Digital Commons Network^™

The Cleaned Approach For Flagging And Addressing Environmental Issues, A. Notenbaert, B. Paul, R. Van Der Hoek, J. Mukiri

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

While livestock presents an important livelihood strategy for many smallholders, it is also held responsible for important environmental impacts. In this paper, we used an online survey to identify the perceptions of global livestock experts on environmental impacts of livestock and how these might be tackled. We then explored how the CLEANED environmental ex-ante assessment tool (Comprehensive Livestock Environmental Assessment for improved Nutrition, a secured Environment and sustainable Development = CLEANED) responds to this and how it can be used to influence decision making towards more environmentally-friendly livestock production.

According to the survey, there was general agreement between researchers, development …

Sahiwal Breed In Pastoral Production Systems In Kenya: Future Roles And Existing Gaps In Knowledge And Supportive Technical Logistics; A Review, Samson I. Mwangi, E. D. Ilatsia

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Sahiwal genetic resources is an integral part of the ASALs economy of Kenya. Sahiwal is the largest single dual purpose cattle breed kept by the pastoral communities in the ASALs where livestock products are the main drivers of food and nutrition security, and a source of income to support other household obligations. It was introduced in Kenya to upgrade the low performing small east African Zebu because of its superior productive and reproductive performance. The promising results of this upgrading programme led to the breed gaining preference over the local Zebu among the Maasai pastoralists. Despite the impressive results from …

Potential Of Croton Megalocarpus Nut As An Alternative Protein Supplement For Feeding Of Ruminants In The Tropics, E. K. Njoroge, C. C. Wambui, C. B. Wasike

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Croton megalocarous is a tree native to the arid and semi-arid rangelands of East Africa that produces nuts reported to contain high crude protein (CP). However, they are often neglected as a potential feed due to lack of information on how best to utilize them. This study was conducted to evaluate the chemical composition and in sacco dry matter (DM) degradability of four forms of croton namely whole nut (WN), peeled nut (PN), De-husked nut (DhN) and Defatted seed (DfS). DM of all forms was above 89%, ash content was highest in WN (5.9%) and least in PN (2.2%). Crude …

Pastoralism, Social, Gender, And Policy Issues, Nahid Naghizadeh

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Nearly half of the Earth's land surface is classified as rangelands. Rangeland's health and productivity are directly critical to the livelihoods, cultures, and resilience of more than 500 million people worldwide, many of whom are indigenous peoples who depend on rangelands. Pastoralism is very diverse; it can be found in all continents, from the drylands of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula to the highlands of Asia and Latin America, or the tundra in the circumpolar zones, and in particular where crop cultivation is physically limited. Pastoralism supports several hundred million households worldwide and manages one billion animals, including camels, cattle, …

Ecological Science Infrastructure For Sustainability Transformations In Rangelands, Brandon T. Bestelmeyer, J. E. Herrick, J. R. Brown, D. M. Browning, B. Densambuu, E. Elias, S. E. Mccord, H. R. Peinetti, S. Spiegal, N. P. Webb, J. C. Williamson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Sustainability transformations—deliberate and radical shifts in values, governance, and management regimes to achieve sustainability—are needed in rangelands as in other components of the Earth system. We review four concepts comprising an ecological science infrastructure to support such transformations. The foundation is standard measurement of rangeland conditions in the field, especially vegetation and soil properties that underpin the environmental aspects of sustainability. Big data resources, especially gridded spatial datasets produced by models and remote sensing, can be combined with field data and computational approaches to upscale information about rangeland conditions and produce additional indicators of ecosystem functions and services. State and …

Annual Ryegrass Pasture For Dairy Cows Receiving Total Mixed Ration, M. Civiero, L. H. Schaitz, C. P. Ferris, Henrique M. N. Ribeiro-Filho

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The inclusion of herbage in the diet of medium yielding dairy cows offered a total mixed ration (TMR) may be beneficial. This study, which involved mid lactation dairy cows, examined the effect of partial replacement of a TMR with annual temperate pasture. Treatments were ad libitum TMR (TMR₁₀₀), 75% ad libitum TMR + ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum ‘Maximus’) (TMR₇₅), and 50% ad libitum TMR + ryegrass (TMR₅₀). Twelve multiparous Holstein and F1 Jersey × Holstein cows were divided into six homogeneous groups, taking account of milk production (26.6 ± 4.5 kg/day), days in milk …

