Morphometric characteristics of sheep and goat fed silage comprising of cassava peel, gamba grass and Mexican sunflower

The constant demand for less expensive and more easily available alternative feed sources for animal production is on the increase. This is particularly true in the tropics, where feed availability varies according to the season. Based on this necessity, this study aims to evaluate the impact of feeding silage to sheep and goats on growth and development. A total of 22 animals comprising of 11 Yankassa breed and 11 West African Dwarf breed were used for the study. The animals were confined and allowed to acclimatize to the environment for about 14 to 21 days, followed by 5 weeks of study. The forage used for silage was Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus) and Mexican sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) mixed with equal amounts of cassava peel and molasses in different proportions for three different treatments. Body length, neck circumference, height at withers, heart girth, and body weight were significantly higher (p<0.05) in animals fed T3 diets compared to all other diets, while animals on the T2 diet had higher ear length than T3. Except for neck circumference, ear length, and bodyweight of animals raised on diet T1 and the control group were statistically similar, all the test groups were significantly better than the control group in terms of performance. The highest body weight of 16.74 kg was recorded in T3, followed by 15.97 kg in T2, 12.12 kg in T1, and the least value of 10.09 kg in the control group. No apparent adverse effects were noted in the feeding of silage to the animals as the animals were healthy throughout the duration of the study. More research on the use of silage in feeding indigenous goat and sheep breeds is needed to further understand the impact of silage on animal performance and morphometric traits.

Indigenous Goat Selection and Breeding Practices in Pastoral areas of West Guji zone, Southern Oromia, Ethiopia

Placing relevant breeding objectives and identification of indigenous breeding practices is crucial to integrating modern development in animal breeding into purposeful industry programs. Hence, the objective of this study was to identify selection criteria and indigenous breeding practices of the goat in Abaya and Galan district southern Oromia, part of Ethiopia. Data were collected from 180 households through interview schedules and focus group discussions. The effective population size and inbreeding rate of the community were calculated using ΔF = 1/2Ne. Conformation, growth rate, coat color for buck and conformation, twining ability, age at sexual maturity, kidding interval, and color for females are selection criteria for replacement of stock in the study area. In both districts, farmers have relatively similar production and breeding objectives. Conformation is hub selection criteria for replacement of breeding flock. The study area has liable by inbreeding 0.22 in Abaya and 0.29 in Galan. Goat in the study area is prolific twinning birth (72.22%). Trait preferences of farmers in goats were conformation, growth rate, twinning, and kidding interval. Hence adopting a community-based goat breeding program that is suited to study areas which aimed at improving preferred traits is relevant.

Differentiation of the indigenous goat populations in Ethiopia based on morphometric features and zoometric indices: The primary step for conservation

This study was conducted to describe the indigenous goat populations of South Gondar, Ethiopia based on morphometric traits and body indices. To this effect, morphometric measurements were taken from 512 goats (153 male and 359 female) of both sexes drawn from three districts (Farta, Fogera and Libokemkem). Twenty structural indices were computed from morphometric measurements. Results indicated that age at first kidding and kidding intervals was 13.6 and 8.39 months, respectively, with an average litter size of 1.54 kids. Sex affected (p<0.001) all quantitative traits except ear length (EL), rump width (RW) and fore canon circumference (FCC) being higher in bucks than in does. The effect of age was significant (p<0.001) for all morphometric traits except for EL resulting in a linear increase with advancing age in both sexes. Except for EL and scrotal circumferences (SC), all quantitative traits were (p<0.01) affected by district of the goats rearing. Accordingly, Fogera goats had higher live weight (LW), heart girth (HG), height at withers (HW), body length (BL), chest width (CW), rump height (RH), rump length (RL) and teat length (TL) than those of Libokemkem. Fogera goats had also the highest LW and HG compared with those of Farta. Conversely, the Farta goats had higher RW, BL, TL, RL, CW, chest depth (CD), and paunch girth (PG) than those of Libokemkem. Libokemkem goats were inferior in most of the studied morphometric traits. Both HG and HW variables were identified as best predictors of LW in both sexes. Structural indices indicated that the goat populations could be characterized as meat phenotype with short legs being well adapted to midland altitudes. In conclusion, goats reared in the region could have a genetic potential for meat production with very good prolificacy. The Fogera goats were particularly better in most morphometric traits indicating their suitability for commercial meat production. However, further on-station research is recommended to verify their potentials as meat animals for enhanced food security in the region.

