ABSTRACT This study was carried out to evaluate the current performance of dairy cattle at ASAS and Kitulo farms in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. The objective was to assess the effects of genetic and non-genetic factors on lactation and reproductive performance, calf mortality rate, longevity traits and constraints affecting performance of dairy animals. Ayrshire and Friesian cows were involved in the study. Data were analysed using General Linear Models procedure of Statistical Analys...
ABSTRACT Studies to determine the optimal level of chickpea seed waste (Cicer arietinum L.) inclusion in the diets for growing rabbits were carried out using two experiments. In Experiment 1, 24 male rabbits were allocated to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design to evaluate nutrients digestibility and nitrogen balance of diets containing different levels of chickpea seed waste (CSW). Diet T0 was a control, formulated to meet nutrient requirements of growing rabbits, where...
ABSTRACT Goat production is an integral component of small holder agriculture in Tanzania but farmers have been keeping indigenous goats which have poor genetic potential for growth and have small mature body size. Goat keepers can improve mature body size by crossing with improved breeds. However, in Tanzania there is paucity of information on performance of crossbreds in comparison to their parents. The effects of breed, sex, birth type, season of birth, year of birth and dam weight class o...
ABSTRACT A study was undertaken at Sokoine University of Agriculture to investigate the influence of shank colour on egg quality traits and production performance. The study involved green shanked Indigenous (GSI) chickens, yellow shanked Indigenous (YSI) chickens and Rhode Island Red (RIR) genetic groups. The genetic groups were reared under the same environment and management. A total of 240 blood plasma samples were used in assessment of plasma cholesterol content while, 120 egg samples we...
ABSTRACT A study was conducted to assess possible risks of copper contamination in fish farmed in copper mining areas of Zambia. Nine fish farms were selected within and around Kitwe district for the study. The farms drew water from different sources – dam, river and spring. Five types of samples were sampled, i.e. soil, sediment, plant, fish and water at each farm. Three fish ponds were sampled at each farm. Copper determination in each sample was carried out using Atomic Absorption Spectr...
ABSTRACT This study was undertaken on-station at Magadu Research Farm, Sokoine University of Agriculture and on-farm at Changa and Kibwaya villages, Mkuyuni ward. The objective of the study was to evaluate growth performance of four tilapia species under culture conditions. The tilapia species used were Oreochromis niloticus, O. hornorum, O. ruvumae and O. jipe which were collected from Kingolwira Fish Farming Center, River Wami, River Ruvuma and Lake Jipe, respectively. Eight hapas (6m2 each...
ABSTRACT An experiment was conducted at the Poultry unit of Kizimbani Agriculture Training Institute in Zanzibar to evaluate the effect of seaweed as mineral source in the growth performance of broiler chickens and carcass characteristics. Two hundred and forty (240) broiler chickens were fed four dietary treatments (T1, T2, T3 and T4), containing 0, 1, 1.5 and 2% seaweeds, from 8 - 49 days of age. Feed intake was measured daily while live weight was measured on a weekly basis. After seven we...
ABSTRACT Milk is important as a valuable diet, but due to its nutritional value and perishable product it serves as an ideal medium for growth of various microorganisms under suitable conditions, hence it is a staple food in epidemiology linked to zoonotic pathogens. This study was carried out in two districts in Tanga region (Northern Tanzania) to estimate microbial load, isolate selected pathogens and establish their possible sources or entry along the milk value chain. A total of 114 respo...
ABSTRACT This study was conducted in Chalinze division in Bagamoyo District to assess and evaluate the condition of pastoral communal grazing area in yield, botanical composition of herbaceous plant species as well as nutritive value. Yield forage samples were collected using 0.25m2 metal quadrat after which chemical composition, dry matter yield (DMY) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (INVDMD) were analyzed. Line Interception Method was used to estimate forage species distribution. Woody...