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Research Article
Influence of Improved Husbandry Practices on Productivity and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Agropastoral Meat Goat Production System in a Semi-arid Kenya
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 4, August 2026
Pages:
87-96
Received:
21 June 2026
Accepted:
2 July 2026
Published:
10 August 2026
Abstract: In Kenya, demand for goat meat is projected to continue rising and farmers in low input agropastoral production system are responding to the growing demand by increasing goat population, perpetuating rise in absolute and intensity of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study assessed influence of improved husbandry on protein food production and GHG emissions. The study was conducted in agropastoral meat goat system in Baringo county where a random sample of 124 smallholder meat goat farmers was interviewed through a cross-sectional farm survey. Descriptive statistics from primary data collected in cross-sectional farm survey was the model base input for simulation modelling using GLEAM-i tool to estimate GHG emissions and productivity. Referenced on average flock performance as base situation, improved husbandry was reflected as change in flock composition towards fewer adult males, increase in slaughter (market) weight and survival rate of young stock, earlier age at first kidding, shorter kidding interval and longer productive life. Improvement in base flock performance value was either to 25th or 75th percentile value to objectively reflect potential attainable improvement in the flock. Relative to the base situation, fewer adult males in the flock resulted in 26.9% increase in productivity but absolute emissions increased by 10.1% while emission intensity reduced by 13.4%. Improving reproductive performance increased protein production by 8.4% with a reduction of 8.3% in emission intensity and 1.1% in absolute emissions. Increasing the survival of young animals and slaughter weight increased protein production by 8.4% with an increase of 3.8% in absolute emissions and a reduction of 4.1% in emission intensity. These findings show that improved flock composition, by keeping fewer adult males and more adult females have a larger potential of increasing protein production and reducing emission intensity, implying that regular off- take of unproductive animal classes in the flock can enhance sustainability of smallholder meat goat production systems. The results will guide extension service providers and policy makers in developing climate-smart interventions for increasing goat meat production while reducing emission intensity.
Abstract: In Kenya, demand for goat meat is projected to continue rising and farmers in low input agropastoral production system are responding to the growing demand by increasing goat population, perpetuating rise in absolute and intensity of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study assessed influence of improved husbandry on protein food production and G...
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Research Article
Major Gross Lesion of Lungs and Liver on Bovine and Associated Economic Loss at Hawassa Municipal Abattoir, Ethiopia
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 4, August 2026
Pages:
97-105
Received:
7 April 2026
Accepted:
13 July 2026
Published:
11 August 2026
Abstract: Different pathological lesion of an organ has a great influence of an economy of one country by condemnation in cattle slaughtered at municipal abattoir. The study was conducted from November, 2019 to February, 2020 at Hawassa municipal abattoir, Southern Ethiopia from ama zone with the aim of determining major causes of lung and liver condemnation and to estimate the direct financial losses attributed to the condemned lungs and liver. Standard ante mortem and post-mortem inspection procedures were performed throughout the study and abnormalities encountered were recorded. A total of 567 male cattle were measured for ante mortem and post-mortem examination by orderly random sampling technique by applying identification marker from the body. During ante mortem inspection the most common abnormalities were 3 (0.53%) lameness, 2 (0.35%) nasal discharge, 1 (0.18%) skin lesions and 4 (0.71%) rough hair coat, 5 (0.88%) pale mucous membrane was conducted. Up on post mortem inspection, 298 (52.55%) of lungs were condemned due to 176 (31.04%) hydatidosis, 45 (7.94%) CBPP, 32 (5.64%) emphysema, 12 (2.12%) marbling, 11 (1.94%) Atelectasis, 10 (1.76%) calcification, 7 (1.23%) adhesion, 5 (0.88%) pneumonia and 307 (54.14%) of livers were condemned due to 187 (32.98%) fasciolosis, 53 (9.35%) hydatidosis, 33 (5.82%) calcification, 18 (3.17%) hardening, 11 (1.94%) hepatitis and 5 (0.88%) cirrhosis. From these study hydatidosis (31.04%) for lung and fasciolosis (32.98%) for liver were the major cause of condemnation rate in Hawassa municipal abattoir respectively. There was a statistically significant difference observed between age and breed of lung and liver (p>0.05 and p<0.05) respectively. Commonly fasciolosis from the liver and hydatidosis from the lung were the familiar cases from this abattoir. Finally, established public health importance to avoid eating of raw meat or organ to control the encounter disease of the abattoir.
Abstract: Different pathological lesion of an organ has a great influence of an economy of one country by condemnation in cattle slaughtered at municipal abattoir. The study was conducted from November, 2019 to February, 2020 at Hawassa municipal abattoir, Southern Ethiopia from ama zone with the aim of determining major causes of lung and liver condemnation...
