A study was conducted to evaluate growth performances of Washera sheep under smallholder producti... more A study was conducted to evaluate growth performances of Washera sheep under smallholder production systems in the Yilmanadensa and Quarit districts of the Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. Data were collected and analysed on the growth of 690 lambs owned by 110 households from October 2004 to September 2007. Weight (kilograms) of Washera lambs at birth, 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age was 2.69 ± 0.02, 7.10 ± 0.16, 12.42 ± 0.11, 16.12 ± 0.91, 20.05 ± 0.55 and 23.47 ± 0.68, respectively. Birth weight was significantly (P P
Data collected on 3256 lambs born to Horro and Menz breed ewes single-sire mated to 71 rams at th... more Data collected on 3256 lambs born to Horro and Menz breed ewes single-sire mated to 71 rams at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Debre Berhan station between September 1992 and June 1996 were analysed for rates of survival and growth from birth to weaning. A signi®cantly lower proportion of Menz lambs died before 1 year of age (28%) than the Horro lambs (59%). Least squares means for pre-and post-weaning mortality were 8.8 and 19.3%, respectively in Menz, and 25.3 and 34.2% for Horro sheep. Major causes of death were similar in Horro versus Menz lambs and were pneumonia (53 vs. 54%, respectively), digestive problems (14 vs. 12%), endoparasite infections (9 vs. 13%), starvation± mismothering±exposure (SME) complex (10 vs. 7%) and septicemia (3 vs. 2%). Relationships among causes of mortality with breed, birth weight (BWT), season of birth, parity, litter size and lamb health category (number of times a lamb was sick between birth and 1 year of age) were determined. The impact of these factors on mortality varied with lamb age. Lambs that were born with <2 kg BWT had a greater risk of dying from any cause except pneumonia. But, even though Horro lambs were heavier than Menz at birth (2.4 vs. 2.1 kg, respectively), twice as many died before 1 year of age. The cause of mortality was further in¯uenced by season of birth, lamb sex and health category. In addition, sires were a signi®cant source of variation for progeny survival at 6, 9 and 12 months of age, but not at the younger ages. The best and worst Horro ram sired progeny groups that had mortality rates up to 1 year of age of 22 vs. 80%, respectively. The same estimates in Menz rams were 11 and 48%, respectively. Reduced mortality rate would signi®cantly increase lamb output. However, isolated efforts to solve this problem are likely to have limited impact. Instead, an integrated approach to minimise the impact of underlying factors is advocated. Farm (animal) management routines that could be introduced in the short or longer term are discussed. #
Tibbo, M. 2006. Productivity and health of indigenous sheep breeds and crossbreds in the central ... more Tibbo, M. 2006. Productivity and health of indigenous sheep breeds and crossbreds in the central Ethiopian highlands. Doctoral dissertation.
Sheko is African taurine cattle, valued for its milk yield, adaptation to humid tsetse infested e... more Sheko is African taurine cattle, valued for its milk yield, adaptation to humid tsetse infested environment and trypanotolerance. We used 30 microsatellite markers in analyzing 30 DNA samples. We found high genetic diversity and no genetic bottlenecks in endangered Sheko cattle. Sheko cattle have not undergone recent genetic bottlenecks, in spite of drastic reduction in its overall demographic population size. The results were supported by three statistical methods: (i) detection of heterozygosity excess (ii) a mode-shift indicator of allele distribution pattern (iii) the ratio of the number of alleles to the range of allele size, M-ratio test. This breed reflects historical and cultural identity of local communities and represents a unique component of the global domestic animal biodiversity that deserve priority for conservation.
Competitive ELISA was applied to detect antibodies against bluetongue virus in sheep sera collect... more Competitive ELISA was applied to detect antibodies against bluetongue virus in sheep sera collected from different agro-climatic areas in Ethiopia. A total of 90 serum samples were tested and 42 (46.67%) were positive for bluetongue virus antibodies. A prevalence rate ranging from 9.67% for sheep sampled in the highland to 92.85% for sheep sampled in the lowland was recorded. The prevalence correlated with the probable distribution of the Culicoides vector. This is the first report indicating the presence of bluetongue virus infection in animals from Ethiopia.
