Over recent years, the demand for livestock products in Ethiopia is increasing; most of this demand is coming from urban centers, especially from Addis Ababa, as the buyers are demanding better quality and more hygienic produce. This has fueled interest in better quality animal feed, mainly from larger-scale commercial livestock producers. With this background, there has been interest in stimulating plant-based protein production that can be incorporated into livestock feed. Small quantities of lupins are grown (less than 20,000 ton per year) in the North Western part of Ethiopia for human consumption. These lupins are bitter due to their alkaloid concentration and are unsuitable for livestock feed. If non-bitter (sweet) varieties are grown, then they could be a source of protein for animals as is the case in some countries, such as Australia. The Ethiopian market for livestock feed was surveyed and segmented to evaluate the opportunities for lupins. The survey revealed that the livestock sector in Ethiopia is suffering from feed shortage both in terms of quality and quantity. Lupin, as a potential protein source feed has an opportunity to be incorporated into the livestock feed industry. Currently it is estimated that if sweet lupins were available, the short-term demand from commercial livestock producers and feed processors market segment is 20,000 t/year. In the medium-term, it is expected that as the national poultry production expands, there will be an increased demand from the large feed mill factories to around 35,000 to 40,000 t/year grain for high quality protein such as lupin. It is recommended that the already started sweet lupin promotion in the country has to be done at scale. In addition, production of sweet lupin in Ethiopia should be focused on the commercial farming sector and the marketing should be through the large-scale processors or direct to large-scale livestock producers.

This study was conducted to evaluate essential oils from Croton macrostachyus Hochst. ex Delile, Eucalyptus globulus Labill., Allium sativum L., Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf, Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) W.Watson, Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Thymus schimperi Ronniger using four concentrations (l mL, 2 mL, 3 mL, 4 mL) and three sprays against potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) late blight disease. Two improved potato varieties were planted using randomized complete block design with factorial combinations in three replications. Analysis of disease incidence means at 53 and 60 days after planting showed highly significant differences between varieties and among sources of essential oils. Furthermore, the combined effect of essential oils and potato varieties on disease severity showed significant differences. Disease severity was maintained from 25% to 48% (Jalene); 13% to 30% (Gudene) with essential oils while it was maintained between 92% and 95% (Jalene); 37% to 38% (Gudene) for control plants. The lowest disease percentage of disease severity was obtained on plants treated with A. sativum for Jalene variety while on plants sprayed with C. macrostachyus, E. globulus and T. schimperi for Gudene variety. The lowest disease progress rate 0.198/day and 0.162/day as well as values of area under disease progress curve 228% days and 93% days were obtained for varieties Jalene and Gudene, respectively. Maximum reduction in mean disease severity was exhibited by garlic for varieties Jalene (28.3%) and Gudene (16.3%), as compared to the control (93.3% for Jalene and 37.5% for Gudene). Therefore, results indicated the potentials of essential oils to minimize effects of potato late blight disease. Communities involved in potato production could use the current results as base line information to find alternative management options for late blight disease which has no effect on human health and environment. However, further investigation is required on essential oils affordability and availability to farmers across different locations.

In order to assess the potential, farmers satisfaction, and operation and maintenance issues of selected small scale irrigation schemes in Salale Zone Ethiopia, the study was designed with key objectives of evaluating the current status of irrigation water productivity of the schemes; irrigation water users satisfaction, and structures, function, and power of water users association in sustainable operation and maintenance of irrigation schemes. Structured questionnaires focus group discussion, and key informant interview was employed to collect data for each considered irrigation schemes and the data was analyzed by using SPSS and descriptive statistics. The result overall revealed that there was low water productivity of the schemes when it was compared with acceptable limit values. In each considered irrigation scheme, irrigation water users were not satisfied in operation and maintenance of irrigation schemes and less satisfied in fair distribution of water and timeline of water distribution; but fairly satisfied in fee policy. From the perspectives of roles of irrigation water users in leadership, resource mobilization, infrastructure management, equity in water distribution, and conflict management; there was a gap in effectively performing all such activities so that the overall productivity of schemes becomes very low. In general, the research indicated that there was a problem in improving water productivity, farmers’ satisfaction, role of irrigation water users in management, operation, and maintenance of schemes which need due consideration to sustain small scale irrigation schemes so that it will play the intended roles in attaining food security