Free-Enterprise Farming On Grasslands In Central Nsw, Australia, Des Green, Stuart Green, Ted Wolfe, Jo Richardson, Rob Eccles

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A pathway is described in developing and improving the pastures on family-owned sheep and beef properties at sites near Blayney in central NSW. Initially, the twin approach of sowing perennial grasses, predominantly phalaris (Phalaris aquatica) with subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) plus the recommended addition of superphosphate fertiliser, was closely followed but within a decade ill-thrift in pastures and livestock occurred. Once the core problem of soil acidity was recognised, steps were taken to overcome this constraint with applications of lime. However, an additional modification involving the application of gypsum with lime had to be sorted out …

A Global Survey Of Infection Control And Mitigation Measures For Combating The Transmission Of Covid-19 Pandemic In Buildings Under Facilities Management Services, Hadi Sarvari, Zhen Chen, Daniel W. M. Chan, Ellyn A. Lester, Nordin Yahaya, Hala Nassereddine, Aynaz Lotfata

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Facilities management along with health care are two important aspects in controlling the spread of infectious diseases with regard to controlling the outbreak of global COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, with the increasing outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of examining the relationship between the built environment and the outbreak of infectious diseases has become more significant. The aim of the research described in this article is to develop effective infection control and mitigation measures to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 pandemic in the built environment. This study seeks to answer the question of how the facilities management industry can help reduce …

Blood Flow Restriction Training After Patellar Instability (Brains Trial), Benjamin D. Brightwell, Austin V. Stone, Xiaojuan Li, Peter A. Hardy, Katherine L. Thompson, Brian W. Noehren, Cale A. Jacobs

Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine Faculty Publications

Background

Patellar instability is a common and understudied condition that disproportionally affects athletes and military personnel. The rate of post-traumatic osteoarthritis that develops following a patellar dislocation can be up to 50% of individuals 5–15 years after injury. Conservative treatment is the standard of care for patellar instability however, there are no evidence-informed rehabilitation guidelines in the scientific literature. The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of blood-flow restriction training (BFRT) for patellar instability. Our hypotheses are that this strategy will improve patient-reported outcomes and accelerate restoration of symmetric strength and knee biomechanics necessary to safely return …

Long-Lasting Impairments In Quadriceps Mitochondrial Health, Muscle Size, And Phenotypic Composition Are Present After Non-Invasive Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury, Steven M. Davi, Ahram Ahn, Mckenzie S. White, Timothy A. Butterfield, Kate Kosmac, Oh Sung Kwon, Lindsey K. Lepley

Center for Muscle Biology Faculty Publications

Introduction: Despite rigorous rehabilitation aimed at restoring muscle health, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is often hallmarked by significant long-term quadriceps muscle weakness. Derangements in mitochondrial function are a common feature of various atrophying conditions, yet it is unclear to what extent mitochondria are involved in the detrimental sequela of quadriceps dysfunction after ACL injury. Using a preclinical, non-invasive ACL injury rodent model, our objective was to explore the direct effect of an isolated ACL injury on mitochondrial function, muscle atrophy, and muscle phenotypic transitions.

Methods: A total of 40 male and female, Long Evans rats (16-week-old) were exposed to …

A Global Survey Of Infection Control And Mitigation Measures For Combating The Transmission Of Covid-19 Pandemic In Buildings Under Facilities Management Services, Hadi Savari, Zhen Chen, Daniel W. M. Chan, Ellyn A. Lester, Nordin Bin Yahaya, Hala Nassereddine, Aynaz Lotfata

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Facilities management along with health care are two important aspects in controlling the spread of infectious diseases with regard to controlling the outbreak of global COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, with the increasing outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of examining the relationship between the built environment and the outbreak of infectious diseases has become more significant. The aim of the research described in this article is to develop effective infection control and mitigation measures to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 pandemic in the built environment. This study seeks to answer the question of how the facilities management industry can help reduce …

