Dietary Inclusion of Citrullus lanatus Seed in Fish Feed: Proximate Analysis, Growth Performance and Feed Utilization in Clarias gariepinus Fingerlings

One of the factors militating against fish farming in Nigeria have been lack of adequate feed that are formulated to meet the nutrient requirement of culturable fish species. To this end, the study on dietary inclusion of Citrullus lanatus (watermelon) seed in fish feed: the proximate analysis, determination of growth performance and feed utilization in Clarias gariepinus fingerlings was carried out between August and October 2019. The proximate analysis and economic viability were determined according to standard methods. The experimental diet was set up across varying proportions: 0% as the control, 15%, 20%, 25% and 36% inclusion levels respectively. The result of the proximate analysis for the experimental diets showed that diet 3 (20.00% inclusion) had the highest crude protein content; lipid level was highest in diet 4 (25% inclusion); while diet 1 (control) had the highest dry matter, ash and nitrogen free extract contents. The result of the experiment showed that 36% watermelon seed inclusion yielded the highest growth performance and feed utilization in Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. However, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in relation to inclusion percentages of watermelon seed on growth performance in Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. In conclusion, relatively high proportion of watermelon seed inclusion in fish feed formulation is hereby recommended in order to improve growth performance and feed utilization in Clarias gariepinus fingerlings.

Growth Performance and Carcass Analysis of African Catfish (Clarias Gariepinus) Juveniles Fed Varying Inclusion Levels Of Butterfly Pea (Clitoria Ternatea) Seed Meal

High cost of qualitative fish feed is one of problems hampering the development and profitability of fish farming and consequently leads to food insecurity in terms of food availability and accessibility. The study was conducted to determine growth parameters and carcass composition of Clarias gariepinus juveniles of mean weight 21.74g+0.54g fed with varying levels of dietary inclusion of Clitoria ternatea seed meal substituted for soybean meal over a period of eight weeks. Four iso-nitrogenous experimental diets were formulated at 0% (control), 25%, 50% and 100% inclusion levels of C. ternatea seed meal. The 8-week feeding experiment was conducted in rectangular plastic tanks, each treatment having three replicates with two feeding regime at 5% body weight and weighed every week. At the end of the intensive feeding period, samples from each treatment were oven dried for nutritive analysis of the fish carcass. The values of mean weight gain for diets I and III were 27.7+1.11 and 27.23+0.94 respectively. Comparatively, the growth parameters values; FI(g), SGR(%), FCR(g), PER(%) and NPU(%) for control diet and diet III were the best with no significant difference (p>0.05). The Carcass evaluation revealed that Diet I had the highest crude protein which was not significantly different (p>0.05) from diet III. It was established that fish fed 50% inclusion level of C. ternatea seed meal had effective comparable biological values with the control diet in terms of growth performance and feed utilization. The total fish production (kg) showed no significant difference (p>0.05) between diets I and III.

Study on Functional Traits of Arsi Cattle Reared in the East Shoa and West Arsi Zones of Oromia, Ethiopia

The study was conducted in the East Shoa and West Arsi Zones of Oromia Region with the objective to assess the functional traits of Arsi cattle in their native areas. Two hundred forty cattle keepers were identified using random sampling techniques. The study was conducted in five districts, namely Adami Tullu Jidokombolcha (ATJK), Bora, Dodola, Shala and Negele-Arsi. The survey revealed that the age at first mating, age at first calving, and calving interval of Arsi cattle at on-farm level were 43.5, 55.9 and 19.1 months, respectively. The lactation length and milk yield of Arsi cattle were 9.6 months and 1.66 liters per day, respectively. The working life of oxen was 7.7 years. The observed results on reproduction and production of Arsi cattle at on-farm level are good indicators of information for further evaluation of their performances.

Feeding and Nutritional Strategies to Reduce Methane Emission from Large Ruminants: Review

Livestock are considered as a main source of GHGs emission by contributing approximately 9% of the total global emission and a major concern for global warming. Domestic animals account approximately 94% of the total global emissions of animals from these large ruminants (dairy and beef cattle) produce 30% and 35% of the livestock sectors’ emissions. Most methane (CH4) that is emitted from livestock originates in the forestomach, also called the rumen, of ruminants. Minimizing amount of methane that comes from rumination can improve production efficiency of livestock and is environmentally a sound practice. The emission rate can be minimized by handling proper feeding and nutritional management strategies, which can reduce excretion of GHG during ruminant digestion process. Dietary manipulation, type of carbohydrates animals fed, forage quality and maturity, management of pasture land, nutrient composition of diet and feed intake, feeding frequency, fat supplementation, and inclusion of feed additives such as saponins, tannins and essential oils are among the best feeding and nutritional management strategies to minimize amount of methane produced during rumination. The aim of this review was to investigate feeding and nutritional management strategies used to reduce methane production from ruminants in general and large ruminants in particular.