Ethiopian Journal of Science and Technology

Growth and milk production performance of Abergelle goats under the community-based breeding program in northern Ethiopia

Yeshiwas Walle — 2024-05-27

Community-based goat breeding program (CBBP) is becoming an alternative genetic improvement approach for low input production system and being implemented nationwide in Ethiopia. A community-based breeding program was implemented in Abergelle goat breed for six years (2014-2019) at Bilaque village in Ziquala district, Wag-himra zone of North Eastern Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to evaluate the growth and milk production performance of Abergelle goats under community-based genetic improvement program. Best bucks were selected on a yearly basis based on their estimated breeding value and unselected bucks were culled out from the population through castration and sale. Body weight of kids and does milk yield data were collected from flock in the community-based breeding program. A general linear model procedure of SAS was used for data analysis. Birth type, year of birth, and parity had significant (p<0.05) effects on the pre-weaning growth performance of Abergelle goats. The mean yearling weight of kids had slightly increased from 12.8±0.11 to 13.7±0.12 kg during the course of four round selections. Daily milk yield was significantly (p<0.05) affected by the season of lactation and years. Average daily milk yield has increased from 300.31±7.41 ml to 352.62±14.33 ml during the selection years. Death (22%), sale (44%), share (5.5%), and slaughtering (8%) were the major off-take reasons in the flock. The study gave some insight into the possibility of improvement of growth and milk production traits through strategic design and implementation of community-based selective breeding approaches. This approach can suit the existing management level and breeding practices of farmers and it can allow the use of elite bucks and the removal of inferior ones from the population.

Physicochemical, functional and pasting properties of cassava starch: Potential of developing flexible packaging film

Desta Geta Kume — 2024-05-21

Developing multipurpose flexible packaging mainly from starch film is essential both from food safety and environmental issues. Starch has various functional, pasting, and physicochemical properties. A study was conducted to evaluate the physicochemical, functional, and pasting properties of Qulle (Q) and Kello (K) cassava starch and develop plastic film. A Completely Randomized Design with the main responses such as vital proximate composition, viscosity profiles, water absorption capacity, oil absorption property, and film strength was employed. All data analysis were performed using Design Expert software version 7.0.0. The result showed K starch moisture of 11.4%, ash 1.1%, fat 0.11%, protein 0.52%, fiber 0.01%, and carbohydrate 86.85%. Q cassava starch moisture was 10.6%, ash 0.13%, fat 0.13%, protein 0.35%, fiber 0.09%, and carbohydrate 88.7%. The proximate parameters showed a significant difference between Q and K’s starches at p < 0.05. The amylose of Q starch was 26.29 % and K was19.16%, which were significantly different (p < 0.05). Variations in amylose affected the functional properties of starches. The peak and breakdown viscosities of K starch were higher indicating that the final viscosity and peak temperature of Q starch affects its application. The functional and pasting parameters of Q and K starches varied significantly (p < 0.05). The plastic film developed from Q starch had low moisture, water absorption capacity, high transparency, tensile strength, and water solubility. It is concluded that Q cassava starch-based film is recommended for multipurpose flexible packaging. Overall, the functional and pasting properties of Q and K starches are influenced by amylose and proximate composition which impact their applications.

Effects of aerosol particles on precipitation and cloud parameters over East Africa-Ethiopia using MODIS satellite data: Part 01

