Ciencia y tecnología veterinaria

Due to lack of regulations and certifications in Uganda for iron levels in animal feeds, there is great variability in iron levels in feeds from different suppliers. This may lead to under or over dosages of iron in animal feeds which may result in reduced farm productivity. In this study, locally produced animal feeds namely broiler starter, dairy meal and sow and weaner from six different suppliers namely Biyinzika, Mutima, Impala, Kuku, Nuvita, and Ugachic were investigated for their iron levels. The iron levels were determined using the European Commission method for Iron and atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results indicate a substantial variation in iron levels recorded for the different suppliers ranging from 70 to 630 mg/kg. This was linked to insufficient knowledge and expertise in feed formulations and the lack of local regulatory standards for iron in animal feeds in Uganda. However, the results obtained in this study are within the limits set by international standards agencies and comparable to other studies.

This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and intensity of small ruminant Cryptosporidium infection and to investigate the role of potential risk factors associated with the occurrence of the disease in Ziway dugda district of east arsi zone, Ethiopia. Faecal samples were collected from 174 sheep and 210 goats under the age of one year. Samples were analysed using the sheather’s sugar solution flotation technique and Modified Ziehl–Neelsen staining technique. 59 samples were found positive giving an overall prevalence of 15.4%. Significant difference (P<0.05,) was observed in the prevalence of small ruminant Cryptosporidium infection among poor, medium and good body condition animals (p-value=0.004), and in between diarrheic and non- diarrheic animals (p-value=0.002). However, all the risk factors considered in this study had no significant effect (p- value>0.05) on the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection. Regarding the intensity of the infection, 31 samples (8.1%) were scored as “high,” 17 (4.4%) were scored as “moderate,” and 11 (2.9%) were scored as “low,” while the remaining 325 samples (84.6%) were “negative”. The intensity of Cryptosporidium infection is significantly higher in small ruminants having poor body condition (p-value=0.038) and diarrhea (p-value=0.025). This study demonstrated the importance of Cryptosporidium infection in small ruminants less than one year of age and having diarrhea and poor body condition in Ziway dugda district of east arsi zone, Ethiopia.

Inefficient veterinary services remain one of the major challenges to the expansion of livestock sub-sector in Ethiopia. A survey was carried out, from November 2016 to April 2017, in Shebedino district of Sidama zone, south Ethiopia. The core objectives of the research were; to evaluate the delivery of veterinary services in compliance with the OIE recommendations; and to recommend feasible solutions which could help to improve the performance of veterinary services. A multi-stage random sampling technique was employed to select three peasant associations (PAs) for the study. A total of 100 households (livestock owners and community representatives) and 26 veterinary officers and administrative bodies were selected for the survey. Relevant data were collected through structured questionnaire, interviews, focus group discussions, and review of desk documents. The findings of the research revealed that the livestock resource in Shebedino district has been impeded by a wide range of rampant animal diseases. The majority of livestock owners (78%) preferred public veterinary services to combat the deleterious effects of animal health problems, professional skill, fairness of service charges and sustainability of veterinary services being the major determinants for service preference. On the contrary, private veterinary institutions were preferred and commanded due to the availability of relevant drugs and timeliness of veterinary services. Nonetheless, the findings disclosed the high cost of service, poor quality and limited sustainability of services as the major weaknesses of the private sector. Similarly, the public veterinary services were hampered most importantly by persistent limitation of financial resources to carry out routine clinical activities, livestock emergencies and epidemiological surveillance. Furthermore, considerable external influence on technical decisions; weak chain of command; limited interaction among concerned stakeholders; and the absence of public awareness about animal welfare were the identified weaknesses to effective administration of veterinary services in the study area. Based on the present findings, it is recommended that public veterinary services should maintain their technical freedom, acquire sufficient physical and financial resources to assume their responsibilities. Finally, privatization should be encouraged to create competitive environment for effective veterinary services.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate carcass characteristics of Menz ram lambs fed grass hay basal diet and supplemented different combination of wheat bran and lentil broken screening. The treatments were T₁ (30 g wheat bran 133 g lentil broken screening), T₂ (235 g lentil broken screening only), T₃ (285 g wheat bran only), and T₄ (227 g wheat bran and 120 lentil broken screening). Twenty-four Menz ram lambs of 8 to 10 months of age were grouped into six blocks based on their initial body weight and treatments were randomly distributed to each block of four animals. Six animals per treatment were used for feed intake and body weight change evaluation. Five lambs from each treatment were randomly picked and slaughtered for carcass evaluation. Wheat bran and lentil screening combination affected (P ≤ 0.01) the daily total dry matter intake (TDMI), final body weight, total weight gain and average daily weight gain (P ≤ 0.001) of lambs with the highest value recorded from T₄ diet categories. The experimental lambs showed lower (P ≤ 0.01) feed conversion efficiency (0.06) for the diet containing 30 g wheat bran and 133 g lentil screening (T₁) than the values recorded from T₂, T₃ and T₄ groups. The slaughter body weight was lower (P ≤ 0.001) for those lambs were assigned in T₁ than in T₂, T₃ and T₄. The higher (P ≤ 0.001) empty body weight (19.56 g) was recorded for lambs assigned to T₄ diet than T₁ followed by T₂ and T₃ diet. The carcass yield of lambs was increased (P ≤ 0.01) at T₄ supplemented groups than at T₁ and T₂ diets. The concentrate combination effect was non-significant (P ≥ 0.05) on dressing percentage, and proportions of carcass lean, fat and bone. Lambs assigned to T₄ diet had higher weight of kidney fat and ureo-genital tract (P ≤ 0.01) as well as respiratory tract and blood (P ≤ 0.05) than seen for other treatment categories. Except the dry matter percent of carcass fat (P ≤ 0.001), all carcass quality parameters were not affected (P ≥ 0.05) by the concentrate diet combinations. Carcass yield and quality of Menz ram lambs was better at feeding plan of grass hay basal diet and 227 g wheat bran and 120 g lentil broken screening concentrate mixture supplementation.

Forty-eight crossbred Holstein cows were grouped into three treatments in 3x2 factorial experiments to determine the effect of concentrate feeding levels and frequency on feed intake and efficiency, body weight change, milk yield and quality. Cows in each treatment were randomly assigned to mixed concentrate at 2%, 2.5% and 3% of their initial average body weights. Moreover; cows in each treatment were randomly subdivided into two groups (n=8); and one group fed mixed concentrate two times while the other group fed three times in daily in two and three equal portions. All data were analyzed with SAS and a difference was detected by Duncan’s multiple range test. All treatment groups showed an increased trend in weight gain even though cows in T1 gained more weight. Cows fed concentrate three times per day gained 21.75 kg more weight in comparison to that of two times feeding. Animals provided with different levels of concentrate at the same frequency had less significant effect on average daily body weight gain (p<0.05), concentrate intake and production cost (p<0.05). Animals provided with the same level of concentrate at different feeding frequency had significant effect on average daily body weight gain, milk protein and total solid. Response in milk output to the level of concentrate input is slightly significant whereas there was no significant difference in milk response to concentrate feeding frequency. The economic analysis rate on concentrate return indicated that each additional unit of 1 Ethiopian Birr per cow cost increment resulted in 1.6 and 1.5 ETB benefit for two and three times feeding frequency whereas 0.98, 1.96 and 1.86 ETB benefit for cows fed at 3%, 2.5% and 2% of their body weight, respectively.