Forage Systems To Optimize Agronomic And Economic Performance In Organic Dairy Systems, S. Ray Smith, G. Pighetti, D. M. Butler, Kenneth H. Burdine, Krista Lea, K. Mercier, K. Payne, J. Allison, Gary E. Bates, N. Colton, A. Rius, P. Krawczel, E. Eckelkamp

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Organic dairy production in the USA is growing, but most forage systems research focuses on conventional production practices. As a result, organic dairy producers have limited science-based information to assist with farm and livestock management. The objective of this project was to use a multi-faceted approach to determine the ideal species mixtures for organic dairy production as well as document forage quality, forage yield, soil characteristics, milk production and milk quality during the grazing season. The forages studied ranged from a single species monoculture to a four species mixture of warm and cool season grasses and legumes. Nine distinct forage …

Effect Of High-Intensity, Short-Duration Grazing On Species Density And Botanical Composition Of Arid Rangelands, Mounir Louhaichi, Mouldi Gamoun, Fethi Gouhis, Ezzeddine Belfekih, Mohamed Abdelkader

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Rangelands are the mainstay of pastoral and agropastoral livelihoods worldwide. They have provided forage for livestock and wildlife for centuries, but steady degradation of rangelands is causing increasing concern. Many rangeland managers believe exclusion of livestock grazing for extended periods would allow degraded rangelands to recover. The purpose of this current ongoing research is to evaluate the effect of high-intensity short-duration grazing on plant density, species richness and botanical composition on arid rangelands during favorable years. The site, which is protected for two years in southern Tunisia and covers an area of 6 ha, was grazed by a flock of …

Optimizing Mandibular Advancement Maneuvers During Sleep Endoscopy With A Titratable Positioner: Dise-Sam Protocol, Patricia Fernández-Sanjuán, Juan José Arrieta, Jaime Sanabria, Marta Alcaraz, Gabriela Bosco, Nuria Pérez-Martín, Adriana Pérez, Marina Carrasco-Llatas, Isabel Moreno-Hay, Marcos Ríos-Lago, Rodolfo Lugo, Carlos O’Connor-Reina, Peter Baptista, Guillermo Plaza

Oral Health Science Faculty Publications

Mandibular advancement devices (MAD) are an effective alternative treatment to CPAP. Different maneuvers were performed during drug sleep-induced endoscopy (DISE) to mimic the effect of MAD. Using the Selector Avance Mandibular (SAM) device, we aimed to identify MAD candidates during DISE using a titratable, reproducible, and measurable maneuver. This DISE-SAM protocol may help to find the relationship between the severity of the respiratory disorder and the degree of response and determine the advancement required to improve the collapsibility of the upper airway. Explorations were performed in 161 patients (132 males; 29 females) with a mean age of 46.81 (SD = …

Form Of Supplemental Selenium Affects The Expression Of Mrna Transcripts Encoding Selenoproteins, And Proteins Regulating Cholesterol Uptake, In The Corpus Luteum Of Grazing Beef Cows, Sarah N. Carr, Benjamin R. Crites, Joy L. Pate, Camilla H. K. Hughes, James C. Matthews, Phillip J. Bridges

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Selenium (Se)-deficient soils necessitate supplementation of this mineral to the diet of forage-grazing cattle. Functionally, Se is incorporated into selenoproteins, some of which function as important antioxidants. We have previously shown that the source of supplemental Se; inorganic (sodium selenite or sodium selenate; ISe), organic (selenomethionine or selenocysteine; OSe) or 1:1 mix of ISe and OSe (MIX), provided to Angus-cross cows affects concentrations of progesterone (P4) during the early luteal phase of the estrous cycle. In this study, we sought to investigate (1) the effect of form of Se on the expression of mRNA encoding selenoproteins in the corpus luteum …

Form Of Supplemental Selenium Affects The Expression Of Mrna Transcripts Encoding Selenoproteins, And Proteins Regulating Cholesterol Uptake, In The Corpus Luteum Of Grazing Beef Cows, Sarah Carr, Benjamin R. Crites, Joy Pate, Camilla Hughes, James C. Matthews, Phillip J. Bridges