Oxidative stress resulted from free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are associated with many diseases. Phytotherapy has known a great evolution all the world and some medicinal plants are important remedies of some diseases. Myrtle (Mrytus communis L.) is a plant of Myrtaceae family which is common in the Mediterranean region, with flowering, always green leaves and fruit. This study aims to investigate in vitro antioxidant capacity of Myrtus communis berries methanol extract and its three fractions using five assays: ABTS scavenging radicals, metal chelating, hydrogen peroxide and inhibition of lipid peroxidation assays. EAE extract possessed the highest antioxidant activity in ABTS (EAE (IC50=2.5 µg/ml ) and lipid peroxidation models (90.17%). Whereas, AqE is the most active extract in metal chelating activity (IC50=0.73±0.03 mg/ml) and H2O2 assay. These results support the traditional use of this plant in healthcare and it could be a new source of antioxidant natural drugs.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a fruit that grows in most tropical and subtropical regions. It has 52% aril, consisting of 78% juice which is used as; juice, molasses, jam, wine, and dried kernels. Potential health benefits increase the demand for the fruit as well as its products. Pomegranate seeds, which consist of approximately 10% of the whole fruit, are a by-product of the juice and juice using products containing nutraceutical functional components such as sterols and punicic acid. Pomegranate seed oil is considered a healthy alternative source of oils, and its production is a valorization process since it is the by-product that usually goes to waste. In the present study, pomegranate seeds were used for oil extraction using the cold solvent extraction method. Oil samples were then taken to the Schaal oven treatment in order to determine changes due to storage. Oil samples were tested for 14 days of total storage at their 1st,3rd, 7th, and 14th days for the oxidation tests, colour, fatty acid composition, and Fourier transform infrared spectra analysis. Data were tested for significance by using statistical analysis. The results indicated that oxidative stability of pomegranate seed oil was decreased by increasing storage time. The studied techniques used in this paper can be valuable processors to monitor the oxidative stability of oils with storage time and evaluate their acceptance on the market.

Changing climatic conditions and growing population size lead take precautions against potential risks. Researchers who study in the agricultural field, including animal production, focus on finding out variants and breeds resistant to diseases and environmental stress. Detecting gene regions that affect resistance to diseases and environmental stress might increase the performance of the selection in favor of these traits. Due to these reasons in this study, five Turkish native cattle breeds were investigated for SNPs belonging to TLR2, NOD2, and IFNγ (using EcoRV, BsaHI ve HphI enzymes, respectively) reported to be associated with paratuberculosis previously. In total, 169 animals were analyzed from Native Southern Yellow (NSY= 29), East Anatolian Red (EAR=35), Anatolian Grey (AG=36), South Anatolian Red (SAR=34), and Native Black (NB=35). The genotype and allele frequencies were calculated with the PopGene32 program, and Khi square test was performed to determine whether the populations were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). While at TLR2- EcoRV and NOD2- BsaHI loci, two alleles (A and C, C and T, respectively), IFNγ- HphI locus was found to be monomorphic for the G allele. For TLR2- EcoRV locus, the C allele was found as predominant except NB breed, and the C allele was predominant for all breeds at NOD2- BsaHI locus. However, in all breeds, NOD2- BsaHI locus was at HWE, for TLR2- EcoRV NSY and SAR breeds showed derivation from HWE.