A serological study was done to assess the role of Maedi-Visna (MV) infection in sheep from flock... more A serological study was done to assess the role of Maedi-Visna (MV) infection in sheep from flocks with high respiratory tract disease morbidity in Ethiopia. Of 105 sheep examined from central Ethiopia 78 (74%) were positive for MV-infection. However, antibodies to the virus were not detected in 48 sheep and 70 goats from elsewhere in Ethiopia. The infection was detected in all breeds of sheep examined (Awassi, Hampshire, Corriedale, indigenous Menz breeds and their crosses) but with a significant breed difference (chi 2 = 20, p < 0.001) varying from 48% in imported Awassi sheep to 92% in the indigenous Menz sheep. This suggests that Menz sheep are more susceptible to infection, which may support the observation of a higher incidence of clinical disease in these sheep compared to exotic breeds and their crosses. It also supports recent studies indicating that MV is becoming one of the most important respiratory tract diseases in sheep in central Ethiopia. Our findings indicate th...
A study was conducted to describe the production systems and management practices and investigate... more A study was conducted to describe the production systems and management practices and investigate the physical linear body measurements of Washera sheep in the traditional farming systems in the western highlands of the Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. Data was collected using focus group discussion and field measurements. The agricultural production system in the study area was mixed crop-livestock. Livestock production and crop production complement each other in such a way that livestock are used as a source for draft and manure for crop production and from crop production the crop residues, straws and aftermath serve as main components of livestock feeds in the study areas. The main component of feed for sheep is communal pasture. Farmers house their sheep throughout the year together with other livestock separated by a woodlot. Breeding is allowed year round. Docking the fat tail of ewe lambs, for ease of mating, is a common practice. The average flock size per househo...
A cross-sectional investigation was made into the seroprevalence of brucellosis in camels in thre... more A cross-sectional investigation was made into the seroprevalence of brucellosis in camels in three arid and semi-arid camel-rearing regions of Ethiopia (Afar, Somali and Borena) between November 2000 and April 2001. When sera collected from 1442 accessible camels were screened with the Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT). 82 (5.7%) of them reacted. The results of a complement fixation test (CFT) on those sera that had given a positive reaction to the screening test then indicated a 4.2% prevalence of brucellosis in the tested camels. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of brucellosis (chi2 = 7.91, p < 0.05), which was highest in Afar (5.2%) followed by Somali (2.8%) and Borena (1.2%) regions. Camels in Afar had a four times higher risk of brucellosis with an odds ratio (OR) of 4.34 (confidence interval, CI = 1.76-10.72, p < 0.001) compared to the risk in Borena. Likewise, Afar had higher risk (OR = 1.76, 1.13-2.74, p < 0.05) than that in Somali. There was no sign...
Clinical examination, bodily condition score (BCS), heart girth (HG), body length (BL), wither he... more Clinical examination, bodily condition score (BCS), heart girth (HG), body length (BL), wither height (WH), and scrotal circumference (SC) were assessed on 486 mature Ethiopian Menz rams, on small farms, in local markets, and at the main abattoir in Addis Ababa from December 1994 to April 1995. Almost 27% of the rams were found to be unfit for breeding. Poor general condition, mainly in the form of respiratory disorders, was seen in 1.2% of the rams. Balanoposthitis, epididymitis and orchitis were the most common pathological conditions, affecting the external reproductive organs in 14.6%, 4.5% and 4.1% of the rams, respectively. Testicular calcification, cysts and testicular haemorrhagic lesions were detected in 4, 6 and 8, respectively, of the 60 rams examined at necropsy. The BCS, HG, BL and WH averaged 2.1 +/- 0.5, 67.7 +/- 5.0 cm, 60.1 +/- 4.5 cm and 60.1 +/- 4.3 cm, respectively. The mean SC was 25.5 +/- 3.9 cm and did not vary significantly with age (p > 0.05). Among the l...