Animal and Food Sciences Graduate Research

Selenium (Se)-deficient soils necessitate supplementation of this mineral to the diet of forage-grazing cattle. Functionally, Se is incorporated into selenoproteins, some of which function as important antioxidants. We have previously shown that the source of supplemental Se; inorganic (sodium selenite or sodium selenate; ISe), organic (selenomethionine or selenocysteine; OSe) or 1:1 mix of ISe and OSe (MIX), provided to Angus-cross cows affects concentrations of progesterone (P4) during the early luteal phase of the estrous cycle. In this study, we sought to investigate (1) the effect of form of Se on the expression of mRNA encoding selenoproteins in the corpus luteum …

Gut Microbial Trimethylamine Is Elevated In Alcohol-Associated Hepatitis And Contributes To Ethanol-Induced Liver Injury In Mice, Robert N. Helsley, Tatsunori Miyata, Anagha Kadam, Venkateshwari Varadharajan, Naseer Sangwan, Emily C. Huang, Rakhee Banerjee, Amanda L. Brown, Kevin K. Fung, William J. Massey, Chase Neumann, Danny Orabi, Lucas J. Osborn, Rebecca C. Schugar, Megan R. Mcmullen, Annette Bellar, Kyle L. Poulsen, Adam Kim, Vai Pathak, Marko Mrdjen

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

There is mounting evidence that microbes residing in the human intestine contribute to diverse alcohol-associated liver diseases (ALD) including the most deadly form known as alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH). However, mechanisms by which gut microbes synergize with excessive alcohol intake to promote liver injury are poorly understood. Furthermore, whether drugs that selectively target gut microbial metabolism can improve ALD has never been tested. We used liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry to quantify the levels of microbe and host choline co-metabolites in healthy controls and AH patients, finding elevated levels of the microbial metabolite trimethylamine (TMA) in AH. In subsequent studies, we …

Human Microrna (Mir-20b-5p) Modulates Alzheimer’S Disease Pathways And Neuronal Function, And A Specific Polymorphism Close To The Mir20b Gene Influences Alzheimer’S Biomarkers, Ruizhi Wang, Nipun Chopra, Kwangsik Nho, Bryan Maloney, Alexander G. Obukhov, Peter T. Nelson, Scott E. Counts, Debomoy K. Lahiri

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with loss of cognitive, executive, and other mental functions, and is the most common form of age-related dementia. Amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) contributes to the etiology and progression of the disease. Aβ is derived from the amyloid-β precursor protein (APP). Multiple microRNA (miRNA) species are also implicated in AD. We report that human hsa-miR20b-5p (miR-20b), produced from the MIR20B gene on Chromosome X, may play complex roles in AD pathogenesis, including Aβ regulation. Specifically, miR-20b-5p miRNA levels were altered in association with disease progression in three regions of the human brain: temporal neocortex, …

Rangeland Degradation In Mongolia – Using State And Transition Models To Help Understand Rangeland Dynamics, S. Sainnemekh, B. Densambuu, B. Bestelmeyer, I. C. Barrio, A. L. Aradóttir

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Rangeland degradation and soil erosion pose constant challenges to the management of natural resources in Mongolia. Large increases in livestock numbers since the early 1990s, together with increasing temperatures and higher frequency of extreme weather events have led to widespread degradation of rangeland resources, to the extent that today, nearly 57% of rangelands in Mongolia are considered degraded to some degree. New ways of understanding the dynamics of rangeland ecosystems and guidelines to conserve healthy and productive rangelands are urgently needed. The application of State and Transition Models (STMs) in ecosystem management has shown promise to understand the mechanistic processes …

Interindividual Differences And Their Consistency In Grazing Cattle Behavior Across Seasons, H. Anzai, M. Shitajikkoku, K. Hani, N. Yamada, M. Hirata

