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Gebreyohannes Berhane - abstract fra doktorgradsavhandling
Ane Gro Siri SkjelfjordAbstract fra avhandlingen
Supplementation of vetch (Vicia sativa) hay to Begait and Abergelle goats in northern Ethiopia /
Tilskotsfôring med høy frå vetch (Vicia sativa) til Begait- og Abergelle-geiter i Nord-Etiopia
This thesis focuses on how to improve efficiency of traditional goat management systems in the dry and arid lowlands of northern Ethiopia. It consists of four papers.
Paper 1 compares the effect of different levels of vetch hay supplementation on milk yield of grazing/browsing Begait and Abergelle goats, breeds that are indigenous to the region. Milk yield increased by up to 50% by increasing level of supplementation, but fat content decreased by about 30% and total solids content by 15 to 20%. Total production of milk energy increased on average by approximately 20%. It can be concluded that an increase in mean daily and annual milk yield could improve milk supply at household level and consequently improve nutritional status, especially important for vulnerable groups like children and women of reproductive age. Begait goats, traditionally kept for milk production, produced more milk than Abergelle goats that are more important as meat producers. However, daily performance of the two breeds did not differ when calculated as energy corrected milk per kg metabolic weight.
Paper 2 investigates the effects of supplementing Begait and Abergelle goats with leguminous vetch hay on reproductive performance of does and growth rate of does and kids. Increased supplementation resulted in improved reproductive performance and higher live weight gains of goats and young stock. More goats in the highly supplemented groups were able to conceive and sustain pregnancy during the dry season and kid towards the end of the rains with more favourable conditions for growth and survival of kids. Age and body weight at first kidding were low in the experiment. It is suggested that postponing first mating might further improve body condition in the goats. Breed differences were found in live weight and growth rates of kids.
In paper 3, feeding behaviour as well as feed availability and feed preferences of grazing/ browsing Begait and Abergelle goats are studied. It is concluded that both breeds showed better preference to browsing than grazing during rainy and early dry period. In the mid and peak dry period goats showed higher trend of walking and grazing. Increased trend of walking for search of food in the dry season could consume more body energy reserves that would exhaust the body condition of goats. It is suggested that Begait and Abergelle goats should be reared in semi-extensive management conditions and be supplemented, especially during mid and peak dry season.
In paper 4, chemical composition and in vitro fermentation pattern of vetch (Vicia sativa) and some browse and grass species from northern Ethiopia were investigated. Vetch (fresh cut) was sampled during end of rainy period (late August) and vetch hay samples were taken during early dry period (mid September). All values except for Dry matter (DM) are given on percent of dry matter (% of DM) basis. Dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and ash content of vetch (fresh cut and oven dried) were 88.1, 24.3 and 10.1% respectively. Corresponding values for vetch hay were 90.4, 19.0 and 10.8%. The values for browse species range from 88.4 to 90.4, 14.2 to 24.7 and 6.2 to 11.2%, respectively in the rainy period and from 89.4 to 92.6, 9.9 to 18.5 and 6.8 to 22.4% in the early dry period. Grass species had values ranging from 88.1 to 89.1, 8.7 to 15.3 and 6.2 to 10.1%, respectively for the rainy period and 90.9 to 92.2, 5.3 to 8.3 and 7.6 to 11.1% for the early dry period. Vetch and the browse species evaluated in the present study can be classified as potential feed resources with high crude protein content and could be used as supplement during dry period for goats feeding. Grass species however showed larger differences between the rainy and dry season, with lower CP content for the later. Browse tree leaves and/or pods are available at no cost and much attention should be given to their utilization for rearing goats economically.
Pr. desember 2004:
Gebreyohannes Berhane, Ph.D, P. O. Box 1020, Mekelle University, Mekelle, ETHIOPIA
Tel. : + 251 9 70 03 83 (Mobile)
Fax: + 251 4 40 86 20
Publisert: 01.12.08
Oppdatert: 05.01.09
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