Ambachew Abeje Alemu — 2024-05-21

The aerosol-cloud-precipitation interactions – ACPIs - are uncertain that show a large spatiotemporal variability in their magnitude. These things happen because of the effects of aerosol particles on precipitation and cloud parameters, environmental and meteorological conditions, industrial and agricultural influences, and other human influences and natural factors in each ecological functional area. For this study, aerosol and cloud data were retrieved from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer MODIS sensors. These comprised of the aerosol optical depth AOD, Ångström exponent AET, atmospheric water vapor AWV, mean cloud fraction CFM, cloud top pressure CTP, and cloud top temperature CTT. Precipitation data is comprised of 3B43 products sourced from Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission TRMM and the outgoing long-wave radiation OLR flux is comprised of Clouds and Earth‘s Radiant Energy System CERES satellite instruments. The study covers sixteen sites in East Africa-Ethiopia with neighboring countries - Eritrea, Djibouti, and South Sudan clustered into four regions for the periods of 2001–2022 to provide detailed information on the aerosol particles spatiotemporal effects on clouds and precipitation. The increase-decrease AWV, CFM and PPT fluctuations are with AOD opposing OLR, CTP and CTT. The parameters are oriented towards western part mostly in the southwest region of the study area. The minima values were found at the southeast cluster in 2022 for all AOD, AWV and CFM; in 2010 for PPT and OLR and in 1999 and for OLR with their maxima at northeast cluster in 2010 for AOD, AWV and CFM; in 2009 for PPT; and in 2011 and 2022 for CTP and CTT from both instruments. Accordingly, the AOD, AWV, CFM, PPT, CTP and CTT minimum values are 0.22, 1.90, 0.21, 1.15, 253.86, 504.53 and 257.73 for Terra and 0.18, 1.91, 0.27, 252.14, 533.43 and 262.94 for Aqua, and the maxima are 0.35, 2.33, 0.33, 2.26, 271.23, 619.08 and 268.49 for Terra and 0.35, 2.35, 0.41, 272.22, 640.07 and 272.58 for Aqua, respectively. The parameters OLR and AWV had the lowest optimum significant PCs at the Humera and Dahlak sites whereas the PCs retained based on AET at the Awassa site and AWV at the Dangote site were the highest. Differences in retained PCs point to different atmospheric dynamics responsible for the behavior of climate during various seasons of the year and the spatial coherence arising from both interannual and intraseasonal variability. And our observation using the HYSPLIT model and fire map confirms that transported aerosol particles in the atmosphere show varied source regions, mostly the Arabian desert and the southwest Indian ocean, at different levels.

Towards up scaling integrated faba bean gall disease management in South Gondar Zone, Western Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Mulugeta Alemayehu — 2024-05-21

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is a major staple food and an important pulse crop in terms of area coverage and volume of annual production in Ethiopia. However, its productivity is declining due to the newly emerged faba bean gall disease. The disease also occurs under smallholder farmers' conditions in the Amhara region, although the information regarding its status and management practices is limited. Therefore, this pre-scaling up activity was conducted in 2020 and 2021 in South Gonder Zone of the Amhara Region with the objectives promoting improved management of faba bean gall disease, creating and strengthening linkage among stakeholders involved in faba bean production, and enhancing the availability of Wolki and Hachalu improved faba bean varieties with other components of the package. Host farmers were selected in collaboration with development agents and experts of the woreda (district) based on their interest in engaging with diligence and vigor. Training was provided to host farmers, development agents, and agricultural experts. A partial budget analysis was used to compare the benefit of integrated faba bean gall disease management with that of the local variety with local practices. The result shows that the Marginal Rate of Return (MRR) of Wolki was 464% in Ebenat and 435% in Libokemkem, while Hachalu variety has given a MRR of 560 in Farta and 386% in Libokemkem. As the result of the intervention, demand for faba bean gall disease management technology package was created, and linkage among the main actors was established and farmers acquired some amounts of improved seeds for future use. Therefore, as the MRR for the package in the study area is above 100%, it is worthwhile to upscale the packages to ensure the income, food, and nutrition security of rural households in the Amhara region and beyond where the crop is important.

Reproductive biology and feeding habits of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Pisces: Cichlidae) in Lake Boyo, Ethiopia

Tamirat Handago — 2024-05-29

Lake Boyo (Fig. 1) is among the few lakes hidden behind the major lakes of Central Ethiopian Rift Valley Region. It is a shallow, turbid and an open lake. Neither fishery activity nor fishery research has ever been conducted before in Lake Boyo. This research was conducted to provide baseline information on the reproductive biology and feeding habits of O. niloticus. It was conducted from May 2021 to September 2022. A total of 379 (197 males and 182 females) samples of O. niloticus were collected using gill nets of 6, 8 and 10 cm mesh size and beachseine of 6 mm mesh size. The results indicated that the sex ratio (Male: Female) was 1: 0.92 (p> 0.05). Length at first sexual maturity was 10.0 cm (TL) for males and 7.7 cm (TL) for females. Fecundity ranged from 216 to 1,157 eggs per fish. O. niloticus breeds throughout the year in the lake and the peak breeding months were from July to September and February to March. The length to weight relationship for males was 3.04, females 3.18 and combined sexes 3.12 and showed slight positive allometric growth pattern. The stomach content analysis showed that detritus, macrophytes and phytoplankton were the major food items while insects and zooplankton were less important. According to this study, it was concluded that O. niloticus is omnivorous. Further research should be carried out on the phytoplankton primary productivity and phytoplankton biomass of the lake for fish production.