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Interindividual differences and their consistency in behavior were investigated for cattle (Bos taurus) grazing a bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) and centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) dominated pasture as a herd of about 30 breeding cows with their calves. Behavior of the cows was monitored directly by observers and also using GPS and accelerometer data loggers attached to focal cows for a period of 1–5 days every month during the grazing seasons (from May to October) in 2018 and 2019. The data were converted into behavioral variables (e.g. time spent grazing, ruminating and resting, time spent in particular …

Therapeutic Treatment With The Anti-Inflammatory Drug Candidate Mw151 May Partially Reduce Memory Impairment And Normalizes Hippocampal Metabolic Markers In A Mouse Model Of Comorbid Amyloid And Vascular Pathology, David J. Braun, David K. Powell, Christopher J. Mclouth, Saktimayee M. Roy, D. Martin Watterson, Linda J. Van Eldik

Neuroscience Faculty Publications

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in the elderly, but therapeutic options are lacking. Despite long being able to effectively treat the ill-effects of pathology present in various rodent models of AD, translation of these strategies to the clinic has so far been disappointing. One potential contributor to this situation is the fact that the vast majority of AD patients have other dementia-contributing comorbid pathologies, the most common of which are vascular in nature. This situation is modeled relatively infrequently in basic AD research, and almost never in preclinical studies. As part of our efforts to develop …

Therapeutic Treatment With The Anti-Inflammatory Drug Candidate Mw151 May Partially Reduce Memory Impairment And Normalizes Hippocampal Metabolic Markers In A Mouse Model Of Comorbid Amyloid And Vascular Pathology, David J. Braun, David K. Powell, Christopher J. Mclouth, Saktimayee M. Roy, D. Martin Watterson, Linda J. Van Eldik

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in the elderly, but therapeutic options are lacking. Despite long being able to effectively treat the ill-effects of pathology present in various rodent models of AD, translation of these strategies to the clinic has so far been disappointing. One potential contributor to this situation is the fact that the vast majority of AD patients have other dementia-contributing comorbid pathologies, the most common of which are vascular in nature. This situation is modeled relatively infrequently in basic AD research, and almost never in preclinical studies. As part of our efforts to develop …

The Type And Quantity Of Plant Litter Influences The Plant Functional Group Growth In An Alpine Meadow, Zhouwen Ma, Fujiang Hou

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Plant functional group (PFG) diversity in a grassland is an important measure of productivity and health. Litter is known to be major driving factors of soil-grass feedbacks in natural grassland. The shift in PFG composition is a significant change that can result many ecological consequences such as litter composition and dynamics (Dong et al., 2019). Decomposition of litter can affect the nutrient and allelochemicals cycling of soil, which affects seed germination and establishment of seedlings (Yuan et al., 2015). Furthermore, PFG characteristics can vary via inputs of the quality or quantity of litter (Galvánek & Lepš, 2012). These compositional changes …

The Functional Importance Of Forbs In Grassland Ecosystems, F. Siebert, C. Morris, S. Chamane, N. Ntuli, S. J. Siebert

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Herbaceous vegetation in grassland ecosystems is characterised by grass dominance in a species-rich forb-grass mixture. Forbs (i.e. the non-graminoid herbaceous component) represent the largest proportion of total species- and functional richness, which secure important ecosystem functions. Although grasses remain the most important forage source, certain forb species provide nutritious food sources for herbivores. Moreover, forbs provide food- and habitat sources to enhance invertebrate diversity and hence, agricultural food security through the maintenance of healthy pollinator communities. Important food and medicinal sources for human livelihoods in developing countries are also largely contributed by forbs. However, the dynamics and ecology of forb …

Assessing Feed Gaps On Smallholder Livestock Farms In Limpopo: Production System And Coping Strategies, S. A. Lamega, M. Komainda, M. P. Hoffmann, J. J. Odhiambo, K. K. Ayisi, J. Isselstein

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Smallholder farms in southern Africa are predominantly mixed crop-livestock systems and often characterized by low productivity. Therefore, providing sufficient forage becomes a challenge that results first in feed gaps, i.e. the difference between the demand for and supply of forage, and secondly, in nutrient mining of the soil due to the overuse of the resources. However, the availability of forage follows potentially seasonal patterns. Hence, a key entry point for any intervention strategies for improvement is an assessment of forage quantity and quality throughout the year. Against this background, we investigated six locations, smallholders’ cattle production systems and their adaptation …

