Livestock Feed Processing and Storage Mechanizims in Bench Maji, Sheka Ad Kaffa Zones, South West Ethiopia

This study was conducted in Kaffa, Bench Maji and Sheka zones with the objective of assessing livestock feed processing and storage mechanisms in South West Ethiopia. Purposive sampling technique was used to select study districts based on livestock population, accessibility and availability of feed resources. A total of 384 households having a minimum one hectare of land and livestock were randomly selected for interview. The mean total number of cattle in the study area was 8.48+6.79 per households. Majority of the respondents could not practice livestock feed processing and storage mechanisms in dry and wet season in the study area. The bases for feed provision for livestock in the study area were production level, work load and availability of feed ingredients. Different plants parts were used for livestock to increase milk yield, to improve growth rate and to treat diseases. Livestock production was lowest in dry season due to lack of feed shortage in the dry season. Due to this conclusion, government office should give training how to process and store feeds for dry season.

MOROCCAN STRAWBERRY TREE (Arbutus Unedo L.) LEAVES: COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE AND MINERAL COMPOSITION

Strawberry tree (Arbutus Unedo L.) is one of the evergreen trees that grow spontaneously in Moroccan forests. This tall shrub is traditionally used in grazing zones of some Moroccan areas, especially during the dry season, but its value in Morocco has still been underestimated. In this paper, the nutritional composition of A. unedo leaves sample collected from seven Moroccan regions has been assessed. For this, the leaves were dried, crushed, and chemically analyzed for their proximate composition, energetic value, total and reducing sugar, and mineral composition. Results of this study suggested that samples from BniAarouse (BA) region showed the highest contents of essential nutrients such as proteins, dietary fiber, ashes, and fat with average values of 7.53, 17.89, 4.14, and 8.05 g/ 100 g of dry weight, respectively, which positively influences its consumption by small ruminants. Cluster analysis based on surveyed parameters separated the strawberries individuals into four distinct groups, providing a high variability among and within studied locations. That could be related to the diversity of the edaphoclimatic conditions between regions and to the genetic effect. The results of the present study highlighted the potential use of leaves as livestock feed, with intermediate quality, and promotes their optimal cultivation and subsequent domestication in Morocco.

Development and performance evaluation of a livestock feed chopper/pulverizer

Crop residues are bulky and low in nutrients. Their size reduction is imperative in order to compound them with other feed ingredients to achieve balanced feedstock for livestock. A chopping and pulverizing machine was designed and constructed to chop and pulverized feed materials. It comprises of chopping hopper, pulverizing hopper, metering device, chopping/ pulverizing chamber, screen and the processed feed outlet. The performance of the machine was evaluated on the basis of throughput capacity, pulverizing efficiency, scatter losses as dependent variables while moisture content was the independent variable. There were two level of speeds (1500 rpm and 2100 rpm) and five levels of moisture content (13 %, 16 %, 19 %, 21 %, 24 %, and 27 % dry basis). The throughput capacity, pulverizing efficiency had highest values of 222 kg/h and of 92.5 % respectively at moisture content level of 13 % (db) and 2100 rpm speed. However, the least scatter losses obtained was 2.5 % at moisture content level of 27 % (db) and 1500 rpm speed. As the moisture content increased, throughput capacity, pulverizing efficiency and scatter losses decreases at both speeds. The developed machine could enhance the use of crop residues in feeding livestock which could ultimately reduce the cost of livestock feed production.

Potential Use of Industrial Cocoa Waste in Biofuel Production

Worldwide, the wastes derived from food production are generated in elevated volumes annually. In particular, the cocoa industrial wastes represent a source of usable biomass for the elaboration of new products such as food, livestock feed, cosmetics, and chemical products, and they can even be used for the generation of biofuels. The cocoa industrial wastes include cocoa pod husk, mucilage, and bean shells, which contain compounds of interest for different industries. However, the lignocellulose content of these by-products requires a pretreatment to fully utilize them; thus, different biofuels can be produced, depending on the conversion technology used to obtain the highest biomass yield. Recent studies reported the use of cocoa industrial wastes for the production of solid, liquid, and gaseous biofuels; nevertheless, the most common use reported is as a direct combustion source, which is used to supply the same production plants. Therefore, the objective of this work is to carry out a review on the uses of the by-products generated from cocoa for the generation of biofuels, as well as the technological concept applied for the transformation. In addition, the future trends indicate the relevance of using catalysts in production to increase reactions in the conversion of compounds, including the use of statistical models to optimize the processing variables.

