The Association of Calcium Profiles at Calving with Health and Performance of Holstein Cows and Their Calves

The aim of this study was to assess the association of hypocalcemia at calving with health and performance of Holstein cows and their calves. Data were collected January 1st 2017 to December 31st 2020. A total of 431 lactating Holstein Friesian cows (118 primiparous and 313 multiparous) from a research of hypocalcemia was 2 groups (hypo and non-hypo). The overall prevalence of hypocalcemia was 3.4% for first-lactation cows and 18% for multiparous cows. Lactating dairy cows with hypocalcemia had greater proportion of cows with Retained Fetal Membranes (RFM) metritis and culling within 60 days in milk (DIM), compared with non-hypocalcemia respectively. For the first 2 official milk tests milk yield and components (% fat, % protein on SCC) did not differ between hypo and non-hypo cows. The days in milk at first service, mastitis, dystocia and pregnancy at first service were not different between hypo and non-hypo groups. The proportion of stillbirth, survival at 60 days of age in calves did not differ between calves born from hypo or non-hypo cows. Calves born from Hypo cows had greater incidence of diarrhea (38.3%) than calves born (22.3%) from non-hypo cows. The results of this study show that hypocalcemia in calving has significant health implications for both dams and their calves.

The The Efectiveness of Jamblang (Syzygium cumini) Leaves Extract Inclusion Skim Milk-Egg Yolk Extender on Motility and Viability of Aceh Cattle Spermatozoa during Pre-Freezing and Post-Thawing

The process of semen freezing causes an increase in free radicals concentration which can damage spermatozoa. The addition of natural ingredients in semen diluent is expected to solve this challenges. One of the natural ingredients that can be used is jamblang (Syzygium cumini) leaves. The objective of the current study was to investigate the quality of spermatozoa in Aceh cattle which was added with jamblang leaves extract in skim milk- egg yolk extender during pre-freezing and post-thawing. This study applied Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 5 treatments and 5 replications. The treatments consisted of J0 = skim milk-egg yolk; J1 = skim milk-egg yolk + jamblang leaves extract 0.2%; J2 = skim milk-egg yolk + jamblang leaves extract 0.4%; J3 = skim milk-egg yolk + jamblang leaves extract 0.6%; and J4 = skim milk-egg yolk + jamblang leaves extract 0.8%. The parameters observed in this study were the percentage of motility and viability of frozen semen of Aceh cattle. The data obtained were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and if differences were found, then it would be continued with Duncan's Multiple Distance test. The results showed that the addition of jamblang leaves extract in egg yolk skim milk significantly affected the percentage of motility during pre-freezing and post-thawing, significantly affected spermatozoa viability during pre-freezing and significantly affected the spermatozoa viability during post-thawing. J3 treatment (jamblang leaves extract 0.6 gram/100 ml) it should be higher than the other treatment, where the percentage of motility at pre-freezing and post-thawing were 55.48% and 52.71%, respectively, and the percentage of viability during pre-freezing and post-thawing were 56.59% and 53.94%, respectively. It was concluded that the addition of jamblang leaves extract in the skim milk-egg yolk extender affected the percentage of spermatozoa motility and viability of Aceh cattle during pre-freezing and post-thawing.

Profitability and Technical Efficiency of Soybean Producers in the Municipality of Tanguiéta in Benin

This study was carried out in the year November 2020. The general objective of this study was to assess the profitability and Technical efficiency of soybean producers in the municipality of Tanguiéta. A survey of a sample of 184 producers was selected at random in Center of Tanguiéta, Taïacou, Cotiakou, N’Dahonta and Tanongou of the municipality. In order to analyze the financial profitability of soybean production, the interviews focused on data in order to estimate the technical efficiency scores of each producer and to establish the operating account of the sampled producers. Thus, the most efficient and the average or weakly efficient producers whose technical efficiency scores are less than or equal to 50%. Gross margin, yield, value added per hectare and profit to production cost ratio were estimated. The results showed that the technical efficiency indices of the producers surveyed varied between 11% and 91.1% with an average of 45.62%. Soybean production is financially profitable depending on the level of technical efficiency although the yields obtained are very low for each of the groups. The profit to cost of production ratio revealed that the group of the most efficient producers has the best ratio (1.18> 0.93), showing that soybean producers are technically inefficient overall. With regard to the indicators, they are far from the production potential expected in Benin.