Iam Hiq—A Novel Pair Of Accuracy Indices For Imputed Genotypes, Albert Rosenberger, Viola Tozzi, Heike Bickeböller, Susanne M. Arnold, The Integral-Ilcco Consortium

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Background: Imputation of untyped markers is a standard tool in genome-wide association studies to close the gap between directly genotyped and other known DNA variants. However, high accuracy with which genotypes are imputed is fundamental. Several accuracy measures have been proposed and some are implemented in imputation software, unfortunately diversely across platforms. In the present paper, we introduce Iam hiQ, an independent pair of accuracy measures that can be applied to dosage files, the output of all imputation software. Iam (imputation accuracy measure) quantifies the average amount of individual-specific versus population-specific genotype information in a linear manner. …

Farmers’ Perceptions On Different Forage Types In Southern Highlands Of Tanzania, B. Nzogela, S. W. Mwendia, A. J. Mwilawa, J. Kizima, J. Bwire, A. O. Notenbaert

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Feed and forages take the bulk of inputs required in livestock production. Inadequate forages in quality and quantity in sub-Saharan Africa is responsible for low livestock productivity. Addressing livestock feed requirements presents quick wins in livestock productivity compared to breeding and health. In a Climate Smart Dairy project implemented in Tanzania, we demontrated several forage options to farmers including, two cultivars of Pennisetum purpureum, two Urochloa hybrids, Chrloris gayana and Tripsacum andersonii (control). Where applicable, the grasses were intercropped with either one of the following forage legume, Desmodium intortum, Lablab purpureus or Stylosanthes guiyanensis. Fourteen forage treaments …

Examining The Impact Of Patch Burning On Livestock Grazing Patterns In Edwards Plateau, Texas, W. G. Gao, J. P. A. Angerer, X. B. W. Wu, D. T. Tolleson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Production of sheep, goat, and cattle are major agricultural enterprises on West Texas rangelands, especially in the Edwards Plateau. In this region, the use of fire as a management tool was suppressed until recently. Although previous studies have been conducted to evaluate cattle use of burned versus unburned patches, there has been a lack of studies where combinations of livestock species grazing together on patch burned areas have been evaluated. The objective of this study is to examine grazing patterns of cattle, sheep and goats, both spatially and temporally, on areas where patch burning has been implemented. The study site …

Simple Guidelines For Deciding When Soil Variability Does – And Doesn’T – Matter For Rangeland Management And Restoration, Jeff E. Herrick, J. Maynard, B. Bestelmeyer, A. Ganguli, J. Glover, K. Johnson, D. Kimiti, J. Neff, G. Peacock, J. Peters, S. Salley, P. Shaver, K. Shepherd, Z. Stewart, R. Van Den Bosch

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

“Rangelands in most parts of the world are relatively homogenous and can be managed uniformly at the landscape scale” or “rangelands are extremely diverse and require different approaches even at the landscape scale.” Both statements are made frequently by rangelands scientists and managers. Both are correct. Whether or not it is worthwhile to consider soil variability when planning management and restoration at the landscape scale depends on objectives, location, and the management or restoration strategies under consideration. Together these factors determine whether outcomes are likely to be different at different locations in the landscape, and whether those outcomes can be …

Effects Of Banana Peels On Chicken Weight Gain And Egg Production In The Urban And Peri-Urban Areas Of Aksum City, Ethiopia, H. G. Araya, S. G. Gebrekristos, W. V. Oliver

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

High feed cost of running urban-animal-agriculture and huge city wastes are challenges of the growing towns in modern Ethiopia. Egg production microenterprise is steadily growing due to its low initial investment and ready market in urban and peri-urban areas. However, cost of egg production is high due to the rising cost of corn, the main feed ingredient in poultry rations. Using banana peels, which forms a great proportion of city waste in Ethiopia, is seen as a way of not only reducing the waste, but also as an alternative low-cost feed supplement that could help enhance egg production by small-holder …