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Research Article
Prevalence and Antibiogram of Listeria monocytogenes Isolated from Animals, Humans and Environmental Samples in Jos Metropolis, Plateau State, Nigeria
Hassana Issac Dunka*,
Habiba Iliyasu Atta,
Habiba Momoh,
Mohammed Kabiru Lawan,
Mohammed Bello
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 4, August 2026
Pages:
106-119
Received:
13 June 2026
Accepted:
23 July 2026
Published:
17 August 2026
Abstract: Listeria monocytogenes is an infectious foodborne pathogen causing the disease listeriosis which is considered a serious public health problem due to severity of symptoms and its high mortality rate specially in high-risk group. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and antibiogram of L. monocytogenes isolated from cattle, humans and environment samples at cattle farms in Jos Metropolis, Plateau State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was carried out using multistage sampling technique in three selected Local Government Areas where 254 milk, 55 faeces, 227 hand swabs, 95 cloth swabs, 107 water and 104 soil samples totalling 842 samples were collected. The ISO 11290-1 protocol was used aseptically to phenotypically characterize the isolates and the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was used to determine the antibiogram. Data obtained were subjected to descriptive statistics using SPSS 25.0. Results showed out of the 842 samples 58 (6.89%) were positive for Listeria species. Distribution of the Listeria species showed that 12 (20.69%) were L. monocytogenes. The frequency of isolation of L. monocytogenes based on location was highest in Jos South LGA (2.08%) and the association was statistically significant (p<0.05). The occurrence of L. monocytogenes from the highest to the lowest prevalence was observed in cloth swabs (3.16%), hand swab (2.20%), faecal sample (1.82%) and milk (1.18%) and association was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The isolates tested against 10 antibiotics, showed 100% resistance to ceftazidime, 91.7% to ampicillin, 91.7% ceftriaxone, 83.3% to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim while all (100%) were susceptible to ciprofloxacin. The antibiogram showed majority (91.7%) the isolates were resistance to at least four antimicrobial agents in at least three classes of antibiotics. The mean MAR index is 0.58 ± 0.2. These results are of a public health significance because this pathogenic organism have been shown to cross-contaminate meat and other animal products.
Abstract: Listeria monocytogenes is an infectious foodborne pathogen causing the disease listeriosis which is considered a serious public health problem due to severity of symptoms and its high mortality rate specially in high-risk group. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and antibiogram of L. monocytogenes isolated from cattle, humans and environm...
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Research Article
Comparative Analysis of Pasture Productivity and Nutritive Value Among Smallholder Dairy Farmers in Muheza District, Tanzania
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 4, August 2026
Pages:
120-128
Received:
6 July 2026
Accepted:
20 July 2026
Published:
17 August 2026
Abstract: Low pasture productivity and poor forage quality remain major constraints to smallholder dairy production in Tanzania, particularly during the dry season, when feed shortages reduce milk yield and animal performance. Although farmer training is widely promoted to improve pasture management, empirical evidence linking training to measurable improvements in pasture productivity and forage quality under field conditions remains limited. This study evaluated the effects of structured pasture management training on pasture productivity and forage nutritive value among smallholder dairy farmers in Muheza District, Tanzania. A comparative cross-sectional design was employed, using eighteen representative pasture plots selected from trained (n=9) and untrained (n=9) farmers. Forage samples were collected during the dry and wet seasons and analysed for biomass yield, dry matter, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, ash, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, and total digestible nutrients using proximate analysis and ANKOM technology. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, independent sample t-tests, and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). The results showed that trained farmers produced significantly higher forage biomass (7.28 vs 6.32 t DM ha-1; p < 0.001) and recorded significantly greater crude protein, total digestible nutrients, ether extract, and ash contents than untrained farmers. Training, season, and farm size were identified as significant factors influencing pasture productivity and forage nutritive value, whereas sex had no significant effect. The findings demonstrate that structured farmer training promotes the adoption of improved pasture management practices, resulting in higher forage yield and enhanced nutritional quality. The study concludes that strengthening pasture-focused training and extension programmes can substantially improve feed availability, livestock productivity, and the sustainability of smallholder dairy production systems in Tanzania and similar tropical environments.
Abstract: Low pasture productivity and poor forage quality remain major constraints to smallholder dairy production in Tanzania, particularly during the dry season, when feed shortages reduce milk yield and animal performance. Although farmer training is widely promoted to improve pasture management, empirical evidence linking training to measurable improvem...
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Thomas Kainga Muasya