Contributing Factors for Turkey Consumption: An Empirical Analysis from Mymensingh City in Bangladesh

The study examined the factors influencing yearly consumption of turkey meat in Mymensingh city area. Data were collected from 60 consumers of turkey meat through Purposive sampling technique and face to face interview. Dummy coding was applied to code independent variables which were categorical in nature and multiple linear regression was carried out to find out the factors influencing consumption of turkey meat. Result indicated that the majority of the consumers (more than 50%) favored taste, color and aroma of turkey meat. The findings also revealed that age (P<0.05) and monthly family income (P<0.01) were significantly influencing yearly consumption of turkey meat among consumers in Mymensingh city. The major difficulty faced by the turkey farmer recognized as unavailability of turkey feed in the market, high price of day-old chick, lack of access to agricultural credit, lack of training and marketing facility and un-availability of vaccines. Analyzing the factors affecting consumption of turkey meat would facilitate in marketing decision making process of the turkey farmers and also deliver information to policy makers of Government as well as Department of Livestock Services to take necessary initiatives and support this alternative meat source to rise as a popular consumer choice.

Prevalence and Distribution of Cassava Bacterial Blight in the Kenyan Coast

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is one of the staple food crops grown in Kenya. Diseases remain one of the major constraints for cassava production. Apart from other major viral diseaes Cassava mosaic and Cassava brown streak, Cassava bacterial blight (CBB) caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv manihotis and Xanthomonas axonopodis pv cassavae are a major constraint in cassava production in Kenya. This study was done to identify the prevalence, distribution, and farmers' knowledge of cassava bacterial blight in the coastal region of Kenya. A survey was conducted involving 250 farmers who were randomly selected from two regions of Kilifi and Taita Taveta counties. Among the 250 farmers interviewed, 61.6 % identified cassava bacterial blight symptoms in their farms. The main varieties found growing in the region were Tajirika, Karembo, Kibandameno, and Shibe which were all confirmed by farmers as susceptible to cassava bacterial blight. During the survey, plant samples were randomly collected in the field. Out of the 70 samples collected, 40 of them were confirmed positive with X.pv manihotis and X.pv cassavae which cause cassava bacterial blight. The study concluded that there is a widespread of cassava bacterial blight in Kilifi and Taita taveta counties. Kilifi County had the highest incidence of 22% with Taita Taveta having the lowest incidence of 13%. Kilifi County had a higher severity of 8% as compared to Taita Taveta which had 5% Severity. Therefore there is a need for a proper management program to be deployed in managing the disease to enhance cassava production in the region.

The Effect of Fertigation and Foliar Application of Seaweed’s Bio Stimulant on Banana Yield

In order to shed light on the effect of the seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) bio stimulant on the banana fruit, foliar application (Fo), fertigation(F1) and a mix of both interventions (M) were done during 2018-2019 season on banana plants grown in South Lebanon compared with control (Ctrl). The period between flowering and harvest, the bunch weight, the weight and dimensions of fruit, were measured during the study. The results showed that the shortest period between flowering and harvest was observed on samples treated through foliar application (Fo), less with fertigation and then the mix of both (M). Those treatments were very effective in stimulating the weight of bunch and length of fruit, while a significant increase in the weight of fruit was noticed when both applications were done together (M). All treated modalities showed better performance compared with control. There was no difference in the diameter of fruit between all treatments. Therefore, the application of eco-friendly seaweed-based bio stimulant would be beneficial for the time of harvesting, and the size of banana fruits.

Effect of Curcumin (Curcuma longa) and Red Ginger (Zingiber officinale) on Hematology Values of Broilers

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of supplemented curcumin (Curcuma longa) and red ginger (Zingiber officinale) on hematological values of broilers. Three hundred twenty one-day-old broilers were randomly distributed into 8 treatment groups with 4 replicates (pens) of 10 chicks each. The treatment diets were control groups (T01=basal diet and T02=basal diet + bacitracin), and treatment diets supplemented with curcumin (C1, C2, and C3), and supplanted with ginger (Z1, Z2 and Z3). Results showed that PVCs and hemoglobin level of the chickens fed treatment diets increased significantly (P<0.05) compare to the control diets, and the erythrocytes of the chickens fed diet supplemented with ginger increased significantly (P<0.05) compared to the control in period I (21 days of age) but no significant differences in Period II (34 days of age). Furthermore, treatment diets had no effect on erythrocyte indices of MCHC and MCV (P>0.05). However, dietary inclusion of the addition of ginger significantly decreased MCH in period I (P<0.05), but no significant differences were observed in period II. Furthermore, the treatment diets had significantly lower leucocytes and heterophils/lymphocytes ratios (P<0.05) than the control diets, but no significant differences were investigated in the percentage of differential leucocytes of eosinophils and basophils. In conclusion, the use of curcumin and ginger up to the level of 1.5% indicated the potentcy of improving the general health status of broilers. They have been able to improve the hematological values, and reduce the stress level of the chickens.

