaste from large ruminant animal quarantine installations (IKH) can be a source of disease transmission that may be carried away due to livestock traffic and can cause environmental problems. The purpose of this study was to analyze the characteristics, knowledge and attitudes of IKH officers to influence the practice of waste management in IKH. Respondents were officers who carry out waste management in IKH. The relationship and magnitude of direct and indirect effects on observed variables were analyzed using path analysis. The results showed that overall the characteristics, knowledge and attitudes of IKH officers had an effect of 68.85%. The influence is described as a direct influence of 22.76% and indirectly by 46.09% on the practice of waste management in IKH. The practice of waste management in IKH is influenced by significant knowledge and attitudes. Attitudes are influenced by knowledge of waste management in IKH. Waste management in IKH can be improved by increasing knowledge through training in environmental management systems in accordance with ISO 14001: 2015, training on AMDAL and UKL / UPL as well as knowledge about the risk of diseases that may be carried out by IKH waste.