An investigation was carried out at Debre Berhan, Ethiopia, between 1996 and 1997, into the epide... more An investigation was carried out at Debre Berhan, Ethiopia, between 1996 and 1997, into the epidemiology of coenurosis in Menz and Horro breeds of sheep. A total of 37 heads from clinically sick and 183 heads from apparently healthy sheep were examined post mortem for the presence of the cystic larvae of Taenia multiceps, of which 37 and 5 heads, respectively, contained 1 to 8 coenurus cysts (diameter 0.8 to 6.5 cm). The bladder worms were located in the cerebral hemisphere in 96% of the cases (43% and 57% for left and right, respectively), 4% being in the cerebellum. Prediction of cyst locations based on the direction of circling and head deviation had a 62% success rate. A retrospective study generated from the health record book at the ILRI Debre Berhan Station in 1992-1996 (199 Horro and 174 Menz) revealed that the incidence of coenurosis ranged from 2.3% to 4.5%. There was no significant breed difference in the incidence. The age of the affected sheep ranged from 4 to 96 months...
ABSTRACT In Afghanistan, goats are an essential element in the mixed crop-livestock farming under... more ABSTRACT In Afghanistan, goats are an essential element in the mixed crop-livestock farming under irrigated and rainfed production systems and the livelihoods of rural communities with 7.3 million goats that produced 44,200 Mt of meat and 118,000 Mt of fresh milk (FAO 2012). In the past goats were regarded as backyard animals of little commercial significance partly due to cultural and social prejudices associated with goat husbandry (Devendra 2006). This image has changed in recent years but often the potentials of goats are still underexploited. ABSTRACT This paper aims to assess the efficiency in marketing goats and to identify the factors influencing the choice of market location for goat producers&#39; in Baghlan and Nangarhar provinces of Afghanistan. Goat producers (280) were randomly selected in equal proportions for rainfed and irrigated systems from 28 villages in 4 districts in Baghlan and Nangarhar provinces. Shepherd index of marketing efficiency and binary logit model were used to assess the marketing efficiency and to analyze the goat producers&#39; choice of market respectively. The study indicated that market efficiency was higher in Nangarhar than in Baghlan markets due to lower marketing margins. There is considerable potential for improving the marketing efficiency through capacity building of goat producers in production as well as marketing. Anticipated price per kg live weight of goat, breed, week day, age of goats and production system are influencing goat producers&#39; choice of market location. The study enables the goat producers to plan their goat sales in district markets to fetch high revenue.
A study was conducted to evaluate growth performances of Washera sheep under smallholder producti... more A study was conducted to evaluate growth performances of Washera sheep under smallholder production systems in the Yilmanadensa and Quarit districts of the Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. Data were collected and analysed on the growth of 690 lambs owned by 110 households from October 2004 to September 2007. Weight (kilograms) of Washera lambs at birth, 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age was 2.69 ± 0.02, 7.10 ± 0.16, 12.42 ± 0.11, 16.12 ± 0.91, 20.05 ± 0.55 and 23.47 ± 0.68, respectively. Birth weight was significantly (P P
Data collected on 3256 lambs born to Horro and Menz breed ewes single-sire mated to 71 rams at th... more Data collected on 3256 lambs born to Horro and Menz breed ewes single-sire mated to 71 rams at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Debre Berhan station between September 1992 and June 1996 were analysed for rates of survival and growth from birth to weaning. A signi®cantly lower proportion of Menz lambs died before 1 year of age (28%) than the Horro lambs (59%). Least squares means for pre-and post-weaning mortality were 8.8 and 19.3%, respectively in Menz, and 25.3 and 34.2% for Horro sheep. Major causes of death were similar in Horro versus Menz lambs and were pneumonia (53 vs. 54%, respectively), digestive problems (14 vs. 12%), endoparasite infections (9 vs. 13%), starvation± mismothering±exposure (SME) complex (10 vs. 7%) and septicemia (3 vs. 2%). Relationships among causes of mortality with breed, birth weight (BWT), season of birth, parity, litter size and lamb health category (number of times a lamb was sick between birth and 1 year of age) were determined. The impact of these factors on mortality varied with lamb age. Lambs that were born with <2 kg BWT had a greater risk of dying from any cause except pneumonia. But, even though Horro lambs were heavier than Menz at birth (2.4 vs. 2.1 kg, respectively), twice as many died before 1 year of age. The cause of mortality was further in¯uenced by season of birth, lamb sex and health category. In addition, sires were a signi®cant source of variation for progeny survival at 6, 9 and 12 months of age, but not at the younger ages. The best and worst Horro ram sired progeny groups that had mortality rates up to 1 year of age of 22 vs. 80%, respectively. The same estimates in Menz rams were 11 and 48%, respectively. Reduced mortality rate would signi®cantly increase lamb output. However, isolated efforts to solve this problem are likely to have limited impact. Instead, an integrated approach to minimise the impact of underlying factors is advocated. Farm (animal) management routines that could be introduced in the short or longer term are discussed. #
Tibbo, M. 2006. Productivity and health of indigenous sheep breeds and crossbreds in the central ... more Tibbo, M. 2006. Productivity and health of indigenous sheep breeds and crossbreds in the central Ethiopian highlands. Doctoral dissertation.
