Commercial rhizobial inoculants significantly enhance growth and nitrogen fixation of a promiscuous soybean variety in Kenyan soils

Low effectiveness of native strains remains a limitation to soybean productivity in sub-Saharan Africa; while in other countries commercial inoculants are produced that provide effective strains that stimulate N fixation and growth. An experiment was set up to evaluate the response of a dual purpose promiscuous soybean variety (TGx1740-2F) and a non-promiscuous variety (Nyala) to commercial rhizobium inoculants in soils from central and coastal Kenya. Highest nodulation was observed in some of the treatments with commercial inoculants applied with nodule weights of 4.5 and 1.0 g plant⁻¹ for TGx1740-2F and Nyala, respectively. Average biomass yields of TGx1740-2F (16 g plant⁻¹) were twice as large as of Nyala (7.5 g plant⁻¹) at the podding stage. Nitrogen fixation was higher in TGx1740-2F than in Nyala, and positively affected by a number of commercial inoculants with more than 50% N derived from the atmosphere. Nodule occupancy was 100% on both soybean varieties, indicating that the commercial strains were extremely infective in both of the tested soils. These results showed that commercial strains can be used to inoculate promiscuous soybean and enhance N fixation and yield.     

Comparison of California Mastitis Test (CMT), Somatic Cell Counts (SCC) and bacteriological examinations for detection of camel (Camelus dromedarius) mastitis in Ethiopia

A total of 956 quarter milk samples from 253 traditionally managed lactating camels were collected aseptically from Negele (Borena Region), Dire Dawa, and Gewane (Afar Region), Ethiopia, according to multi-stage sampling. The quarter milk samples were subjected to California Mastitis Test (CMT), Somatic Cell Counts (SCC) and bacteriological examinations. Five hundred and seventy one (59.7%) quarter milk samples had microorganisms. Of these, 428 (75.0%) had isolates that were identified as major pathogens (MAP) and 143 (25.0%) as minor pathogens (MIP). A positive correlation was found between CMT scores and bacteriological classes (MAP, MIP) (p-value = 0.00). Strong correlation (p-value = 0.00) between CMT scores and SCC was recorded. The differences among the median log SCC of bacteriological classes (MAP, MIP) were not significant (p-value = 0.24). Similarly, the application of the cut-off level of 2.5 x 10(5) ml(-1) indicated less agreement (p-value = 0.32) for bacteriological classes MAP and MIP.     

Occurrence of hydatidosis in slaughter buffaloes (Bos bubalis) and helminths in stray dogs in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

The study aimed at identifying the occurrence of hydatidosis in slaughter buffaloes and helminth eggs, particularly Taenia spp. eggs in stray dogs' fecal samples in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. The study period was from November, 2004 to April, 2005. A total of 500 buffalo carcasses in a slaughterhouse, at the riversides and individual butchers'sites were examined for the presence of hydatid cysts. The cyst fluid was collected and microscopically examined to determine if it was fertile or not. Of the 500 carcasses examined, 10.6% had hydatid cysts. Specifically, the slaughterhouse carcasses had a 6.7% occurrence of hydatid cysts, whereas those examined at riversides and individual butcher places had 10.0% and 12.7%, respectively. Distributions of the hydatid cysts by specific organs showed single occurrence of 6.4% in lungs, 2.4% in livers and 1.8% in both, livers and lungs. In a total of 53 infected buffaloes, 58.5% were fertile and 41.5% sterile cysts. Overall, 366 faecal samples from stray dogs were collected around buffaloes slaughtering areas (slaughterhouse and individual butcher places), riversides, garbage sites and temple sites. These samples were examined by formalin-ether concentration technique to investigate the presence of different helminth eggs. The total prevalence of Taenia, hookworms, Trichuris/Capillaria,Toxocara, Spirometra and Physaloptera eggs were 12.8%, 18.3%, 19.1%, 12.8%, 1.4% and 1.9%, respectively.     

Effects of season and agro-ecological zone on the microbial quality of raw milk along the various levels of the value chain in Uganda

Dairy production in Uganda is pasture-based and traditional Ankole cattle make up 80% of the cattle herd, reared in both pastoral and agro-pastoral ecological zones. Regardless of the zone, milk quality is lowest in production basin during the dry season when ambient temperatures are highest and water is scarce. Poor hygiene and quality management contributed to the deterioration of raw milk quality during its storage and delivery to the final consumer, and concealed the seasonal effect when milk reached urban consumption areas. Poor milk quality is a challenge for the Ugandan Dairy Development Authorities who wish to make the milk value chain safe. This study provides baseline information for the implementation of an HACCP-based system to ensure the hygienic quality of milk from the farm to the market place.     