Silage Fermentation: A Potential Microbial Approach for the Forage Utilization of Cyperus esculentus L. By-Product

Cyperus esculentus L. leaves (CLL) are agricultural by-products produced from Cyperus esculentus L. harvesting, and can be used as livestock feed despite their low economic value for human consumption. This study aims to develop a favorable approach to processing Cyperus esculentus L. by-product as coarse fodder. The chopped CLL was pretreated by (1) mixing with canola straw at a 4:1 ratio, or (2) wilting it for 8 h, then it ensiling with or without compounded lactic acid bacteria (LAB) additives for 60 days. Our results demonstrated that compounded LAB additives: improved CLL silage fermentation quality by increasing acetic acid and lactic acid contents and decreasing ethanol and ammonia-N contents; preserved nutrients by raising the level of crude protein and water soluble carbohydrates; modified the bacterial community by increasing the relative abundance of Lactobacillus while decreasing the relative abundance of undesirable Enterococcus; and also might improve animal health by increasing the relative concentrations of antioxidant substances (such as 7-galloylcatechin) and antibacterial compounds (such as ferulic acid). This study provides strong evidence that Cyperus esculentus L. by-product can be a potential livestock feed after being ensiled with compounded LAB additives.

Adaptation de l’élevage bovin de l’Ouest du Burkina Faso aux sécheresses récurrentes

L’élevage est confronté aux difficiles conditions climatiques. Pour s’adapter à cette situation, plusieurs stratégies sont développées. Mais sont-elles efficaces. Pour contribuer à appréhender le phénomène, la présente étude a été conduite. Elle avait pour objectif d’examiner la perception et l’impact des sécheresses récurrentes sur les pratiques pastorales de même que les stratégies d’adaptations développées. Ainsi, elle s’est appuyée sur une enquête individuelle à passage unique auprès de 200 ménages de pasteurs et d’agropasteurs de la province du Noumbiel. Les résultats montrent que l’alimentation du bétail est basée sur le pâturage naturel (100%) qui est soumis aux effets des sécheresses récurrentes. Ces sécheresses apparaissent comme la manifestation majeure du changement climatique. En effet, elle influe le plus négativement sur l’alimentation du bétail (79,5) et sur la production laitière (59%). Pour faire face à cette situation, plusieurs mesures d’adaptation dont la diversification du troupeau (81%), la transhumance nationale (85%), l’achat d’aliments bétail (87%) sont prises par les éleveurs. L’analyse permet de dégager quatre catégories d’acteurs selon leurs capacités d’adaptation. De ces quatre, seule la catégorie C1 représentant 16,5% de l’échantillon, s’adapte le mieux aux effets néfastes des sécheresses. En somme, notre étude démontre que les éleveurs du Noumbiel ont adopté des stratégies d’adaptation pour faire face à l’impact des sécheresses récurrentes sur leurs activités d’élevage. Ils ont cependant des capacités de résilience globalement faibles. English title: Adaptation of cattle breeding in Western Burkina Faso to recurrent droughts Livestock farming is confronted with difficult climatic conditions. To adapt to this situation, several strategies have been developed. But are they effective? To help understand the phenomenon, this study was conducted. The objective of this study was to examine the perception and impact of recurrent droughts on pastoral practices as well as coping strategies developed. Thus, it was based on a one-pass individual survey of 200 pastoralist and agropastoralist households in Noumbiel province. The results show that livestock feed is based on natural grazing (100%) which is subject to the effects of recurrent droughts. These droughts are emerging as the major manifestation of climate change. Indeed, it has the most negative impact on livestock feed (79.5) and milk production (59%). To cope with this situation, several adaptation measures including herd diversification (81%), national transhumance (85%), and the purchase of animal feed (87%) are taken by livestock farmers. The analysis identifies four categories of actors according to their adaptive capacities. Of these four, only category C1, made up of 33 transhumant pastoralists and representing 16.5% of the sample, is best suited to the adverse effects of droughts. In sum, our study shows that pastoralists in Noumbiel have adopted coping strategies to cope with the impact of recurrent droughts on their livestock activities. However, they have globally weak resilience capacities.

Production Systems and Prospects of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) in the United States

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is an important legume crop with enormous nutritional, agronomic and economic value. Cowpea constitutes a large portion of the daily diet among many people in Africa, Asia, Central America, and Southern America. The United States was among the top 10 global producers of cowpea until 1967, when cowpea was grown primarily for soil management and livestock feed. With the projected increase in the minority population in the United States, from 25% in 1992 to 47% in 2050, it is expected that the consumption of cowpea in the nation will increase substantially. In this review, we provide information about cowpea production systems and prospects in the United States.