Sheko is African taurine cattle, valued for its milk yield, adaptation to humid tsetse infested e... more Sheko is African taurine cattle, valued for its milk yield, adaptation to humid tsetse infested environment and trypanotolerance. We used 30 microsatellite markers in analyzing 30 DNA samples. We found high genetic diversity and no genetic bottlenecks in endangered Sheko cattle. Sheko cattle have not undergone recent genetic bottlenecks, in spite of drastic reduction in its overall demographic population size. The results were supported by three statistical methods: (i) detection of heterozygosity excess (ii) a mode-shift indicator of allele distribution pattern (iii) the ratio of the number of alleles to the range of allele size, M-ratio test. This breed reflects historical and cultural identity of local communities and represents a unique component of the global domestic animal biodiversity that deserve priority for conservation.
Competitive ELISA was applied to detect antibodies against bluetongue virus in sheep sera collect... more Competitive ELISA was applied to detect antibodies against bluetongue virus in sheep sera collected from different agro-climatic areas in Ethiopia. A total of 90 serum samples were tested and 42 (46.67%) were positive for bluetongue virus antibodies. A prevalence rate ranging from 9.67% for sheep sampled in the highland to 92.85% for sheep sampled in the lowland was recorded. The prevalence correlated with the probable distribution of the Culicoides vector. This is the first report indicating the presence of bluetongue virus infection in animals from Ethiopia.
A serological study was done to assess the role of Maedi-Visna (MV) infection in sheep from flock... more A serological study was done to assess the role of Maedi-Visna (MV) infection in sheep from flocks with high respiratory tract disease morbidity in Ethiopia. Of 105 sheep examined from central Ethiopia 78 (74%) were positive for MV-infection. However, antibodies to the virus were not detected in 48 sheep and 70 goats from elsewhere in Ethiopia. The infection was detected in all breeds of sheep examined (Awassi, Hampshire, Corriedale, indigenous Menz breeds and their crosses) but with a significant breed difference (chi 2 = 20, p < 0.001) varying from 48% in imported Awassi sheep to 92% in the indigenous Menz sheep. This suggests that Menz sheep are more susceptible to infection, which may support the observation of a higher incidence of clinical disease in these sheep compared to exotic breeds and their crosses. It also supports recent studies indicating that MV is becoming one of the most important respiratory tract diseases in sheep in central Ethiopia. Our findings indicate th...
A study was conducted to describe the production systems and management practices and investigate... more A study was conducted to describe the production systems and management practices and investigate the physical linear body measurements of Washera sheep in the traditional farming systems in the western highlands of the Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. Data was collected using focus group discussion and field measurements. The agricultural production system in the study area was mixed crop-livestock. Livestock production and crop production complement each other in such a way that livestock are used as a source for draft and manure for crop production and from crop production the crop residues, straws and aftermath serve as main components of livestock feeds in the study areas. The main component of feed for sheep is communal pasture. Farmers house their sheep throughout the year together with other livestock separated by a woodlot. Breeding is allowed year round. Docking the fat tail of ewe lambs, for ease of mating, is a common practice. The average flock size per househo...