Effect of soybean meal diets on the growth performance,ammonia excretion rates,gut histology and feed cost of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fry

Aquaculture development in Ghana is currently limited by inadequate supply of fingerlings and prohibitive cost of commercial feeds among other challenges. This study tested the feasibility of using low‐cost feeds containing soybean meal instead of fishmeal for nursing Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fry. Three isonitrogenous (~48% crude protein) and isoenergetic (~17 kJ/g) diets with increasing inclusions of soybean meal as partial replacements for fishmeal were formulated. A commercial fishmeal‐based fry feed served as the control diet. Triplicate groups of 225 fish per tank (average initial weight: 2.09 ± 0.14 g) were stocked in a recirculating aquaculture system and fed the experimental diets for 21 days. Afterwards, we investigated the postprandial metabolism, nutrient digestibility, growth and gut histology in Nile tilapia fry. Simple economic analyses were also conducted to assess the cost‐effectiveness of the diets used in the feed trial. The dietary inclusions of the soybean meal significantly reduced feed cost by ~43% relative to the control diet. The growth performance and feed utilization parameters did not vary significantly among the different treatments. The soybean diets elicited significant reductions in villi heights and goblet cell numbers, which corresponded with increasing dietary levels of soybean meal. This study confirms the potential of soybean meal as a partial replacement for fishmeal in Nile tilapia fry diets in terms of lower feed costs, fish growth performance, nutrient digestibility and postprandial nitrogenous excretions. The inclusion of soybean, however, affected negatively the gut integrity of the fry.     

Haematological and serum biochemical parameters of West African Dwarf goats fed dried cassava leaves-based concentrate diets

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding different levels of dried cassava leaves at 0%, 20%, 40% and 60%, respectively, using guinea grass as basal feed, on the haematological and serum biochemical parameters of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats. The study lasted for 116 days during which haematological and serum biochemical parameters were monitored in 40 male goats before and after, using a completely randomized design. At the start of the experiment, packed cell volume (PCV) ranged from 21.5% to 25.5% while haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and RBC significantly (P < 0.01) ranged from 7.3 to 8.6 g/dl and 10.4 to 13.2 × 10¹²/l, respectively. White blood cells reduced significantly (P < 0.05)) from 16.4 to 11.7 × 10⁹/l) as dried cassava leaves increased in the diets. At the end of the trial, there was a slight increase in the values of PCV and Hb in the diets (P > 0.05). Lymphocyte reduced significantly (P < 0.05) from 50.0% to 63.5% in the diets. Neutrophils, however, increased (P > 0.05) at the 0% to 40% levels and reduced at the 60% level of dried cassava leaves inclusion. At the start of the experiment, values for glucose significantly (P < 0.05) ranged from 40.1 to 56.0 mg/dl. Total protein and albumin values ranged significantly (P < 0.05) from 56.0 to 68.5 g/dl and 30.6 to 38.4 g/dl, respectively. At the end of the experiment, serum creatinine increased significantly (P < 0.05) as the level of dried cassava leaves increased from 0% to 60% in the diets. The study revealed that inclusion of dried cassava leaves in the diets of West African Dwarf goats had no deleterious effects on the haematological and serum biochemical parameters of WAD goats and could therefore be included in ruminant diets up to 60%.     

Pre-implantation exogenous progesterone and pregnancy in sheep:Ⅰ. polyamines,nutrient transport,and progestamedins

Background:Administration of exogenous progesterone (P4) to ewes during the pre-implantation period advances conceptus development and implantation. This study ...     

In vitro effect of malathion and endosulfan on the LH-induced oocyte maturation in the common CARP,Cyprinus carpio (L.)

Effect of malathion (organophosphorus insecticide) and endosulfan (organochlorine insecticide) on in vitro LH-induced oocyte maturation was investigated in the oocytes of common carp, Cyprinus carpio. In control incubation, LH at the concentration of 10 μg mL^?1 induced 41.2 ± 1.6% of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). When the oocytes were incubated with malathion at the concentrations of 1000, 500, 100, and 50 ppb together with LH it could induce only 13.4 ± 0.4, 14.0 ± 1.0, 12.9 ± 3.5, and 18.1 ± 3.9% of GVBD, respectively. Similarly, when the oocytes were incubated with endosulfan at the concentrations of 0.5, 0.1, 0.05, and 0.01 ppb together with LH, it induced only 12.8 ± 1.6, 8.8 ± 1.2, 20.9 ± 2.1 and 26.0 ± 2.2% of GVBD, respectively. The significance of the result obtained were discussed on the basis of available literature.     

Abiotic constraints override biotic constraints in East African highland banana systems

Banana is the primary food crop in Uganda, but yields are low due to a complex of abiotic and biotic constraints. However, quantitative information on the importance, interactions, and geographic distribution of yields and constraints is scanty. We monitored yields, biotic and abiotic constraints in 159 plots in Central, South and Southwest Uganda in 2006–2007. About half the plots were on-farm demonstrations that received fertilizer (average 71N, 8P, 32 K kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) through a development project, the rest were ordinary farmer fields (i.e. controls). Fresh banana yields in controls were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher in Southwest (20 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) compared with Central (12 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) and South (10 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹). Demonstrations yielded 3–10 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ more than controls. Yield losses were calculated using the boundary line approach. In Central, yield losses, expressed as percentage of attainable yield, were mainly attributed to pests (nematodes 10% loss, weevils – 6%) and suboptimal crop management (mulch 25%). In South, poor soil quality (pH – 21%, SOM – 13%, N-total – 13%, and Clay – 11%) and suboptimal crop management (weeds – 20%) were the main constraints. In Southwest, suboptimal crop management (mulch 16%), poor soil quality (K/(Ca + Mg) − 11%) and low rainfall (5%) were the primary constraints. The study revealed that biotic stresses (i.e. pests, weeds) are particularly important in Central, whereas abiotic stresses (i.e. nutrient deficiencies, drought) dominate in South and Southwest. This study concludes that (i) technologies currently available allow farmers to double yields and (ii) past research efforts have mistakenly neglected abiotic constraints.