Impact of enclosure management on soil properties and microbial biomass in a restored semi-arid rangeland,Kenya

Rangeland degradation is a serious problem throughout sub-Saharan Africa and its restoration is a challenge for the management of arid and semi-arid areas. In Lake Baringo Basin of Kenya, communities and individual farmers are restoring indigenous vegetation inside enclosures in an effort to combat severe land degradation and address their livelihood problems. This study evaluated the impact of enclosure management on soil properties and microbial biomass, being key indicators of soil ecosystem health. Six reseeded communal enclosures using soil embankments as water-harvesting structures and strictly regulated access were selected, varying in age from 13 to 23 years. In six private enclosures, ranging from 3 to 17 years in age, individual farmers emulated the communal enclosure strategy and restored areas for their exclusive use. Significant decreases in bulk density, and increases in the soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and microbial biomass contents and stocks were found in the enclosures as compared with the degraded open rangeland. In the private enclosures, the impact of rehabilitation on the soil quality was variable, and soil quality was in general lower than that obtained under communal management. The significant increase of absolute stocks of carbon, nitrogen and microbial biomass compared to the degraded open rangeland indicates the potential for the restoration of soil quality through range rehabilitation. Over-sowing with indigenous legume fodder species could improve total nitrogen content in the soil and nutritional value of the pastures as well.     

Development of an in vitro oviduct epithelial explants model for studying sperm–oviduct binding in the buffalo

In this study, we developed an in vitro model for studying sperm–oviduct binding in the buffalo. Oviduct explants were prepared by overnight culture of epithelial cells in TCM‐199 medium under 5% CO₂ at 38.5 °C. Cryopreserved spermatozoa from buffalo bulls (n = 4) were incubated with the oviduct explants, and the sperm–oviduct explants complex was stained with JC‐1. The effect of sperm concentration (2, 3 and 4 million), size of the oviduct explants (<0.2, 0.2–0.3, 0.3–0.4 and >0.4 mm²) and time of incubation (1 hr and 4 hr) on binding index (BI—number of sperm bound to unit area of explants) was studied. No significant difference was observed in the BI among <0.2, 0.2–0.3 and 0.3–0.4 mm² size of explants; however, the BI decreased significantly (p < .05) when the size of explants exceeded 0.4 mm². The BI decreased significantly (p < .05) when the sperm concentration was increased to 4 million, while the duration of incubation did not have any significant effect on the BI. The interaction of bulls with explants size, sperm concentration and incubation time was not significant. The developed assay has the potential to be used as an in vitro model for studying sperm–oviduct binding in the buffalo.     

Relationship of temperament with oestrous behaviour,resumption of ovarian cyclicity and milk yield in post‐partum Murrah buffaloes

This study was designed to investigate the relationship of temperament with oestrus, resumption of ovarian cyclicity and milk yield in post‐partum buffaloes. For this study, 102 post‐partum Murrah buffaloes were observed for temperament in open paddock and during milking. Based on the temperament score (1–5 score), they were classified into docile, slightly restless, restless, aggressive and nervous. Oestrous behaviour was monitored twice daily in all the buffaloes along with milk yield (weekly), body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) at day 0, 30, 60 and 90 post‐partum. Based on the temperament score, the number of buffaloes classified as docile, slightly restless, restless and aggressive was 37 (36.27%), 28 (27.45%), 30 (29.41%) and 7 (6.86%), respectively, but none under nervous category. Number of buffaloes resuming cyclicity in various temperaments groups were as follows: docile (n = 35; 94.59%), slightly restless (n = 22; 78.57%), restless (n = 20; 66.67%) and aggressive (n = 7; 85.71%). Temperament was not correlated (p = .128; r=?.152) with oestrous behaviour. But, temperament was correlated (p < .0001; r = .384) with the resumption of cyclicity as docile and slightly restless buffaloes resumed cyclicity (p < .0016) earlier. Temperament of buffaloes was weakly correlated (p = .0017; r=?.306) with milk production with higher (p < .0358) total milk yield in docile (1022 ± 23.75 kg) and slightly restless buffaloes (948 ± 35.86 kg) as compared to other temperament groups. In summary, temperament of post‐partum buffaloes was related with resumption of ovarian cyclicity and milk yield, but not oestrous behaviour.