A cross-sectional investigation was made into the seroprevalence of brucellosis in camels in thre... more A cross-sectional investigation was made into the seroprevalence of brucellosis in camels in three arid and semi-arid camel-rearing regions of Ethiopia (Afar, Somali and Borena) between November 2000 and April 2001. When sera collected from 1442 accessible camels were screened with the Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT). 82 (5.7%) of them reacted. The results of a complement fixation test (CFT) on those sera that had given a positive reaction to the screening test then indicated a 4.2% prevalence of brucellosis in the tested camels. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of brucellosis (chi2 = 7.91, p < 0.05), which was highest in Afar (5.2%) followed by Somali (2.8%) and Borena (1.2%) regions. Camels in Afar had a four times higher risk of brucellosis with an odds ratio (OR) of 4.34 (confidence interval, CI = 1.76-10.72, p < 0.001) compared to the risk in Borena. Likewise, Afar had higher risk (OR = 1.76, 1.13-2.74, p < 0.05) than that in Somali. There was no sign...
Clinical examination, bodily condition score (BCS), heart girth (HG), body length (BL), wither he... more Clinical examination, bodily condition score (BCS), heart girth (HG), body length (BL), wither height (WH), and scrotal circumference (SC) were assessed on 486 mature Ethiopian Menz rams, on small farms, in local markets, and at the main abattoir in Addis Ababa from December 1994 to April 1995. Almost 27% of the rams were found to be unfit for breeding. Poor general condition, mainly in the form of respiratory disorders, was seen in 1.2% of the rams. Balanoposthitis, epididymitis and orchitis were the most common pathological conditions, affecting the external reproductive organs in 14.6%, 4.5% and 4.1% of the rams, respectively. Testicular calcification, cysts and testicular haemorrhagic lesions were detected in 4, 6 and 8, respectively, of the 60 rams examined at necropsy. The BCS, HG, BL and WH averaged 2.1 +/- 0.5, 67.7 +/- 5.0 cm, 60.1 +/- 4.5 cm and 60.1 +/- 4.3 cm, respectively. The mean SC was 25.5 +/- 3.9 cm and did not vary significantly with age (p > 0.05). Among the l...
An investigation was carried out at Debre Berhan, Ethiopia, between 1996 and 1997, into the epide... more An investigation was carried out at Debre Berhan, Ethiopia, between 1996 and 1997, into the epidemiology of coenurosis in Menz and Horro breeds of sheep. A total of 37 heads from clinically sick and 183 heads from apparently healthy sheep were examined post mortem for the presence of the cystic larvae of Taenia multiceps, of which 37 and 5 heads, respectively, contained 1 to 8 coenurus cysts (diameter 0.8 to 6.5 cm). The bladder worms were located in the cerebral hemisphere in 96% of the cases (43% and 57% for left and right, respectively), 4% being in the cerebellum. Prediction of cyst locations based on the direction of circling and head deviation had a 62% success rate. A retrospective study generated from the health record book at the ILRI Debre Berhan Station in 1992-1996 (199 Horro and 174 Menz) revealed that the incidence of coenurosis ranged from 2.3% to 4.5%. There was no significant breed difference in the incidence. The age of the affected sheep ranged from 4 to 96 months...
ABSTRACT In Afghanistan, goats are an essential element in the mixed crop-livestock farming under... more ABSTRACT In Afghanistan, goats are an essential element in the mixed crop-livestock farming under irrigated and rainfed production systems and the livelihoods of rural communities with 7.3 million goats that produced 44,200 Mt of meat and 118,000 Mt of fresh milk (FAO 2012). In the past goats were regarded as backyard animals of little commercial significance partly due to cultural and social prejudices associated with goat husbandry (Devendra 2006). This image has changed in recent years but often the potentials of goats are still underexploited. ABSTRACT This paper aims to assess the efficiency in marketing goats and to identify the factors influencing the choice of market location for goat producers&#39; in Baghlan and Nangarhar provinces of Afghanistan. Goat producers (280) were randomly selected in equal proportions for rainfed and irrigated systems from 28 villages in 4 districts in Baghlan and Nangarhar provinces. Shepherd index of marketing efficiency and binary logit model were used to assess the marketing efficiency and to analyze the goat producers&#39; choice of market respectively. The study indicated that market efficiency was higher in Nangarhar than in Baghlan markets due to lower marketing margins. There is considerable potential for improving the marketing efficiency through capacity building of goat producers in production as well as marketing. Anticipated price per kg live weight of goat, breed, week day, age of goats and production system are influencing goat producers&#39; choice of market location. The study enables the goat producers to plan their goat sales in district markets to fetch high revenue.
Uploads
Papers by Markos Tibbo