Kasule, F Farmer Preference of Cassava Cultivars in Eastern Uganda: A Choice Beyond Disease Resistance

The cassava breeding program in Uganda has released many improved cultivars resistant/tolerant to cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) and cassava mosaic disease (CMD). However, many farmers have continued to use cultivars that are susceptible to these major viral diseases but with diverse attributes. There is a need to understand farmers’ cassava cultivar attribute preferences and CBSD, CMD prevalence on the preferred cultivars. A total of 150 cassava farmer fields (74 in Bukedea district and 76 in Kumi district) located in eastern Uganda were evaluated for farmers’ cultivars and attribute preferences, as well as prevalence of CBSD and CMD on the farmer selected cultivars. The eastern region was of interest in the study, due to it-being the major cassava producing area in the country. In addition, 30 cassava plants of different genotypes were chosen randomly along transects of each field and assessed for CBSD/CMD incidence and severity on preferred cultivars. Results showed that more than 64% of the farmers in eastern Uganda preferred NASE 03 due to its sweet taste and high yields, followed by NASE 14 (21%) because of its high yields. There was a significant (P≤0.001) correlation between cassava cultivars preferred and CBSD severity (r = -0.56), CBSD incidence (r = -0.53), CMD severity (r = -0.51) and CMD incidence (r = -0.39). In corroboration, the most preferred cultivar, NASE 03 was found most susceptible to CBSD and CMD in both Bukedea and Kumi districts with CBSD incidence of 62.2% and 52.7% and CMD incidence of 56.9% and 34.3% respectively. The results showed that CBSD and CMD are prevalent on farmer preferred cassava cultivars, and that farmer cultivar preference depends not only on disease resistance but also other attributes.

Numerical Analysis of Spreading Process of Ellipsoidal Spraying Droplet Impacting on Superhydrophobic Surface

Agricultural spray deposition is especially important for pesticide application because low efficiency can lead to environmental pollution, poor biological efficiency and economic loss. The deposition of pesticide spray on the leave surfaces is related to the impact kinetic behavior of droplets. But after considering the deformation of the droplet, how impingement will affect the deposition is an interesting research. In this study, a superhydrophobic surface was used to replace the plant surface that the pesticide droplets may affect. An interface tracking method was proposed to characterize the impingement dynamics behaviors of different ellipsoid droplets impacting on the surface. The maximum spreading coefficient and time of ellipsoidal droplets increased with the raise of their size. A lower sized droplet has a faster spreading rate, while the center of a higher sized droplet is thinner. As the velocity of pesticide increases, maximum spreading coefficient of droplet increases with a decrease in the maximum spreading time of droplet. The simulation results can contribute to provide theoretical basis for improving spray efficiency.

Combined Effects of Vernalization and Gibberellic Acid on Quality Seed Production of Summer Onion (Allium cepa L.)

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of vernalization and GA3 on seed yield and reproductive quality of summer onion. There were three vernalization treatments viz., no vernalization (control), vernalization at 5°C for 14 days and vernalization at 10°C for 14 days and four GA3 treatment viz., 0, 50, 100 and 150 ppm. The two-factor experiment was conducted in the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Combination between vernalization and GA3 was significant on the parameters such as plant height, number of leaves plant-1, the highest number of flowering stalk, number of umbels plant-1, number of bud umbel-1, percent flowering at 45 and 60 DAP, number of seeds umbel-1, weight of seeds umbel-1, weight of seeds plant-1, weight of seeds plot-1, 1000 seed weight, seed yield, number of fruits umbel-1, percent of fruit set umbel-1and percent germination. Combined effect of vernalization & GA3 was considered the highest seed yield (280.42 kgha-1) was obtained from vernalization at 5°C for 14 days with 100 ppm GA3. The lowest values of all the parameters were recorded in the control treatment. No limitation is found in the present experiment. Combined use of proper vernalization of mother bulb and suitable concentration of gibberellic acid can be one possible way to expand onion production during the summer.