A total of 432, ISA Brown growing pullets were used to evaluate the effects of feeding diets containing Turmeric, Clove and Turmeric + Clove on growth performance and intestinal morphology. The birds were divided into 36 groups of 12 each weighed and allotted into experimental units. A total of nine experimental diets were formulated such that they contained 0, 1 and 2% turmeric, 0, 1 and 2% clove, and 0, 1 and 2% turmeric + clove combination on a 1:1 basis, respectively, in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement (turmeric × clove × turmeric + clove: 0 × 1 × 2), replicated four times. The birds were weighed weekly to determine their body weight, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio. At the end of the experiment, 27 birds were sacrificed, and the duodenum, jejunum and ileum segments of the gastro intestinal tract were removed for gut histo-morphometry. Results showed that level of inclusion of feed additives significantly influenced feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Birds fed 1 and 2% inclusion of feed additive had reduced feed intake and lower FCR value when compared to higher FI and FCR values recorded in birds fed 0% inclusion of additives. Duodenal, jejunal and ilea morphology were significantly influenced by turmeric, clove, turmeric + clove, inclusion levels and treatment interaction. Birds fed diet containing turmeric + clove have significantly longer duodenal and jejunal villi as well as best duodenal and jejunal villus height: crypt depth ratio. It was concluded that up to 2% turmeric and turmeric + clove can be included in growing pullet’s diet for improved performance. Inclusion of turmeric, clove and turmeric + clove improved morphological changes in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum of birds which might influence nutrient absorption and thus, improved FCR.

Broccoli (Brassica oleraceae var. Italica) belongs to the family cruciferae which is mainly used as vegetable at its tender stage. The study was conducted to evaluate the morphological, phenological, head and yield traits of broccoli genotypes at Karma Innovative Research and Development Stations of Kathmandu, Kavre and Kaski district of Nepal from September 2019 to March 2020. The experiment was laid out on Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications at each location. Genotypes, location and interaction between them showed significant variation on almost all parameters. BL-17001, BL-18012 and Centauro genotypes were observed with no lateral heads, which means low yield than other varieties. BL-16003 was observed with maximum yield (1.0 kg/plant at Kathmandu and kavre and 0.9 kg/plant at Kaski) at all locations comparing to other genotypes. Among high-yielding genotypes (BL-16003 and BL-18009) BL-16003 found as early maturing and also had lateral heads so, it can also be used for multi-harvesting. In addition, the height of this genotype was in the lower range with highest number of leaves. Thus, BL-16003 is found as the promising genotype at all localities.

Medicinal plants gain a great interest in the drug development process due to their bioactive compounds content. Syringa vulgaris has been used as traditional medicine and it has considerable biological effects. In this study, essential oil (EO) was generated from Syringa vulgaris flowers by hydrodistillation and the chemical constituents were identified by GC/MS/MS analysis. The GC/MS/MS analysis revealed the presence of 57 compounds, and linalool (26.34%), α-terpineol (10.84%), trans geraniol (9.83%), α-bisabolol (4.50%), cis-nerol acetate (5.28%), lavandulyl acetate (4.32%) were found as major products.

Floodplains known as 'Fadama' is encouraged in Nigeria by the world bank in order to boost agriculture and food security. This activity is being managed by the State ministries of agriculture through Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) nationwide. This is a case study of Jalingo area of Taraba State, Nigeria where farmers used any available water from rivers, streams and wells without any regulations. The water samples for quality analysis were collected in five (5) different floodplain locations from three (3) different sources. Fifteen (15) water samples were collected from river, borehole and well using plastic bottle container both in August (peak of raining season) and November (end of raining season) respectively. Data from water samples were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) to test for significant effect of source and location water quality for irrigation purposes. The suitability of the source and location water quality after comparing with the water standard for irrigation have most of their chemical properties within safe limit for irrigation purposes both in August and November respectively. (pH =6.26 to 6.81, Total Dissolved Solid, TDS = 113 to 345 mg/L, Total Suspended Solid, TSS = 1.72 to 1.95 mg/L, Bicarbonates, HCO3 = 5.76 to 10.88 mg/L, Carbonated, CO3 = 0.07 to 0.77 mg/L, Sodium, Na = 0.003 to 0.031 mg/L, Magnesium Mg = 4.84 to 5.93 mg/L, Calcium, Ca = 9.62 to 11.97 mg/L). From the results of the study, it could be observed that the quality of water across the locations irrespective of period of observation and source are good and hereby recommended for irrigation purposes.