​POU1F1 Gene Polymorphism and its Associations with Body Weight of Osmanabadi Goat

Background: Osmanabadi is the premium meat type goat breed of Maharashtra, known for its adaptability and reproductive efficiency. Identification of superior germplasm and incorporating them into breeding programme is the need of hour for augmenting productivity of Osmanabadi as well as other indigenous goat breeds. Hence, the present research was aimed to study Pituitary Specific Transcription Factor I (POU1F1) gene polymorphism and its associations with body weight of Osmanabadi goat. Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from 217 blood samples of randomly selected Osmanabadi goats. The 450 bp fragment of POU1F1 gene encompassing exon-6 and its flanking region (3’UTR) was PCR amplified. The PCR amplicon was subjected to RFLP using AluI and PstI restriction enzymes to identify polymorphism at nucleotide position 174 (T greater than C) in exon 6 and at nucleotide position 110 (T greater than C) in the 3’UTR of POU1F1 gene, respectively. The association of the observed allelic variants / genotypes with body weight of the animals was performed using One-way ANOVA. Result: The AluI PCR-RFLP of 450 bp amplicon of POU1F1 gene in Osmanabadi goats revealed polymorphism with three different genotypes viz., ‘CC’, ‘TT’ and ‘TC’. The observed frequencies for TT, TC and CC genotypes were 0.604, 0.355 and 0.041 respectively. The frequencies of T and C alleles were found to be 0.781 and 0.219, respectively. However, PstI PCR-RFLP revealed monomorphic 3’UTR of POU1F1 gene with single TT genotype. We observed significant differences (P less than 0.01) between various genotypes at AluI exon-6 locus of POU1F1 gene and body weights at birth, 3 and 6 months of Osmanabadi goat. Highest body weight was recorded for TT genotype followed by TC and CC genotypes in all three age groups. Our findings indicate that the AluI PCR-RFLP locus of the exon-6 of POU1F1 gene can be used as a potent molecular marker for selection of superior stock of Osmanabadi goats.

​Comparative Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Jamunapari, Barbari and their Crossbred under Stall Fed Condition

Background: Large variation for body size and weight exist among indigenous goat breeds. Many livestock development agencies recommending crossbreeding of large size goats with small and medium sizes to increase the body size, growth rate, dressing weight and dressing percentage of progeny without being systemic data and combining ability among breeds used. In view of above crossbreeding experiment was conducted by crossing Jamunapari male with Barbari female. Methods: Ten Barbari females were crossed with medium size two Jamunapari male. The crossbred males (07) were kept under stall feeding on high input diet along with Barbari and Jamunapari pure-bred males at weaning. The growth (body weight and average daily weight gains) were studied up to 9 months of age. The animals were slaughtered at 9 months and carcass traits (dressing weight and percentage) were studied. Result: Pre-weaning growth (0-3m) was statistically similar (P greater than 0.05) in all the group of goats. However different trend was obtained in post weaning growth stage, ADG being significantly (P less than 0.05) more in Jamunapari breed (94.10g) as compared to Barbari (73.43g) and crossbred goats (74.24g). The dressing (%) was significantly (P less than 0.05) higher in Jamunapari goats (47.28) as compared to Barbari (40.47) and crossbred (40.44). The carcass results revealed that growth and carcass performance was highest in Jamunapari kids and significantly different from pure bred Barbari and crossbred kids. However, Carcass traits (Carcass weight and Dressing percent) performances were not significantly different in between Barbari and Jamunapari x Barbari crossbred kids. Thus, crossing of Jamunapari with Barbari breed is not being suggested to increase body weight and carcass attributes of crossbreed progeny.

Heat Stress and Rumen Microbial Ecology: Novel Insights Into Goat Adaptation

Establishing the functional significance of rumen microbiome during heat stress may provide crucial information for elucidating climate resilience in goat. The current study was thus designed with an aim to assess the impact of heat stress on the rumen microbiome across three indigenous goat breeds. To prove this hypothesis, six experimental groups were chosen as follows: Osmanabadi Control (n=6), Osmanabadi Heat (n=6), Malabari Control (n=6), Malabari Heat (n=6), Salem Black Control (n=6) and Salem Black Heat (n=6). The study, being first of its kind, provides novel insights into influence of both genetic and environmental interaction on rumen microbial diversity in goats. An evident variation in the rumen microbial abundance was established during heat stress across all three goat breeds. The decreased Firmicutes and higher Bacteroides abundance in Salem Black goats could indicate the better protein and polysaccharide degrading ability of Salem Black breed. Further, the number of unique OTUs in the Salem Black heat group was higher as compared to both Osmanabadi and Malabari heat groups. In addition, the lower abundance of both KEGG as well as COG pathways indicated the sub-threshold level of heat stress experienced by this breed. Moreover, the histomorphometric changes in the rumen also pointed towards the better adaptive ability of Salem Black breed. This result point towards the genetic factor governing the rumen microbial diversity in goats during heat stress exposure. The findings provide substantial evidence on the genetic superiority of Salem Black breed in altering the rumen microbial population which could impart them the potential to thrive well in harsh environmental conditions.

Analysis of Profits and Break Even Point of Jamnapari Goat Farming

This study discusses profits and break even point of jamnapari goat farming. Goat and sheep husbandry offers an excellent image that may demonstrate how it might promote a wide range of economic activity. Goats are simple to breed, need little initial capital, require little animal feed, and are easily adapted to their surroundings. The goat is a kind of animal that provides many advantages to the society. Goats are an alternate source of revenue for goat farming businesses looking to expand their operations. The Jamnapari Crossbred goat is a kind of indigenous goat that has strong development potential and may help to boost the income of the surrounding area's farmers. Diversification (multi-commodity farming) is an alternative to carrying out business efficiency on relatively fixed land areas while increasing productivity.